Books We Can't Wait to Read: Summer 2021

Jul 11

Jul 11 Books We Can't Wait to Read: Summer 2021

2021 New Releases, Book Preview, Elizabeth, Elizabeth's Reviews

One of my favorite posts to write are these book previews - it makes me excited about what’s to come, and honestly, it gives me to the opportunity to pre-treat myself as I frequently preorder several books while writing the round up.

I’m going with the seasonal calendar, and summer here at She’s Full of Lit has just started. This list will cover books released from July through the last Tuesday in September. Hopefully you find something you want to read here; regardless of whatever else is going on in the world, at least 2021 is a good year for the written word.

“A Psalm for the Wild Built” by Becky Chambers (Bookshop | Kindle)

Not to get too deep with the first book on the list here, but another author I respect a lot recommended this book for anyone that feels a little bit lost, and honestly, who isn’t a little bit lost these days? The description doesn’t give much away, but it’s all about a robot who is trying to answer the question: “what do people need?” I can’t wait to see the answer. - out July 13

“Ghosts” by Dolly Alderton (Bookshop | Kindle)

If you're stuck on the cycle of downloading/using/hating the dating apps like I am, the concept of “ghosting” is sometimes all-too-familiar. In this upcoming novel, Dolly Alderton explores the concept of ghosting — Nina is happily single and by all accounts thriving. Then, she meets a man who she has an instant connection with — until he abruptly vanishes. This may hit a little too close to home, but I can’t wait to read this take on modern relationships. - out August 3

“In Every Mirror She’s Black” by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström (Bookshop | Kindle)

This debut novel is the story of three Black women who all end up in Stockholm (yes, in Sweden) due to their connection to one captivating and powerful white man: one as a phenom, one as an obsession, and one as a refugee. I’ve really been trying to expand my reading horizons, and this novel aims to tell the story of what it means to be a Black woman in one of the world’s whitest society. - out September 7

“While We Were Dating” by Jasmine Guillory (Bookshop | Kindle)

My love of Jasmine Guillory is fairly well-documented around here, and I can’t wait to return to any world that she creates. I don’t think this is part of the “Wedding Date” universe that her first few books were, but I may be wrong about that — either way, I can’t wait to dive into what is sure to be a smart and sexy romance. - out July 13

“Rise to the Sun” by Leah Johnson (Bookshop | Kindle)

Leah Johnson’s first YA novel, “You Should See Me in a Crown” absolutely wrecked me in the best way — I may actually owe you guys a review on that one! — and so when I saw that she had a second coming out this summer, I immediately added it to my TBR. This is the story of Olivia, Toni, and a magical weekend at a music festival. Honestly, I’d read a grocery list if It was written by Leah Johnson, so the amazing sounding plot is a positive. - out July 6

“Shoulder Season” by Christine Clancy (Bookshop | Kindle)

Okay, tbh, this one is already at my house, and I’ve read the first chapter — I couldn’t wait any longer to read it! — and it’s shaping up to be an ideal summer read so far. Did you know that there was a Playboy Club Hotel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin? Me either. “Shoulder Season” is about an unlikely bunny, Sherri, who spends a season at the Playboy Club Hotel, and how what happened those few months inform the next four decades of her life. - out July 6

“Isn’t it Bromantic?” by Lyssa Kay Adams (Bookshop | Kindle)

Lyssa Kay Adams Bromance Book Club series is like Jasmine Guillory for me: comforting and fun, the literary equivalent of a hug. So, of course, I wanted to read The Russian’s attempt at writing a romance. How could I not? I look forward to returning to the Nashville she’s created, and I can’t wait to revisit some of my old book friends. - out July 20

“The Turnout” by Megan Abbott (Bookshop | Kindle)

Okay, when I first read this description, I immediately thought of Moira — there’s no one who could better appreciate a thriller set in the world of ballet. However, I’m still going to try. This dark family drama set in a ballet studio appears to be just creepy enough to make me nervous, not that scary that I need to hide the book in the freezer. - out August 3

“Intimacies” by Katie Kitamura (Bookshop | Kindle)

Many, many moons ago, I spent a summer in Amsterdam studying international human rights law, and I was lucky enough to get to spend time at the International Criminal Court while I was there. Yes, I am and continue to be the coolest person you know. in “Intimacies,” Katie Kitamura sets her psychological thriller there, focusing on the life of an interpreter at the ICC. War crimes, affairs, and obsessions combine in this novel, compounded by the grandiosity of the setting. If you don’t trust my endorsement, Barack Obama also put it on his summer reading list. Just saying.

“It Happened One Summer” by Tessa Bailey (Bookshop | Kindle)

Okay, sometimes you just need a steamy romance to counteract the steamy heat outdoors, and in my opinion, Tessa Bailey is one of the best. That’s it. That’s the pitch. - out July 13

“Until Proven Safe: The History and Future of Quarantine” by Geoff Manoff and Nicola Twilley (Bookshop | Kindle)

Okay, I know, I know — recommending a book about quarantine after the last 18 months may seem a little bizarre, but I am the woman who wrote a post about best-pandemic fiction in March 2020. You should all expect this from me. Plus, this is just the type of niche micro-history that I love reading. In this book, the authors trace how quarantine has been used throughout human history to protect the many from things that scare us — disasters, disease, and man-made catastrophes — and how that impacts society at large. Perfect light poolside reading. - out July 20

“The Startup Wife” by Tahmina Anam (Bookshop | Kindle)

The premise of this book — a couple that build an app that…replaces religious rituals? and changes the world — is too intriguing to pass up. Asha, a brilliant coder with an interest in artificial intelligence, inadvertently makes her high school crush into a new Messiah after their app is released into the world. Somehow, the question I have isn’t really does their marriage survive, but how is this going to work?! You can bet I’ll be reading it to find out. - out July 13

“We Were Never Here” by Andi Bartz (Bookshop | Kindle)

Andi Bartz is a SFOL favorite (see, .e.g., this, this, and this), and so her third book was an easy add to this list. What would you do if you came back to your hotel room to see your best friend had killed someone in self-defense? Well, what if it happened…again? Emily and Kristen are lifelong best friends, and after a deadline backpacking trip to Chile, Emily has some hard questions to answer. The hardest may be, “is my BFF a serial killer?” - out August 3

“Dear Miss Metropolitan” by Carolyn Ferrell (Bookshop | Kindle)

I’m honestly not really sure that I can summarize why I want to read this book so badly — and why I think it’s going to be a new entry into our “Hard but Good” category — so I’ll just say that this looks like essential reading for all of us. Trust me. - out July 6

“The Charm Offensive” by Allison Cochrun (Bookshop | Kindle)

Weirdly, this is only one of the books I have on here about a reality TV show — this is strange because I don’t actually watch reality TV. It’s probably because it’s so manufactured, which means that a book looking at how they manufacture it…actually appeals. What can I say, I contain multitudes? This is the story of our awkward lead, Charlie, and his romance with Dev, the producer of the show he came onto to find love. Note: falling in love with the producer isn’t ideal when you have all those contestants around, waiting for their happy ending. I can’t wait to see how this love story goes off script. - out September 7

“The Paper Palace” by Miranda Cowley Heller (Bookshop | Kindle)

You’re probably not surprised to see this book on the list — yes, Reese Witherspoon has already endorsed it — and I love books about the shore. In “The Paper Palace,” we live through one single day with four friends on Cape Cod. There’s sex and intrigue, crime and repercussions, and the impact of these 24 hours has a far reach. Seems like a perfect book for a beach read with a Yeti full of wine. Just me? - out July 6

“So Many Beginnings” by Bethany C. Morrow (Bookshop | Kindle)

“Little Women” is one of those books that I’ve read more times than I can count, and I can’t help wanting to read adaptations of it. In “So Many Beginnings,” Bethany C. Morrow flips the story on it’s head, and our four sisters are actually living out the Civil War in the Freedpeople’s Colony for the recently emancipated. This feels like an important take on one of literatures most-beloved books, and I can’t wait to see the twist she puts on the March sisters lives. - out September 7

“The Comfort Book,” Matt Haig (Bookshop | Kindle)

It’s no secret that I loved “The Midnight Library” — it even made my top books of 2020 list, squeaking in at the last minute — and I was immediately intrigued when I saw that Matt Haig was coming out with another book so quickly after it’s release. This one is a little bit different though, but honestly, maybe more essential reading. Instead of a novel about depression, grief, and how we can overcome it, this is instead, the collection of things that Matt Haig has himself used to remind himself of the how weird and wonderful the world can be. - out July 6

“The Rehearsals” by Annette Christie (Bookshop | Kindle)

Can you imagine anything worse than being stuck in a time loop? What about a time loop with your ex, right after you called off your wedding…the night before it was supposed to happen? Yep, that’d be a nightmare for sure. In “The Rehearsals,” Annette Christie tells the story of Megan and Tom, who get trapped reliving the worst day of their life — all while wondering what happens when and if their wedding day arrives. - out July 13

“As Good as Dead” by Holly Jackson (Bookshop | Kindle)

I’ve read and enjoyed Holly Jackson’s earlier two books in this series, and so when I heard Pip was getting a third case to solve, it obviously went on the list. Teen detectives are a favorite genre of mine (too much Nancy Drew at a young age!), and Pip is one of the best I can remember reading. I can’t wait to see what happens to her next. - out September 28

“If the Shoe Fits” by Julie Murphy (Bookshop | Kindle)

Combining a fairy tale premise with a reality dating show and a body-positive message seems like a winning combination to me. Here, Cindy, a shoe-obsessed plus-sized woman, ends up an unwilling contestant on her stepmother’s reality TV dating show — and of course, falls in love with Prince Charming. This reminds me a little bit of “One to Watch” and “Spoiler Alert,” two smart and sexy romances I enjoyed reading last year, and I hope this one meets my expectations. - out August 3

“For Your Own Good” by Samantha Dowling (Bookshop | Kindle)

Things going awry at private schools is one of my favorite niche book genres, and combine that with interfering parents and meddling kids? I’m totally in. This is the story of Belmont Academy and a teacher who wants his students to succeed at any cost. Apparently, this psychological thriller has already been optioned by HBO Max, so I’m not the only one that thinks it sounds compelling. - out July 20

“Everyone in this Room will Someday be Dead” by Emily Austin (Bookshop | Kindle)

I’ll admit, I was immediately drawn to this one from the title — to paraphrase my mom, it’s harsh but true — and then I put it on my list after reading the description. This is the story of Gilda, who ends up accidentally accepting a job as a receptionist at a Catholic Church and then becomes obsessed with solving the mysterious death of the woman who held the job before her. - out July 6

“Velvet was the Night” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Bookshop | Kindle)

I can’t help but be totally impressed by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Not only is she an extremely talented author, but she’s also one of the most diverse in topic I can remember — taking a look at Mexican folklore, writing a gothic mid-century horror story, or, in her newest, telling the tale of a woman in the 1970s who disappears under the most mysterious of circumstances. She’s an automatic add to my TBR, and I can’t wait to see her take on this true-crime-esque tale. - out August 17

Very very close to making the list:

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