The Newest Novels we Can’t Wait to Read
At the intersection of spring break and Women’s History Month, we’ve rounded up five of the most anticipated reads– all authored by women.
Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne
Another modern day retelling of a Jane Austen classic? In Payne’s hands, we have a feeling we won’t be able to put it down. Entertainment Weekly named this recently released book to their list of highly anticipated 2024 books. We agree. From EW:
“Nikki Payne (Pride and Protest) is back with another Jane Austen retelling, this time inspired by Sense and Sensibility. When Nora’s father dies, she and her sister are left with nothing but a dilapidated inn in backwoods Maine that they must revamp on a deadline or risk losing everything. Nora’s path collides with Native Abenaki eco-tour guide Ennis “Bear” Freeman, who expects the two city girls to give up quickly. But as Nora shows her true mettle, Bear can’t help but fall for her, even as his silence about his past threatens to send Nora packing. In Sex, Lies, and Sensibility, Payne takes Austen’s eye for social satire and couches it within the added layer of race in America, giving a potent political backdrop to her love stories.”
Wander Woman by Beth Santos
Even if our next vacation is taking us simply to our backyard, we all dream of traveling to far flung locales right? Author Beth Santos, whose book “Wander Woman” comes out in March wants that for us too. From Publisher’s Weekly:
“The founder of the online travel community Wanderful believes any woman who wants to travel can do so with the proper mindset. By dispelling conventional ideas of who travel is for—the white and the wealthy, for instance—Santos hopes to inspire women of all backgrounds to picture themselves out in the world. She weaves personal anecdotes—for instance, getting a lesson in so-called “swimsuit bodies” on a beach in Rio—with practical concerns including budgeting, safety, building a support network, and becoming comfortable eating alone.”
The Book of Love by Kelly Link
Time Magazine ranked this book on its 25 Most Anticipated Books of 2024. Link is already a Pulitzer Prize finalist–and we can’t wait to see what she does with her debut novel. From Time:
“In her highly anticipated debut novel, Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link takes readers on a surreal journey to a fictional coastal town in Massachusetts. It’s been nearly a year since teenagers Laura, Daniel, and Mo disappeared and were later presumed dead—leaving Laura’s sister Susannah grieving and alone. But then the impossible happens: the trio, alongside another older spirit, are resurrected by a mystical being the kids previously knew as their high-school music teacher. The four formerly deceased characters are forced to compete in a series of high-stakes magical challenges. The winners get to stay alive—and the losers will be sent back to the realm of the dead. Link weaves together elements of horror, fantasy, and magical realism in a twisting, turning, and often whimsical tale.”
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
Kiley Reid follows up her critically acclaimed novel “Such a Fun Age” with her latest. Refinery29 is just as excited as us to read her second outing, placing the book on its top reads for 2024 list. From Refinery29:
“The author of Such A Fun Age is back with a tension-filled novel about money, privilege and bad behavior.
Millie Cousins is desperate to graduate, get a job and buy a house. So when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor and writer, offers her a unique opportunity, she jumps at the chance.
But soon, Millie's life-changing opportunity could be in jeopardy.”
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
If you want to get in on a book club read with your tween, this new YA read, out in March, will give you something to talk about after a long beach day. Entertainment Weekly also gave this new novel a thumbs up. From EW:
“Venus Stoneheart is breaking the law. Making love potions is a crime punishable by death, but it’s the only way she can support her family. After her mother is murdered, Venus is given the chance to brew these dangerous and illegal substances — while getting back at those who killed her mother. She takes it. Bethany Baptiste’s YA debut The Poisons We Drink explores how far we will go to keep our loved one safe as Venus brews poisonous potions to use against influential figures in DC.”
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