1

Roelia Reads: Most Anticipated Books of 2024

Hello, book lovers!

As we approach the end of 2023, I’m sure you’re all eager to know what books are coming out in 2024 that you should add to your reading list. Well, I’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking for a new adventure, a fresh perspective, or a dose of inspiration, I do hope you’ll find something here that will suit your taste.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the books in 2024 that I look forward to, sorted alphabetically.  All information, descriptions and cover images are borrowed from Goodreads.

Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González

Expected publication date March 2024

“1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten―certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret.

But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.

Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both women, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite.”

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

Expected publication date April 2024

I received an ARC copy from Jonathan Ball Publishers, so excited!

“Blue Sisters tells the story of three exceptional – and exceptionally different – sisters as they return to their family home in New York from their respective lives in Paris, London and LA in the wake of the death of their beloved fourth sister. As they are reunited whilst attempting to cope with this terrible loss, they must navigate addiction, grief and ambition and learn what it takes to fall in love with life again.”

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Expected publication date February 2024

I haven’t read any of Ali Hazelwood’s books yet.  This one sound quite intriguing and looks to be quite different from her other books.

“A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.”

Bringer of Dust (The Talents Trilogy #2) by J.M Miro

Expected publication date June 2024

I throughly enjoyed the first book in The Talents Trilogy, Ordinary Monsters.  Review: Ordinary Monsters (The Talents Trilogy #1) by J.M. Miro

There doesn’t seem to be much information available yet, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

 

 

Clover Hendry’s Day Off by Beth Morrey

Expected publication date January 2024

Beth Morrey’s previous book, Em & Me was a five-star read for me – Looking Back: March 2022 Books Read.  I’m seriously excited about “Clover Hendry’s Day Off”

“A hilarious and empowering perimenopausal Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, about Clover Hendry, 46, and the day she decides to stop keeping the plates spinning, say F@#! it all, and finally get hers.

Today is not the day to mess with Clover Hendry.

Clover hasn’t said “No” a day in her life. Until today. Normally a woman who tips her hairdresser even when the cut is hideous, is endlessly patient with her horrendous mother, and says yes every time her boss asks her to work late—today, things are going to be very different. Because Clover is taking the day off. Today, she’s going to do and say whatever she likes, even if it means her whole life unravels.

What made Clover change her ways? Why doesn’t she care anymore? There’s more to this day than meets the eye.

Clover Hendry’s Day Off is a joyful, raging, galvanizing story about putting life on pause, pleasing yourself, and getting your own back. Whatever it takes. Because when Clover stops caring, she can start living.”

Come and Get it by Kiley Reid

Expected publication date January 2024

“From the celebrated New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age comes a fresh and provocative story about a residential assistant and her messy entanglement with a professor and three unruly students.

It’s 2017 at the University of Arkansas. Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant, wants to graduate, get a job, and buy a house. So when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor and writer, offers Millie an easy yet unusual opportunity, she jumps at the chance. But Millie’s starry-eyed hustle becomes jeopardised by odd new friends, vengeful dorm pranks and illicit intrigue. A fresh and intimate portrait of desire, consumption and reckless abandon, Come and Get It is a tension-filled story about money, indiscretion, and bad behavior.”

Fangirl Down (Big Shots #1) by Tessa Bailey

Expected publication date February 2024

Tessa Bailey is another romance author that I haven’t had the opportunity to read yet.  But yes, I’m saying “yet”!  The promise of a new series is a good time to start, don’t you think?

“Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life. Josephine Doyle believed in the gorgeous, grumpy golfer, even when he didn’t believe in himself. Yet after he throws in the towel, she begins to wonder if her faith was misplaced. Then a determined Wells shows up at her door with a wild be his new caddy, help him turn his game around, and split the prize money. And considering Josephine’s professional and personal life is in shambles, she could really use the cash… As they travel together, spending days on the green and nights in neighboring hotel rooms, sparks fly. Before long, they’re inseparable, Wells starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath his gruff, growly exterior. This hot man wants to brush her hair, feed her snacks, and take bubble baths together? Is this real life? But Wells is technically her boss and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculous… right?”

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Expected publication date April 2024

Having devoured Emily Henry’s “People We Meet on Vacation”, “Happy Place” and “Book Lovers” how can I not be excited about “Funny Story”?? Review: People We Meet on Vacation (short), What I read: Happy People by Emily Henry, Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

“A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads —Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?”

Love at First Flight by Jo Watson

Expected publication date January 2024

I loved the witty banter and sexual tension in Jo’s previous book, “What Happens on Vacation”, and we can all do with a little more romance in our lives, not so? What I read: What Happens on Vacation by Jo Watson

“Things Pippa enjoy: her job, airplanes, synonyms and tropical fish.

Things Pippa does not enjoy: repeating patterns, tight clothes, people asking why she’s single and school reunions.

After four months of only speaking over intercom, when air-traffic controller Pippa Edwards finally meets pilot Andrew Boyce-Jones face-to-face, they discover they’ve got much more in common than simply working at the same airport. In fact . . . they both need a date. Tired of every relationship ending before it’s even begun, Pippa wants to evade the inevitable questions at her dreaded ten-year school reunion in Cape Town. And Andrew needs to get his well-meaning family off his back about settling down. The solution seems simple. A pact – a fake dating pact – for as long as it’s mutually beneficial. It’s perfect.

Or at least it would be if their very real attraction wasn’t about to make Pippa question everything she thought she wanted. . .”

Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford

Expected publication date January 2024

“A huge-hearted, redemptive coming-of-old-age tale, a love story, and an ode to good food

Nothing could be more out of character, but after fifty-nine years of marriage, as her husband Bernard’s health declines, and her friends’ lives become focused on their grandchildren—which Jenny never had—Jenny decides she wants a little something for herself. So she secretly applies to be a contestant on the prime-time TV show Britain Bakes.

Whisked into an unfamiliar world of cameras and timed challenges, Jenny delights in a new-found independence. But that independence, and the stress of the competition, starts to unearth memories buried decades ago. Chocolate teacakes remind her of a furtive errand involving a wedding ring; sugared doughnuts call up a stranger’s kind act; a simple cottage loaf brings back the moment her life changed forever.

With her baking star rising, Jenny struggles to keep a lid on that first secret—a long-concealed deceit that threatens to shatter the very foundations of her marriage. It’s the only time in six decades that she’s kept something from Bernard. By putting herself in the limelight, has Jenny created a recipe for disaster?”

Image from the author’s website

My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes

Expected publication date April 2024

The new Marian Keyes!  Do I need to say more?  I have read “Rachel’s Holiday” and “Again, Rachel” (see my Goodreads review) 

“Anna has just lost her taste for the Big Apple…

Anna has a life to envy. An apartment in New York. A well-meaning (too well-meaning?) partner. And a high-flying job in beauty PR.

Who wouldn’t want all that? Anna – it turns out.

Turning a minor mid-life crisis into a major life event she bins the lot, heads back to Ireland, and gets a PR job for a super-high-end coastal retreat.
Tougher than it sounds. Newsflash: the locals hate it.
So much so, there have been threats – and violence.

Anna, however, worked in the beauty industry.
There’s no ugliness she hasn’t seen. No wrinkle she can’t smooth over.
Anna’s got this.

Until she discovers that leaving New York doesn’t mean escaping her mistakes.
Once upon a time she’d had a best friend.
Once upon a time she’d loved a man.
Now she has neither.
And now she has to face them.

We all make mistakes.
But when do we stop making the same one over and over again?”

Tales of the Celestial Kingdom (The Celestial Kingdom #2.5) by Sue Lynn Tan

Expected publication date February 2024

The first book in this series, “Daughter of the Moon Goddess”, was simply wonderful! Although I don’t have the second book, “Heart of the Sun Warrior” yet – I already have my eye on this one!  Review Snippet: Daughter of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

“Sue Lynn Tan’s highly acclaimed, bestselling Celestial Kingdom duology is expanded with this new compilation of stories from before, during, and after the events in Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior, all from the perspectives of beloved characters and illustrated by Kelly Chong.

Return to the Immortal Realm, a world of gods, magic, and legendary creatures—and embark upon new adventures of valor, danger, and love.

Tales from the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories—two previously published, seven original, including the epilogue to the duology—set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.

With beautiful illustrations from Kelly Chong throughout, these wondrous tales make the perfect complement to Sue Lynn Tan’s breathtaking series.”

Ten Seconds (Ben Harper #3) by Robert Gold

Expected publication date March 2024

Ben Harper has quickly become one of my favourite protagonists,So naturally I am keen to add “Ten Seconds” to my reading list in 2024. Ben Harper #1 Review Snippet: Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold and Ben Harper #2 What I read: Eleven Liars by Robert Gold

“More than a decade ago, Madeline Wilson established herself as one of the most controversial and successful figures in modern British media. Even so many years later, she is best remembered as the figure behind a twelve-month public campaign against a man the police failed to convict of murder, which ended in a re-trial and conviction for manslaughter. Now, he has just been released.

After a night out in late February with her father, Sam, and Ben, Madeline is kidnapped. What follows is a chase, as Ben and Sam seek to uncover the kidnapper, and the truth behind the original case all those years ago. But time is running out, and soon it’s not just Madeline’s life at risk.”

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Expected publication date April 2024

Another popular author whose books I haven’t read yet.  Being a keen reader of historical fiction, this sounds right up my alley!

“From the New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House, Hell Bent, and creator of the Grishaverse series comes a highly anticipated historical fantasy set during the Spanish Golden Age

In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.”

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Expected publication date January 2024

Another author that I haven’t read yet, “The Silent Patient” has been on my reading list for way too long!

“A masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder ― from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient.

This is a tale of murder.

Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island.

I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

But who am I?

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.”

The Lost Lover (Wild Isle #3) by Karen Swan

Expected publication date May 2024

I’ve been enjoying this series (The Last Summer #1 and The Stolen Hours #2) so much.  Can’t wait to see what’s next in store!  Review: The Last Summer by Karen Swan and What I Read: The Stolen Hours by Karen Swan

“Young Flora MacQueen has always dreamed of more than a hard life on the small Scottish island of St Kilda. And when she catches the eye of visiting adventurer and wealthy businessman James Callaghan her future seems brighter.

Only, as the islanders prepare to leave their homes for the final time, Flora finds her dreams shattered. With her beauty her only currency she must step forward in ways that would have been unthinkable back home in order to support her family. Soon Flora is the toast of glamorous Paris. Fame and fortune are hers for the taking but she knows only too well by now that rich men make empty promises.

But then a secret comes to light that will change everything . . .”

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Expected publication date June 2024

The previous Lucy Foley book, The Paris Apartment, has been an intriguing and thrilling read. I’m sure this one will be just as good, if not better!  (See my TikTok video here)

“The deliciously twisty new locked room murder mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List and The Paris Apartment.

Welcome to the opening weekend of The Manor

A luxury resort built on top of old secrets in an ancient wood

THE FOUNDER

THE LOVER

THE MYSTERY GUEST

THE KITCHEN HELP

THE DETECTIVE

All have an agenda. All have a past. But not everyone will survive….

The Midnight Feast”

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang

Expected publication date February 2024

“From bestselling authors Janie Chang and Kate Quinn, a thrilling and unforgettable narrative about the intertwined lives of two wronged women, spanning from the chaos of the San Francisco earthquake to the glittering palaces of Versailles.

San Francisco, 1906. In a city bustling with newly minted millionaires and scheming upstarts, two very different women hope to change their fortunes: Gemma, a golden-haired, silver-voiced soprano whose career desperately needs rekindling, and Suling, a petite and resolute Chinatown embroideress who is determined to escape an arranged marriage. Their paths cross when they are drawn into the orbit of Henry Thornton, a charming railroad magnate whose extraordinary collection of Chinese antiques includes the fabled Phoenix Crown, a legendary relic of Beijing’s fallen Summer Palace.

His patronage offers Gemma and Suling the chance of a lifetime, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a devastating earthquake rips San Francisco apart and Thornton disappears, leaving behind a mystery reaching further than anyone could have imagined . . . until the Phoenix Crown reappears five years later at a sumptuous Paris costume ball, drawing Gemma and Suling together in one last desperate quest for justice.”

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Expected publication date April 2024

Holly Jackson’s “Five Survive” was a thrill ride of note. What I read: Five Survive by Holly Jackson Keen to see what she’s got in store for us!

“From the author of the multimillion bestselling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and Five Survive comes a new true-crime fueled mystery thriller about a girl determined to uncover the shocking truth about her missing mother while filming a documentary on the unsolved case.

Lights. Camera. Lies.

18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .

From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about one girl’s search for the truth, and the terror in finding out who your family really is.”

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Expected publication date February 2024

Earlier this year I experienced Kristin Hannah’s knack for beautiful and emotional storytelling, I immediately move her to my list of ‘must read’ authors.  What I Read: Another Life by Kristin Hannah

“The missing. The forgotten. The brave… The women.

From master storyteller Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, comes the story of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s. The Women is that rarest of novels—at once an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics, of a generation both fueled by dreams and lost on the battlefield.

“Women can be heroes, too.”

When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyric beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation.”

Tannie Maria Recipe Book by Sally Andrew

(I am not sure of title – expected publication date May 2024)

The reason I’m mentioning this, although I don’t have much information yet, is because the Tannie Maria mysteries is one of my favourite series.  Tannie Maria is a national treasure, and I am absolutely thrilled at the idea of a recipe book, containing all of this beloved fictional character’s homemade treats and meals, will be published in 2024.

What I read: Recipes for Love and Murder (#1 Tannie Maria Mysteries) by Sally Andrew PLUS favourite quotes

Wisteria (Belladonna #3) by Adalyn Grace

Expected publication date August 2024

When I read “Belladonna”, I was absolutely obsessed with it.   Unfortunately, I don’t have a copy of “Foxglove” (Belladonna #2) yet, but I will be sure to read it before “Wisteria” hits the shelves.  Review: Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

“#1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace delivers a sensational conclusion to the deathly and decadent Belladonna trilogy, with dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers’ hearts ablaze.

Blythe Hawthorn has never let anyone tell her what to do—not society, not her overprotective father, and certainly not the man she’s bound herself to, no matter how rude and insufferable he is. In fact, she’s determined to be a thorn in his side for the rest of her days, even as he ensures that her new life in his palace is anything but a fairytale. But as Blythe discovers a new side to herself that links her to his past, she’ll have to ask herself if she’s willing to let an unexpected spark ignite…and if she’s willing to discover the truth about her past.” (quoted from the author’s website) 

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

Expected publication date March 2024

“From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER.

“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.

“Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.

King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.”

Which of these books are you excited to read in 2024?

I based this list on information available on Goodreads, so publication dates may differ from country to country.