This week I’ve decided to take part in ‘Top Ten Tuesday’ hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl again. This week’s topic is ‘2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To’, and boy are there a lot of books published last year that I never get to pick up that I so wanted to.
A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer
Whilst I didn’t fall in love with the first book in this trilogy, I really enjoyed the second A Heart So Fierce and Broken, and it left the story in a really intriguing place. I can’t believe I didn’t pick this up last year and learn what was going to happen after that ending! To be truthful, I have no idea when I will get to this but I hope it’s soon, although I am a bit apprehensive about this seeing the reviews seemed to be varied.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
This is currently sitting on my bookcase, looking incredibly pretty but as of now still unread. This joins the massive trend of mythology retellings we’ve seen recently – think of Miller’s success – and considering how much I’ve enjoyed all the retellings I’ve read so far (other than The Silence of The Girls), I’m looking forward to this. Plus, seeing all the hype and glowing reviews surrounding this, and it’s obvious beauty, makes me feel like I’ve committed a crime by not picking it up yet, even though I have plans to get to it soon.
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
This is a YA fantasy that not only has a gorgeous cover, but is part of a series and according to reviews, lives up to all the hype surrounding it. It centres on 17 year old Kiva as she works as a prison healer in a notoriously dangerous prison, tasked with keeping a terminally ill inmate alive to face the Trail by Ordeal, but everything changes when Kiva receives a message with one, single order. It’s a very intriguing premise and I hope if I do get to pick it up this year, the book will remain as it sounds.
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
Again, another book that seemed to be everywhere in bookstore last year, and again, a book I bought and then never read. I’m hoping I’ll actually get to start this trilogy this year as I’ve seen nothing but great reviews for this first instalment. However, I am going to need to finish some series first before I start this journey, otherwise I’m going to finish the year with more unfinished series than I had at the start.
The Wolf and The Woodsman by Ava Reid
So, I technically started this last year and then put it down as life happened and I just didn’t have the energy or time to read then. However, I know from what I did read, I’m most likely going to really enjoy this, and it was great to read a novel that touched on how the ideas of nation was forged in violence, blood and discrimination in a way that didn’t shy away from the brutality of it all at any point. I’m hoping this is going to remain a great 2021 release in my mind once I get the chance to pick it up again.
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
I read Empire of Sand, the first in a duology by Suri in 2020 and really enjoyed it (read my spoiler-free review here), and whilst I still haven’t finished that duology I did pick up the first instalment in her new trilogy. This sounds fantastic, and the reviews I’ve seen are glowing, so there’s no real excuse for not reading the book this year.
The Ones We’re Meant To Find by Joan He
I mentioned this in a recent Christmas wishlist post, and I have still not picked this up. I was initially attracted to this book due it’s cover, but it’s premise is fantastic too; it follows separated twins, one now stuck on an abandoned island with no memories of her she is, and the other a prodigy in her eco-city who now decides to retrace her missing sister’s last steps. I really want to read this soon as this grip this has on me isn’t weakening.
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
I’ve not read a single book by Rooney yet, which seems a bit odd considering she has taken the world by storm. This one seems to follow the lives, love and heartbreaks of four young people, and appears to be encapsulating all of what I’m feeling in my early twenties. I picked this hardcover up for half price a few months ago and still have not found time to read it, I’m hoping like many others on my list I’ll get a chance to read it sooner rather than later.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
After reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo last year, I decided it was finally time to start exploring Reid’s other works, and where better to start than her 2021 release? This is currently occupying a nice bit of real estate on my bookcase, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to at least start it this year, as realistically I know I won’t be getting at it this winter.
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
I really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club when I read it almost a year ago now, and I was really excited to also find this hardcover on half price. Despite my initial excitement, I never got to this one either and I’m not entirely sure why. It follows Elizabeth as she contacted by an old colleague played by a mistake involving stolen diamonds, violent mobsters and a threat against his life. Soon, the whole club is roped in to help, except this time they face a threat who definitely isn’t scared to knock off four pensioners.
Moonlit Books 
Don’t feel bad, I haven’t read any of those either! 😀 Then again, I’m not really interested in these, I think. But I believe in you. You can totally read them if you really want! 😀
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Thank you for leaving a comment that made me laugh 😂
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Great list! I know I’ve got dozens of books that I wanted to get read and didn’t get to or ones that I started and then moods and life happened. I can’t wait to read Rooney’s book (which was also on my list today!) as well as Ariadne and The Jasmine Throne! I loved TWOMTF and I hope you love it too 😍Happy reading!
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I really enjoyed Ariadne and Malibu Rising! There’s several on this list that I haven’t read but meant to. I do hope that you are able to get to some, if not all, of these this year!!
My Top Ten
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Ariadne has been on lots of lists this week. I hope you find time for it soon!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-2021-releases-i-was-excited-to-read-but-didnt-get-to/
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THE ONES WE’RE MEANT TO FIND is one I really, REALLY meant to read last year as well. Didn’t happen somehow. This year, for sure. I hope we both enjoy it!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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Love the cover of Ariadne. I read Malibu Rising last summer, was a tad underwhelmed but that’s okay. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/2022-resolutions-and-goals/
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