As we’re about to turn the page to a new year, some incredible literary works are already scheduled to be released in 2024. In this article, we have browsed through the New Yorker’s list of the most anticipated books and have selected ten titles that have piqued our interest the most. So, get ready to add some new books to your reading list.
Piglet
by Lottie Hazell
Expected publication: February 27, 2024
Piglet seems to have a good life: she’s an up-and-coming cookbook editor at a London publishing house, she’s got friends, and she’s got Kit, a handsome fiancé. She still can’t shake the old nickname, though. Things go the wrong way when Kit confesses betraying her two weeks before their wedding. That’s when Piglet finds herself hungry and irrational. We think that you should add the book to your list, as it’s a very clever read, exceptionally beautifully written. It’s an example of a delicious exploration of desire, hunger, and self-discovery through the lens of food and marriage.
Florida Water: Poems
by Aja Monet
Expected publication: March 26, 2024
The next book on our list is a collection of poems that explores the “myriad ways a poem can rinse.” In Florida Water: Poems, Aja Monet tells the story of traveling to South Florida for love, connection, and community. Poetry is probably not the first thing you usually add to your new reading list every year. However, if you want a very different, very challenging read about gender, race, migration, and spirituality, this book should be there. Take this chance to discover the beauty of poetry and embark on a journey of self-discovery with Florida Water: Poems.
The Book of Love
by Kelly Link
Expected publication: February 8, 2024
Next, how about some teen fiction from a bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link? Ok, maybe you’re not a YA literature fan, but we’re positive The Book of Love hasn’t been described as “a dream ride you will never forget” and “an incredible achievement” for no reason (even though Kirkus reviewers suggest that it could have been a bit shorter). You can decide for yourself whether the story of three teenagers trying to get their lives back after returning from the dead and dealing with supernatural powers is to your liking.
In Ascension
by Martin MacInnes
Expected publication: February 2, 2024
In In Ascension, we have a microbiologist’s investigation of a deep vent in the ocean floor and her own life. Leigh used to turn to the waterfront when she grew up in Rotterdam. It was her personal way of escaping her unhappy day-to-day life. She’s now a marine biology scientist, an expert in algae, who travels the world to study ancient organisms. A trench is discovered in the Atlantic Ocean, which leads her to the Mojave desert and an ambitious new space agency. The discovery presents her with a difficult choice: to either embark on a journey and develop an algae-based food system for an upcoming deep-space launch or stay with her family. This book is not a light read, but if you’re looking for a blend of deep-sea and far-space travel intertwined with personal responsibilities, In Ascension is a direct hit.
Liars
by Sarah Manguso
Expected publication: July 23, 2024
Liars is “A searing novel about being a wife, a mother, and an artist, and how marriage makes liars out of us all.” If we try to summarize the plot, it’ll be something like this: Jane is a writer who marries John, a filmmaker. Years of marriage and motherhood make her sacrifice her artistic identity for his sake. When he cheats on her and leaves her, she has to rebuild her life and career from the ruins of their marriage. Sounds simple, but it is not. There’s so much more in the book, so we do recommend adding it to your list and reading it once it’s fresh from print. It’s a beautiful reflection of the life of a woman artist.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping
by Sangu Mandanna
Expected publication: September 10, 2024
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping tells the story of Sera Swan, a witch who once had immense power. Unfortunately, she lost most of her magical abilities after bringing her great-aunt Jasmine back from the dead. She now helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire where she has to deal with peculiar guests and a semi-villainous talking fox. Sera is constantly longing for the magical future she once had. However, she later discovers an old spell book that could help her regain her power and turns to Luke Larsen, a historian who can help her decipher the book’s secrets. Interestingly, Luke happens to be her one-night stand from years ago. If you’ve been looking for some magical-cozy-lovely goodness, here it is. If you’ve read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and liked it, this is it, again!
The Divorcées
by Rowan Beaird
Expected publication: March 19, 2024
The Divorcées will take you back to the world of the 1950s. You’ll be transferred exactly to Reno, Nevada, where several women came to find freedom from their unhappy marriages. The story revolves around Lois, who believed that marriage would bring her happiness but finds herself trapped. In Reno, divorce over unhappiness is possible (despite the fact that divorce is illegal in the US in the 50s in general), and Lois comes to live with other women on a ranch for six weeks while waiting for it to be finalized. While there, she meets Greer Lang, a mesmerizing woman who doesn’t let societal norms dictate her life. Greer’s influence inspires Lois to push the boundaries and live on her own terms. If you want a story about women’s journey towards independence and self-discovery amidst the societal restrictions of the 1950s, give this book a try.
Expiration Dates
by Rebecca Serle
Expected publication: March 5, 2024
The story in Expiration Dates revolves around Daphne Bell, who thinks that the universe has a plan for her when it comes to love. Whenever she meets a new man, she gets a slip of paper with his name and a number on it, which tells her how long they will stay together. The slips have predicted her romantic relationships for over twenty years, but she still hopes for a relationship without an expiration date. One day, Daphne meets Jake on a blind date, and the paper only has his name on it. Could this be it? Could this be true love? Yet as their relationship unfolds, Daphne starts questioning the slip’s predictions and struggles with telling Jake the truth about her past, which could hurt him. Whether you’re single or in a relationship at the moment, we bet you’ll find the story a fascinating read exploring the meaning of love and commitment and how we define them for ourselves.
Real Americans
by Rachel Khong
Expected publication: April 30, 2024
Real Americans is set to be published in April 2024. Here’s what to expect: in the year 2000, Lily, a girl from a poor Chinese immigrant family, falls in love with Matthew, the heir of a pharmaceutical company. Fast forward to 2021, and Lily is a single mother raising her son Nick. When Nick decides to find his biological father, he’s about to face a great number of questions about identity, belonging, and forgiveness. The story is very American, and it explores important topics like race, class, and what shapes who we are. If a moving tale about trust, forgiveness, and finding your way back home is something that sounds appealing to you, don’t miss this book when it’s fresh from print.
Cahokia Jazz
by Francis Spufford
Expected publication: February 6, 2024
Finally, the last on our today’s list is the new story from the bestselling author of Golden Hill. Set in 1922 in the fictional city of Cahokia, Cahokia Jazz explores the history of the United States, where things have gone a little differently. The author’s “what if” scenario is based on the idea that the smallpox that arrived with European settlers was variola minor, which conferred immunity on those who contracted it. This led to a thriving Native-led US state in 1922. However, on a snowy night, two detectives find a body on the roof of a skyscraper, and this incident might be the end of peace in Cahokia. We think you should give the book a try, as it’s a brilliant noir, full of jazz, fog, cigarette smoke, darkness, and danger.
