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With 2022 on the horizon, that means a whole new year of books! We’ve rounded up a list of ten fiction finds that we just can’t wait to get our hands-on. From romance to fantasy, and mystery to mayhem, this roundup has got it all.
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon (January 11, 2022)
Ari loves her job as a TV meteorologist but is ready to take her career to the next level. The only problem is that her manager is always in a frenzy over her failed relationship with her ex-husband, who also happens to be the station’s news director. When Ari turns to sports reporter Russell Barringer, the two come up with a plan to resolve their bosses’ issues by sending secret gifts and encouraging them back together. Along the way, Russell and Ari start to create chemistry of their own, causing a whole new type of storm to brew.
These Deadly Games by Diana Urban (February 1, 2022)
Someone is playing a game with Crystal Donovan and it’s anything but fun. When she opens a message that shows her sister being held hostage, she has no choice but to play along with the kidnapper’s requests. Although the tasks seem menial, like making a prank call and baking a batch of brownies, she quickly realizes that these assignments are designed to harm and kill her friends. But if she chooses not to go along with the exercises, it means her sister dies. Faced with the biggest dilemma of her life, Crystal must find a way to take over the game before everyone she knows is destroyed.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (February 22, 2022)
After abruptly leaving her job and feeling all alone, Jess decides that she needs a change. So, when she asks her half-brother Ben if she could come to stay with him in Paris for a bit, he reluctantly agrees. Once she arrives, she is pleasantly surprised with an extremely nice apartment, and concerningly shocked when she sees Ben isn’t there. As time passes and Ben does not return, Jess grows increasingly worried and begins to reach out to the neighbors. Not friendly, and not particularly helpful, Jess starts to piece together that someone knows what happened to Ben, and no one is talking.
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin (March 22, 2022)
Ning is riddled with sadness and guilt around the loss of her mother. After all, she is the one who brewed the tea that accidentally killed her. Now, this same poisonous tea is also threatening to end her sister’s life. When Ning finds out about a tea-making contest, she decides to compete, as the prize is a favor from the princess. Knowing this is her one shot to save her sister, she travels to the imperial city with Shu’s life on the line. The competition is brutal, with secrets, backstabbing and politics, but Ning is up for the game. Little does she know that she might just be the one who’s getting played.
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth (April 5, 2022)
Stephen Aston is ready to re-marry, even though his adult daughters are dead set against it. Rachel and Tully’s mom is still married to their dad but is unable to communicate due to suffering from dementia in a group home. Convinced that his bride-to-be Heather is nothing but a gold digger, his daughters are determined to stall the divorce and this marriage at all costs. To make matters worse, Heather is even younger than Tully, and they are afraid that she is the ultimate con artist after his money. But when everyone’s secrets start to get revealed, disturbing truths about their father leave them shaken.
Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (April 12, 2022)
The year is 1973 and Civil Townsend has just graduated nursing school in Montgomery, Alabama. Excited about contributing to the African American community in such a profound way, she accepts a job at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic. During her first week of work, she’s taken to a run-down cabin and presented with her new patients, Erica and India. Just children themselves, Civil is shocked and saddened to learn that despite never kissing a boy, they are both on birth control. As she embarks on a long career of stories that continue to haunt her, she realizes that things must change to break the cycle.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry (May 3, 2022)
As a literary agent, Norah’s life revolves around books. Although she rarely relates to the heroine in the stories, she will do anything for her baby sister. So, when Libby asks her to spend the month of August with her in Sunshine Falls, she can’t say no. What Norah was expecting were scenes straight from the novels, with picturesque landscaping and hot bartenders, but what she got was a repeated run-in from Charlie, an editor in the city. Not one to ignore coincidences, Norah starts to wonder if there’s more to these random encounters that will involve an interesting plot twist for them both.
Book of Night by Holly Black (May 3, 2022)
Charlie Hall knows that altering someone’s shadow can have dire consequences, like taking precious time off of one’s life. The shadow contains all of the deep, dark secrets and in that is a precious kind of power. Trying to escape the world of shadow trading, Charlie tries her best to get by with bartending and side jobs, but the past rears its ugly head when a sinister shadow from the past comes back to haunt her. Convinced she can beat out this demon, Charlie starts to spin into a spiral of chaos, putting everything, including her sister, at risk of being destroyed.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas (May 10, 2022)
Beatriz lost everything during the overthrow of the Mexican government, including her home and her father. Determined to never be homeless again, Beatriz doesn’t even hesitate to accept a proposal from Don Rodolfo Solórzano and move into Hacienda San Isidro. When Beatriz confides in Rodolfo’s sister Juana that she’s been hearing strange voices and having unsettling dreams, she dismisses her concerns, although she makes it a point to never enter the house at night. When Padre Andrés steps in to help, he has no choice but to rely on witchcraft to unearth the evil presence that is lurking about.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (July 5th, 2022)
Sadie Green and Sam Masur are catapulted into stardom when they create a blockbuster called Ichigo. At twenty-four, Sam and Sadie are rich and successful, known for their brilliant work in the film industry. But things take a turn for the worse when betrayals and creative ambitions stand in the way of the life they just started to build. Their story takes place over thirty years, from Massachusetts to California, and explores notions of identity, disability, failure, redemption, and connection.
Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter (July 12, 2022)
The only thing on Walker Abbott’s mind is getting his beloved grandmother better so that he can get out of Greenbelt, South Carolina. Aja is nothing short of embarrassed when she encounters Walker while having a meltdown at the grocery store one day. When she sees him again for a game of Bingo, they both know that this is more than just a mere coincidence. In an effort to keep his plan in place, a bingo-based sex pact is enacted to keep things as platonic as possible, but everyone knows that sometimes even the best-laid plans were made to be broken when it comes to the game of love.
Dele Weds Destiny by Tomi Obaro (July 12, 2022)
Funmi, Enitan, and Zainab have a long history of friendship, despite their differences and rocky pasts. Zainab’s boyfriend left her for Funmi and got Funmi pregnant before he was killed. Enitan is raising a daughter with a man who is very culturally different from her, causing tension in their relationship. Zainab destroyed her relationship with her father after falling in love with a friend of his. Thirty years later, the three women reunite for the first time in Lagos for Funmi’s daughter’s wedding. But as the big day nears, it becomes evident that something isn’t right. Equipped with wisdom from their pasts and the strong bonds that hold them together, the story unfolds with a vital decision to be made.
You’re Invited by Amanda Jayatissa (August 9, 2022)
Amaya is surprised to receive an invite to her former best friend Kaavi’s wedding in Sri Lanka after years of estrangement. She’s even more shocked to discover that Kaavi is marrying her ex-boyfriend, and knows that she must stop the wedding from happening no matter what. As the date approaches and Kaavi goes missing, all evidence points to Amaya. But each wedding guest is keeping secrets, and Amaya soon realizes that she might not be the only one intent on stopping this marriage at all costs.
The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas (September 6, 2022)
Rosie Graham just quit her well-paying job to focus on her career as a romance writer. She begins to question her decision when she’s hit with a terrible case of writer’s block. It seems like everything is falling apart – and then her apartment does. The ceiling crumbles, and Rosie is forced to use the spare key her best friend gave her when she left for a trip out of town. But when she gets there, she’s surprised to see it’s already occupied by Lina’s cousin, Lucas, a.k.a. Rosie’s secret crush. Lucas offers to share the space with her for the next six weeks and even proposes an idea to help her with her writer’s block: He’ll take her on sequence of experimental dates that will hopefully inspire more ideas. But they only have six weeks together before Lucas leaves New York. Will it be enough time for Rosie to meet her deadline and resolve her feelings for him?
People Person by Candice Carty-Williams (September 13, 2022)
Dimple Pennington is a thirty-year-old aspiring influencer with a small following and an awful boyfriend. Despite the fact that she has five half siblings, Dimple has never felt more alone in her life. But then a dramatic event reunites her with the rest of her family and forces them to reconnect with the absent father they never really knew. A heartwarming story about the experiences that tie us together and the true meaning of family.
Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer (September 20, 2022)
After hearing about the death of an old lover and experiencing sudden financial trouble, Arthur Less decides to avoid his problems by taking on several literary gigs that have him touring the United States. Accompanied by a constantly-changing group of eccentric writer friends, his pug Dolly, and a camper van named Rosina, Less struggles with his identity and is often mistaken for someone else (or for being a “bad gay”). But Less soon realizes that we can’t run from ourselves, and his only option is to face his demons and embrace who he truly is.
Which Side Are You On by Ryan Lee Wong (October 4, 2022)
At twenty-one years old, Reed has seen enough violence and discrimination against Black people. Frustrated and angry about the murder of a Black man at the hands of an NYPD officer, he considers dropping out of college and joining the Black Lives Matter movement. His mother, former leader of a Korean-Black coalition, urges him to reconsider his outrage and his role. As she and Reed travel around Los Angeles, discussing what it means to be an organizer, a student, an ally, an American, and a son, Reed has a revelation that will determine the course of his life.
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli (November 1, 2022)
Someday, Maybe is a devastating and powerful story about loss, love, and healing. When a woman discovers her husband has taken his own life, she must lean on her family to support her through the tragedy. She reflects on the love and light she experienced during her life with him, and begins an emotional journey packed with heartbreak, grief, and beautiful memories.
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman (November 8, 2022)
Edith and Ashley have been best friends for over four decades and have been there for each other through it all. But when Edith is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the two women must rely on their friendship to give them the strength they need to support each other and to say goodbye. With the help of her daughters, her ex-husband, her friends, and a variety of heartwarming hospice characters, Ash grapples with difficult truths and prepares for heartbreak like no other. A devastating but joyful and humorous meditation on love, life, and friendship.
The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang (November 15, 2022)
For years, Zadie and Finn were left baffled by their mother’s disappearance. Then one day, Finn remembers. Equipped with an uncanny ability to recall not only her own memories, but the memories of other people as well, she experiences the echo of a powerful memory of a woman singing a familiar song, and realizes that it belongs to her mother. And that her mother wants to be found. Zadie and Finn hit the road, using Finn’s abilities to track Nora. But it’s getting harder and harder for Finn to return to the present and to herself. Zadie must decide whether to risk using her sister’s abilities to find their mother – or else lose them both for good.
A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson (December 6, 2022)
Logan O’Hare has finally admitted he needs more help with his new restaurant, The Wharf. Unfortunately, his only viable option is Xavier Reynolds, a sarcastic prep chef who seems like he’d rather be anywhere else. Xavier just got dumped and was recently rejected by a prestigious fellowship, so moving back home to work in Harper’s Cove, Maine, seems like admitting defeat. And the fact that his new boss is a hot single father doesn’t ease the sting. But when an unexpected connection blossoms between the two, Logan and Xavier begin to explore the possibility – and the challenges – of being more than coworkers.
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