I already wrote a post like this in December, where I talked about my love for authors like Tiffany D. Jackson and N.K. Jemisin, but I discovered quite a few new authors last year, so I figured since this was this week’s TTT why not just post a part two!? These are all authors whose backlist I want to explore and have plans to read from in 2021.
Julie Berry
Lovely War was a book that took me by complete surprise. Its not a book I would ever have picked up on my own, so I am so thankful for my buddy reads on Instagram. It reminded me how original historical fictions can truly be. Julie Berry has quite a long backlist, but the tree books I am most intesting in are All the Truth That’s in Me, The Passion of Dolssa, and The Amaranth Enchantment. I have the audiobook of The Passion of Dolssa, so I think I will start there. Looking forward to exploring more of her work!
Stuart Turton
The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is one of my favourite mysteries of all time. It is such a unique premise and could have been really confusing and hard to follow, but Stuart Turton handled it perfectly. The Devil and the Dark Water was one of my most anticipated books of 2020, and I cannot believe I haven’t read it yet! The premise is so intriguing and if it is half as good as his debut, I am going to love it.
Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett is an author I had been meaning to read from for years, so I am thrilled that I finally got around to one in 2020 (The Dutch House) and I ended up really loving it. Patchett is another author with an extensive backlist, but Commonwealth, Truth & Beauty, State of Wonder, and Bel Canto are the ones I have heard the most about. I would love to get to a couple of them this year!
Bianca Marais
Hum If You Don’t Know the Words is a book that I really thought was incredible but don’t talk about enough! I even participated in a discussion of the book with the author and she was so thoughtful and friendly. We had a really interesting discussion about the book, which made me appreciate it all the more. I actually have a signed copy of her sophomore novel, If You Want to Make God Laugh, which so many people have told me they loved even more. Definitely picking it up this year!
Grady Hendrix
I read The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires and My Best Friend’s Exorcism in 2020, and I really loved how campy they were. I partly have Grady Hendrix to thank for making me realize that I do actually enjoy horror. I have plans to read Horrorstor in October, and I am really excited about it!
Vivek Shraya
Vivek Shraya is an underrated author and I want to read everything she has written and make more of an effort to talk about her books. The Subtweet was so nuanced and had a lot of important and relevant conversations about race and gender, and I knew as soon as I finished it that I had found a new favourite author. It also doesn’t hurt that she is Canadian. I remember I’m Afraid of Men received some attention, so I am looking forward to reading it, but I am also intrigued by She of the Mountains, which is a re-imagining of Hindi mythology and is also illustrated. Even This Page is White is a collection of poetry, which I don’t often pick up, but I trust that I will enjoy it because Shraya wrote it.
Courtney Summers
I finally read Sadie last year and I completely understand the hype. It is one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to! I cannot tell you how excited I am for the release of The Project, and I will definitely be listening to that on audio as well. I love the idea of books about cults, but I haven’t read many that I actually enjoyed, so I am curious to see what I will think! Cracked Up to Be is one of Courtney Summers older books, but it got a new cover and I am really intrigued.
Stephen Graham Jones
Much like Grady Hendrix, Stephen Graham Jones helped me to realize that I do indeed enjoy horror. The Only Good Indians continues to haunt me and I am so intrigued by the premise of Night of the Mannequins– there is something about Mannequins that really creeps me out! I didn’t realize that Jones had such an extensive backlist- it is overwhelming. If you have read any more of his work, I would love to know what you thought or where I should start.
Akwaeke Emezi
The Death of Vivek Oji is a book that I have come to appreciate more and more as time has gone on. Akwaeke Emezi is an incredible writer and they have thing exceptional abilities of creating memorable characters. It was one of the few books that made me cry in 2020. Pet is a book I included in my “Five Star Predictions” post, and Freshwater is high on my TBR- it received a lot of attention and praise the year it came out. Emezi has a memoir, Dear Senthuran, releasing this year, and it is one of my most anticipated books of 2021.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Mexican Gothic was one of the most talked about book of 2020, and I totally understand why. It was very atmospheric and creepy and one that haunts you for days after you finish it. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a pretty big backlist, but Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Beautiful Ones are the two that have been recommended to me most and that I want to read this year!
That is it! I would love to know what authors you discovered in 2020!
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