Best Books for Spring 2021
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner: What happens when one apothecary secretly distributes poisons to liberate women from the men who’ve wronged them? In The Lost Apothecary, the stories of three women across centuries collide in a tale of revenge by debut novelist Sarah Penner. Who is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews: The celebrated-but-anonymous author Maud Dixon (actually Helen Wilcox) is looking for an assistant. Florence Darrow is an entry-level editor who fancies herself a writer and has dreams of becoming a famous published author. She jumps at the chance to sign a non-disclosure agreement and work for full-of-wisdom famous Helen. But when Florence wakes up in the hospital after a crash—with Helen dead—she wonders what it would be like to assume her pseudonym and identity. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro: Set in a dystopian near future, Nobel laureate Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun follows a teenager’s “Artificial Friend,” who watches the world and reflects profoundly on human nature. Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay: True-crime buff? Pick up Finlay’s debut psychological thriller, Every Last Fear, which follows college student Matt Pine, whose family, made infamous by a viral true-crime documentary about his imprisoned brother, is found dead in Mexico. With only him and his brother still alive, Pine wonders if it’s all connected. It’s twisty and unputdownable and intensifies until the very end. The Restoration of Celia Fairchild by Marie Bostwick: Looking for an endearing read about the courage to start over? Celia is a fired advice columnist known as Dear Calpurnia who is now tasked with renovating the Charleston home of her estranged aunt, only to discover long-lost family members and the truth about herself through it all. Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff: An adventurous tale of misfit characters and a humble riverboat, Raft of Stars is set in the summer of 1994 after two boys confront an abusive father and flee to the Wisconsin Northwoods. Fans of Jane Smiley and William Kent Kruger will be dazzled by this coming-of-age debut. March 23 We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker: Whitaker’s literary thriller is a heartbreaking, emotional read that has gotten a ton of buzz, with television rights already sold. It centers around four characters: Vincent, who is released from prison 30 years after being convicted of killing a young girl; his now-police-chief childhood friend, Walker, who is reeling from the guilt of a testimony that put his friend away; Star, the sister of the girl who was killed, and Star’s daughter, Duchess, a 13-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw who must team up with Walk to handle the trouble that will soon hit their small coastal California town. March 23 Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia: Garcia’s debut looks at the way immigration shapes five generations of Latina women, including Cuban immigrant Carmen, who rehashes a troubled relationship with her mother, and Carmen’s daughter, Jeanette, who travels to Cuba for answers. March 30 The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton: Another debut author, this electrifying novel is set in 1970s New York and tells of the rise and fall of a fictional rock ’n’ roll duo, Afro-punk rocker Opal Jewel and her white partner, Nev Charles, with a fresh take on stardom, power and racial identity. March 30 Northern Spy by Flynn Berry: In a twisting thriller of espionage, competing loyalties and sisterhood, a Belfast BBC producer and her sister are caught in the middle of IRA conflicts. April 6 Caul Baby by Morgan Jerkins: Jerkins has written nonfiction in the past, but her latest novel follows Laila, who desperately wants a child, but whose previous pregnancies have ended in heartbreak. Laila turns to the Melancons, an old and powerful Harlem family whose healing abilities she hopes will help her become a mother. April 6 Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson: An addictive domestic suspense, Jackson’s latest asks how far a mother will go to protect her child. Bree’s infant son vanished. To get him back, she completes what seems like a harmless task and tangles herself in a web of tragedy and shocking secrets. April 6 Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny: If you long for a heartwarming novel with an oddball and charming cast of characters, pick up the latest from Heiny. In this witty novel, schoolteacher Jane moves to a small northern Michigan town and falls in love with divorced “Brawny Towel Man” Duncan—who comes with more than a few exes, neighbors and eccentric townspeople attached. Despite dysfunctional dinner parties and plenty of misunderstandings, Jane’s small-town connections only deepen over time. April 11 The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth: This is the story about twin sisters—one who’s barren and one who’s a neuro-atypical librarian who decides to have a baby for her barren sister—manipulation, sibling rivalry and madness lurking where you least expect it. April 13 What Comes After by Joanne Tompkins: Welcome to Washington state, where a small town and its families are grieving the death of two teenage boys, when a mysterious 16-year-old pregnant girl emerges, clearly hiding something. While there’s mystery at the heart of this book, Tompkins creates a relatable thrill with reflections on suffering, loss, anger and the powerful effects of forgiveness. April 13 World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever: Relentlessly curious traveler Bourdain began writing this book before his death in 2018. Co-authored by his longtime friend Woolever, World Travel showcases interesting, off-the-beaten-path places as experienced by the writer and television host himself. April 20 Anna K Away by Jenny Lee: OK, this is the much-awaited sequel to Jenny Lee’s retelling of Anna Karenina (Anna K) and begins after the shocking events of the first book. Anna, once the golden girl of Greenwich, Conn., is now swept away by her father to South Korea to connect with family and discover her roots. Meanwhile, back in the States, Lolly, Kimmie and Bea deal with their own relationships and struggles. April 27 Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead: In Great Circle, the epic and fateful stories of two women unfold—one of a female aviator who dreamed of circumnavigating the globe north to south and the other of a young Hollywood actress cast to play her a century later. Transport yourself to Prohibition-era Montana, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, New Zealand, wartime London and modern-day Los Angeles in this emotional—and epic!—story. May 4 The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave: A moving and suspenseful family drama (already picked up by Apple to star Julia Roberts), Hannah Hall’s husband, Owen, disappears, leaving a duffel bag full of cash and a note that reads “protect her,” about his teenage daughter who wants nothing to do with her new stepmother. They’re wary of the story the FBI is telling, but the two will have to discover the truth about Owen together, while creating a family of their own. May 4 Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau: Set in 1970s suburban Baltimore, Blau’s coming-of-age charmer will hit all of the nostalgia notes. When sheltered, responsible teenager Mary Jane spends the summer nannying for a free-spirited family in town, she’s introduced to a rock star couple and the realities of addiction, emotion, affection and adulthood. May 11 People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry: Beach Read author Henry is back with a classic friends-to-lovers tale about a travel writer planning a weeklong trip to win over the best friend she might be in love with. There’s the When Harry Met Sally witty banter and all the slow-burn yearning you could ask for. And sure, this is a story that will have you pining for travel, but more importantly, it’s a reminder that no matter where you are in the world, no matter the type of vacation, it’s the people (or person) you’re with that brings the most joy. May 11 While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams: The iconic Abrams (also a romance novelist, writing as Selena Montgomery) has written a ripped-from-the-headlines Washington legal thriller set within the halls of the U.S. Supreme Court. When a legendary Justice, and swing vote, is in a coma, a young law clerk named Avery must solve a series of clues left for her. May 11 The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz: If you liked HBO’s The Undoing (her previous novel, You Should Have Known, became the basis for the hit series), then you’ll be happy to know Hanff Korelitz has returned with a literary thriller filled with deceit and betrayal set in the publishing world, where a fame-hungry writer steals a book and a vindictive reader uncovers the truth. May 11 The Anatomy of Desire by LR Dorn: In this reimagining of Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy, authors (LR Dorn is the pen name for husband-and-wife screenwriting team, Matt Dorff and Suzanne Dunn) fictionalize a true crime docuseries with a doomed lovers trope, when social media star Cleo Ray, a bisexual young woman, is accused of murdering her girlfriend. May 11 Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid: The first book since her TV-bound best-seller Daisy Jones & the Six, Reid’s latest happens to be one of the most anticipated of the year—and rightfully so. Welcome to 1980s Malibu, where four siblings—the off-spring of notorious singer/playboy Mick Riva—throw their annual end-of-summer party (even Rob Lowe has been in attendance). But before the ill-fated night (literally) goes up in flames, generations of secrets, loves and yearnings will come bubbling to the surface, changing each of their lives forever. It’s a must-read. June 1 Next, check out Black history childrens’ books to add to your list.
