Look no further for your next read. The amount of great new books hitting shelves each month can be overwhelming so we’ve rounded up ten books coming out next month that both the NetGalley team and members can’t wait for. If you were approved for any of these books on NetGalley, you can read them directly in your NetGalley Shelf app. Don’t forget to leave a review!
The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James
Drawing loose inspiration from the life of her own great-grandfather, Elizabeth Gonzalez James kicks off the year with a family saga. Beloved Mexican actor and singer Jaime Sonoro uncovers a book in 1964 that reveals a violent family history—including that of the infamous Antonio, a bandido from the late 1800s. When he’s visited by a strange figure, he fears he may be the one who pays the price for his ancestor’s actions. Readers who enjoy westerns, magical realism, and books that plumb the depths of family ties won’t want to miss out.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
A professional con woman fights to stay one step ahead of her past in this gripping thriller—already named a Reese’s Book Club Pick. Everything in Evie Porter’s life is fake, even her name. Armed with her new identity, she follows the orders of her boss Mr. Smith and starts to move in on their mark: financial adviser Ryan Sumner. But the job quickly begins to go off the rails and strange occurrences lead her to believe that the entire plan might be a setup to trap her.
Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise
Anyone else plan on reading as many historical romances as they can while counting down to the new season of Bridgerton? If so you’ll want this Victorian romance featuring a spy and a railroad magnate on your TBR. Both Emily and Zach are leading dual lives: She’s a governess using her role to spy on the ton, and he’s splitting his time between balls and the hunt for a killer. When their paths cross, an electric connection sparks and soon they can’t stay away from each other.
A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel
Make room on your shelves for Sajni Patel’s Indian folklore-inspired YA fantasy retelling of the Medusa myth. Pratyush is a monster Slayer who dreams of a quiet life. When the King offers him freedom in exchange for killing one final monster, Pratyush accepts. It’s only later that he learns the monster is Manisha, the girl he wants to marry. But Manisha is changed. After surviving assault and attempted murder, she’s grown into a powerful Nagin with the ability to turn men to stone. Alternating between Manisha and Pratyush’s perspectives, Patel explores the idea of what it means to be a true monster.
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
Heather Fawcett continues the Emily Wilde series with a second installment following the titular faerie folklore scholar. When faerie assassins invade Cambridge in search of Emily’s former rival Wendell Bambleby—an exile faerie king—the two leap into action and begin a hunt for a door that will take them to Bambleby’s realm to cut ties with his murderous family once and for all. New readers, start with book one. Returning fans, get ready for another rollicking adventure!
Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj
Susan Muaddi Darraj’s debut weaves together interconnected stories to explore the lives of three Palestinian immigrant families living in Baltimore. In their own ways, members of each family find themselves torn between Palestinian and American cultures, expectations, and ways of life. In “A Child of Air,” a pregnant teenager decides to risk being shamed to keep her baby. In “Escorting the Body,” a U.S. Marine returns to Palestine to bury his father and reflects on how his father’s dreams for their family turned out. Readers who enjoy books about family dynamics, the immigrant experience, and the meaning of home will find a lot of love in these tales.
My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy
Brian D. Kennedy blends My Fair Lady with She’s All That in this new YA rom-com. Wade Westmore is out to win back his ex. Having been dumped for being too self-involved, he decides that showing how he cares about others is the perfect way to get back in his ex’s good graces. Enter Elijah Brady, a shy member of the musical’s stage crew. For Wade, giving Brady a makeover is a win-win—Brady gets the popularity he’s never experienced, and Wade proves he cares about other people. But as they grow closer, Wade realizes he may be falling for Brady.
Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar
If you swoon over fake relationship romances, Naina Kumar’s debut needs to be on your January reading list. Meghna Raman does not take the news of her best friend’s engagement well. She’s been harboring a crush on him for years, and the idea of showing up to his wedding alone is one she doesn’t want to face. Wanting to move on, she agrees to a setup from her parents and meets Karthik Murthy. Karthik is tired of his parents’ matchmaking endeavors, and after meeting Meghna the two realize that a fake engagement could help her survive the wedding and help him avoid further meddling from his parents.
The Silence in Her Eyes by Armando Lucas Correa
Fans of Rear Window are sure to be hooked by this psychological thriller. After living with akinetopsia (a neurological condition that causes motion blindness) for twenty years, Leah Anderson’s sense of smell and hearing are heightened. When she overhears her neighbor in a fight with her soon-to-be-ex husband, Leah grows concerned. In the following days, she could swear she hears her neighbor calling out for help and decides to take matters into her own hands.
Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
Pitched as a blend of The Handmaid’s Tale and Get Out, it’s no surprise that NetGalley members have been gravitating towards this dystopian Africanfuturist horror tale. Tlotlo Tsamaase explores bodily autonomy, oppression, and motherhood through the eyes of Nelah. In the aftermath of an accidental death, a desperate Nelah must do whatever it takes to hide the body and ensure that her police officer husband—who can access her memories via microchip—never uncovers the truth, lest he keep her from her unborn daughter.
Which January release are you most excited about?
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Stuff Your Shelves
I looked forward to the following releases:
1. DIVA (read it and loved it! I particularly recommend the audio)
2. The Heiress (read it and loved it)
3. The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years
4. A Fragile Enchantment (bought the book, will read it in Feb. I tried listening to the audio but I couldn’t connect. I think I will enjoy the paper version much better, especially since I receive a special edition 🙂 )
5. The Fury (read it.. what a disappointment)
6. The Clinic
7. Faebound
8. House of Flame and Shadows
9. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard (reading it now, great story so far)
10. Interesting Facts about Space
I DNF’ed Womb City. Way too futuristic and too much info dumping. I couldn’t keep up and my reading experience ended no longer being fun, so I gave up.