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- 27 Books to Keep An Eye Out For This Year
27 Books to Keep An Eye Out For This Year
Calling all fiction lovers! Our specially-curated list of fiction books across ages is just what you need to make your day. Presenting to you, the best fiction novels of 2021:
FOR ADULTS
The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
An exquisite love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, and a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s unforgettable novel brings alive one of the most fearless women of the nineteenth century, an inspiration for our times.
The book that will define a decade, with rights sold in 27 territories, read this book before the TV show comes out, directed by Johan Renck of Chernobyl fame. Beautifully written and incredibly powerful, Girl A is a story of redemption, of horror, and of love.
The first-ever book in verse by Amitav Ghosh, Jungle Nama evokes the wonder of the Sundarban through its poetry, accompanied by stunning artwork by the renowned artist Salman Toor. This is an illuminated edition of a fabulous folk tale that every book lover will want to possess.
Spark Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi
An Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low.
Club You to Death by Anuja Chauhan
With Club You to Death, bestselling author of Those Pricey Thakur Girls, Anuja Chauhan brings us her patented mix of laugh-out-loud humour and toe-tingling romance… this time, with a dollop of spine-chilling suspense.
Write Me A Love Story by Ravinder Singh
At each other’s throats, Abhimanyu and Asmita are as different as can be. But in spite of their differences, fate has something else in store, and soon, the two find themselves in love… the King of Romance returns with a brand-new novel to make your heart swoon!
Releasing April 2021
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird
Isabel, Anna, Beth, and Maggie are women who aren’t afraid to take it all—they are sexy, determined, and not looking for a simple happily ever after. Through punchy, hilarious, and insightful storytelling, The End of Men shatters the confines of society, and more importantly, those we impose upon ourselves.
Releasing April 2021
What Do You See When You Look in the Mirror? by Nikita Singh
A young couple decides to die together when they are old; but when it’s time, the husband isn’t done living his life. A woman tries to save her relationship after cheating. A man finds that he is no longer understood by his closest friends.
Bestselling author Nikita Singh returns with stories that explore the idea of loyalty and commitment, and visits the complicated inner lives of everyday people.
Releasing May 2021
Lahore: The Partition Trilogy (volume 1) by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
From an award-winning storyteller comes a riveting, large canvas historical novel, the first in a series of three, set in the year of Independence and Partition.
Coming soon!
Everything Breaks by Tavleen Singh
Tavleen Singh narrates a story of love, loss and redemption against the backdrop of a society in churn in this compelling first novel.
Coming soon!
The Illuminated: A Novel by Anindita Ghose
An extraordinary first novel that is a superbly nuanced, intricately detailed study of two women, a mother and a daughter, who drift apart and reconnect even as their lives unravel in the wake of a family tragedy and the all-too-righteous world around them becomes increasingly intrusive.
Coming soon!
FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS
The Germ Academy by Rea Mukhtyar Malhotra and Shahena Zaveri (Fiction | Picture book)
The Germ Academy, a brilliantly illustrated picture book by Rea Mukhtyar Malhotra and Shahena Zaveri presents the story of the Coronavirus or Covie and stresses on the importance of keeping clean to fight the virus. A timely story that is a little bit creepy, a little bit bubbly, and a whole lot of fun!
Noa and the Elephant by Michael Foreman (Fiction | Picture book)
A heart-warming and achingly relevant story about elephant conservation, from picture book legend, Michael Foreman. Perfect for children of all ages to share with their families and learn about the the environment and the importance of preserving remarkable world we live in.
Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris (Fiction)
Meena Harris debuts with an empowering picture book about two sisters who work with their community to effect change, inspired by a true story from the childhood of her aunt, US Senator Kamala Harris, and mother, lawyer, and policy expert Maya Harris.
The Gopi Diaries (Book 2): Finding Love by Sudha Murty (Fiction)
In Finding Love, the second book in Sudha Murty’s bestselling Gopi Diaries series, Gopi grows up from the pup he was in the first book to a cheekier, more mischievous dog! This is a book for Sudha Murty’s fans of all ages as Gopi paws himself yet again into the hearts of children and adults alike.
When We Got Lost in Dreamland by Ross Welford (Fiction)
The landmark new novel from Ross Welford, one of the fastest-growing and most critically acclaimed middle grade authors in the UK, this funny, moving and brilliant sixth book cements his position as the most exciting storyteller around for readers of 10+.
The Last Bear by Hannah Gold (Fiction)
An instant classic with a bear-sized heart, Hannah Gold’s debut novel is a touching story of kindness, adventure, and forging your own path—an excellent choice for readers in grades 3 to 7, this fierce celebration of friendship includes full-page black-and-white illustrations throughout, as well as information about the real Bear Island and the plight of the polar bears.
Talking to Alaska by Anna Woltz, translated by Laura Watkinson (Fiction)
A powerful story of two unlikely friends brought together by the love of a dog. It only takes one day at their new school for Parker and Sven to become mortal enemies. When Parker discovers her beloved dog Alaska – who she had to give away last year – now belongs to Sven, she’s determined to steal Alaska back. Of course, that’s easier said than done…
The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Fiction)
A moving story of family separation and the importance of the connection between animals and humans, this novel has the enormous heart and uplifting humour that readers have come to expect from the beloved author of Counting by 7s.
The Amar Chitra Katha Folktales Series (Fiction)
Amar Chitra Katha recreates some iconic comics for early readers in narrative form, accompanied by beautiful illustrations. This new series features Funny Folktales from all over India, the Best of Wit and Wisdom from the country’s amazing range of folklore and fables, and Buddhist Stories.
Coming soon!
The Story Quilt: Regional Children’s Stories from India, compiled by Harshikaa Udasi (Fiction)
The Story Quilt is an eclectic collection of stories that have been carefully cherry-picked by journalist and children’s writer, Harshikaa Udasi from across India to bring to children a flavour of writing in different Indian languages, especially those languages that we read very little about. The book includes original stories written in a variety of languages, translated into English from Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Punjabi and Sindhi.
Coming soon!
The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy (Fiction)
‘Find one thing you’re really good at and become the BEST at it.’ That’s the advice middle grader, Rahul Kapoor, receives from his grandfather – but what if he discovers he isn’t the best at anything. Will it be the end of the world? Award-winning actor, Maulik Pancholy’s funny, charming, incredibly touching debut novel, The Best At It is a story about friendship, family, and the courage it takes to live your truth.
Best Classic Short Stories for Children (Fiction)
Best Classic Short Stories for Childrenbrings together some of the most well-known and beloved children’s classics. This is the first book in the Classics for the New Decade series – a new anthology series celebrating the most enduring works of literature.
The Coward and the Sword by Jugal Hansraj (Fiction)
Jugal Hansraj’s delightful new novel for children is about the journey of a timid young Prince as he learns that true bravery lies within one’s own heart and should be used to create peace, not war.
Coming soon!
Saira Zariwala is Afraid by Shabnam Minwalla(Fiction)
Shabnam Minwalla’s new young adult novel, Saira Zariwala is Afraid is part mystery, part horror. And more than that. It is also about being a teenager in Mumbai, and about friendship and romance and the ease with which people can hide behind their phones. It all starts when Saira gets a phone for her 14th birthday. The story then spirals along taking the reader on a dark and sinister ride — making for a truly unputdownable book.
Pumpkin by Julie Murphy (Fiction)
Return to the beloved world of Julie Murphy’s #1 New York Times bestselling Dumplin’—now a popular Netflix feature film starring Jennifer Aniston—in this fabulously joyful, final companion novel about drag, prom, and embracing your inner Queen.
Spooky Stories by Tanushree Podder (Fiction)
A writer’s journey turns into a nightmare when he disembarks from the train to catch a thief and misses the train. With references to historical incidents and real-life locations, Spooky Stories is an unusual set of spine-tingling stories.
Coming soon!
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