The 50 Most Anticipated Books of 2021

by Avni Doshi

A landmark portrait of toxic parenting and its tangled aftermath. Full review >

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by Brandon Hobson

A slim yet wise novel boils profound questions down to its final word: "Home." Full review >

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by Patricia Lockwood

An insightful—frequently funny, often devastating—meditation on human existence online and off. Full review >

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by Yaniv Iczkovits

As witty as it is wise, Iczkovits’ novel is a profoundly moving caper through the Russian empire. Full review >

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by Naima Coster

Tender but—miraculously—never sentimental. Full review >

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by Kazuo Ishiguro

A haunting fable of a lonely, moribund world that is entirely too plausible. Full review >

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by Viet Thanh Nguyen

A quirky intellectual crime story that highlights the Vietnam War’s complex legacy. Full review >

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by Imbolo Mbue

A fierce, up-to-the-minute novel that makes you sad enough to grieve and angry enough to fight back. Full review >

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by S. Kirk Walsh

A fresh perspective on painful losses during wartime. Full review >

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by Katherine Heiny

A heartwarming novel with a small-town vibe that sparkles like wine sipped with friends under backyard fairy lights. Full review >

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by Gabriel Byrne

A melancholy but gemlike memoir, elegantly written and rich in hard experience. Full review >

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by James Oakes

Many books discuss Lincoln and abolition, but this is among the best. Full review >

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by Charles M. Blow

Valuable as a thought experiment alone but also an “actual plan” for effecting lasting political change. Full review >

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by Joan Didion

A slender, highly satisfying collection. Full review >

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by Cicely Tyson with Michelle Burford

A forthright self-portrait of a determined woman and iconic cultural figure. Full review >

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by Rebecca Carroll

A deeply resonant memoir of hard-won authenticity. Full review >

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by Louis Chude-Sokei

A beautifully written contribution to recent work of the African diaspora. Full review >

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by Ina Park

A fresh, funny, sex-positive book that effectively destigmatizes sexual disease. Full review >

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by Russell Shorto

A lively addition to the history of Italian American immigration and its discontents. Full review >

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by Claudio Lomnitz

A masterpiece of historical and personal investigation, perfect for anyone trying to uncover their family’s past. Full review >

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by Melissa Albert ; illustrated by Jim Tierney

Dark, demanding, and delicious. Full review >

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by Angie Thomas

A resounding success. Full review >

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by Margarita Engle

A deeply touching read that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. Full review >

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by Tess Sharpe

A captivating, explosive, and satisfyingly queer thriller. Full review >

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by Courtney Summers

A powerful, suspenseful, and heartbreaking thriller about identity, sisterhood, and belonging. Full review >

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by Joy McCullough ; illustrated by Maia Kobabe

Intense, unrelenting, and inspiring. Full review >

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by Ta-Nehisi Coates ; illustrated by Jackie Aher

A beautiful meditation on the tender, fraught interior lives of Black boys. Full review >

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by Edward Snowden

An absorbing read about digital privacy and one man’s fateful choice to disclose government secrets. Full review >

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by Kelly Loy Gilbert

Beautifully, achingly cathartic. Full review >

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by Jeanne Theoharis ; adapted by Brandy Colbert

A nuanced exploration of a woman with a lifelong commitment to social change. Full review >

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by Yamile Saied Méndez

Delightfully silly and enjoyable. Full review >

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by Sarwat Chadda

Well paced and witty. Full review >

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by Marie Arnold

Pratchett-like worldbuilding centers immigrant kids in a story filled with culture, humor, and heart. Full review >

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by Deborah Hopkinson

Vital and unendurably timely. Full review >

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by Bassem Youssef & Catherine R. Daly ; illustrated by Douglas Holgate

Readers will cheer for Nadia as she responds to prejudice and affirms her identity. Full review >

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by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts

A surefire win of a read expressly made for young Black boys to cherish. Full review >

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by Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz ; illustrated by Jack Teagle

A clever, high-energy crowd pleaser well founded in facts—the grosser the better. Full review >

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by Tom Angleberger ; illustrated by Heather Fox

Silly, messy, fast-paced fun. Full review >

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by Kevin Henkes ; illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Full of heart and depth. Full review >

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by Meg Medina

An uplifting sequel told with heart and humor. Full review >

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by Carole Boston Weatherford ; illustrated by Floyd Cooper

A somber, well-executed addition to the history as the incident approaches its 100th anniversary. Full review >

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by Lil Nas X ; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

Sure to excite the youngest fans of Lil Nas X. Full review >

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by Dovey Johnson Roundtree & Katie McCabe ; illustrated by Raissa Figueroa

Makes magic out of a true moment, as the best picture books do. Full review >

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by Peter Sís ; illustrated by Peter Sís

An extraordinary life memorably and evocatively presented. Full review >

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by Pamela Paul ; illustrated by Becky Cameron

A sweet story about falling in love with reading. Full review >

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by Lori McKenna ; illustrated by Katherine Blackmore

A harmonious outing. Full review >

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by Bette Midler ; photographed by Michiko Kakutani ; illustrated by Joana Avillez

A celebration of beauty—in a city, in its people, and in an extraordinary avian visitor. Full review >

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by Dave Eggers ; illustrated by Woodrow White

A fresh inversion of expectations told in vivid art and idiom. Full review >

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by Micha Archer ; illustrated by Micha Archer

Excellent for enriching vocabulary, developing creative thinking, and enhancing a love of nature. Full review >

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by Andrea Wang ; illustrated by Jason Chin

Understated, deep, and heart-rending—bring tissues. Full review >

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