rainwaterspark | Oct. 8th, 2021

It's that time of the year again...time to compile the list of 2022 book releases that I can't wait to read.

Though, I don't know whether it's due to the pandemic or what, but there are a bunch of books on my 2022 list that don't have specific release dates yet.

Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg - Jan 1, 2022

(Adult, contemporary romance) I'll admit, I added this to my list mostly because of the adorable cover.

Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee - Jan 4, 2022

(Middle Grade, sci-fi) I had the hardest time finishing Dragon Pearl (I will make my third attempt soon)—which is nothing against the book or author. I've enjoyed Lee's Machineries of Empire books and I adore the worldbuilding in Dragon Pearl, but I sometimes have a hard time reading MG. Still, I'm intrigued enough to give this sequel a try.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan - Jan 11, 2022

(Adult, fantasy) Chang'e retelling! That cover!!

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes - Feb 8, 2022

(Adult, sci-fi, horror) I don't usually read horror, but I absolutely love the "abandoned spaceship with freaky stuff happening on it" trope and am dying to read more.

The Misfit Soldier by Michael Mammay - Feb 22, 2022

(Adult, sci-fi) A new Michael Mammay book! And it's a sci-fi heist!! I can't wait.

I'm So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson - Feb 22, 2022

(Adult, contemporary romance) Here for QBIPOC romances by QBIPOC authors!

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye - March 8, 2022

(YA, fantasy)

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen - March 8, 2022

(YA, contemporary romance) I enjoyed the author's first book, and I'm always here for Jane Austen retellings with BIPOC!

The City of Dusk by Tara Sim - March 22, 2022

(Adult, fantasy) I've been having a good time with Adult fantasy by BIPOC authors, so I'm excited for this!

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram - March 22, 2022

(YA, contemporary) After seeing the author describe this as a book about the pressures put on queer public figures, I knew I had to read this.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin - March 29, 2022

(YA, fantasy) Chinese-inspired fantasy with magical tea-brewing!

The Blood Trials by NE Davenport - April 5, 2022

(Adult, science fantasy) Always looking for more books that blend sci-fi and fantasy!

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li - April 5, 2022

(Adult, heist) This whole premise is made of win!

The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann - April 12, 2022

(Adult, contemporary romance) An asexual romance!!

Love, Hate & Clickbait by Liz Bowery - April 26, 2022

(Adult, contemporary romance) Another queer fake dating romance...hopefully I'll have more luck with this one than other traditionally published queer romances recently.

Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao - April 26, 2022

(Middle grade, fantasy) You've got my attention with magic mooncakes!

The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton - May 3, 2022

(Middle grade, fantasy) *sigh* Publishing is really trying to get me to try more middle grade books, huh?

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas - May 3, 2022

(Adult, gothic) I see a comp to Mexican Gothic and I'm sold.

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao - May 10, 2022

(Middle grade, sci-fi/fantasy) Percy Jackson meets Yu-Gi-Oh? Yes, please!

Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee - May 10, 2022

(YA, contemporary romance) I didn't read the author's previous book, but I'm a sucker for romances that center food, so let's see how this goes.

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah - May 17, 2022

(Adult, fantasy) Oh my god this cover???

Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto - May 31, 2022

(Middle Grade, fantasy)

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari - June 7, 2022

(Adult, historical, mystery) Well, I have an intense weakness for 1920s-inspired books. Add a murder mystery and botany and I'm intrigued!

How to Fake It In Hollywood by Ava Wilder - June 14, 2022

(Adult, contemporary romance) My last experience with an Adult contemporary romance set in Hollywood was *waves hand in a disgusted gesture* but I can't stop myself from falling for this trope, so here's hoping this one is better.

The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho - June 14, 2022

(YA, contemporary) Not my usual kind of read, but anything that deals with mental health in Asian American communities has my attention.

Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid - June 21, 2022

(Adult, fantasy) I adored Ava Reid's debut, The Wolf and the Woodsman, and would gladly read whatever she writes next.

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher - July 12, 2022

(Adult, horror) I've been on a haunted house thriller/horror binge lately.

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey - July 19, 2022

(Adult, horror) I've been on a haunted house thriller/horror binge lately.

Husband Material by Alexis Hall - August 2, 2022

(Adult, contemporary romance) I loved Boyfriend Material, so I'm both excited (and nervous) for the sequel.

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope - August 9, 2022

(Adult, fantasy) 1920s fantasy AND a magical heist??? Love how 2022 is turning into the year of the heist novels!!

Babel by RF Kuang - August 23, 2022

(Adult, fantasy) Dark academia + decolonization + RF Kuang

The Sleepless by Victor Manibo - August 23, 2022

(Adult, sci-fi, noir)

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus - August 30, 2022

(YA, thriller) I've actually enjoyed every Karen M. McManus book that wasn't One of Us Is Lying/the Bayview High series, so I'm looking forward to her next standalone thriller.

Aces Wild by Amanda DeWitt - September 6, 2022

(YA, heist) Heist! With! An all-ace cast!!

The Depths by Nicole Lesperance - September 13, 2022

(YA) A gothic story, but make it on a tropical island??? I've been dying for another gothic story that scratches the same itch as Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic, and I have hopes for this!!

The Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker - October 4, 2022

(YA, fantasy) I really liked The Keeper of Night so I'm excited for the conclusion to Ren's story.

Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne - October 4, 2022

(YA, thriller) I really enjoyed the author's previous YA thriller, so I'm excited for this!

Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty - October 4, 2022

(Adult, sci-fi, mystery) I highly enjoyed Mur Lafftery's Six Wakes, so I'm excited to see a new sci-fi mystery from her!

The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal - October 11, 2022

(Adult, sci-fi, mystery) Yay, another sci-fi murder mystery!

Strike the Zither by Joan He - October 25, 2022

(YA, fantasy)

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske - November 1, 2022

(Adult, historical/fantasy/romance) ~~I haven't read the first book in this series, but~~ I found the first book in this series bafflingly bad, BUT anything that comps to Knives Out has my attention.