With the holidays behind us and the dark days of winter looming ahead, January is one of those months where we don’t particularly want to leave the house. Ever. Which is why it’s an excellent time to hunker down with that giant pile of novels you got for Christmas or an excuse to use those Amazon gift cards to buy a bunch of new January books to get you through the coming winter storms.
Here are the top 10 new January books that we can’t wait to hibernate with:
Carve the Mark, Veronica Roth (Katherine Tegen Books, January 17, 2017)
Roth follows up her bestselling young adult Divergent series with a love story set in space. This highly anticipated YA novel follows Cyra and Akos, two teens from very different backgrounds with unusual powers, or currentgifts. While most currentgifts are blessings, both Cyra and Akos are in danger of being exploited by the very thing that makes them most unique.
Mulberry Moon, Catherine Anderson (Jove, January 3, 2017)
Part of Anderson’s popular Mystic Creek series, Mulberry Moon tells the story of Ben Sterling, a cowboy who’s ready to put the rodeo circuit behind him and settle down. When he meets Sissy Sue Bentley, he’s determined to make the café owner his. But Sissy has sworn off men, including the sexy cowboy who just won’t leave her alone.
Right Behind You, Lisa Gardner (Dutton, January 31, 2017)
Fans of Gardner’s bestselling Find Her will love her latest thriller about Sharlah May Nash, a young teen with a dark past. But just as Sharlah is about to be adopted by two people in law enforcement, her past comes back to haunt her in the form of her brother Telly Ray Nash, who killed their father in self defense eight years ago. Now Telly is killing again, and it’s up to Sharlah’s new family to get to the root of what’s happening — and what really happened that dark night all those years ago.
Love and First Sight, Josh Sundquist (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, January 3, 2017)
Sundquist has charmed viewers all over the world with his engaging YouTube channel. Now he’s charming them in print as well, with Love and First Sight, a young adult novel about a blind teen, Will Porter, who undergoes an experimental surgery to see for first time. But everything isn’t what he expected, including his crush Cecily, who looks nothing like what his friends described. Will has to deal with issues of trust, societal standards of beauty, and just what it means to truly be able to ‘see.’
The Sleepwalker, Chris Bohjalian (Doubleday, January 10, 2017)
Annalee Ahlberg vanishes one night, and all the police find is a piece of her nightshirt attached to a tree near her Vermont home. Because of her rare sleepwalking condition, her children are convinced that she must have wandered out into the night. But they can’t find a body, and one specific detective seems to know more than he’s saying. Mysterious and hauntingly lovely, you won’t want to miss this latest novel from Bohjalian.
Love is Love, Various Artists & Authors, Organized by Marc Andreyko (IDW Publishing, January 10, 2017)
After the horrific hate crime in Orlando last year, various comic book authors and illustrators came together to create Love is Love. The eclectic collection “examines love in today’s world” and is a tribute to the victims of the tragedy. All of the proceeds of this unique comic go to the victims and their families.
Windwitch, Susan Dennard (Tor Teen, January 10, 2017)
Dennard’s follow up to last year’s Truthwitch continues the story of Safi, Iseult and Prince Merik. With the world thinking Merik is dead, and Iseult and Safi separated, each will have to face their own battles as the future of the Witchlands seems more precarious than ever. Expect action, adventure — and even pirates — in this epic young adult fantasy series.
Difficult Women, Roxane Gay (Grove Press, January 3, 2017)
Known for her masterful essay writing, Gay delivers a collection of short stories this time with Difficult Women. Each fictional story centers around a woman’s unique life, whether they’re married or single, rich or poor, or dealing with the trauma of their past. But no matter their circumstances, we know that Gay will turn her sharp critical eye on the complicated realities of a modern woman’s life.
Dead Cold Brew, Cleo Coyle (Berkley, January 10, 2017)
This is the sixteenth book in Coyle’s beloved Coffeehouse mystery series. Clare Cosi, Coffeehouse manager, and Mike, her NYPD detective boyfriend, are ready to enjoy a little down time after Mike proposes. But of course life can’t be simple for long, and soon the engagement leads to mysterious letters, a poisoned jeweler, and a cold case murder that’s tied to a big family secret.
Surrender: Inside Out, Lisa Renee Jones (Pocket Star, January 9, 2017)
Jones continues her sexy Careless Whispers series with Surrender, the third installment. After finding Ella Ferguson in an alley with amnesia, Kayden Wilkens slowly let her into his mysterious world. But while the two have tons of passion between them, there are also still plenty of lies and secrets. Ella will have to face both their pasts if she truly wants to have a future with Kayden.
Love these January books? Have a few of your own that you’re excited about? Leave them in the comments!
