We are halfway through the year, which means it is time yet again to talk about upcoming new releases I’m excited about. I am really trying to read more new releases this year. So far, I have read nine. Which doesn’t sound too terrible. Until I realized a third of those were one- or two-star reads. So I’m on the hunt for some good 2022 releases. Otherwise, my year-end-favorites lists will be sad.

I put together a list of the ten books I am most excited about that are being released in the second half of the year (so July through December). These are not all of the new releases I’m interested in, but they are they ones I am most likely to actually pick up. I’m sure there are also upcoming books I haven’t heard about yet, despite spending hours trying to do research for this post. There are just a lot of books and I have spent way too long on this post already, so we’re just going to jump in.

In case you missed it, check out my most anticipated releases for the first half of the year. I have actually already read five of them, so go me! And now, here’s my list for the second half of 2022:

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers – July 12

I just read A Psalm for the Wild-Built and thoroughly enjoyed it. And since the sequel is coming out literally next week, I figured I might as well read it while I still (mostly) remember what happened in the first one. I don’t want to say too much about this one because it is a sequel and I don’t want to spoil the first one for any of you who haven’t read it. But it is a really cute story. It’s about a tea monk and a robot traveling around Panga, the moon they live on. They’re both kind of figuring out their place in the world, and learning about each other, and it’s just a fun little story. I’m planning on picking up the audiobook of this one hopefully sometime later this month.

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher – July 12

I have yet to read a book by T. Kingfisher, but for some reason I am convinced that I will love them. This one is a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher. Which I haven’t read since college (maybe even high school?). But I do like Poe, so maybe this is a good excuse for a reread?

Anyway, this book follows Alex Easton, a retired soldier, who goes to see his childhood friend, Madeline Usher, when he hears that she is dying. He finds a house that is consumed by fungus and possessed wildlife. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices. There’s a creepy lake. Do I need to keep going? This sounds fantastically weird and creepy, and I think it might make a great addition to my Halloween reading list. (I have been planning all year, and I am so excited for spooky season to roll around.)

Briefly, A Delicious Life By Nell Stevens – July 19

Nell Stevens and T. Kingfisher are the only two authors on this list I haven’t yet read. But that doesn’t mean I am less excited to read them. Funnily enough, all of the new releases I haven’t liked to far this year were by authors I had read before. And my favorite of the bunch was by an author I had literally not heard of before this year. So you never really know. And I always love trying new things.

This book is about a young ghost who falls in love with a writer visiting the town she haunts, four-hundred years after her death. The writer has no idea the teenage ghost exists and can’t see her, and the ghost is totally enamored with the writer. It’s a sapphic (unrequited) romance and it just sounds like such a fun read. (I also mentioned this in my post about new release LGBTQ+ books, so definitely go check that one out if that’s something you’re looking for.)

The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid – August 2

It has been years since I’ve read Exit West, but I still think about it every once in a while. It was my first Mohsin Hamid book, and I became an immediate fan. I still have read nothing else he’s written, because that’s kind of my MO. But I want to! (I actually tentatively have The Reluctant Fundamentalist on my reading list this year.) This is his newest book, and it sounds absolutely fantastic and right up my alley.

The Last White Man is about a white man (in case that wasn’t clear) who one day wakes up to find that his skin has turned dark. Soon, he’s not the only one and the world is freaking out. which just seems like a great read. I immediately had the thought that if this happened in real life, I’d 100% be sitting over here cackling at all my racist, white neighbors. I’m not quite sure where this book is heading, but it feels like if Kafka wrote a commentary on race and I am here for it. I honestly can’t wait. Fortunately, we have less than a month to go.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid – August 30

Okay, I’m going to be completely honest and say this one is maybe not a book I am particularly excited about. That might change, but or some reason, this one just doesn’t sound like my cup of tea. But I’ve said that before about Taylor Jenkins Reid, and was (happily) proven wrong. So even though I’m not totally invested in this one, I’ll most likely pick it up anyway. If only because I am trying to stop doing that thing where I just never finish series I love. And while this one isn’t exactly part of a series, it is the last of her books that are linked together. (The other three being The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and The Six, and Malibu Rising.)

This one follows Carrie Soto – if you hadn’t guessed – who decides to come out of retirement at the age of thirty-six and attempt to reclaim her US Open record. While sports books are not typically my thing, I am curious to see how tennis translates to the page. Carrie made a brief appearance in Malibu Rising, so I’m a little curious to see if any of the characters from that book are mentioned here. Also, the synopsis says this is Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “most vulnerable, emotional story yet” and I have no idea if I’m prepared for that.

Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life by Alice Wong – September 6

I’m currently reading (as of my writing this) Disability Visibility, which is a collection of stories written by disabled people and edited by Alice Wong. And it is fantastic. I really loved her introduction, and was already planning on looking into more of her work. And then I came across this book and immediately added it to my list.

Alice Wong is incredibly inspiring in her work as a disability rights activist and community organizer. I feel like I’ve only dipped my toe into the scope of what she has accomplished. She’s made a huge impact for the disabled community. This memoir is about her experience as an Asian American disability rights activist. And it sounds like a must-read for me. Despite the fact that I didn’t discover this book until very recently, it’s already at the top of my list of new releases I want to actually get to this year. (Because we all know I’m probably not going to get to most of these in 2022.)

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell – September 6

I didn’t love what is probably Maggie O’Farrell’s most popular book, I Am, I Am, I Am, which is her memoir about her seven near-death experiences. But I did absolutely adore Hamnet when I read it earlier this year. Those two books are so different, I honestly still can’t believe they were written by the same author.

This one feels fairly similar to Hamnet in that it’s about a real historical figure. In this case, Lucrezia de Medici. As someone who grew up with strong Italian American culture (according to 23andMe, I am exactly 50% Italian) and an obsession with history, I feel like I need to read this book. I have read almost no historical fiction set in Italy – the only on I can think of is Beneath a Scarlett Sky – so I really need to fix that. And I have a great feeling about this book.

Ithaca by Claire North – September 6

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is one of my all-time favorite books. I definitely don’t talk about it enough on this blog. And I probably should reread it soon because it’s been a while. I feel like Claire North kind of flies under the radar, which is a shame because she’s published quite a few books. I keep meaning to read more of them, and I just never do. But I think this might be the one.

This is the first in a series (duology?) centering around Penelope. Who, if you didn’t know (or hadn’t guessed from the title), is the wife Odysseus left behind. While he was battling the Cyclops and spending a year playing house with Circe, Penelope was holding down the fort and keeping would-be suitors at bay. This sounds really good, and it’s very different from The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. I’m really curious to see where she takes this.

Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer – September 20

Another book I loved but don’t talk about all that much is Less. It’s about a man named Arthur Less who is about to turn fifty and learns his ex-boyfriend is getting married. In order to avoid attending the wedding, he decides to accept any and all speaking engagements he’s been invited to. And then travels the world ignoring his problems. It was such a cute story, and I just really enjoyed it.

This book finds him traveling across America and still trying to find himself. I’m sure it’s just as full of highjacks and humor, and I think this is going to make a very fun read when it comes out in the fall.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng – October 4

Finally, we have a new Celeste Ng book! This one is about a young boy named Bird, living alone with his father after his mother left. Bird is trying to be embrace American culture, like his father taught him. Bird’s father works in a library where he is forced to remove many books that are seen as “unpatriotic”. Including those written by Bird’s mother, a Chinese American poet. One day, Bird receives a letter that starts him on a quest to find his missing mother.

If you’ve read Celeste Ng, you probably already know this book is going to be heartbreaking. But it sounds so good! I’m a huge fan of what I’ve read from her so far, and this book has the potential to cement her as one of my favorite authors. Hopefully I have time to pick it up later this year.

That’s it for my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2022! I hope you enjoyed this post, and maybe found something to add to your reading list.

What’s your most anticipated upcoming release? Is there anything you think I should have on my list?

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