Book lovers, if there is one positive of saying goodbye to another year of our lives, it’s that there’s always more novels to take you to another world. So, Welcome to 2022, a year full of anticipated book releases to keep you laughing, crying and screaming for many more months.
In this round-up, we take a deep dive into the 7 hottest releases that we have our eye on for 2022. You can expect tear-jerking memoirs, mysterious disappearances, fantasy fun and of course, romance. There will be some authors you may already be fond of and some new ones that have certainly piqued our interest.
But, don’t forget to read those books you neglected to read this year! Keep up with us as we’ll be releasing more 2022 hotlists throughout the year, too.
1. Wahala by Nikki May
January 6
The highly anticipated debut from Nikki May centres on three friends living in London: Simi, Ronke and Boo. The trio has been friends since they met at Bristol University and all share mixed English and Nigerian heritage. However, now in their 30’s, they’re dealing with typical adulting issues in their successful yet predictable lives. Then enters Isobel, a childhood friend of Simi’s, who shakes their world and reminds them of the crimes in their past. For the better or worse? Read to find out. Also, the cherry on the cake for this novel is that the BBC is making a television adaptation! Here’s to more representation and a growing list of shows centring on Black female friendships.
2. Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up by Selma Blair
May 17
If you’re on the hunt for a tear-jerking memoir, look no further (and grab loads of tissues). Selma Blair has opened the vault and allowed us to see who she is and where she has come from. It’s a hauntingly beautiful memoir about alcohol disorder, multiple sclerosis, and life as a Hollywood star. Loved for her roles in Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde, nobody knows her origin story as a “mean baby” before becoming the face of Chanel. It’s funny and shattering - an example of the versatility that Selma possesses as an incredible actress and person. Selma Blair’s Mean Baby is a memoir devoted to sharing how we’re all human, even those showered with roses.
3. Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
June 7
Queer stories are constantly pushed to the back when celebrating new novels, but not here at TNE. This furiously beautiful story is about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Benji, a sixteen-year-old trans boy, is on the run from the cult that raised him (I can sense your arm hairs spiking already). To add more to your suspense, the Cult unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. We’re taken on a ride as Benji searches for a place to hide and is saved by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center. But Benji has a secret - he’s mutating into a deadly monster and Nick, the leader of the ALC’s, knows it. There’s autism and LGBTQ+ representation without it being the main plot point of the story. Fantastic.
4. Notes on Heartbreak by Annie Lord
June 23
For those of you starting fresh and dating in 2022, this is a book for you. Whether you have or haven’t been through a break-up, there is much to learn from Anni Lord’s exploration of love and heartbreak. It starts in the eye of the storm aka an intense heartbreak and brings you on a journey following the aftermath. From being ghosted, spending hours Instagram stalking and overthinking when it starts going downhill…again. This book begs you to start a conversation with yourself, whether you are ready or not. It’s dark and fierce. Perfect for fans of How to Heal a Broken Heart and Conversations on Love.
5. Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
June 14
Any book with witches is bound to be a great one. Even better when it’s the first instalment of an epic fantasy trilogy, it’s an instant bestseller. Described as A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft, Juno Dawson’s book is about a group of childhood friends who are also witches. Her Majesty’s Royal Coven follows four young girls - Helena, Leonie, Niamh and Elle as they take an oath and join the witch community. Without revealing too much, there’s secret human day jobs, a warlock that threatens their witchy existence and fractured friendships that must heal to conquer anything. Full of Juno Dawson’s trademark humour and the intriguing darkness that surrounds the fantasy of witches, we will all be dying for the next instalment.
6. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
March 3
Picture this: A watchful concierge, a scorned lover, a prying journalist, a naive student, an unwanted guest are all entwined in an Agatha Christie type thriller. Welcome to No.12 rue des Amants. The Paris Apartment is the unmissable new murder mystery from No.1 bestseller Lucy Foley, the author of The Guest List and The Hunting Party. The story follows Jess, a down-on-her-luck woman who askes her half-brother for a favour in hopes of having a fresh start. Ben doesn’t seem happy about having to share his Parisian digs with his half-sister. Jess arrives, but Ben is nowhere to be seen. What happened to Ben? Read to find out.
7. Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis
April 26
Queen Viola Davis memoir is one to watch for this year. Everything Viola does, she attacks it with grace and charm. From being the first Black actor in history to the achieve the “triple crown of acting” with an Oscar, and Two Tony Awards under her belt, we’re taking on a journey of learning who Viola truly is. Finding Me is, in her own words: “This is my story…straight no chaser”. It spans her incredible life, from her upbringing in Rhode Island to her becoming a once in a lifetime legend. No longer being clouded by the label of ‘the black Meryl Streep’, her name is Viola Davis and her story is equally impactful as the look in her eyes.
