5 Star Predictions for 2021

Something I have always been pretty good at is determining whether or not I am going to love a book. Yesterday I talked about my most anticipated releases and today I wanted to talk about some of my 5 star predictions. There are so many books that I have high hopes for, but yesterdays post was a really long one, so I will try to keep this to a nice number!

* Disclaimer: The links I have included to purchase the books from are affiliate links for the BookShop and I receive a small commission if you purchase anything through this link *

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

With his King Lord dad in prison and his mom working two jobs, seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter helps the only way he knows how: slinging drugs. Life’s not perfect, but he’s got everything under control. Until he finds out he’s a father…

Suddenly it’s not so easy to deal drugs and finish school with a baby dependent on him for everything. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. But when King Lord blood runs through your veins, you don’t get to just walk away.

I have rated both of Angie Thomas’ other books 5/5 stars, so I have high hopes for Concrete Rose. I adore Angie Thomas’ writing style. I find that her characters always feel so real to me and that is something that really makes or breaks a novel for me. Concrete Rose comes out 12th January.

You can preorder Concrete Rose: here

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.

Is this a given? Probably. I am so excited to read more in the A Court of Thorns and Roses universe and get a more in depth introduction to Nesta and Cassian. I must be one of the few people who don’t hate Nesta, I think she is such an interesting character and I am just so excited for this book. I am rereading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series again in January as part of BrookWrites‘ book club and even though it’s only been a few weeks since I reread the series, I am definitely ready to jump back into it. A Court of Silver Flames comes out 16th February.

You can preorder A Court of Silver Flames: here

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare

Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.

But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.

Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

I don’t think there is one Shadowhunter book that I have rated less than 5 stars, so there’s a good chance this is going to be a 5 star read! I love these characters and can’t wait to learn about Cordelia and James more as well as all of the other characters. I am going to reread Chain of Gold in February and hopefully some more of the Shadowhunter books too! Chain of Iron comes out 2nd March.

You can preorder Chain of Iron: here

Malice by Heather Walter

Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who cursed a line of princesses to die, and could only be broken by true love’s kiss. You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily-ever-after.

Utter nonsense.

Let me tell you, no one actually cares about what happens to our princesses. I thought I didn’t care, either. Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to the throne. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she . . . cares for me. Even though it was a power like mine that was responsible for her curse.

But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating – and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world.

Nonsense again. Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I-

I am the villain.

I am in such a retelling mood, so Malice can’t come quick enough! Ever since I found out about this one, I have been obsessed. It’s a sleeping beauty retelling that is told from the villains perspective. I believe this is Heather Walter’s debut novel and I am really excited to see how this turns out. Malice comes out 13th April.

You can preorder Malice: here

Off the Record by Camryn Garrett

Ever since seventeen-year-old Josie Wright can remember, writing has been her identity, the thing that grounds her when everything else is a garbage fire. So when she wins a contest to write a celebrity profile for Deep Focus magazine, she’s equal parts excited and scared, but also ready. She’s got this.

Soon Josie is jetting off on a multi-city tour, rubbing elbows with sparkly celebrities, frenetic handlers, stone-faced producers, and eccentric stylists. She even finds herself catching feelings for the subject of her profile, dazzling young newcomer Marius Canet. Josie’s world is expanding so rapidly, she doesn’t know whether she’s flying or falling. But when a young actress lets her in on a terrible secret, the answer is clear: she’s in over her head.

One woman’s account leads to another and another. Josie wants to expose the man responsible, but she’s reluctant to speak up, unsure if this is her story to tell. What if she lets down the women who have entrusted her with their stories? What if this ends her writing career before it even begins? There are so many reasons not to go ahead, but if Josie doesn’t step up, who will?

From the author of Full Disclosure, this is a moving testament to the #MeToo movement, and all the ways women stand up for each other.

I am so intrigued by this one and can’t wait to read it. It’s been a while since I read any fiction related to the MeToo Movement and I can’t wait to see what this holds. I haven’t read anything by Camryn Garrett before so I can’t compare to her other pieces of work, but I do still think this will be a 5 star read for me. Off the Record comes out 18th May.

You can preorder Off the Record: here

Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson

Three days. Two girls. One life-changing music festival.

Toni is grieving the loss of her roadie father and needing to figure out where her life will go from here — and she’s desperate to get back to loving music. Olivia is a hopeless romantic whose heart has just taken a beating (again) and is beginning to feel like she’ll always be a square peg in a round hole — but the Farmland Music and Arts Festival is a chance to find a place where she fits.

The two collide and it feels like something like kismet when a bond begins to form. But when something goes wrong and the festival is sent into a panic, Olivia and Toni will find that they need each other (and music) more than they ever imagined.

I loved Leah Johnson’s debut novel and I rated it 5/5 stars, so I have high hopes that this will also be a 5 star read! I also really love the idea that this is set at a music festival – I am really missing these at the moment so would love the escapism. Rise to the Sun comes out 6th July.

You can preorder Rise to the Sun: here

There were so many other books that I could have included on this list – 2021 is really looking like an incredible year for new releases. Are there any books (new or old) that you are predicting to be 5 star reads?

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