Trending books of 2021 |27 August 2021
“There has been exciting releases this year from some popular authors, as well as stunning new debut books from a diverse group of newcomers in just every genre one can think of. However, there have been a few books that are on top of the list of every reader this year.”
This was said by Richel Rabara, founder of Readers Nook, a locally-based online platform which sells collector’s edition books. Richel is also the founder of Sey_Bookclub, a platform where people can interact and connect with each other.
Below, she shares with us a short summary of five books which are currently trending.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis: In The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, Elsa Wolcott is a woman trying to raise two children on a farm in the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl following the Great Depression. She watches as the lands around her crack in their perpetually parched state and the hopelessness threatens to break the spirit of those around her.
As the situation worsens, Elsa is forced to make a decision to stay and fight or leave for the uncertain and unfamiliar lands in the West. In this tale, Kristin has written a survival story about resilience, love, family, courage and the American Dream.
The Four Winds is also a true historical fiction novel, bringing in bits and pieces of historical facts from the time periods it covers.
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy fiction
Synopsis: The Midnight Library is about Nora, a thirty-something woman who is regretful about her life and feels alienated and unneeded in this world. In the depths of her wallowing, she comes across the Midnight Library. In it, each book represents a portal into another variation of what her life could have been. As she reads the volumes, they allow her access to different versions of her life – relationships she could have stuck with, careers she could have pursued, and so on.
As she jumps in and out of these alternate realities, Nora's journey of self-discovery results in a life-affirming and reflective story about the choices we make, the paths we've chosen and each of our places in this world.
When Nora comes across the Midnight Library, it allows her to explore the different possible paths her life could have taken. The story is essentially about the “what ifs” in life, and it spends a lot of time considering things like what success is, how our actions affect others, or how our lives are shaped by the people around us.
Genre: Horror/Mystery fiction
Synopsis: In Later, Jamie Conklin is a boy who can see and speak to the dead. But the dead often have secrets, some that perhaps others would like to keep hidden, and using his special abilities comes at a cost.
Soon, Jamie gets drawn into a police investigation by an NYPD detective gone rogue, and what follows is a fast-paced horror story about the loss of innocence and the secrets we keep buried.
As Jamie grows up, the novel grows darker as he’s faced with some uncomfortable truths and his abilities.
Genre: LGBT/Romance and Bildungsroman
Synopsis: In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, two boys in a border town fell in love. Now, in Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World, they must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence.
Ari has spent all of high school burying who he really is, staying silent and invisible. He expected his senior year to be the same. But something in him cracked open when he fell in love with Dante, and he can’t go back. Suddenly he finds himself reaching out to new friends, standing up to bullies of all kinds, and making his voice heard. And, always, there is Dante, dreamy, witty Dante, who can get on Ari’s nerves and fill him with desire all at once.
The boys are determined to forge a path for themselves in a world that doesn’t understand them. But when Ari is faced with a shocking loss, he’ll have to fight like never before to create a life that is truthfully, joyfully his own.
Genre: Bildungsroman/Urban fiction
Synopsis: Concrete Rose is the prequel to The Hate You Give, following Maverick Carter’s life.
If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money, he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.
Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control. Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.
Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.
When King Lords’ blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.
An e-copy of the above books can be downloaded directly from sey_bookclub.
For more information, follow Readers Nook:
- readersnook_sey on Instagram
- Readers Nook on Facebook
F. P.
Photo sources: Amazon