If you’re like me, your New Year’s plans look a bit different this year than in years past. When the ball virtually drops and we ring in the new year, I’ll be (happily) spending my evening in comfy pajamas, a hot drink in one hand and a book in the other. Looking to join me? Here is a list of books to start your year off on a high note, as told by your New Year’s preferences.
Alone on New Year’s? Read These Books!
If you enjoy being alone on New Year’s, read Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson!
There’s nothing better than sitting in a quiet spot and reading a book – especially if you’re Elisabeth and have been raised in a magical library filled with grimoires that, if provoked, turns into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. This enthralling adventure will keep you hooked, from beginning to end, with bookish charms and whip-smart dialogue to start your year off on a thrilling foot!
If you are missing those epic New Year’s Eve parties, read My Summer of Love and Misfortune by Lindsay Wong!
The pandemic has made a New Year’s Eve party impossible, but live vicariously through Iris in My Summer of Love and Misfortune as she gets swept up into the decadent world of Beijing’s wealthy elite. This story is fun and frothy, and has the cutest of romances with a backdrop of a stunning, vibrant city. It’s a party in a book!
If you’re planning a virtual toast with your friends, read Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi!
This compulsively readable book encapsulates just how essential technology is in 21st century relationships – especially on New Year’s! After Penny and Sam bump into each other one day, they become each other’s “emergency contacts” and their delightfully awkward romance blooms…in text message bubbles behind the screens of their separate smart phones.
If you’d rather spend the evening with your book boyfriend, read Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare!
No one writes a book boyfriend quite like Cassandra Clare! With this first of a thrilling trilogy, get introduced to a new cast of characters (especially swoon-worthy James Herondale) as they discover the only things more dangers than fighting evil, is falling in love.
If your New Year’s resolution includes learning a new skill, read SLAY by Brittney Morris!
Kiera is the exceptional game-developing YA heroine we’ve all been waiting for, and the perfect inspiration for your New Year’s Eve resolution. Her narrative voice is funny and smart, incisive and accessible, and will be sure to inspire you to get a head start on your 2021 goals.
If your New Year’s plans consist of baking, baking, and more baking, read What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter!
This book should come with a warning: do not read on an empty stomach! Halle is the cool creator of One True Pastry, a YA book blog that pairs epic custom cupcakes with covers and reviews, and her baking skills are unparalleled. If you’re a fan of baking (or eating) desserts, this is a perfect read for your sweet tooth.
If you’d rather be dancing than sitting on your couch this New Year’s, read Kings and Queens and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju!
You know the expression, “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Well, throw that out the window with this book – the cover is a dance party and inside, it is indeed a party! This bright and joyous book is a laugh-out-loud tale of acceptance, self-expression, and the colorful worlds that await when we’re brave enough to look. It’s the perfect read for your dance-starved soul!
If you’re spending the day reminiscing on travel plans of years past, read A Cuban Girl’s Guide To Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey!
This year has put a damper on travel plans, but if you’re looking for a literary escape to assuage your wanderlust soul, you should read A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. When Lila is sent to England for the summer, she has no idea what to expect – until she meets Orion, a teashop clerk with English charm and kind eyes. Suddenly, the boring Medieval town of Winchester isn’t so boring at all… it quickly becomes the perfect backdrop for an international romance!