Hi friends! I’m back again today to talk about some of my most anticipated releases for the upcoming year, yay!
I shared my most anticipated list of young adult contemporary books releasing in 2020 last week and, today, I’m ready to share with you all my anticipated reads in other genres : fantasy, science-fiction, magical realism and retellings.
As you all might know by now, I’m mostly a contemporary reader, so this list shall be a little shorter, but, if you want my opinion, still filled with little gems you should add to your TBRs! Also, if you have any recommendation of books you think I might enjoy, feel free to recommend them to me in comments!
✨ My Most Anticipated YA Reads for 2020
We Unleash the Merciless Storm, Tehlor Kay Mejia
Publishing February 25th, 2020 by Katherine Tegen Books.
Why I want it ? Okay so you might know by now how much I adore We Set the Dark On Fire and… well, if you didn’t before, you do now. This is one of my favorite books of ALL times and I am PUMPED for its sequel SO much I am screaming. If you haven’t read the first book, PLEASE PLEASE DO it is majestic.
? find it on goodreads
Where Dreams Descend, Janella Angeles
Publishing June 2nd, 2020 by Wednesday Books.
Why I want it ? This book sounds so, so good and I’m just too curious about it. It’s about a magician competition and blurbed as Phantom of the Opera meets Moulin Rouge, this sounds like it has a powerfull badass main character and I’m just sooo impatient to discover it.
? find it on goodreads
The Electric Heir, Victoria Lee
Publishing March 17th, 2020 by Skyscape.
Why I want it ? I loved The Fever King SO MUCH and I just can’t wait to read this sequel and get my heart and emotions destroyed OKAY.
? find it on goodreads
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins
Publishing on May 19th, 2020 by Scholastic.
Why I want it ? A NEW HUNGER GAMES BOOK? I’m terrified and screaming and also really really reaaaaally anticipating this.
? find it on goodreads
The Fascinators, Andrew Eliopulos
Publishing May 12th 2020 by HarperTeen.
Why I want it ? This is pitched as Simon vs. meets The Raven Boys. This has a small town setting, a boy in love with his best friend and apparently some magic here and there and I’m…. well, fascinated by this book already, excuse the pun.
? find it on goodreads
The Sound of Stars, Alechia Dow
Publishing February 25th, 2020 by Inkyard Press.
Why I want it ? A world where all art and books are illegal and the main character keeps a secret library? A book about humanity and what it means to be human and an alien falling in love with music and I don’t know about you but this sounds so good?
? find it on goodreads
Half Life, Lillian Clark
Publishing June 9th, 2020 by Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Why I want it ? This is about a perfectionist and overachiever getting into an experimental cloning program and this sounds twisted and addictive and I’m SO curious I can’t wait to read it.
? find it on goodreads
Layoverland, Gabby Noone
Publishing January 21th, 2020 by Razorbill.
Why I want it ? Maybe this fits in contemporary reads, but I’m keeping it here because it’s set in purgatory and the main character is going to help souls move on… including Caleb’s, the boy responsible for landing her here in the first place. This sounds like a unique romcom with The Good Place vibes and I’m here for it.
? find it on goodreads
Of Curses and Kisses, Sandhya Menon
Publishing February 18th, 2020 by Simon Pulse.
Why I want it ? Same as above, this could be placed in a contemporary list, but it’s a retelling and it has a curse and honestly let’s keep it here because why not. It’s a loose retelling of Beauty & The Beast and it’s set in a boarding school and what more do I want, I don’t know.
? find it on goodreads
Scavenge the Stars, Tara Sim
Publishing January 7th, 2020 by Disney Hyperion
Why I want it ? This is a gender-swapped retelling of The Conte of Monte Cristo and it’s about a main character wanting revenge on someone who ruined her family and this sounds badass and I’m here for it okay and look at that cover???
? find it on goodreads
Girl, Serpent, Thorn, Melissa Bashardoust
Publishing May 20th, 2020 by Flatiron Books.
Why I want it ? I loved this author’s debut, Girls Made of Snow and Glass and am SO excited to read more from her. Girl, Serpent, Thorn, sounds absolutely lovely, once again a retelling, about a girl poisonous to the touch. This is inspired from a Persian fairy tale, from what I understood and I’m just so excited to discover this!!
? find it on goodreads
Do you want to read any of these books?
What are some of your most anticipated releases for 2020? I’d love to know your recommendations in comments!
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kozbisa says
Layoverland and Of Curses & Kisses are high on my list. Curses, because Menon is on a short list of YA authors I adore, and the concept of Layoverland simply caught my attention, and I am intersted to see how the author excuted it.
Marie says
Ahh yay! Happy to hear this 🙂 I agree, I can’t wait to discover how the concept of Layover land ends up being executed. I hope it will be good 😀
Jess @ Jessticulates says
I’m looking forward to Scavenge the Stars – I’ve been meaning to try Tara Sim’s work for a while – and Of Curses and Kisses sounds interesting, but I’m probably going to wait for some reviews before I decide if I’m going to pick it up or not. I need to read We Set the Dark On Fire and The Fever King – I’ve heard so many good things about them both!
Marie says
Ahh same here! Timekeeper has been on my TBR since forever and Scavenge the Stars sounds so good. I hope we’ll both love it 🙂
YES! I hope you’ll read both We Set The Dark on Fire and The Fever King, they’re both incredible, I loved them SO much 😀
Thank you, Jess! <3
spicygeekreads says
The Ballad of Singbirds and Snakes is also on my most anticipated. I’m actually going to reread The Hunger Games trilogy before it comes out
Marie says
Aahhh yes, I can’t wait for that one! That’s such a great idea, immerse yourself into the world entirely. I can’t WAIT 😀
–A Court of Books– says
Thank you for the recs! I added Half Life, Layoverland and Girl, Serpent, Thorn to my crowded TBR 🙂
Marie says
AH THIS made my entire day, thank you!! I hope you’ll love them 😀
–A Court of Books– says
I feel like I’m so unaware of new releases lately, I’m focusing on my reducing my TBR so much that I’m forget to research new books to add ^^
Marie says
Oh I get that – I should really do that, too, my TBR is SO out of control hahaha. Give me some of your magical powers to control it haha
Laurie says
Haha! Well I’m not saying I’m successful ?? the worst part is that I don’t add sequels to my tbr so when I read 3 books, only one of them actually was on my TBR! What a mess
Marie says
OH MY GOD BUT I DO THAT TOO?? ? I mean, I constantly forget about sequels ?
Sophie @ Me and Ink says
Oohh… so many of these books sound so good!!
I need to read the first books for We Unleash the Merciless Sea and The Electric Heir because I really feel like I will love them!! I’m so excited ?
The pitch for The Fascinators sounds incredible. The magic and the romance!! YES!!
Layoverland sounds so interesting and I hadn’t heard of it!! But the plot sounds great !!
Ahh… wonderful list Marie! Thank you for sharing!! ?
Marie says
Ahhh yes Sophie, I hope you will and please feel free to come scream about them with me afterwards haha. I love these books 😀
RIGHT?? I’m just so pumped for The Fascinators, it sounds so great 😀
Thank you!! <3
Sophie @ Me and Ink says
Yes definitely screaming will be required!! ??
It sounds so amazing!! 🙂
Aj @ Read All The Things! says
NEW HUNGER GAMES BOOK! That’s my most-anticipated 2020 book. I need it now.
Marie says
YES! Same here, I just can’t wait 😀
Sofii @ A Book. A Thought. says
Girl, Serpent, Thorn sounds amazing and the cover is too beautiful! ???
So many good releases in 2020, I’ll start saving money ?
Marie says
RIGHT? I love that cover and that synopsis and everything about it?
yes haha we better start saving up right now 😛
Thank you! <3
evelynreads1 says
Oh I can’t wait for the electric heir, the ballad of songbirds and snakes and Scavange the stars!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Marie says
AHH yay! I hope you’ll love them 😀
Amber says
The Sound of Stars and Girl, Serpent, Thorn sound sooooo good. They all sound good but I think these two books really stood out to me. A secret library? Sign me up. 2020 cannot come soon enough. I am so excited! 😀
Amber @ Escape Life in the Pages
Marie says
Right? They sound amazing, I can’t wait to read them 😀
Thank you so much for your comment, Amber!
anovelglimpse says
I’m still on the fence about that Hunger Games addition. I don’t want it to change the way I feel about that series.
Marie says
Oh I so get that, I’m so nervous about it just as well. I know I’m going to read it, I can’t help it, but I’m still very nervous. Hopefully it will be good!
Time for tales and tea says
So many books on this list sound amazing! Especially The Sound of Stars. I am always looking for more books about books! But I’m not sure what to think about the new Hunger Games book… For me the story ended with Mockingjay and I didn’t expect or need a new book. At the same time I really want to know more about it!
Marie says
AHhh yes, me too! I can’t wait to read the sound of stars 🙂
I get that, I really didn’t expect another Hunger Games book. Part of me is excited, while another part of me is way too nervous about it haha. Hopefully it will be good!
Thank you so much for your comment <3
Em @ The Geeky Jock says
Girl, Serpent, Thorn sounds amazing … but, I’m mostly transfixed by the cover of The Fascinators. And by that’s I mean his arm. Maybe it’s just my screen, but it looks like it’s bending like a spaghetti noodle. (Arms don’t bend that way.)
Marie says
I just spent 5 long minutes analyzing that cover, I didn’t even notice??? I feel like maybe it’s either because of the pink effect on the arm, or an hint of the magic in the story… either way, I am intrigued by this book 😀
Kappa says
I cannot wait to get my hands on THE ELECTRIC HEIR!! The first book broke me
Marie says
RIGHT??? ME TOO, I can’t wait and am terrified to see what will happen next haha.
Kappa says
I don’t know if I’m more worried for Dara or Noam
Marie says
I’m terrified for both ?
journeyintobooks says
Great post, I can’t wait for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes but I’m also really apprehensive about picking it up ?☃️
Marie says
Thank you so much!! I feel the same way, I’m so nervous about it, but excited, too. I hope it will be good 😀
journeyintobooks says
You’re welcome ☃️?
Beware Of The Reader says
What???? Suzanne Collins has a new Hunger games book coming????
Marie says
I KNOW RIGHT??? It was a shock to me too when I found out, I didn’t expect it AT ALL! I can’t wait!
Cas @ Daydreaming Ink says
I’m actually gonna make a post about my most anticipated early-2020 releases soon but the only book on your list I’ve actually heard of is the new hunger games book whoops… But yeah, dunno what to think, hopefully excitement but also I read that series when I was like 11 so… My top picks are mainly series continuations, they’re the new books in the Shatter Me, Stillhouse Lake, Orphan X, and Rockton series; plus Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare which might as well be classified as a series continuation.
Marie says
Ahhh that’s so great, I can’t wait to read it 😀
Same here, I’m excited about the book, but also very nervous. I hope it will be good!
I still need to catch up on the Shatter Me series, I can’t wait to do so 🙂
confessionsofayareader says
I’m excited for quite a few of these!
Marie says
YAY! happy to hear this 😀
confessionsofayareader says
🙂
Macey @ Brine and Books says
Omg yesss, when I saw that Suzanne Collins was bringing out another book, I got SO EXCITED!! After reading my first YA fantasy series with SoC, I want to dive into so many other YA fantasy worlds xx
Marie says
AHH yes same here, I can’t wait to read it 😀
I hope you’ll maybe find some reads you’ll love here! 🙂
Alyssa @ breadreadsbooks says
Oh man! I am excited for the Fascinators!!!!
Marie says
AHHH same here it sounds SO GOOD I can’t waitttt 😀
Kay | Hammock of Books says
I can’t wait for the new Hunger Games book! Bringing me back to my middle school days <3
Marie says
Ahhh same here, I really hope it will be good! 😀
Jas @ XIV blog says
Didn’t think I’d find new books here, because I actually only read contemporary. BUT Layoverland sounds cute (and I LOVE the Good Place) and Of Curses and Kisses is on my list because anything Sandhya Menon writes, I’ll read. 😀
Marie says
It makes me so happy you’re a contemporary lover as well <3 I am so intrigued by Layoverland! It seems contemporary, but with quite an unique setting and it has such a "the good place" vibe, I'm too curious! 🙂
Charlotte says
I literally can not wait for Where Dreams Descend!! It sounds amazing and mentions Moulin Rogue so how could I not want it? I’m also seriously excited about The Hunger Games prequel and most of the others mentioned here. There are so many fantastic sounding books coming out next year. I’m also looking forward to Addie La Rue, Kingdom Of Back, Kerri Manscalco’s new series and a LOT more. I’m going to do a top 25 post soon and probably another for a top five for a few different genres as there are just so many books I want to read next year ? you might like Dark And Deepest Red?
Marie says
RIGHT? it sounds like such a fascinating read, I can’t wait to discover it either 😀
Ohhhh yes! Dark and Deepest Red, I’ve heard a lot about that one and all of the other books by this author. They’re all on my TBR 😀
Charlotte says
I hope we both love it. Yes they’re all on mine too. I’ve actually just brought Blanca & Roja so hopefully it won’t take me too long to get around to reading it.
Marie says
Ahh that’s great! I hope you’ll end up loving it 🙂
Charlotte says
Thank you ❤️
flippingthruthepages says
I am so so excited for The Electric Heir. I loved The Fever King so much and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next. The Sound of Stars, Of Curses and Kisses, Scavenge the Stars and Girl, Serpent, Thorn are on my anticipated list too. I hope we enjoy all these books 😀
Marie says
AHHH YES same here, I can’t wait to see what happens next! Here’s to hoping we’ll love them all 😀
Marta @ the book mermaid says
Again, I’m so BAD at keeping up with new releases xD But I had already known about Of Curses and Kisses and I had seen the cover of Girl, Serpent, Thorn so I’ll keep an eye out for both! Thank you so much for this list!! 😀
Marie says
Ah you’re welcome, I’m so, so happy this could be useful <3
E. Pasternak says
The Fascinators and Scavenge the Stars are on my list too!
Also, I’ve been waiting forever for the sequel for The Brilliant Death so I’m so happy it’s nearly here!! Oh, and The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska looks promising! I mean, evil witch + f/f enemies to lovers?? Yes, please!!!
Marie says
YAY! These sound amazing!
Ohhh, thank you for this recommendation, I haven’t heard of it before but it sounds quite good??? I need to check it out! 😀
Nicole says
Layoverland and Dreams Descend is also my list, though I don’t know if I’ll actually get to them when they come out! Great list! 🙂
Marie says
I hope you will!! Thank you so much, Nicole 🙂
Angela says
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is already on my TBR – I love a good retelling!
Marie says
Same here and this one sounds so good! I hope we’ll both love it 😀
Caitlin @ Caitlin Althea says
EEEEK. I’M EXCITED FOR ALL OF THESE BOOKS TOO.
Caitlin @ Caitlin Althea says
lmao, my comment posted before I was finished with it, but basically, I LOVE THIS LIST. I’m so excited for We Unleash the Merciless Storm (that cover ?), and to be reunited with Dani and Carmen, my loves. I also know that The Electric Heir will destroy me, but being able to continue Noam and Dara’s story will be WORTH IT. Also, I think you posted about getting an arc on Twitter, and I’m low key jealous haha :”) Ahhh, I’m so excited for Scavenge the Stars as well! That girl on the cover can stab me any time, hehe. And a gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo sound SO bad-ass <3 I hope you end up enjoying all of these + your anticipated contemporary reads!
Marie says
AHHH yes this makes me very happy, thank you, Caitlin! I am so in love with The Merciless Storm’s cover, I can’t wait to be reunited with my favorites ???
RIGHT? I am ready to be destroyed by feels and everything happening in the electric heir haha. yes I feel way too lucky about it I don’t know how this happened i’m ???
YES! I’m so excited about Scavenge the Stars, it sounds WAY too incredible. I hope we’ll both love it 😀
Catarina @ Pages & Plots says
I don’t think I’ve heard about any of these books before! Once again, my TBR took a beating, especially when I’ll be on a book buying ban in 2020 ?
Marie says
Ahhh I’m happy I could make your TBR grow and…. maybe you can list these books as suggestions for your wishlist, for your birthday or something ?
Kristina says
The song of stars have such a pretty cover !!
However, out of all thoses you mentionned, Of curses and Kisses is the only one i’ve added to my virtual wanna read; as we all know im kinda wary of fantasies xD and that one sounds really sweet! Plus, many of them are sequels as of which I haven’t read the one before so merps x)
Marie says
Right? I LOVE that cover so much 😀
I get that! I’d definitely recommend The Fever King and We Set The Dark on Fire if you feel like reading them, they’re incredible books <3
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!!!!!!! I’m reading Scavenge the Stars right now. Not far in, but already loving it!!
Marie says
YES so excited about that one! and I’m so happy you’re enjoying Scavenge the Stars, I can’t wait to read it!! 😀
Caro @ bookcheshirecat says
As usual, I’m very excited about all the fantasy and sci-fi releases that are coming to us in 2020! I’m anticipating Where Dreams Descend, The Electric Heir and Layoverland as well, they all sound so good ? I’ve also been intrigued by Havenfall, The Will and the Wilds and When We Were Magic ?
Marie says
Ah yes these all sound so good, I can’t wait to read them ! 😀 Thank you for these recommendations, I’ll have to check these out!! 🙂
Unchaptered says
I’d be willing to volunteer for The Hunger Games for a copy of A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ?
Marie says
Ahahah I get that, I’m SO EXCITED for this book to be released. Also a little bit terrified but well, haha.
Unchaptered says
That’s always a risk with books we put on such high pedestals, they might not meet expectations ?
Heres hoping A Ballad…etc etc does ?
Marie says
Let’s hope so!! 🙂
Kelly | Another Book in the Wall says
Great post, Marie!! I am so pumped for a lot of these as well! Although I haven’t read anything by Tara Sim before, I LOVE the idea of a gender swapped Count of Monte Christo story! And, being the Hunger Games fan that I am, I cannot wait to get my hands on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes! I have such high expectations for it! Hopefully it delivers! <3
Marie says
Thank you so, so much, Kelly! I haven’t read anything by Tara Sim just yet, either, but I’m looking forward to it 😀
Thank you! <3