17 February Releases We're Excited About

And what you can read in the meantime

Reading ahead

Our teetering TBR piles may be taller than small children, but still we never tire of browsing (and buying!) new books. From gripping thrillers to inventive retellings to thrilling sequels, February’s most anticipated list is littered with must-reads! Here are seventeen upcoming releases across a diverse mix of genres. These are available for pre-order, but in the meantime, peruse our recommendations for similar reads that you can enjoy right away.

Contemporary fiction 

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes (Feb. 7)

After her wealthy husband announces divorce and cuts her off, Nisha is reeling. Sam is a struggling single mom who accidentally grabs Nisha's gym bag. The mixup leads to an unlikely friendship that transforms the lives of the two women who each find themselves at a crossroads.

What to read first: In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

The Love Scribe by Amy Meyerson (Feb. 7)

When the stories she writes about friends falling in love start to come true, Alice is approached by others who want romantic help. But not all the stories she writes turn out as expected. When she receives her most challenging assignment yet, Alice is forced to confront her own guarded heart.  

What to read first: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

The Friendship Breakup by Annie Cathryn (Feb. 7)

When Fallon's best friend starts ghosting her, all the other moms in her friend group follow suit. Determined to win them back, she deploys a set of engagement tactics from throwing an epic party to joining a friendship app. Eventually, she realizes that the person she really needs to make peace with is herself.

What to read first: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel (Feb. 14)

Twin sisters Arcade and Daffodil cling to one another as women in their community go missing. Exploring weighty themes around generational trauma and addiction, this lyrical, immersive novel is an urgent testament to survival and a literary elegy for missing women everywhere.

What to read first: Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

Mystery, Thriller, and Horror 

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones (Feb. 7)

In this page-turning horror sequel, Jade is released from prison and returns to the rural lake town of Proofrock, Idaho, after her conviction is overturned. It is December 12, 2019. On that same day, just outside of town, vengeful serial killer Dark Mill South escapes from his prison transfer.

What to read first: My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (Feb. 21)

Successful film professor and podcast Bodie Kane is content to put the tragedies in her past behind her, particularly the murder of her boarding school roommate. But when the Granby School invites her back to teach a course, she finds herself reexamining the case and its increasingly apparent flaws.

What to read first: The Secret History by Donna Tartt

It's One of Us by J. T. Ellison (Feb. 28)

Amidst the heartbreak of failed IVF treatments, Olivia and her husband, Park, find out that DNA results in a murder investigation indicate Park has fathered the suspect. Olivia is surprised to learn that Park donated to a sperm clinic many years ago. As the investigation progresses more shocking secrets emerge. 

What to read first: Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Sci-fi and Fantasy

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes (Feb. 7)

After the mortal Medusa is assaulted by Poseidon in Athene's temple, the goddess punishes the young woman turning her into a snake-haired monster who, with one glance, petrifies (literally!) all living creatures. This fantasy retelling turns our understanding of this myth on its head with a resonant timeliness.

What to read first: Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (Feb. 14)

This darkly romantic page-turner is a sumptuous, haunting story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales. Lush and atmospheric, it's a tale about love, betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.

What to read first: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon (Feb. 28)

In the stunning standalone prequel to the bestselling The Priory of the Orange Tree, three women must find the strength to protect humankind from a devastating threat. Tunuva, Glorian, and Dumai come from very different lives, but together their efforts will shape the world for generations to come.

What to read first: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill (Feb. 28)

In this contemporary retelling of The Crane Wife by the Newbery Medal-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, one fiercely pragmatic teen forced to grow up faster than was fair will do whatever it takes to protect her family—and change the story. A raw, powerful coming-of-age tale.

What to read first: Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

Marvelous by Molly Greeley (Feb. 28)

A mesmerizing novel set in the French royal court of Catherine de' Medici during the Renaissance, which recreates the touching and surprising true story behind the Beauty and the Beast legend. Heartbreaking and hopeful, this is the portrait of an arranged marriage and the remarkable, resilient family it formed.

What to read first: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Historical fiction 

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson (Feb. 7)

This luminous novel set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, explores womanhood, sacrifice, and ambition for two young Black women. Ruby and Eleanor live totally different lives, but both are navigating the turbulent waters of race, class, education, and motherhood.

What to read first: Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang (Feb. 21)

France, 1918. To avoid an arranged marriage, Pauline, a young Chinese woman living in Paris, runs away. She bonds with Camille who is planning her escape from her own abusive marriage. But they are both thrown into peril when Pauline uncovers a dangerous secret Camille has been keeping from her.

What to read first: Dragon Springs Road by Janie Chang

The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen (Feb. 21)

This riveting true story is based on the life of Dorothy Horstmann, the doctor who discovered the key to stopping polio. Rising from a humble background, Dorothy was often the only woman in the room. But in the face of this terrifying disease that was killing and paralyzing children, she was a woman on a mission.

What to read first: The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

Romance 

Just My Type by Falon Ballard (Feb. 7)

Relationship-prone web journalist Lana has decided she's ready for a break from dating. But when her high school flame comes to work at her site, the chemistry between them is still undeniable. Now their boss has pitted them against each other in a competition for a highly coveted dream job.

What to read first: The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score (Feb. 21)

Since getting shot, chief of police Nash Morgan has been struggling. Lina, his new next-door neighbor sees his pain and the physical connection between them is incendiary, but she's got dangerous secrets of her own. This sexy sequel expands the world of Knockemout, Virginia. 

What to read first: Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

Hopefully there’s something here that you want to add to your TBR list! Let us know which new books you’re most excited about this month.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon