Most anticipated releases of April 2021 | another month with lots of LGBTQIAP, BIPOC and other amazing (YA) books! | Diversify your reading in 2021!

One of my favourite things to do is going book hunting, to just spade through the internet with only one goal: finding new books to add to my ever-lasting TBR or, of course, to look forward to reading new releases! For today’s post I’ve gathered some of the books I’ve found on one of my hunting sprees, more specifically: my hunting spree for April 2021 releases!

I’ve tried to make this list as diverse as possible because, you know, I love that! So think LGBTQIAP to BIPOC (since I couldn’t find anything with neurodivergent characters or more). To make it easier for you, I’ve included representation tags for the books and when clicking on the title of a book, you will be redirected to its Goodreads page.

Before we get into it, I still quickly want to say…hi! I haven’t been that active since I felt really overwhelmed but the coming months there are lots of exciting things planned again! I’m happy to be back to screaming about books, so let’s do just that!

Anticipated releases of April 2021

Everyone dies famous in a small town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
Release date: April 1st 2021
Genre: YA anthology (contemporary)
Representation: none (as far as I know)

We have all heard someone say they read a book solely for the cover, and some of us (like me) relate to that, but what I haven’t heard that often is wanting a book because of the title. I mean like…Everyone dies famous in a small town…that just grips me immediately! Despite not knowing a whole lot about this book, my expectations are high! I guess I’m just a sucker for small town stories and how lives can collide there, so let’s hope I’ll get that from this book!

The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Release date: April 6th 2021
Genre: YA fantasy
Representation: Asian main character

I’ve been telling myself to read Starfish by this author for a long time, but I think that’ll have to wait a little longer because this? This has my priority! The cover could’ve already convinced me but after reading what it’s about I’m just over here craving it. The concept of this book is EVERYTHING I could’ve wished for. I’ll probably read this very soon so I can cry while anxiously waiting for the sequel. So, ehm, yes! I have quite high expectations!

Zara Hossain is here by Sabina Khan
Release date: April 6th 2021
Genre: YA contemporary
Representation: Muslim main character, sapphic

I haven’t heard anything about this book yet, if I’m being completely honest, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to read it! The synopsis is a little bit vague but that may be what draws me in: I want to find out exactly what this story is! I’m hoping for something really eye-opening, emotional and yet also hopeful story! I also don’t think I’ve read about enough Muslim stories, so time to work on that!

House of hollow by Krystal Sutherland
Release date: April 6th 2021
Genre: YA thriller (or horror…?)
Representation: wlw main character (don’t know if it’s sapphic)

Give me all the books with dark vibes, okay? This sounds so mysterious and intriguing and now I just want to unravel every little detail of this story! I don’t know for sure if this is a thriller or horror, but it doesn’t matter that much to me! A while ago I would’ve never picked up something that could be horror, but if the concept has potential, why not? Plus that cover is just a big YES, just saying…I’m really excited to try this out!

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch
Release date: April 6th 2021
Genre: YA contemporary
Representation: gay main character

I must admit I wasn’t immediately convinced I wanted to read this book because of the fact that I’m pretty picky with reading contemporary. The concept didn’t really get me excited because it didn’t feel that outstanding, but then I decided that, maybe, this book didn’t need some big “wow-I-need-this-now” moment. It’s another small town story and I think that I could relate to this a lot so…I say I should just try it! Maybe I should let go of the whole extraordinary-story thing and just read something that makes me realise life doesn’t need all that stuff to be good…I think!

Malice by Heather Walter
Release date: April 13th 2021
Genre: Fantasy (retelling)
Representation: sapphic

Oh this synopsis absolutely KILLED me. There are no words to describe the excitement upon hearing 1) a sleeping beauty retelling (that’s not problematic, like the original story) with a 2) sapphic romance that’s 3) between the princess and the evil sorceress. I will not wake up until this book is here (ha…get it? Because it’s sleeping beauty? Okay I’ll stop now) with all its morally grey characters! Can you hear how excited I am? (I’M SO READY!)

Victories greater than death by Charlie Jane Anders
Release date: April 13th 2021
Genre: YA fantasy (scifi)
Representation: sapphic

This is another one of those titles I’m a big fan of. It just draws me in and, well, the cover does too! Although I’ve heard very mixed things about Victories greater than death (some say it’s a big mess, others seem to love that mess), I’m still eager to pick it up! This book has found family which…just yes! I’m hoping this will be a character-driven and epic! Either way, I want to try out reading some more fantasy so, why not this one? I mean…with a cover like that it’s just meant to be, right?

She drives me crazy by Kelly Quindlen
Release date: April 20th 2021
Genre: YA contemporary
Representation: sapphic, bipoc main character

As someone who screams about sapphic books quite a lot (I would say oops but…no) it pains me to say I haven’t read a Kelly Quindlen book to this day. I know, I know! The books all sound so good, but I just haven’t gotten to them (yet, that is). I sincerely apologise and will try to learn from this obvious mistake…Okay, okay, we get it: I’m dramatic! But seriously, Kelly Quindlen’s books just sound amazing and I can’t wait to read them! She drives me crazy is probably not gonna stay unread for that long in my house…

The Key to you and me by Jaye Robin Brown
Release date: April 20th 2021
Genre: YA contemporary
Representation: sapphic

Here I am, once again, adding a small town story to my TBR! I guess I just relate to them A LOT, lol! I’m very excited to read The Key to you and me because I must, again, apologise! I haven’t read anything by Jaye Robin Brown either…but let’s change that, too! Despite not being a horse girl at all, this sounds really good! I also just love that it seems to deal with some stuff surrounding being a teen while being a romcom! Can’t wait to get my hands on it!

These feathered flames by Alexandra Overy
Release date: April 20th 2021
Genre: YA fantasy
Representation: sapphic

Oh to find an amazing sounding and looking book, and then finding out it is sapphic! I love that feeling so much and don’t think I will ever get tired of it! Alexandra Overy is a debut author but I already love her so much! She’s always so nice and that’s why I’m so thrilled to say I’ll be interviewing her for a blogpost next month! On 19th April you will be able to read ALL about These feathered flames, which gives you one day left to preorder…and you’ll want to! The more I hear about this book, the more excited I get! I need to start my ARC right this second!

Witches steeped in gold by Ciannon Smart
Release date: April 20th 2021
Genre: YA fantasy
Representation: Jamaican main characters

Okay but this just sounds so, so, so epic! I feel like it’ll be an absolute rollercoaster, but one I’m ready to take right this second! Like, I don’t know about you, but I LOVE the idea of basically everything that’s in the description of this book. And “Their order divides them. Their revenge will unite them.” already sounds incredible! Revenge stories have so much potential and I’m hoping to that in this one, too. Plus, of course, Jamaican-inspired? As you probably can tell, I cannot wait to see which turn this story will take!

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And that’s already all for today’s post! I’m so excited to hopefully read all of these soon and it’s honestly so hard to pick a most anticipated release of the month, but I think I’ll maybe go for Malice! Either way, I hope you enjoyed reading this post and have found some new books to check out! I’m curious though…