Now that 2017 is all wrapped up and resolutions have been made, we can start looking forward to what the next year has to offer. I’m actually nigh on hopeless at keeping up to date with new and upcoming releases, so to an extent, this post is a call-out for a heads up from you guys about what books I should be aware of. That said, there are a few books already on my radar, which I’ve mentioned below for anyone else on the lookout for what could be some of 2018’s most exciting new reads (for me, at least).

Some of my most anticipated releases of 2018
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
Described as a “blazing vision of suffering, sisterhood and transformation”, the opening of the blurb for this book was more than enough to hook me in, so I shall simply share it here. It’s somewhat vague and mysterious, but I’m definitely getting some feminist, dystopian vibes, which I’m all for:
“Imagine a world very close to our own: where women are not safe in their bodies, where desperate measures are required to raise a daughter. This is the story of Grace, Lia and Sky, kept apart from the world for their own good and taught the terrible things that every woman must learn about love.”
The Sealwoman’s Gift by Sally Magnusson
I adore Iceland. I adore immersive historical fiction when it’s done well. I adore stories about stories, steeped in the tradition of folk and fairy tales. This book promises to provide all of that, and I am ready for it, I can tell you. Inspired by true events, the book gives voice to an Icelandic woman who is one of 400 people seized by Barbary pirates in the 1600s and sold into slavery in Algiers, who uses the stories of her homeland to survive in a culture that feels completely alien.
Mary Rose by Geoffrey Girard
I’ve seen the J.M. Barrie play that inspired this intriguing, ghostly tale, and whilst I enjoyed it, I felt the story could have delved a little deeper, hence my excitement when I heard it was being adapted into a full-length novel. It centres around a young woman who disappeared as a child for thirty days. Though she returned unharmed, she had no recollection of what occurred, and her behaviour grows increasingly strange as time goes by, with her fiancé determined to find out exactly what happened all those years ago.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
This book focusses on four siblings who are all told the exact date they will die by a travelling psychic whilst in their adolescence, and explores the ways this knowledge shapes each of their lives over the years that follow. That’s all I need to know! (The pretty cover doesn’t hurt either, to be fair.)
The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan
I love Kirsty Logan’s writing, as there is a lifeblood of folk lore and fairy tales that runs through her work, which coupled with her beautiful prose and deft handling of characters swept me up with all three of her previous books. The Gloaming features an island setting, a lesbian mermaid, and themes of love and grief – AKA, sign me up.
Unbury Carol by Josh Malerman
Despite being on my list of most anticipated releases, I’m actually going into this one with a fair few reservations, not least because it’s technically a western, and that is so not my cup of tea normally. I loved Malerman’s novel, Bird Box, however, and also enjoyed his novella, A House at the Bottom of a Lake, so I know he’s capable of creating gripping plots, and fascinating characters and concepts. I love all things fairy tale-esque, and this is supposedly a twisted take on Sleeping Beauty, about a woman who slips into death-like comas, and the danger this puts her in when her husband plots to exploit her condition by burying her alive and stealing her fortune.
Whistle in the Dark by Emma Healey
Not too dissimilar to Mary Rose in basic concept, interestingly, Whistle in the Dark is about a mother’s search for the truth after her teenage daughter disappears for four days, refusing to discuss what happened, and acting increasingly strange and secretive upon her return. Healey’s novel, Elizabeth is Missing, wasn’t perfect plot-wise for me, but it was very well written with a fantastically well realised heroine, so I’m keen to try more from her.
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There we have it! What are some of your most anticipated releases for 2018?
I want to read Unbury Carol and Whistle in the Dark too 🙂 I hope they all live up to your expectations!
Thanks – and same to you! I’ll keep an eye out for your thoughts when you get to them 😊
Of course immediately after I make a resolutions post vowing to use Netgalley less often, I see this post, look up Mary Rose, and end up requesting it. You’re a bad influence!! And I know I’ve said it before but I am so curious to hear your thoughts on Unbury Carol.
I can only apologise, haha.
It’s a funny one; part of me is SO excited for it, but part of me is dreading that I’m going to hate it… I need to just try and go in as neutral as possible I think, and take it for what it is.
Mary Rose appears to be interesting…
The play that inspired it was very intriguing, so I’m hoping I’ll enjoy this interpretation!
Good luck. Enjoy
The Immortalists is AMAZING. Already one of my favorite books. I’m looking forward to Unbury Carol, too – I have an ARC, so hopefully I’ll get to it soon. Great list!
Ooh, yay! My book blog friends who’ve read it already seem to be split between loving it and finding it a bit ‘meh’, so I’m very glad to see someone else has loved it! 😊
It took me a bit to get into it, but it’s been like three weeks since I read it, and I’m still thinking about it. I can’t wait to see what you think!
Great list! I am so excited about The Water Cure and even have a NetGalley ARC for it but currently I am trying to first read the books that come out the next month. But it is so tempting! It looks way brilliant.
It sounds brilliant, doesn’t it? It’s possibly the one on this list I’m most excited about!
A new Kirsty Logan book?! I’m so excited.
Me too! She’s wonderful 😊