Hidden Bookshelf 11: 2022 Releases I Can’t Wait to Devour!

Hidden Bookshelf 11: 2022 Releases I Can’t Wait to Devour!

In all its adventurous uncertainty, 2021 was, by far, the most eventful year of my life. From graduating from high school during a deadly pandemic to moving to a different continent altogether and starting uni, so many monumental developments took place in my own story that I had absolutely no time to invest in anybody else’s. As we enter 2022, I’m determined to focus on self-care & ease my exhausted mind, and there’s nothing that calms me more than immersing myself in the glory of a great novel. In line with that, here are five of the many books coming out in 2022 that are on my reading radar! 

DISCLAIMER: Before picking up any of the books mentioned in this article, make sure you have a look at the trigger warnings for each of them, which you could find on https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/

  1. Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins

Date of release: January 4, 2022 

Love at First Spite follows Dani Porter, a heartbroken and enraged interior designer bent on taking revenge on her unfaithful ex-fiancé. What better way to do that than to build a house RIGHT NEXT TO the one that they were going to live in together (before he cheated on her with their realtor, that is) as a permanent reminder of his shameful deeds and everything he lost? The only roadblock to the construction of Spite House is that the only person who could make the blueprints for it is the vain and blunt (and kinda good-looking) architect, Wyatt Montego. As the project commences and they put their heads together, would their hearts intertwine too? And would Dani realise that there really is no better payback than finding love again? 

I’ve never encountered an interior designer protagonist in YA, so I’m excited to see what the author does with Dana’s character arc. Spite seems like such a complicated emotion to navigate, and one that is not addressed often; I look forward to seeing how she deals with it in her debut novel. Being a sucker for fluffy rom-coms, I’m sure I’m going to love this quirky contemporary read!

2. Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict 

Date of release: January 25, 2022 

Most of us, when asked who discovered the structure of DNA, would say it was James Watson and Francis Crick, pioneers of the famous Francis-Crick Model. Very few people know that the brilliant mind that introduced the world to the mysterious DNA double helix was that of a driven and diligent woman who made her mark in a male-dominated industry but never got the credit she deserved for her ground-breaking discovery. From her life as a researcher in Paris and the way she took the X-ray photograph that revolutionised our understanding of humankind, to how the product of her hard work was stolen by three of her male counterparts, Her Hidden Genius captures all the details of Dr Rosalind Franklin’s powerful story, which continues to inspire women both young and old to this day.

As a woman in STEM myself, I found this biographical account of one of the most significant female figures in STEM highly intriguing. Dr Franklin’s life in London (she used to go to King’s College!), the nitty-gritty of how she went about photographing DNA and the conspiracy that led to her work being stolen are some of the things I can’t wait to find out more about!

3. This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi 

Date of release: February 1, 2022 

She used to be a revered queen, heir to a long-forgotten Jinn kingdom, but all Alizeh is known to be now is a humble servant. He lives the lavish life of a prince, but deep down, Kamran is just a tormented soul. Little does he know that the elusive maid that he’s inexplicably drawn to and can’t get off his mind would go on to eradicate his entire kingdom with her unfathomable powers. Set in a Persian mythological world, This Woven Kingdom is a tale of conquest, destruction and love, by the author of the bestselling Shatter Me series, Tahereh Mafi. 

Tahereh Mafi’s versatility and lyrical writing style truly set her apart, and having read and loved quite a few of her books in the past ( A Very Large Expanse of Sea has my entire heart), I’m certain this one is going to be a complete delight. Persian mythology seems like something I would enjoy, and who doesn’t fancy a good old forbidden romance? This intense, mystical fantasy is right up my alley and I really hope it won’t let me down!

4. Kiss and Tell by Adib Khorram 

Date of release: March 22, 2022

Kiss and Tell is the story of Hunter, the only ‘openly queer’ member of the sensational band, Kiss and Tell, which is currently on its first tour ever, performing all across the United States and Canada. His life isn’t as perfect as it may seem: he just had his first, completely devastating breakup and it wasn’t long before the media found out, everyone expects him to be the kind of gay idol queer teens across the world could look up to. On top of all that, he’s also navigating a blossoming relationship with the star of the opening band of the tour, Kaivan!? When The Label finds out about Kaivan and Hunter’s brewing romance, does he end up losing everything important to him, and himself in the process? 

Another author whose work I’m a HUGE fan of, Adib Khorram won my heart with Darius the Great is not Okay, and I knew I had to pre-order this one as soon as I heard of its release. Queer representation, boy band drama and Khorram’s simple yet poignant prose? Sign me up!  

5. Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

Date of release: April 19, 2022

To get past the trauma of her best friend Trina Low’s death, Najwa Bakri enters a Scrabble competition, the very one where her best friend died the last time it took place. She wants to heal, but at the same time, isn’t ready to let go of Trina’s memory. While the rest of the competitors are focused on claiming former Scrabble Queen Trina’s title, all Najwa is there to do is cherish the remnants of her friend’s legacy. But when her Instagram, which used to be inactive, gets mysteriously overtaken, and secrets about her death begin to come to light, it is up to Najwa to find out who is behind posting ominous messages on her account and unravel the mystery surrounding her death.

One of my reading goals for 2022 is to read more books with BIPOC representation, and Queen of the Tiles, with its Malaysian, hijabi main character, looks like a great place to start! The plot is unconventional and really drew my attention, although I’m not too fond of thrillers in general. Would I like this one or is it destined to end up in my DNF pile? Only time will tell…

Which of these or any other 2022 titles are you the most excited about and why? Let us know in the comments!

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