Most Anticipated Diverse Reads of Late 2020

Posted June 30, 2020 by Sammie in book list, chat with me, diversity, TBR, top ten tuesdays / 28 Comments

Listen. I don’t know how we got here, but 2020 is apparently already half over, and if you’ll just check your bingo cards for this year, I really just need zombies, giant asteroid, stomach-eating parasite, or vampire pigs flying to win this round.

So if any of you can make any of that happen, let’s get it done. You’ve only got six months left. Might as well go out a winner.

I have done so many anticipation posts this year already that I’m sure you’re probably sick of reading them. I’m almost sick of writing them (ha, that’s a blatantly lie, I would never). The problem is that I’ve already yelled about all the books I’m most anticipating ad nauseum, because that’s what I do. I’m a professional. *puffs breath onto shiny professional badge and rubs it until it sparkles*

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is most anticipated releases for the second half of 2020, but as I’ve said … been there, done that.

If you’re particularly curious, you can go find them in my Summer 2020 Most Anticipated Releases, where I did through fall releases because it was efficient. So I’m not going to do that again here, because I trust that you’ve already taken all my lovely recommendations and have thusly added five more years to your TBR’s lifespan. You’re welcome.

What I haven’t done as much, though, is specifically shout out some diverse books that are coming up this year that may have flown slightly under your radar.

And why not? Well, beats me. (No, really. Literally. My TBR beats me. Send help.) So today’s post is all about the upcoming diverse releases. Best hope you get to them before the zombies get to you. Or the vampire pigs. All I’m saying is WE DON’T KNOW, OKAY? GO HOME, 2020, YOU’RE DRUNK.

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The Only Good Indians

Diversity rep: American Indians

The Only Good Indians

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • More books about American Indian culture and lore, please!
  • Super creepy sounding nature revenge book.
  • Is it a Skinwalker?! Please let it be a skinwalker. *crosses fingers*
  • I need some more thrillers in my life.
  • What is sleep? Overrated, that’s what it is.
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The Year of the Witching

Diversity rep: Biracial, Witches

The Year of the Witching

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • Biracial witchy goodness.
  • Dark dystopian, Puritanical society.
  • The Handmaid’s Tale meets Salem sounds brilliant.
  • Emotional feminist fantasy.
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Paola Santiago and the River of Tears

Diversity rep: Hispanic (Mexican)

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears (Paola Santiago #1)

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • La. Llorona. *shudders* This legend was my childhood.
  • I love Rick Riordan presents books.
  • Female protagonist obsessed with science!
  • Non-Western European mythology.
  • Lots of action and adventure!
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Every Bone A Prayer

Diversity rep: rural Appalachia

Every Bone a Prayer

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • Hoping for some Melungeon rep, maybe?
  • I now live in an area nearby rural Appalachia, so the setting caught my attention.
  • I have several friends who grew up in rural Appalachia, and it’s a whole different culture.
  • No, really, you wouldn’t believe the stories.
  • Sounds like a really important, emotional read.
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Cemetery Boys

Diversity Rep: Latinx, LGBTQ+

Cemetery Boys

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • Cemeteries are the best places, ever. End of story.
  • LGBTQ romance.
  • Latinx male witch (a.k.a brujo).
  • Ghost summoning gone wrong sounds kind of fun.
  • Bad boy ghosts are the best kind of ghost.
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Silvered Serpents

Diversity rep: Indian, LGBTQ+

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves, #2)

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • I am all about the heist tropes this year.
  • Also Indian-inspired worlds. So much yes.
  • I love Roshani Chokshi’s other YA series (The Star-Touched Queen)
  • LGBTQ+ romance
  • I’m all for lost powerful artifacts.
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The Way Back

Diversity rep: Jewish

The Way Back

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • Jewish mythology! Why isn’t this a thing more often?!
  • I have a thing for books about demons, in case you hadn’t noticed.
  • Death as an antagonist? Color me intrigued!
  • Sounds like a really good adventure.
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The Fallen Hero

Diversity rep: Chinese

The Fallen Hero (The Dragon Warrior, #2)

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • Chinese mythology!
  • Look at that super cuuuute cover! *squee*
  • More demons. There seems to be a theme here.
  • Sibling troubles. Yikes! But maybe also sibling bonds? We’ll see.
  • THE MONKEY KING! I love the Monkey King.
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Ring Shout

Diversity rep: Black

Ring Shout

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • Very timely social commentary.
  • I love all these books lately that are layering magic onto history.
  • Dark, supernatural historical fiction.
  • MAGIC SWORD! If it talks, I’m done. Best book ever.
  • A protagonist that runs bootleg whiskey. Whaaat? Yes. Heck yes.
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Tristan Strong Destroys the World

Diversity Rep: Black

Tristan Strong Destroys The World (Tristan Strong, #2)

Why I’m Anticipating It:

  • DID YOU THINK THIS WOULDN’T BE ON THIS LIST? Bwahaha, so naive.
  • First book was DA FREAKING BOMB.
  • Literally. Blew my mind. Should be considered a dangerous weapon.
  • I’m suffering from Gum Baby withdrawal.
  • Action. Adventure. Other A things.
  • All the Black mythology I grew up with as a child.
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Stay Fierce, Sammie

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28 responses to “Most Anticipated Diverse Reads of Late 2020

    • You should! it sounds super unique and fun to read. (And of course, we’re all going to obviously love Tristan Strong 2. should go without saying.)

  1. Tristan Strong, fancy seeing you here… again.

    I’m gonna keep it short and sweet: Great list, adding a lot to my Goodreads TBR right now, yay for diversity!

    Oh yeah, The Only Good Indians caught my eye this morning and now it’s showing up here, can anyone say “fate”???

    Oh! My ex walked the Appalachian Trail for 6 months… random Bri’s Facts.

    That about covers it.

    • Were you surprised? I bet you were surprised. Probably never expected to see Tristan Strong here. xD

      Obviously fate. Definitely means you should read it!

      Did he?! That’s so neat. I could never do that. I like air conditioning and very much dislike bugs. xD

  2. La Llorona is new to me, I only know about the tale a teeny bit that I looked up after watching the movie Coco, so I’m interested in Paola Santiago but I don’t have any expectations on what that one will be. I’m obviously looking forward to more Tristan Strong, too. And Ring Shout! I want to read all of P. Djeli Clark’s works, so I’m excited about that one, too! I didn’t know it had a release date in 2020, though. Cool!
    Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday ~ Anticipated 2020 Releases (part 2)My Profile

    • Oh man, you should definitely look up some La Llorona myths and scary stories! They’re fantastic and spooky. I want to read all of their books, too! I bought a couple and just … they disappeared onto my Kindle, ok? It happens. I need to work on that. xD

  3. This is such a great list of books! I didn’t know about a lot of these but I’ve added some to my TBR. This weeks topic is so dangerous for my TBR! Haha

    • I will FOR SURE be reading that one. I have an ARC, and I’m running a bit behind on them (are you surprised? Shocked, right?), but it’s still way up there on my list.

    • I’m going to confess that I still need to read The Gilded Wolves, too. xD I’ve been holding off so I can read them back to back lol.

    • Thanks for the heads up! I managed to get it … pfft foreverrrr ago. Before they pushed back the publication date, like, twice. xD I think it’s currently the ARC I’ve had for the longest on my list lol. I definitely passed that info on to a few other bloggers, though. 😉

    • I have a feeling a lot of my books these coming months are going to do that to me. xD So glad that you liked it, though! I’m excited to pick it up.

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