One of the best things about reading is discovering new authors!
I mean, okay, old, tried-and-true authors are absolutely fantastic and deserve their just dues, of course. There’s something special about finding new authors that you love, though. It’s like being surrounded by puppies and someone hands you another fluffy puppy. Are you really going to complain about that or say no? Who doesn’t want another puppy to cuddle?!
… authors aren’t puppies. I should probably just go ahead and put that disclaimer in. Don’t try to collect multiple ones and keep them in your yard, and pet at your own risk. Just kidding. Don’t pet authors.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is new-to-me authors I read in 2020.
I’ve realized that the majority of books I read in 2020 were actually by new-to-me authors, which is good in one way and bad in another. I struggled to find books by authors I knew and loved last year, which was weird. Especially since 2021 is already shaping up to be me re-reading a lot of authors (which is equally good).
The point is … narrowing this list down to 10 is painful, but for your sake, I’m undertaking the challenge. You’re welcome. Never say I didn’t do anything for you.
Also, the covers of all the books link to their pages on Goodreads. You know, just in case your 2021 TBR needs some extra help. 😉
T. J. Klune
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
There’s no cover for it yet, but book five in Klune’s Tales From Verania series, The Damning Stone, will be coming out at the end of this year.
Let’s go ahead and get the obvious one out of the way, yes? I’m sure many of you have heard about The House in the Cerulean Sea from last year, which was my first Klune book and made me absolutely fall in love with the author. Fewer of you may have heard about his YA release, The Extraordinaries, which also came out last year. But did you know he’s got a really freaking long backlist of books? The man’s a crazy writing machine, and he does it brilliantly, and if you ask me, that’s not fair. Someone with that much talent should be a slow, painstaking writer, just to balance things out. Wait, no … I take that back, because his crazy writing speed means we’ll be getting three books from him in 2021, and I’m so ready for it!
Karen M. McManus
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
There’s no cover for it yet, but You’ll be the Death of Me is coming out this year, which is pitched as YA murder mystery meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Look, I realize I’m late to the party on this one, but at least I showed up eventually, right? Several of you all have told me how wonderful McManus’ books were, and it’s not that I didn’t believe you, buuuut … well, there are a lot of books on my TBR, okay? As part of TheWriteReads blog tour, I actually read The Cousins last year, and I enjoyed it so much that I definitely want to check out more of her work this year!
Abby Howard
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
I read The Last Halloween: Children last year on a whim as part of my goal to read more graphic novels, and I was surprised by just how much I loved it! Everything about it was just *chef’s kiss*. So imagine my surprise when I went to look at the author’s backlist and found a middle grade graphic novel series about dinosaurs. What?! Obviously, this author is writing just for me, and boy do I appreciate it. I’ve already rushed to grab an eARC of her upcoming book, which sounds delightfully creepy!
Heidi Lang & Kati Bartkowski
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
No announcement that I’ve seen yet, but The Whispering Pines should be getting an upcoming sequel, at the very least.
I hadn’t heard of this sibling writing duo until I read (and loved) The Whispering Pines last year. I then looked at their backlist and learned about the Lailu Loganberry series, which looks super cute and I definitely need to check out!
Lindsay Currie
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
I absolutely freaking loved Scritch Scratch when I read it last year, and I for sure want more middle grade horror books like it! Soon as I finished, I went out and ordered The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street, which I have not read yet, but it looks amazing! Which makes me all the more excited to find out that Currie has another mid-grade horror story coming out this year! I’m definitely keeping an eye out and crossing my fingers to get an ARC!
Margaret Owen
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
The Merciful Crow duology is one of my new favorite duologies after falling head-over-heels into those books last year. Everything about them is just *chef’s kiss*. Siiiigh. This year, she’s releasing a high fantasy retelling of The Goose Girl, which sounds dark and twisty and like something I for sure need in my life!
Tricia Levenseller
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
I read The Shadows Between Us last year, which is a delightfully Slytherin romance that I very much enjoyed. I’ve got a copy of Warrior of the Wild, but I just haven’t had a chance to pick it up yet. But this year? This year, Levenseller brings us Blade of Secrets, which not only touches on social anxiety (something I also suffer from), but sounds like it might also be a dark fantasy romance? Which I am definitely here for.
Scott Reintgen
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
Funnily enough, Ashlords was one of my most anticipated releases last year, which I did not read (though I did receive it for my birthday at the end of the year!) Instead, my first Reintgen book was Saving Fable, which was adorable and charming and has me looking forward to the sequel, which comes out this year! And as for Ashlords, I plan to pick that up soon so that I can read the duology back-to-back!
Shami Stovall
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
Thanks to TheWriteReads’ blog tour last year, I was introduced to Shami Stovall and the wonderful world of the Frith Chronicles, which is dark fantasy at its finest. I haven’t read past the first book, though I plan on continuing the series for sure, and this year, book six will be released!
P. Djèlí Clark
Backlist Books
Upcoming Books
Technically, I didn’t finish Ring Shout until this year, but I started it last year, so I’m going to count it anyway. I’d heard of Clark previously and actually purchased The Black God’s Drums shortly after it came out. I just … never read it. Oops? So technically, Ring Shout was my first Clark book, and I can’t impress upon you how much I absolutely loved that novella! I haven’t read the other Cairo books yet (though I will), but I’m already super looking forward to a full-length novel from Clark now!
What are some authors you discovered in 2020 that you’re looking forward to reading more of? Do we have any in common?
I just have to say that the beginning of this post had me LOLing so hard! Love your posts! Also, I haven’t read any of these authors yet! *horrified gasp* So I ended up adding one book of each author’s to my Goodreads TBR! Ooops! Hehe!
Hasini @ Bibliosini recently posted…New-To-Me Authors: Top Ten Tuesday
I need to get around to Margaret Owen’s duology ASAP — the first book’s been on my TBR list since before it released 😅 And I had no idea she had a new book coming out as well!! Great list Sammie!! ❤️
Great list! Blade of Secrets sounds awesome! Thanks for the recs
AB @ Iwishiownedabookstore recently posted…My Top Ten New Favourite Authors I Read In 2020
I really need to check out T.J. Klune sometime!
My post.
You definitely do! I think you’d really enjoy his work!
I’m so excited for A Master of Djinn! I love Karen M. McManus’s work–I still need to read Two Can Keep a Secret and The Cousins and I can’t wait for the libraries to reopen so I can get to them–and I’m looking forward to diving into TJ Klune’s backlist, too.
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | New-to-me authors I read in 2020
Libraries around here have reopened (though I work at one, so having to wait really isn’t as much an issue for me). The Cousins was good, though! I’m really looking forward to his backlist, too. I’ve already started on it, but I think it’ll take me a little while to get through.
I’ve seen so many mentions of The Cerulean Sea – need to add it, and I’m a big fan of Reintgen’s Ashlord series. I read the first two books of Nyxia, but haven’t gotten to the third. Fantastic list, Sammie!
You definitely should read it! It definitely deserves the hype it’s getting. I’m so looking forward to Ashlords. I haven’t been as sure about Nyxia, but since I’ve liked his other work, I’ll probably end up checking it out.
Ah, yes, Margaret Owen! Her books are so good, and in that weird space where I think they’re quite popular but I don’t see people talk about them a lot.
Briana @ Pages Unbound recently posted…10 of the Most Romantic Young Adult Novels
It’s definitely weird. I’ve stumbled across several authors like that recently, and I’m like … but how? Why is no one talking about these authors?! Well, I mean, we are now, I guess, so there’s that. 😉
TJ Klune made my list this week too. I need to read all of backlist and upcoming reads too!
Lauren @ Always Me recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2020
He made so many people’s lists, and I love it! I think it’s gonna take me a while to get through his backlist, but I definitely want to read them all!
Your puppy analogy made me laugh. It’s very apt! I, personally, would not say no to a single one.
I love your list! You have such a huge variety of authors on here. I absolutely have heard of The House in the Cerulean Sea, and I’ve been meaning to read it. I’ve heard good things about the audiobook too. T. J. Klune would be a new author for me in that case! 🙆
Also, I have not heard of Shami Stovall previously but Knightmare Arcanist seems to be about magic and pirates so… adding that to my TBR!
Rabeeah Reads recently posted…10 Author Debuts I Read Last Year
Ha, thanks! Glad you liked it
You FOR SURE need to read The House in the Cerulean Sea. I read an eARC of it and then listened to the audiobook a couple months later because I had enjoyed it so much. The narrator does a really good job with it!
Knightmare Arcanist is 100% about magic and pirates and magical sidekicks. Though, it’s a pretty dark world, just to warn you, so you’re not surprised. xD
You read a lot of great authors!
Kristi@ConfessionsofYAReader recently posted…Goodreads Monday 1/25/21
Very exciting about the new Karen McManus book, especially as Ferris Bueller is an old favourite of mine!
I figured that would catch quite a few people’s attention! I was never a huge fan of Ferris Bueller, but I still think it sounds like a super interesting premise.
Sadly, I’m one of the few people who hasn’t really enjoyed McManus’ books, I tried One of Us Is Lying and was kind of underwhelmed and I haven’t really felt the pull to pick up any of her other books. Tricia Levenseller, I read Daughter of The Pirate King a few years back and really enjoyed it but I’ve not picked up any of her other books yet.
Jo recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #300
That’s a shame. But you can’t be the audience for every book, and that’s okay! I haven’t read Daughter of the Pirate King, but I’m thinking I should definitely go back and do that! I remember seeing it around, but I had so much on my plate at that point.
Great list! I have The House on the Cerulean Sea on my list to read in February. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by My List today. 🙂
Stephanie @ Love.Life.Read recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: 2020’s New to Me Authors
I didn’t know that Scott Reintgen had a middle grade books! I need to check that out. Also, TJ Klune is amazing! I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and need to read the rest of his books soon.
He does! They were super cute, and I definitely recommend them! Yes, saaaame! I think we should be given more time in general to manage this. xD
Oooh, I hope you love it!
It is so much fun finding new authors and then they become tried-and-true authors! I hope you can stop by:
https://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2021/01/top-ten-tuesday-2020-new-to-me-authors.html
Colletta
So true! It’s even more exciting when they have a backlist of books you can check out so you don’t have to eagerly wait for the next thing. xD
This is such a great and thought out post! I really appreciate the time it took for you to list the books and what’s upcoming. TJ Klune was a first for me too, last year. I loved Cerulean Sea and still have to read Extraordinaries! I am sooo excited for his upcoming books too!
Tricia Levenseller!! Ohhh, I love her books so much!! I am so excited for her new one. I can relate to social anxiety and the story just sounds so good. I hope that we are both not disappointed by it! I really appreciate that a lot of her books lately have been one and done. It’s refreshing that I don’t constantly have to be starting a new series!
leslie recently posted…T.T.T. New-to-Me Authors!
Thank you! I really liked The Extraordinaries. Definitely a different feel/voice from The House, but it was brilliant in its own right!
While I do love me a good series, I’m starting to feel the same. I feel like I’m following so many series that I almost can’t keep up at this point. Standalones are always nice, too!
The Merciful Crow duology looks interesting but I haven’t read that series yet!
I loved The Shadows Between Us and Blade of Secrets sounds really good so I’m excited for that to come out this year!
You should definitely read The Merciful Crow! I don’t think I see as many people talking about it now, but it definitely deserves all the love!
I really want to get to T J Klune’s book as they all sound interesting! Fingers crossed I can get to them in 2021!
I hope you get to! They’re soooo good!
I can’t wait to pick up TJ Klune!
Great list!
My post!
Evelyn recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – New to Me Authors of 2020!
Hope you get to read him soon!
Love that Karen M McManus made your list! I’m almost entirely caught up with her back catalogue and The Cousins is my favourite so far – hope you enjoy the rest! 🙂
I haven’t read these! I’ll have to look into them. I’m sure my tbr will be growing! Thank you for visiting Long and Short Reviews! 🙂
Your poor TBR! Hope you enjoy these when you get to them!
Lol! No, I wouldn’t complain getting a new puppy or puppies to cuddle 😂
T.J. Klune’s book are on my high priority read rn 🥺 I’ve wanted to read Scritch Scratch too.
But other then these two authors, the rest of the authors I’ve never heard of! 🤔 I need to check them all out for new puppies (aka new books here) to cuddle with🥺
Kitten @ the bookish kitten recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2020
Highly recommend Klune as well as Scritch Scratch! For different reasons, but neverthless. Yay for new book puppies! xD
I definitely need to read more books by TJ Klune! I read The Cousins in 2020, but read her previous book One of Us Is Lying a few years back!
I like how you listed not only each author’s current book, but each author’s backlist.
Thanks! I love going back to re-read backlists when I find an author I enjoy. :3
Oh wow, you even listed their backlist! What a great idea!
I got excited seeing Bear, Otter and the Kid, but there’s no actual otter… Haha! I still added it to my TBR though!
Elley @ Elley the Book Otter recently posted…TTT: New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2020
LOL! Oops? I haven’t read that one yet, so I actually don’t know why those are their names or if there’s significance between those names. What a tease, though, right? xD
I read The Shadows Between Us last year too and I loved how Slytherin-y the characters were. I’m going to look up her new one now!
I don’t know much about the upcoming one, but I will say that the characters sound like they might also be delightfully Slytherin! Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
TJ Klune was on my list this week, too! (As I’m sure you could guess, since we have been geeking out over The House in the Cerulean Sea together.) And I’m really looking forward to P. Djeli Clark’s full-length alternate Cairo novel this year! I discovered his work in 2019 (I think) but he’s still a favorite new-ish author for me.
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday ~ New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2020
Bwahaha, I’m impressed by how many lists he’s been on! I love it, though. I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed Clark so much. I can’t believe it took me this long to pick up their work. Silly me!
Such a great post! Tricia Levenseller is an author I’m hoping to read this year. 🙂
Lark recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday
Thanks! I hope you enjoy her work!
TJ Klune is on so many lists this week! He’s on my TBR, and I have The House in the Cerulean Sea, so hopefully I will get to it soon. There are several authors here I will need to check out, but P. Djeli Clark is also on my TBR list already.
Lark @ The Bookwyrm’s Hoard recently posted…Best New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2020
I cannot wait to read something from TJ Klune. I’ve heard amazing things about him and think it’s about time I started fangirling too! Here’s my post: https://www.nbiblioholic.com/2021/01/hello-it-was-so-nice-to-meet-you.html
Natalie recently posted…The Revelation of Light and Dark by Sawyer Bennett // ARC Review
I hope you do! I’m sometimes put off by major hype thinking I won’t feel the same, but trust me, he totally lives up to it!
I’m an awful reader! I have not read from those authors yet. But I have heard great things about Karen McManus and Tricia Levenseller!
That doesn’t make you an awful reader! There are plenty of authors on these lists that I hadn’t heard of, but everyone reads different things. 😉
I really do want to read The House in the Cerulean Sea, I’ve seen so many good reviews for it, and the cover is lovely too.
Ring Shout is another that I’ve been tempted by a couple of times. I keep seeing it on the library catalogue and wondering if I should give it a try. I like the sound of the Cairo books as well.
I hope you get a chance to read The House in the Cerulean Sea! It’s such a good book!
Ring Shout gets a bit graphic in the gore, but if you can handle that, it’s a really solid horror book!
I definitely want to take a look at T.J. Klune and Karen M. McManus!
I don’t know the rest of the authors you’ve listed, by I will take a look around.
Happy TTT and thanks for visiting us!
Hope you get a chance to check them out and that you enjoy!
My favorite new-to-me author of 2020 was hands down N.K. Jemisin. She’s a genius and I’m in awe of the way her mind works.
Aw man, I’m so glad to hear that! I really need to check out her work. I actually read a short story of hers last year, which I absolutely LOVED and that made me want to check out her other work. I think that might be a goal for me for 2021. 🙂
I went through 2020 never having heard of P. Djeli Clark but since these lists have been making their way into the world I’ve seen this author’s name EVERYWHERE. I definitely need to check out their books because, apparently, they’re winners 😍 Klune was (obviously) also on my new-to-me-authors list for 2020 and I can’t wait to read more of his books this year! I also can’t wait to read more of the Knightmare Arcanist series because I really enjoyed that book! Great list, Sammie 😊
Dini @ dinipandareads recently posted…#TopTenTuesday: New-to-Me-Authors from 2020…
Where have you been, Dini? xD I mean, not that I can really say anything, because I’ve heard of Clark and just … didn’t read their work. Oops?
I’m still not sure why I haven’t continued the Arcanist series?! I loved the first one so much and keep putting it off. I’m horrible haha.
Wow, what a long list of books by new authors. You must really love them.
Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier.
I did! Highly recommend all of these authors. 🙂
I’ve heard so many great things about TJ Klune’s books, I really want to read one this year!
Kyla @ Kyla’s Library recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2020
I hope you do! They’re soooo good. I’m ashamed I haven’t heard of him before last year!
I love TJ Klune! I’ve only read three of his books but I definitely want to read more. Thanks for sharing everyone’s backlist as well, that’s immensely helpful. 🙂 Great list, Sammie~!
Lisa @ waytoofantasy recently posted…Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
You’re welcome! Hope you find some good books to check out. 😉
This is the second list that I’ve seen Klune on so I may just have to read some of his work in 2021. 🙂 I have read McManus and Levenseller and enjoyed both of them, but definitely still have more to read from their published works!
Thank you for leaving a comment on my TTT post 🙂
Klune was on SO MANY lists, which makes me happy. I hope you do get to check him out this year!
Your posts are always so fun to read, haha. It’s like I don’t even need the content, the intro is so entertaining (except the content is high quality too). I don’t know most of these but your excuses for Karen McManus match mine…except I STILL haven’t gotten to her, so I hope I have the same reaction as you when I do.
RS recently posted…Top Ten New-To-Me Authors in 2020
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoy them. 🙂 To be fair, I only got to McManus because I happened to be on a blog tour for her last year. xD Otherwise, I’d still be in the same boat!
I’m afraid we don’t have any in common, although there are several authors on this list I need to try! I also discovered a lot of new-to-me authors in 2020, even though you’d think we’d be more drawn to old, comfort favourites in trying times, wouldn’t you?! My particular favourites, and those I hope to read more of soon, are Robert Dinsdale (The Toymakers), Hazel Gaynor (The Cottingley Secret) and Natalie Jenner (The Jane Austen Society). 🙂
jessicabookworm recently posted…📚 Top Ten Tuesday | New-to-Me Authors in 2020
Huh, you know, I hadn’t thought of it. It’s interesting, though. That would definitely be a logical assumption! I honestly didn’t read that many tried-and-true authors, though.
Oooh, I definitely need to read The Toymakers! I’ve been meaning to, since I’ve heard it’s good!
I haven’t heard of some of these authors. I’ll have to check them out!
Hope you enjoy them!
I still need to read The Faithless Hawk but I really liked the first book and I am excited that she has a new one coming out.
I didn’t care too much for Ashlords and dnf-ed but I still really want to read his Nyxia series because I think that would work better for me.
And YES P Djeli Clark. You know they were on my list too. I just bought Black God Drums as an ebook and I hope to get Ring Shout this year too.
Annemieke recently posted…2021 Bujo Set Up
It looks like you discovered some great authors last year!
I actually much preferred One Of Us Is Lying and its follow up to The Cousins so I hope you enjoy them if you get to them!
Sarah @ SWB recently posted…Six For Sunday: Read It And Weep – Six Favourites!