COVID19 Book Release Changes
Updated: Oct 20, 2020
Considering all the chaos happening because of COVID19, it is no surprise that the world has had to make many drastic changes. Social distancing guidelines have left many people stuck at home in self-imposed isolation. Businesses and their employees have been for left unable to operate their place of work to the point of them being completely shut down.
These rules that have completely flipped the norm have also had an effect on authors and, more specifically, their books. Many authors have made the decision to change their book release to a later date than originally planned. Every author is making the decision on what is best for their book(s) in this current unchartered climate of publishing.
So with that in mind, I'll be compiling a list of books whose release dates have currently been pushed back.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Description: Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.
However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.
Goodreads Rating: 4.58★
Original Release Date: June 9 2020
New Release Date: September 1 2020
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is a debut by the author. It features an awesome trans main character and plenty of gayness according to the author's own words. I sadly didn't have this book on my radar until the announcement of its postponement - thankfully doing research for this blog post has remedied that problem. Now I definitely know I'll be getting a copy when it is released.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
Description: A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse...
There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.
As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.
Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming...human or demon. Princess or monster.
Goodreads Rating: 4.10★
Original Release Date: May 12 2020
New Release Date: July 7 2020
POTENTIAL FAIRYLOOT SPOILERS AHEAD
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust was set to be a 2020 spring release but thanks to COVID19 that has been pushed back a bit. Rumors have been swirling that this book will be the May Fairyloot book even with the delay, though it has yet to be officially confirmed. Fairyloot did respond to a commenter on their instagram that the book in their May box was meant to be published in that month, however, the release has been delayed. They stated they have been working with the publisher to ensure they have it for their crate in that month even if the official pub date has changed.
Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen M. McManus
Description: Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery's never been there, but she's heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.
The town is picture-perfect, but it's hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone's declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.
Ellery knows all about secrets. Her mother has them; her grandmother does too. And the longer she's in Echo Ridge, the clearer it becomes that everyone there is hiding something. The thing is, secrets are dangerous--and most people aren't good at keeping them. Which is why in Echo Ridge, it's safest to keep your secrets to yourself.
Goodreads Rating: 3.97★
Original Release Date: May 5 2020
New Release Date: September 14 2020
Yes, before anyone says it, I know Two Can Keep A Secret is published already. But the paperback version of this book was scheduled to come out in May of this year. With the craziness of the world right now the author, Karen M. McManus, posted on her social media that her team had made the decision to postpone the paperback release.
We Free The Stars by Hafsah Faizal - Series Sequel
Description: Zafira is the Hunter, braving the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those who defy his autocratic father, the sultan. She must hide her identity. He mustn’t display compassion. But when both embark on a quest to uncover a lost magic artifact, Zafira and Nasir encounter an ancient evil long thought destroyed—and discover that the prize they seek may be even more dangerous than any of their enemies. In We Free the Stars, Zafira and Nasir must conquer the darkness around—and inside of—them.
Goodreads Rating: 4.26★
Original Release Date: May 2020
New Release Date: January 19 2021
We Free The Stars by Hafsah Faizal is the sequel to We Hunt The Flame. The book was meant to be released in May of 2020 but has been pushed back to 2021. This is by far the biggest date change I've seen so far but the author has spoken about the situation online. They have said that they didn't want to release the sequel during too much overwhelming commotion so as to take focus away from their work - which I totally understand.
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If you're interested in any of these titles and/or want to pre-order them be sure to check out Book Depository .
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