12 Most Anticipated 2012 Reads

Today I want to highlight some 2012 books I’ve been lucky enough to read early.

UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi (releases Jan. 3). A swoony romance with dual points of view and fantastic dystopian world-building. I loved reading about how privileged Aria and warrior Perry banish their initial misconceptions about one another.

CINDER by Marissa Meyer (also releases Jan. 3). Cyborg Cinderella! Cinder is an ingenius, sympathetic, much-put-upon heroine. I love fairy tale adaptations and I’m totally intrigued to see where the Lunar Chronicles goes next.

ARTICLE 5 by Kristen Simmons (releases Jan. 31). A gripping, unputdownable dystopian about a world governed by morality police and increasingly strict morality statutes. The plot is high-stakes but it never sacrifices character.

FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS by Diana Peterfreund (June 12). A post-apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, it features all-new, wonderfully complex world-building but retains the bittersweet romance (and incorporates even more fantastic letters). I can’t wait to buy this for all my Austen-loving friends (which is basically all my friends).

THE GIRL I USED TO BE by Miranda Kenneally (October). CATCHING JORDAN was one of my 2011 favorites and this companion novel doesn’t disappoint. It has the same steamy, complex romances and wonderful, flawed, deeply real characters while also exploring the heroine’s fragile relationship with God.

VENOM by Fiona Paul (October). A lush, compelling mystery featuring secret trysts on Venetian canals, murdered courtesans, and masquerades. A perfect blend of sinister and romantic — I was torn between worrying for Cassandra’s life and her heart.

I can’t choose which of the upcoming 2012 debuts I’m most excited to read; I’m hoping to read as many as possible to support my fellow Apocalypsies! But here are 6 more titles by established authors that I can’t wait to read.

BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore (May 1)

FEVER by Lauren DeStefano (Feb. 21)

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins (fall)

the sequel to DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE by Laini Taylor (September)

DEARLY, BELOVED by Lia Habel (fall)

THE SPRINGSWEET by Saundra Mitchell (April 17)

What’s on your most-anticipated list for 2012?