19 books we can’t wait to get our hands on in 2019

From long-awaited sequels to inventive debut novels, book lovers have plenty of exciting new releases to look forward to during 2019.

With 2018 coming to a close, many readers are reflecting on their progress for the year. But regardless of whether 2018 was a great reading year or a terrible one, all book lovers have something common to look forward to: all of the amazing releases slated for 2019.

Amazing stories are published every year, but 2019 seems particularly special in terms of book releases. Many long-awaited sequels, such as Holly Black’s The Wicked King and Jay Kristoff’s Darkdawn, will finally hit shelves next year. There are also quite a few spinoffs of beloved series for readers to look forward to, including Leigh Bardugo’s King of Scars and Cassandra Clare’s The Red Scrolls of Magic.

Of course, highly anticipated books by well-known authors aren’t the only ones book lovers should be gearing up to read next year. Plenty of exciting debuts are entering the world, adding fresh voices and stories for the book community to enjoy. Tehlor Kay Mejia’s We Set the Dark on Fire and Emily A. Duncan’s Wicked Saints are two fantasy debuts readers won’t want to miss out on, and Youtuber Christine Riccio’s Again, but Better is sure to be a breath of fresh air in the contemporary category.

And finally, 2019 is the beginning of some interesting new projects for several highly regarded authors. With her Throne of Glass series completed, Sarah J. Maas plans to delve into the world of adult fantasy by writing Crescent City. And Samantha Shannon will take a step away from The Bone Season series to share her new fantasy story, The Priory of the Orange Tree, with the world.

Overall, next year is a promising one for anyone who loves nothing better than curling up with a brand new book. Readers will definitely want to make room on their to-be-read piles—and bookshelves—because they’re in for a wild ride in 2019.

Here are 19 book releases readers will definitely want to mark on their calendars for 2019.