Hi world,

2019 has been FIERCE so far with its new releases and I am already falling behind. And yet there are so many great releases to still look forward to it this year, it makes me so sad to think that there is no way I am ever going to be able to read them all.

Today, I bring you the first of my Top 5 recommendations – expect to see these every few weeks. If you have any Top 5 suggestions you’d like to see me write, drop me a comment and let me know! They can be as random and wild as you want – from my Top 5 magic systems, to my Top 5 books featuring cats (I can’t wait till I write that one!) But for now, here are my Top 5 2019 releases (still to come.)

Number 1 – Gideon the Ninth by Tasmyn Muir

Lesbian. Necromancers. Do I need to say more?! Necromancy is one of my favourite fantasy powers, in part, I won’t lie, because Dorian was a necromancer in Dragon Age: Inquisitions and he is such an important fictional character to me, and therefore I support all things necromancy. But also, because necromancy just has the perfect amount of creepiness and darkness that it’s so appealing. Release date: 10 September (just in time for my BIRTHDAY!)

Number 2 – I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

Okay I’m almost cheating with this one, since it’s a mere few days before this is realeased, but I have been waiting for this book for what feels like forever and I can’t WAIT to read it. IWYATB is about a person who comes out as non-binary to their family, and they’re thrown out of their home. It sounds both heartbreaking and heartwarming and everyone should go pre-order this immediately. Also, Mason created an awesome Spotify playlist for this which made me cry at work and so therefore I think everyone should listen to it (you can check the playlist out here). Release date: 14 May

Number 3 – The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus

The cover for this book is just stunning. Audre, a 16 year old from Trinidad, has found out she is being shipped off to the US after her very religious mother caught her with the pastor’s daughter. This book calls to me with the talk of religion and queerness in the blurb as it was something that really f**ked me up as a teen and so I can’t wait to read this one. Release date: 17 September

Number 4 – The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

Okay you guys but this book sounds AMAZING: humanity now lives under the ocean becasue of climate change. The protagonist, Leyla, is a British Muslim who’s father has been arrested and she enrols in an underwater marathon to try and win a prize that will free him. This has such a great premise and I am very excited to read it. Release date: 29 October

Number 5 – Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Another hella gay one, another that is almost cheating because it’s out in just a few days. I am SO SO SO SO excited. This is a romantic comedy where the First Son of the United States falls in love with a British Prince. The two have to fake a friendship in order to fix the relationship between the US and UK after pictures leak of the two in a confrontation at a wedding. Release date: 14 May

And that’s my Top 5 books still to be released in 2019! Let me know if you are as excited as me to read any of these books, and if you have any suggestions for a Top 5 list, drop me a comment.

Paws out from Draco and I!