On January 11 I kicked off the second part of my “avid reader” special, in which several of the most avid readers I know are sharing their Most-Anticipated Reads of 2016.

You met Karen McMillan in December when she shared her 5 Top Reads of the past year. Now she’s back with a very interesting looking list for 2016 — a goodness I was determined you weren’t going to miss out on, even in Daughter of Blood publication week. 😉

[If there isn’t a current cover, I’ll either deploy one from an earlier book in a series, 
or use none.]

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Karen McMillan’s Five Most-Anticipated Reads of 2016

I am fortunate to be in the know of many books that are coming out in 2016. Here are some that I can’t wait to read:

A French Wedding by Hannah Tunnicliffe

 Ensemble-cast Love Story

I loved Hannah Tunnicliffe’s last novel, Season of Salt and Honey, for the well-drawn characters, great sense of place, and the emotional connection she created. Her new novel, A French Wedding, sounds every bit as good! A French Wedding, I’ve been told, is a novel filled with love, lies, fights, friends and feasts which reads like a love triangle between The Big Chill, Chocolat and Les Petits Mouchoirs (Little White Lies) and will, undoubtedly, become a favourite ensemble cast love story for readers.
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Much Ado About Shakespeare by Donovan Bixley

Historical fiction

Donovan Bixley has to be the most talented illustrator in New Zealand, and he is best known for his fabulous children’s books. But for Much Ado About Shakespeare, he has created something very different – fantastic drawings and writings of an imagined life of Shakespeare, perfect for children and adults. I’ve only seen some of the pages, but can already see this book will be incredible. Perfect timing too, as 2016 is the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
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Scarlet and Magenta by Lindsey Dawson

Historical fiction

I’ve been fortunate to read the manuscript for this book, so I’m looking forward to when it is published! Set in the Bay of Plenty during the 1880s, Scarlet and Magenta is a powerful and fascinating historical novel that vividly brings the sights and sounds of the time to life. Violet Sutton arrives from London into the tiny town of Tauranga. Beautiful, headstrong, opinionated – and with a sad past, and in an unhappy, abusive marriage – she is soon causing rumours and scandal amongst all the dutiful members of ‘proper’ society. Scarlet and Magenta is Lindsey’s ninth book, so readers are in accomplished hands!
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[Untitled] Liane Moriarty

Contemporary fiction

There isn’t a title for Liane Moriarty’s new book, but I can’t wait to read her latest offering! She is the author of The Husband’s Secret and Big Little Lies – both of which have been bestsellers around the world. And you shouldn’t be fooled by this author. You start out reading something that at first glance appears to be light commercial fiction, but once you are hooked in, you quickly discover the author has a knack of writing about some very meaty subjects. Rumour is she will be touring NZ in 2016. I sure hope so!
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The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Historical Fiction

This is another book that I have little information about, although this recent feature offers some clues. But I love the diversity of Emma Donoghue’s books, so can’t wait to see what she will surprise us with next. Her last novel, Frog Music, inspired by a real-life murder case in the 1870s in San Francisco, was entirely different from the author’s international sensation, Room. Emma Donoghue is an accomplished writer, who writes books rich in detail and with original and believable characters. I’m sure The Wonder, will be, well, wonderful!

~ Karen McMillan

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Karen McMillan is the author of Unbreakable Spirit and The Paris of the East — but despite this typically modest bio there is a great deal more to Karen’s writing and industry career, which you can read about in more detail here. She is also on Twitter: @KarenMcMillanNZ

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To read the first two installments in this Top 5 series, click on: