15 April 2021 Book Releases: More Than Just Bestsellers

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What are the most anticipated April 2021 book releases to read? We are sharing April’s newest books that you won’t see on your average bestsellers booklist.

As we look ahead to the upcoming April 2021 book releases, I’m not going to lie: I am behind. I couldn’t stop reading all of the fantastic books releasing in February and March.

In fact, I just requested a few more winter ARCs for books already published. I usually never look back.

With that said, for April 2021’s newest books, I’m piling them on right now. Don’t miss a few new book releases that I’ve read, many that I am in the process of requesting, and what I think The Uncorked Librarian readers will most enjoy.

I also met one of my top books of 2021 this month: Jhumpa Lahiri’s Whereabouts — a must-read.

So, grab a glass of bubbly and pull up a chair. Get ready to head to North Korea, Ireland, NYC, Seattle, Iraq, and Italy with April’s most-anticipated books in translated literature, thrillers, and historical and literary fiction.

See how the dictionary came about, examine social media scammers, and tour Biltmore. Let’s get started!

Don’t miss our Master 2021 Book Releases Reading List.

April 2021 Book Releases with book covers for Whereabouts. When The Stars Go Dark, Malice, The Venice Sketchbook, I'm In Seattle Where Are You?, The Last Exiles, Hope Between The Pages, The Perfect Marriage — Are you ready to read more diversely and travel around the world via a good book with these April 2021 book releases?

P.S. Some of these books are perfect for the Uncorked 2021 Reading Challenge with monthly themes set around the world.

A few easy ways to grab these new releases:

Audible Plus: From Amazon, listen to Amazon Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks. They add new titles every week.
Book of the Month: Get the month’s hottest new and upcoming titles from Book of the Month. You might snag an early release or debut author. Along with selecting a book a month, find terrific add-ons, both trendy and lesser-known titles.
Amazon Prime Video – Stream thousands of ad-free movies and TV series on demand with Prime Video.
Express VPN – Using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) allows you to view movies worldwide – and they help keep your information safe. Our writers couldn’t have such diverse film reviews without using a VPN.

Table of Contents

April 2021 Book Releases Set Around The Globe

*Books marked with an asterisk next to the publication date are upcoming April 2021 book releases and ARCs that we requested in exchange for a fair and honest review or were freely gifted/offered by the author or publisher. Please know that dates of publication are subject to change.

The Perfect Marriage by Adam Mitzner

Thriller | Book Set In NYC
Publication: April 1, 2021
TUL Rating: 3 Stars

For my Amazon First Reads selection — as an Amazon Prime member — I grabbed The Perfect Marriage. Early reviews promised a fast-paced, escapist read, and I couldn’t agree more. Find loathsome characters and an entertaining, fluff plot full of lies and deception.

James and Jessica Sommers believe they have the perfect marriage, even though they cheated on their spouses to make it happen. With Jessica’s son battling cancer and James working on a shady art transaction, you just know something bad is going to happen.

Someone is going to die and the police certainly have their line-up of suspects. Amazon | Goodreads | Read More

I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? by Mortada Gzar & Translated by William Hutchins

LGBTQ+ Translated Literature: Arabic to English | Memoir | Book Set In Iraq & Seattle
Publication: April 1, 2021

Another Amazon First Reads that I debated and may purchase after its April release, I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? is Gzar’s story of falling in love with an African American soldier while he’s a student at the University of Baghdad.

Gzar heads to America to find his lover. He is met with both the racism and homophobia he tried to escape in Iraq. Many reviews note that the story is confusing, debating if context got lost in translation. Amazon | Goodreads

Save This Reading List For Later:

April 2021 Book Releases Coming Soon Pinterest Pin With book covers for Whereabouts, The Perfect Marriage, The Dictionary of Lost Words, The Venice Sketchbook, The Last Exiles, and Hope Between The Pages — Find your next great new book to read? Save these April 2021 book releases for later to travel via your armchair.

Hope Between The Pages by Pepper Basham

Historical Fiction Set In Asheville, NC | Book About Bookstores
Expected Publication: April 1, 2021

Part of The Doors To The Past series — historical fiction that showcases American landmarks — Hope Between The Pages is set in my home of Asheville, North Carolina. Clara helps her mother manage a failing bookshop. A forgotten letter might be the key to saving their legacy, sending Clara on a romantic adventure from Biltmore to England. Amazon | Goodreads

Looking ahead to May? See our Most Anticipated Books Releasing In May.

The Last Exiles by Ann Shin

Historical Fiction Set In North Korea & China
Expected Publication: April 6, 2021*

Inspired by true events, Jin and Suja fall in love at university in Pyongyang. However, they come from opposing backgrounds — one of privilege versus a life of poverty. Suja sets out to find Jin, entering an unfamiliar world that takes her into the underbelly of the black market. Amazon | Goodreads

Hype by Gabrielle Bluestone

Nonfiction | Social Media
Expected Publication: April 6, 2021

After watching Netflix’s Fyre documentary, I’m intrigued by Bluestone, a Vice journalist’s, research into con artists of the digital world. Bluestone discusses how influencers and social media marketers scam consumers. Why can we not seem to break away and avoid them? Amazon | Goodreads

Stay on top of summer reading with June’s Upcoming New Books.

The Elephant of Belfast by S. Kirk Walsh

WW2 Historical Fiction Set In Ireland
Expected Release Date: April 6, 2021

Inspired by true events and Irish zookeeper, Denise Austin, Hettie Quin works for the Bellevue Zoo in Belfast. The zoo tasks Hettie with caring for an orphaned elephant, Violet. With the 1941 German blitz of the city, Hettie must protect and save her elephant. Amazon | Goodreads

The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen

WWII Historical Fiction Set In Italy
Expected Release Date: April 13, 2021

Caroline Grant’s marriage is about to end. With the request to scatter her great-aunt Lettie’s ashes, Caroline heads to Venice, Italy with a sketchbook and three mysterious keys. Lettie had arrived in Venice in the late 1930s hoping to reconnect with the man she loved but could not have. Watch as both women’s stories unfold. Amazon | Goodreads

Malice by Heather Walter

LGBTQ+ Sleeping Beauty Retelling | Fantasy
Expected Release: April 13, 2021

These Violent Delights rekindled my love of fairy tale retellings. Malice promises a suspenseful LGBTQ+ Sleeping Beauty retelling. Princess Aurora sees Alyce as more than just a magical villain. Unfortunately, Aurora has less than a year to live due to a deadly curse — unless she receives a kiss from her true love. Amazon | Goodreads

Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri

Translated Literature: Italian to English
Expected Release: April 27, 2021*
TUL Rating: 5-Stars

Whereabouts is the first novel Lahiri has written in Italian and translated into English. This is already one of my top books of 2021. Watch as a depressed but intuitive woman navigates life via the stories of simple everyday places and relationships that will reverberate throughout your core and soul. Beautiful, honest, and transcendent, Lahiri gets at the gritty heart of humanity. Amazon | Goodreads | Read More

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More Noteworthy April 2021 Book Releases

The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin blue book cover with bees — **The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin** – Literary fiction set in rural Oregon.

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams book cover — The Dictionary of Lost Words
by Pip Williams – Based on the true account of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian book cover with young Puritan woman — **Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian** – Historical fiction set in Boston during the American Witch Hunt.

When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain book cover — **When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain** – Women’s detective story set in San Francisco

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner book cover — Crying in H Mart
by Michelle Zauner – Memoir about growing up Korean-American in Oregon.

Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian book cover — *Gold Diggers*
by Sanjena Sathian – Indian-American coming-of-age story set in Atlanta.

Which April 2021 book releases are you eyeing?

What new April books are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments!

You May Also Enjoy:

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May’s Newest Releases
Best Books Of March
February’s Newest Books
January 2021’s Upcoming Books
Best Books Of 2020 You Might Have Missed

Christine Frascarelli

Christine (she/her) is the owner, lead editor, and tipsy book sommelier of The Uncorked Librarian LLC, an online literary publication showcasing books and movies to inspire travel and home to the famed Uncorked Reading Challenge.

With a BA in English & History from Smith College, an MLIS from USF-Tampa, and a U.S. Fulbright Fellowship in Christine's back pocket, there isn't a bookstore, library, or winery that can hide from her. Christine loves brewery yoga, adopting all of the kitties, and a glass of oaked Chardonnay. Charcuterie is her favorite food group.