If your goal was to read more in 2021, to be better educated about anything from poetic prose to the world of cyberweapons, or to feel like you’re travelling somewhere else for a moment, this list is for you. The month of February brings a host of new book releases that deserve a place on your reading list and bedside table.

“The Four Winds,”by Kristin Hannah (Jan. 27)

Kristin Hannah’s latest novel treks across the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression and introduces readers to resilient protagonist Elsa Martinelli, who wrestles with the decision to stay in her hometown or go west to California to start life anew. Layered within the story of a nation divided and bruised by the Depression are hopeful themes of courage and sacrifice. The novel is harrowing and full of twists and turns that center around a main character you can root for.

“My Year Abroad,” by Chang-rae Lee (Feb. 2)

After an ordinary college student, Tiller, meets wild and successful Pong Lou, his life changed forever. The two ascend on a trip across Asia and are thrown into a series of transformative experiences. Written in the sharp prose of Chang-rae Lee, this novel studies themes on Western beliefs, belonging, capitalism and mental health.

“This Close to Okay,” by Leesa Cross-Smith (Feb. 2)

This is the one of the most anticipated books of the year—a visceral romance story that intertwines two characters and deals with issues of grief and pain head-on. If you’ve been feeling especially lonely during the pandemic and the tenuous year of 2020, this book may suit you. It offers a consoling story of connection and hope despite all odds.

“How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House,” by Cherie Jones (Feb. 2)

Set in Barbados, “How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House” is a work of fiction and cultural heritage. This novel focuses on the story of Lala Primus in a gripping, layered tale filled with tragedy and lyrical diction. Jones doesn’t shy away from difficult topics but instead presents them in this raw, vibrant tale.

“Milk Blood Heat,” by Dantiel W. Moniz (Feb. 2)

Moniz’s debut collection of short stories dives deep into the lives of Floridian characters—focusing particularly on themes of Black womanhood and human connection. The intensity in Moniz’s stories are laced with clever, metaphor-rich prose.

“The Kindest Lie,” by Nancy Johnson (Feb. 2)

This novel by Nancy Johnson takes place in 2008, at the cusp of Barack Obama’s first year as president. Ruth Tuttle is a whip-smart engineer whose husband is ready to start a family, only there’s more to Ruth than what meets the eye.

“City of A Thousand Gates,” by Rebecca Sacks (Feb. 2)

One of the most ambitious novels to date, “City of a Thousand Gates” explores the decades-old story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through an arch of characters and interwoven plots. The novel weaves the narratives together into one vibrant tapestry that encompasses modern as well as historic events.

“Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future,” by Elizabeth Kolbert (Feb. 9)

Elizabeth Kolbert is best known for her reporting on environmental issues—and won the Pulitzer Prize for her Anthropocene-focused book, “The Sixth Extinction.” In her latest book, Kolbert probes into the question on many activists’ minds: at this point in time, after decades of man-made damage, can we still save the planet?

“The Gilded Ones,” by Namina Forna (Feb. 9)

If you’re a fan of YA fiction set in complex fantasy worlds, this one’s for you. “The Gilded Ones” is the first of a series, set in a world where the color of your blood determines your life’s end. Deka, the sixteen-year-old protagonist, has blood the color of gold.

“This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race,” by Nicole Perlroth (Feb. 9)

From “New York Times” journalist Nicole Perlroth comes a compilation of years of interviewing and reporting on cyberwarfare. Perlroth unveils tricks and secrets of the cyberweapons market—and what happens when it’s compromised.

“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” by Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Feb. 16)

This book braids the memoirs of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. with the story of the Black church across more than four hundred years of history. The Black church’s role, as a sanctuary and a cultural and political force, is exemplified and dissected in this book and Gates carries the narrative to the modern day, with the force of the Black Lives Matter movement.