One of the perks of being an author is getting my hands on early editions of others’ works before they’re released. Below are five novels releasing in 2015, which are sure to be hits. So thankful to the authors and publishers for sending me copies of these books. I devoured every one of them, and hope you will, too.

HOUSE BROKEN by Sonja YoergHouse Broken
The very first thing that caught my eye about HOUSE BROKEN was of course that dog. As an ardent animal lover, I couldn’t possibly resist a novel with a sweet chocolate lab on its cover. Sonja was kind enough to send me a copy of her debut a few weeks before its release, and I’m finding what’s inside to be just as delightful as what’s on the outside – the story of Geneva Novak, a veterinarian, wife and mother who takes in her own ailing and alcoholic mother when an accident renders her unable to care for herself. There’s a layering of family dynamics – some strained, some not – interspersed with family secrets, in a novel told from three points of view: Geneva, her mother Helen, and her teenage daughter Ella. Though I haven’t quite finished HOUSE BROKEN yet, it’s one to pick up in 2015 – coming January 6th from Penguin/NAL.

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NORMAL by Graeme Cameron
Coming March 31st from Harlequin MIRA, NORMAL is the story of a serial killer – who is anything but your typical serial killer. Told from his strangely charismatic point of view, you’ll find yourself quite charmed by the clever, witty and oddly endearing serial killer protagonist. Like me, you may find yourself hoping every now and again that he gets away with murder. But what happens when our serial killer meets a woman he actually likes? The novel’s tag line: This is a love story. No, really. Be sure to pick it up March 31st (and double check your doors are locked before reading).

THE FAR END OF HAPPY by Kathryn Craft
THE FAR END OF HAPPY is the story of a suicide standoff and all the people affected in its wake: Jeff, a disturbed man who has locked himself in the family barn with a gun and is threatening suicide; his wife, Ronnie, and their two children; extended family, friends and neighbors. As the standoff endures for hours, author Kathryn Craft does a phenomenal job exploring the relationships involved – mainly the strained marriage of Jeff and Ronnie, but others as well – and digging into past events that have led to this one tense moment in time. Fast paced, intense and horrifyingly real, THE FAR END OF HAPPY is not one to miss. Coming May 5th from Sourcebooks.the far end of happy

REMEMBER ME THIS WAY by Sabine Durrant
Wow, wow, WOW. Absolutely brilliant novel. When I received a copy of the novel in the mail, I peeked inside, thinking I’d read a chapter, maybe two. Over the course of the next two days, I simply could not put the book down. REMEMBER ME THIS WAY is the transfixing story of a woman whose husband has died in a fiery car crash – or has he? Suddenly Lizzie is not so sure. Author Sabine Durrant delves into the volatile marriage of Lizzie and Zach, as Lizzie tries to discover who was the man she was married to, and whether or not he is truly dead. An edge of your seat thriller, with a twist I never saw coming. Similar in intensity to some of my favorites BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (S.J. Watson) and HUSH LITTLE BABY (Suzanne Redfearn) – be sure to keep an eye on this one, coming May 26th from Emily Bestler Books. Already released in the UK, REMEMBER ME THIS WAY has received rave reviews, as has Durrant’s 2013 debut UNDER YOUR SKIN.

THE STATUS OF ALL THINGS by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
A delightful book from two delightful authors. What if you had the power to go back in time and change your life? With the help of Kate’s Facebook status updates, she’s able to do just that. When her fiancé breaks things off on the eve of their wedding day, Kate decides to go back in time and edit the course of her and Max’s life together to avoid the same fate the second time around. Touching and humorous with a wonderful dose of magical realism mixed in – I was so thrilled to get my hands on an early edition of THE STATUS OF ALL THINGS. A marvelous story of love, friendship and fate. Coming June 2nd from Washington Square Press (and if you haven’t already read Liz & Lisa’s first novel YOUR PERFECT LIFE, be sure to check it out while waiting for June to roll around).

Lastly, a few of the many 2015 releases that I haven’t had the opportunity to read but am eager to…
• BEFORE I GO, Colleen Oakley (January 6th)
• THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, by Paula Hawkins (January 13th)
• THE UNRAVELING OF MERCY LOUIS, by Keija Parssinen (March 10th)
• THE HOUSE OF HAWTHORNE, by Erika Robuck, author of HEMINGWAY’S GIRL (May 5th)
• COME AWAY WITH ME, by Karma K. Brown (May 26th)
• SWEET FORGIVENESS, by Lori Nelson Spielman, author of THE LIFE LIST (June 2nd)
• SECOND LIFE, by S.J. Watson, author of BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (June 9th)
• THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY, by Bethany Chase (July 7th)
• A MEASURE OF HAPPINESS, by Lorrie Thomson, author of EQUILIBRIUM (August 25th)
• ALL THE DIFFERENCE, by Leah Ferguson (September 2015)

What books are you looking forward to reading next year?

Happy 2015.