By Jordyn Turney, 24, reporting from Nampa, Idaho, on the new books and music she’s most eager for in 2015..
We’re standing on the precipice of a brand-new year, full of potential and possibilities and…honestly, plenty of books and music I’m jazzed up for.
I’ve got a list going of my must-read, must-hear as soon as they appear in 2015 picks, and thought I’d share with you, dear Hearts, in case you too want to start marking your calendars, too.
Title, Meghan Trainor. It’s safe to say that “All About that Bass” took our iPods by storm in 2014, and I’m not sure I could be more excited for her debut album to come out later this month. The songs we’ve heard so far are hooky and irresistible. (Jan. 13th)
My Garden, Kat Dahlia. There’s a short list of songs I was absolutely obsessed with in 2014, and Dahlia’s fast-paced “Crazy” is right near the top. I swear, I could listen to it a hundred times and still be like “YES, LET’S PLAY IT A HUNDRED MORE!” My excitement level about this album is just me running around screaming. (Jan. 13th)
Just Kids, Mat Kearney. To be completely honest, though Kearney’s first album (Nothing Left to Lose) is a staple of my musical library, I haven’t been too interested in anything he’s done since. Until now. But a couple of the songs already released, most notably the title track, have me so insanely ready for more. They’re fast and broody, happy and angsty at the same time. (Feb. 24th)
99 Days, by Katie Cotugno. Like Cotugno’s debut book (How to Love), this appears to have a similar love-and-lose theme. I’m such a sucker for sweet stories full of torment. My only disappointment is at having to wait four whole months for it to hit shelves. (April 21st)
Things We Know By Heart, by Jessi Kirby. The tale of a girl searching for the recipient of her late boyfriend’s heart? Sign me up! Stories about heart transplants are always fascinating, and I can’t wait to see where Kirby goes with the idea. (April 21st)
Saint Anything, by Sarah Dessen. It’s Sarah Dessen. Need I say more? The summary, involving a drunk driving arrest, seems a bit darker than many of her recent novels. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, the bold, slightly spooky look of the cover has me convinced that this is one book I absolutely have to have. (May 5th)
The Heir, by Kiera Cass. The finale of the Selection trilogy (The One) was far and away one of the best reads of 2014. So to see that Cass is coming out with another novel in the series—about America’s daughter and her own “Selection”—is absolutely delightful! (May 5th)