Bookworms, rejoice: Outstanding key fiction books are coming soon

If you've breezed through all of the best fiction novels of 2012, good for you. Some of us (ahem) aren't quite there yet. But don't despair, reading freak: You've got a lot to look forward to in 2013. As I scramble to get through the best books from last year (I'm still on Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel and it's fantastic), I am looking ahead to see what I'll want to put on hold at the library in coming months.

In short? Neil Gaiman, Neil Gaiman and oh, yes, Neil Gaiman. I'm a huge fan. I've been waiting impatiently for what seems like forever for a new adult novel from the master, and finally this year, it's coming.

Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane is expected to be released on June 18, 2013. Expect the buzz to build steadily until then, because this marks the first fiction novel for adults he's released since 2005 (Anansi Boys). I anticipate things will reach a fevered pitch by May, but I'm giving you a jump now. I can't wait to see what kind of bizarre fantastical things are going to happen in Gaiman's new book. The man has an imagination that knows no bounds, and I fully expect this to be a beautifully crafted story.

Other novels I'm looking forward to reading include Stephen King's Joyland, a tale of murder and mayhem set amid a small-town amusement park in the early 1970s. FYI: King has said that Joyland won't be available electronically, so get ready to kick it old school, paperback-style if you want to read this one.

Young adult fiction fans will no doubt be interested in Requiem by Lauren Oliver, due out on March 5, 2013. It is the final chapter in the trilogy that includes Delirium and Pandemonium. Fans of Lena and her journey will no doubt be eager to snatch Requiem up when it hits shelves. Personally, I think it's one of the more interesting and insightful dystopian YA series' going.

Those are just a few of the books I'm looking forward to devouring in coming months. Fellow bookworms, what book(s) are you most excited about this spring?

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