This year is undoubtedly the year for blockbusters. With The Avengers, Prometheus, and The Amazing Spider-Man already under its belt, 2012’s entertainment industry only seems to be gaining momentum with a reserved spot for The Dark Knight Rises slated for July. While I can’t think of a single person who doesn’t love a good action flick, I’m wondering who else is counting down the days and months til the release of what are sure to be some of this year’s most engaging and (dare I say) action-packed reads of the year. In no particular order, here are a few of my top choices for fiction that have already amassed their own lines around the block:

NW by Zadie Smith (Penguin Press; hardcover; September 4, 2012). Her first novel in seven years, Smith’s NW is already spinning its own web of intrigue within literary circles. Set in, you guessed it, her familiar London, the book follows four characters who must deal with liminalities; transitions, dichotomies, and encounters all play a leading role. Check out a sneak-peek “trailer” of the first few sentences here.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (Little, Brown and Company; hardcover; September 27, 2012). How could any blockbuster list be complete without a work by J.K. Rowling? While it probably needs no introduction, Rowling’s foray into literature for adults takes the form of a mystery novel. Described via Amazon as “blackly comic, thought-provoking, and constantly surprising,” this tale will undoubtedly be as dramatic and suspenseful as we know Rowling’s catalogue of work to be.

Albert of Adelaide: A Novel by Howard Anderson (Twelve; hardcover; July 10, 2012). Perhaps one of the most interesting and unexpected works of the year, this novel has made its mark on my radar. Albert the platypus makes his escape from Australia’s Adelaide Zoo and, meeting a cast of outlandish characters along the way (drunk bandicoots make the cut), finds himself on a journey for rumored ideals in “Old Australia.” Anderson’s novel sounds like a fantasy-filled bildungsroman that cannot be missed.

These are just 3 previews for a year full of anticipated work. What are some other must-read 2012 blockbusters? By all means, I encourage enjoying them with a bowl of popcorn and refreshments in hand.