97 Young-Adult Books to Add to Your Reading List in September

Lauren Muñoz's debut novel "Suddenly a Murder" opens with best friends Izzy and Kassidy celebrating their graduation from high school with a 1920s-themed party. Guests arrive and the night devolves into Gatsby-esque debauchery, but takes a twisted turn when Kassidy's boyfriend turns up dead — stabbed to death with Izzy's own knife. With a police investigation underway, everyone is now a suspect. As established friendships begin to crumble, no one's secrets are safe.

Release date: Sept. 5

Set in 1880s London, "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is Andrew Joseph White's gory sophomore tale, following Silas, a trans medium with the ability to peek behind the Veil of the living and dead. Silas is trying to survive under the strict rules of the Royal Speaker Society and is sent to Braxton's Finishing School and Sanitorium, where he is diagnosed with Veil sickness, a disease affecting fellow mediums. It is only at Braxton that Silas can get answers about this sickness and why it's only destroying mediums, and he's not afraid of getting his hands a little bloody if it means unveiling the truth.

Release date: Sept. 5

Think you've got what it takes to survive a horror movie? Noelle Layne, the Black woman protagonist of Lisa Springer's debut "There's No Way I'd Die First," probably has you beat. Noelle is an expert in all things horror but doesn't rank quite as high when it comes to becoming popular. In order to boost her social cache, she throws the biggest party her Long Island classmates have ever seen, even drawing some influencers out for a night of revelry. But when the clown Noelle hires turns out to be an ax murderer, Noelle will have to put all of her Final Girl knowledge to the test to save her classmates, and herself.

Release date: Sept. 5

In Susan Lee's "The Name Drop," teens Elijah and Jessica share two things in common: their Korean name and working at the same New York City company for the summer. Jessica, struggling with financial issues, has high hopes that this position will help set her up for a successful future. Meanwhile, Elijah just wishes he could be a regular kid instead of the company's CEO's son. When a mix-up sees Jessica working in Elijah's high-ranking role, and Elijah goofing around with the interns, they realize they can use the mistake to their advantage, but only if they manage to avoid getting caught.

Release date: Sept. 12

Adam Sass introduces two final boys worth rooting for in his YA horror "Your Lonely Nights Are Over." Best friends Dearie and Cole don't need anyone else. No one at their school truly understands them, except for fellow members of the Queer Club. Senior year brings on a new onslaught of troubles, but the most surprising of them all is the reemergence of the infamous serial killer Mr. Sandman, who has made their school, and specifically its queer students, his new hunting ground. No one will believe that Dearie and Cole are innocent, even as they must fight for their own lives. Can their friendship overcome this immense battle, or have Dearie and Cole come up against something powerful enough to wreck even the strongest of friendships?

Release date: Sept. 12

Hannah V. Sawyerr explores the harm of sexual abuse within a tight-knit community in her debut novel "All the Fighting Parts." If there's one thing anyone knows about 16-year-old Amina Conte, it's that she isn't afraid to speak her mind. When her outspokenness lands her in trouble at school, she's sent to help Pastor Johnson at the local church and faces assault at the hands of their community's most beloved leaders. Suddenly Amina is withdrawn, and she struggles to find the voice she once took such pride in. When Pastor Johnson is arrested for a different crime, forcing their community apart and landing her in the spotlight, Amina searches within herself to find her power and her voice.

Release date: Sept. 19

Allie Condie delivers a suspenseful mystery with "The Only Girl in Town," following a high school teen who suddenly discovers that everyone around her has disappeared. July Fielding's life has taken a massive turn — one she would have never predicted before her senior year. Before, she was a country track star with a loyal BFF, an encouraging teammate always by her side, and a boyfriend who she loved. That was until one night, July walked home and found no one left in her town. Isolated and fearing the worst, July tries to uncover what could have happened to everyone, and why she was the only one left behind. Notes left behind, urging her to "GET TH3M BACK," tip July off that there's still hope.

Release date: Sept. 19

Two rivals attempt to discover the truth of a famous author's legacy in Ava Reid's magical adventure "A Study in Drowning." Architecture student Effy Sayre has long admired the work of Emrys Myrddin, the writer behind her favorite book detailing a tragic love story between a mortal and the Fairy King. So when she's invited to help redesign Myrddin's estate, Effy cannot wait to explore the Myrddin home. What should be an exciting experience is tampered by resident Preston Héloury, who believes Myrddin is a fraud and aims to prove it. As the two investigate Myrddin's life, revealing connections to the supernatural and the mortal, aiming to dig into the famed writer's life proves to be a challenge that could cost them their lives.

Release date: Sept. 19

Fans of "Ocean's Eleven" will enjoy Kayvion Lewis's exhilarating debut "Thieves' Gambit," following a troupe of teens on a mission to steal from some of the world's most exclusive institutions. Ross Quest doesn't want to be caught up in the life of crime her family is so used to, but when her mother's last job goes terribly wrong, Ross has no choice but to find a way to save her. Her only option is entering the Thieves' Gambit, a competition of 10 highly skilled and competitive teen thieves that will take them across the globe for heist jobs, and the winner will walk away with the promise of anything they want. Ross's competition may include facing off against her former best friend and a handsome competitor who throws her off her game, but to save her family, she will do whatever it takes to win.

Release date: Sept. 26

Chloe Gong's "Foul Heart Huntsman," the follow-up to the equally intense "Foul Lady Fortune," finds national spy Rosalind in a bind. Her cover has been blown, there's a media circus waiting around every corner, and worst of all, her partner Orion has been kidnapped and has his memories wiped. The only way to find him is to embrace being a part of the public eye, heading on a national tour to convince the nation it's safe while plotting how to get rid of a chemical weapon that could destroy everything. With Rosalind's heart and nation on the line, the stakes are higher than ever as she takes on her most dangerous mission yet.

Release date: Sept. 26

Don P. Hooper's blistering YA debut "True True" follows a Black New York City teen facing racial discrimination from students and administration at his new private prep school. Seventeen-year-old Gil has grown up his entire life in Brooklyn, splitting his time fighting at his local dojo, caring for his ailing grandmother, and thinking about ways to help his father return to the US after a deportation scare. His senior year, he makes the leap over to Augustin, a private school in Manhattan, to gain access to better resources and bolster his résumé. However, a triggering incident on his first day shows Gil that life at Augustin doesn't cater to students like him. As he fights to get Black students at Augustin the justice they deserve, he risks losing his friends and relationships in Brooklyn as life at Augustin consumes him.

Release date: Aug. 1

Michelle Quach tackles the troubles of sexism and family in "The Boy You Always Wanted." Before her grandfather A Gung dies, Francine wants to ensure that he achieves everything he wants to in his life. A Gung's final hope is to see a male heir carry on family traditions, and realizing she has no male family members that can carry on this request, Francine formulates a plan that will require Ollie, a family friend who also happens to be a former crush. Francine enlists Ollie to pretend to be A Gung's male heir, and as the pair grow closer, their mountain of lies threatens to ruin their budding relationship.

Release date: Aug. 1

The author behind romances such as "A Brush With Love" and "The Plus One," Mazey Eddings, makes her YA debut with "Tilly in Technicolor." Titular star Tilly Twomley is a neurodivergent teen struggling with what comes next for her as graduation looms. Despite her desire to start her own business, her family and peers doubt her capabilities and add more pressure around her college decision. In hopes of gaining some clarity, Tilly takes off on a summer cruise to work as her cousin's intern aboard the ship, where she meets Ollie, an autistic teen who knows exactly what he wants. Ollie's very different and well-planned approach to making decisions offers Tilly insight into how to better tackle choices about her own future, one she hopes Ollie will be in.

Release date: Aug. 15

Letta, the focus of Jennifer Baker's thoughtful debut "Forgive Me Not," has made a mistake that feels unforgivable. After getting drunk one night, she went for a ride with little sister Viv and got into an accident that killed Viv. Now, Letta's only hope of gaining her family's forgiveness is to participate in the Trials, a form of rehabilitation for juvenile offenders that helps offenders earn the forgiveness of their victims by participating in daunting activities. As Letta faces her Trials head-on, convinced that her determination can earn back her family's love, she begins to question the intentions behind the Trials, their devastating effects on offenders, and how society determines who is deserving of forgiveness.

Release date: Aug. 15

Adalyn Grace makes her return to the Belladonna universe with "Foxglove," the highly anticipated sequel in the Belladonna series. Signa and her cousin Blythe are caught at a crossroads. They are desperate to save a loved one, but the only way to do so is by striking a questionable deal with the higher entity Fate. With Fate on his own mission of revenge, and Signa exhibiting new powers that connect her in mysterious ways to Fate, Signa questions if she can trust anything around her, even her own powers.

Release date: Aug. 22

Those who thought we'd seen the last of the many-sided Hawthorne family can rejoice. Jennifer Lynn Barnes brings the competitive Hawthorne brothers to the forefront of her latest mystery, "The Brothers Hawthorne." Everyone always knew that Grayson Hawthorne is the brother you call if anything goes wrong. When his half-sisters call him in desperate need of help, Grayson does what he's been raised all his life to do: get rid of anything that threatens the Hawthorne name. James Hawthorne has always liked his challenges with a side of trouble. When his father requests he infiltrate London's most exclusive gambling club, home to the secrets of politicians and other important members of society, James can't resist the chance to prove himself. As the two brothers tackle new missions on their own, they will prove that, in their own way, a Hawthorne will do whatever it takes to win.

Release date: Aug. 29

Skyla Arndt's debut, "Together We Rot," opens with teen Wil Greene's investigation into her mother's disappearance. No one believes that anything bad has happened, but Wil knows her mother was taken, and she knows who is responsible. Meanwhile, Elwood knows that in the coming weeks, he will finally have to join his father's church as an official member when he turns 18. But one night, after a night of partying, Elwood doesn't come home to the disappointed glare of his father, but rather a mob of church members trying to kill him. The only person who will believe him is Wil, and Wil agrees to hide Elwood if he will help prove her mother's disappearance wasn't an accident. But as the church's hunt for Elwood becomes more insidious, Elwood finds himself drawn to the woods in mysterious ways, and Wil won't lose anyone else to the church's dangerous traditions.

Release date: Aug. 29

Jamison Shea cracks open the insidious world of ballet in "I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me." Ballerina Laure won't let anything stand in the way of her becoming a success at her Parisian ballet school. Furious with the way her peers and teachers look down on her, Laure goes in search of the Catacombs to make a deal that will change her life. Granted her wish, Laure becomes a rising star at school, her talent undeniable. But in exchange for her ambitious career, Laure has given away some part of herself she's unsure she'll be able to get back and has drawn the attention of a god-killer who wants to rid the world of monsters. But Laure isn't quite so sure a monster is something she's actually afraid of becoming.

Release date: Aug. 29

The Mayweather family of Kit Frick's slick murder mystery "The Reunion" rarely come together, but a wedding that will unite siblings Addison and Mason with soon-to-be stepbrother Theo brings the entire clan, including messy cousin Natalia, to Cancun, Mexico. Together, the family of 11 gather to celebrate, but only 10 will survive the trip. What is good-girl Madison keeping from her family? Why can't Mason keep his temper under control? Is Natalia really heartbroken over a breakup, or is it something else? How can Theo ever make his way into this tightly knit family unit? It turns out the consequences of family bonding can be deadly.

Release date: Aug. 29

Dangerous magic, the ferocity of high society, and a fated love affair can all be found in J. Elle's riveting fantasy "House of Marionne." Seventeen-year-old Quell Marionne finds herself taking up residence at House of Marionne, her grandmother's secret debutante school for magical beings, after Quell is almost caught and killed for exposing her magic. The only people who can help Quell control her dark magic are the Order, a group of magical elites, and gaining their acceptance requires Quell pass their trials for membership. As Quell prepares to fight her spot with the Order, she comes to question their intentions and if her magic, the one thing she's been taught to hide her whole life, is the one thing she'll need to stay alive.

Release date: Aug. 29

In Kara H.L Chen's "Love & Resistance," two teens with plans to take down a problematic queen bee begin to catch feelings for one another. Olivia Chang does better when she's on her own, so when she's at school, she keeps her head down and avoids her classmates. That's until popular Mitzi makes a racist comment in front of everyone, and when Olivia sticks up for herself, she draws more attention than she could have imagined. Unable to return to her life of solitude, Olivia accepts an invitation to Nerd Net, a secret club that has been trying to call out Mitzi's harmful behavior. Letting people — especially handsome fellow Nerd Net member Griff — into her life might be a bigger challenge than taking down the meanest girl in school.

Release date: July 4

Lilah, a young woman with hearing loss, hopes to preserve her newfound safe haven in "Give Me a Sign" by Anna Sortino. Lilah grows frustrated as she struggles to communicate with family and friends, especially at school with less-than-adequate accommodations. Hoping to find a bigger Deaf community, Lilah returns to her childhood American Sign Language camp, where she meets Isaac, a charming fellow camper Lilah can't help but feel drawn to. As Lilah finally finds a place where people truly understand her, she learns the camp is under the threat of closing and joins the fight to to keep it open.

Release date: July 11

Indian American artist Maya Krishnan, the star of Malavika Kannan's debut "All the Yellow Suns," cares about three things: her friends, family, and art. Living in her Florida suburb and attending a school that implements harmful policies, Maya soon becomes involved with privileged student Juneau Zale, who invites her to join a vigilante art group that advocates for justice. The deeper Maya falls in with Juneau, the further she drifts from the people she cares most about, and when she begins to question Juneau's intentions, only her art can bring her back to herself.

Release date: July 11

Marisol of Shannon C.F. Rogers's debut novel "I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom," has always struggled to understand her mother. No conversation between them can ever pass without it turning into a screaming match. When Marisol's mother dies suddenly in a car accident, Marisol struggles to navigate the loss of a woman so important to her, but who also caused her so much pain. All that is left for Marisol to feel is anger, and she takes it all out on the people who love her until she's left with no one but an unexpected new friend. This new friendship offers Marisol a chance to move beyond the anger, but the question is if she's ready to.

Release date: July 11

Joya Goffney deftly explores intergenerational trauma in her latest book "My Week With Him." The night we meet Nikki, she has plans to escape the drama of her small-town life in Texas and run off to Los Angeles to audition to be a producer. But a quick trip back to her house leads to an explosive fight with her mother, ending with Nikki getting thrown out with no place to stay. Nikki turns to her former best friend Mal, who convinces her to stay one more week so they can repair their relationship before she leaves to chase her dreams. In the week before Nikki's departure, she faces her sister's sudden disappearance, developments in her relationship with Mal, and revelations about her mother's past that offer insight into their own tumultuous mother-daughter dynamic. With the clock ticking down to Nikki's exit, Nikki hopes to mend her family before she leaves, alongside the boy who has always had her back.

Release date: July 11

"All That's Left to Say" is Emery Lord's exploration of one young woman's grief while investigating a private school's social hierarchy. Maryland teen Hannah is still reeling from the loss of her cousin Sophie, who died suddenly one year ago from an overdose. Hannah has never understood how Sophie got into drugs, and the only way to get answers is by heading to Sophie's former elite private school Ingleside Country Day School. There, Hannah meets all the people Sophie used to rub shoulders with, soon becoming integrated into their lives, finding empathy for Sophie's friends, and finding new love. Everything culminates on prom night. By the end of the night, Hannah's in trouble for pulling the fire alarm before the announcement of prom queen. But the question is, why?

Release date: July 18

Trust no one in Benjamin Dean's debut "The King Is Dead." James always knew that someday the crown would be his. What he didn't know was how involved the public would become in his personal life once he ascended to the throne. His secret relationship with palace intern Jonathan is leaked to the press, and suddenly everything in James's life and his kingdom are thrown into disarray. James knows that the leak came from within the palace, meaning a trusted ally has betrayed him. Can he find out who among him would put his life in danger? Or can the new king only expect more shocking revelations?

Release date: July 18

The Bayview Four of Karen M. McManus's bestselling series One of Us is Lying have seen it all. In the third and final installment of the series "One of Us Is Back," the group returns home for a hopeful summer of reconnecting and good times, but it seems someone in Bayview is still holding onto secrets. A new billboard proclaiming that a new game has started, at first, seems like a terrible coincidence, but when one of their own goes missing, it becomes clear that the crew will have to put their heads together one final time to rescue one of their own. With new friends and relationships on the line, too many loved ones are at risk, and the Bayview Crew is ready to do whatever it takes to put all of their town's terrifying mind games behind them.

Release date: July 25

Jessica Goodman, author of "They Wish They Were Us," delivers a twisty New York City mystery "The Legacies," set behind the scenes of a private school's legacy club. Bernie Kaplan always expected her invitation into the Legacy Club to be met with fanfare. Instead, she's growing more worried about her mother's sudden disappearance and questioning her relationships with her best friend, Isobel, and her boyfriend, Skyler. Tori Tasso, on the other hand, isn't from the world of the Upper East Side, yet she's secured her own invite to the Legacy Club. As the week winds down to the exclusive Legacy Ball, where each of the four will finally be crowned official members, their secrets may cost them their coveted spot, or worse, their lives.

Release date: July 25

Joelle Wellington makes her debut with "Their Vicious Games," a brutal thriller highlighting the damages of academia on Black students. Adina Walker has fallen from the social graces of the prestigious Edgewater Academy, and the only way to secure her future is by entering the Finish. The Finish is a mysterious competition pitting 12 young women against each other in a series of events to earn the favor of the powerful Remington family. However, Adina doesn't realize how cutthroat the game is until she's already in it, and she'll have to play it to the very end to earn her reward and survive.

Release date: July 25

Maya Ameyaw's debut, "When It All Syncs Up," highlights the microaggressions and prejudice in one Black ballerina's pursuit of success. Ghanaian Canadian ballerina Aisha has dreams of dancing on the biggest stages in the world, but when she doesn't gain a coveted spot at an elite performing school because of her appearance, she struggles to find her place in the dance world. A switch of schools seems to be the right move, but when she faces the same racism and prejudice in her new school, it affects her mental health, so Aisha turns to the safety net of new friends and relies on her sense of self to come out on top.

Release date: June 6

Adiba Jaigirdar's "The Dos and Donuts of Love" is a delightful treat for foodies and reality-TV fans alike. Even with heartbreak still on her mind, baker Shireen Malik is thrilled when she's invited to compete on a baking TV show. Not only will it be a great experience, but she can also help boost business at her parents' struggling doughnut shop. When Shireen arrives on set ready to bake up a storm, she's thrown by her ex also being a contestant, and even more so when she finds herself flirting with a competitor. All this drama in the kitchen may prove to be a recipe for disaster.

Release date: June 6

Don't you ever wish you could play out two alternate decisions before having to make the big choice? Natalya Fox, the star of Dahlia Adler's "Sliding Doors"-esque romance "Going Bicoastal," gets to do just that. Natalya must decide between spending the summer finally making a move on the girl she's been crushing on and hanging with her dad in New York, or heading to Los Angeles for a dream internship with her very distant mother. Adler plays out both of Natalya's alternate timelines, staying with her friends and finally getting the girl in New York and cruising through LA with a new and unexpected friend.

Release date: June 6

In Ananya Devarajan's debut, "Kismat Connection," astrology guides the heart, even if Madhuri's heart isn't committed to staying with her longtime boyfriend. According to Madhuri's mother, her love life is fated. Desperate to prove that the stars cannot dictate everything, Madhuri believes starting an experimental relationship with someone she definitely won't fall for, her best friend Arjun Mehta, will prove she can successfully have free will over her life. But when feelings with Arjun start feeling less like an experiment and more like the real thing, Madhuri will have to choose whether to follow the path charted for her or take her fate into her own hands.

Release date: June 13

YA novel in verse "Ode to My First Car" by Robin Gow explores a bisexual teen's fumbling summer of queer firsts. Claire Kemp was supposed to spend her summer finally exploring all those unspoken feelings she's had for her best friend Sophia, but instead, she's too busy working at a nursing home trying to pay off the fines from her ex-boyfriend crashing her car. As Claire struggles with the growing distance between her and Sophia and the emergence of a new crush on classmate Pen, she also begins a friendship with Lena, an 80-year-old lesbian at the nursing home. As Claire tries to make sense of all of these changing dynamics in her romantic relationships, her friendship with Lena offers sage wisdom that only an elder can provide.

Release date: June 20

Kalynn Bayron's meta-thriller "You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight" subverts classic horror tropes for a bloody telling that is one of a kind. At Camp Mirror Lake — a horror-simulation experience meant to scare its guests — Charity takes her coveted job as playing the role of Final Girl seriously. For the camp's last weekend, Charity invites her girlfriend up to watch their final simulation, but notices that something is . . . off. Their next-door neighbor is making threats, her coworkers are disappearing, and the fake bodies are turning into real ones. Camp Mirror Lake is no longer a game, and Charity will have to use everything she's learned to prove that — real life or not — she will be the night's final girl.

Release date: June 20

Lena Jeong opens The Sacred Bones series with "And Break the Pretty Kings," a propulsive fantasy inspired by Korean history and myth. Mirae is destined to be queen, but before she can make it to her coronation, a harrowing incident at a ceremony unleashes a dangerous new power within that warns her that a monster will return. When her brother is taken, throwing the kingdom into panic, Mirae takes off to find him and prevent the horrific destruction her visions are predicting. Is there anything Mirae won't do to protect her loved ones and her kingdom from destruction?

Release date: June 20

Courtney Gould's nail-biting mystery "Where Echoes Dies" follows two sisters hoping to complete their mother's final investigation. Beck, 17, and her sister Riley are still struggling in the aftermath of the death of their reporter mother. A letter in their mother's handwriting leads them to travel to Backravel, AZ, the site of her last investigation. The town, with its mysterious treatment centers and residents with no memory of how they got there, leads the sisters to look into the community's charming leader and his daughter. The deeper Beck looks, the more threads she finds to their mother, and her obsession with unraveling this town's questions may mean she can never leave.

Release date: June 20

K.X. Song sets her debut, "An Echo in the City," against the backdrop of the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Phoenix understands how much her parents dreamed of an Ivy League education for her, but what she cares about most is her family and her culture. Kai has always hoped he would become an artist, but to appease his father, he joins the Hong Kong police. A fated meeting where the two accidentally switch phones leads to a budding romance, but secrets threaten to destroy everything they've created, as well as the power of the political movement.

Release date: June 20

"Sing Me to Sleep" is Gabi Burton's debut fantasy filled with secrets, danger, forbidden love, and sirens. If you asked anyone in the Kingdom of Keirdre about sirens, they'd tell you they were extinct. They don't know about Saoirse Sorkova, who hides her siren identity by acting as a soldier by day and uses her capabilities to hypnotize men as a mercenary at night. It is not Saoirse but her sister who is in danger of being revealed as a siren, which will mean her death. To find the blackmailer, Saoirse accepts a position as Prince Hayes's bodyguard and, despite their surprising chemistry, won't allow anything to stand in the way of getting rid of whoever is threatening her family.

Release date: June 20

Kim Johnson follows the success of her debut, "This Is My America," with "Invisible Son," a powerful tale set in 2020 of a wrongly accused young Black man fighting to redefine himself. When 17-year-old Andre leaves a juvenile detention center after serving time for a crime his best friend Eric committed, he's scared of how things have changed since his absence. Andre wants to confront Eric about his betrayal but instead learns that Eric is missing and the picture Eric's adoptive parents are trying to paint doesn't look quite right. Andre navigates changes brought on by COVID and protests for George Floyd while fighting to unveil the truth about himself and Eric.

Release date: June 20

Love is on a tight deadline for Lahey, the focus of Kelsey Rodkey's gratifying YA rom-com "Plus One." Lahey Johnson has always been good at playing matchmaker for her friends, and when her cousin Summer announces doubts that Lahey can find a date of her own for Summer's sweet 16, Lahey turns her matchmaking skills onto herself. She only has one week to find a perfect match, and she's got six dates lined up, but a family friend intent on watching the drama play out proves to be a distraction in Lahey's plan. Finding a date will be hard enough, but will Lahey truly be ready if she finds her true match instead?

Release date: June 27

Fans of Angeline Boulley's award-winning novel "Firekeeper's Daughter" will recognize the familiar setting of her latest YA book, "Warrior Girl Unearthed." Perry Firekeeper-Birch has kept track of all the strange things happening on Sugar Island. First, it's the increasing number of Indigenous women disappearing without a trace. Next is her family's involvement in a murder case. The last straw is Perry's discovery of grave robbers stealing the precious remains of the Anishinaabe tribe. Perry isn't afraid to take on these acts of disrespect against her people and intends to steal back what was taken from them, discovering along the way all the secrets bringing harm to her community.

Release date: May 2

From the mind that brought us queer coming-of-age tales such "Simon vs the Homo Sapiens" comes Becky Albertalli's newest YA novel, "Imogen, Obviously," a story about a young woman navigating her sexuality. Imogen considers herself a passionate ally for the LGBTQ+ community, which includes her little sister and her group of queer friends. However, Imogen considers herself straight since she's only had crushes on boys. When her best friend Lili comes out, Imogen couldn't be more excited for her, but while visiting Lili at her college, Imogen learns that Lili's told her new friends that she and Imogen are exes. Keeping her friend's cover only becomes a problem when Imogen finds herself growing closer to Lilli's friend Tessa, throwing everything she thought she knew about herself and her sexual identity up in the air.

Release date: May 2

In Jonny Garza Villa's "Ander & Santi Were Here," nonbinary teen Ander spends most of their days working at their grandmother's LA restaurant while preparing to head off to pursue their dream of becoming an artist. When Ander locks eyes with Santi, a new hire at the restaurant, the chemistry is undeniable, and despite warnings from Ander's mother about staying away from him, Ander and Santi begin to fall hopelessly in love with one another. When Ander discovers Santi's undocumented status, and all of the pressures and fears consuming Santi's life, the pair attempt to find a way to keep Santi safe in a brutal world that threatens to tear them apart.

Release date: May 2

Amie Kaufman's swashbuckling series opener "The Isles of the Gods" is full of intrigue, danger, betrayal, and romance. Selly has grown tired of waiting for her father to return home from his latest mission at sea, and while she's learned plenty during her time under the tutelage of Captain Rensa, she has plans to chase her father down. Those plans are scrapped when Prince Leander boards her ship with a harrowing request for her team: get him across the Crescent Sea without drawing any attention to him so that he may get to the Isle of the Gods. On their journey, Selly discovers Prince Leander hasn't been entirely forthcoming with his intentions when rivals and enemies attack them at sea, and the pair will have to work together to survive their mission and save their country from devastation.

Release date: May 2

Jade, the star of Diana Urban's dynamite thriller "Lying in the Deep," wants nothing more than to forget about her cheating ex-boyfriend and her traitorous best friend, who are now together. Coming off the reels of their betrayal, escape comes in the form of a four-month onboard schooling experience, except Jade learns on her first day that escaping the couple isn't as easy as she thought, since they're setting sail with her. When a body is found on board and the ship has no place to port, Jade learns that a breakup might be the least of her problems when she's trapped at sea with a killer.

Release date: May 2

Vincent Tirado's eerie YA horror novel "We Don't Swim Here" follows one town's twisted history with avoiding water. Bronwyn is not from Hillwoods, nor does she want to stay there. The only reason she can't leave is because she has to help care for her ailing grandmother, and the one thing that could bring her joy, swimming, seems to be a social taboo in the rural town. When Bronwyn goes digging into the town's records to find an answer to this water taboo, her cousin Anais warns her that answers may draw unwanted attention, and not just from the living residents of the town.

Release date: May 2

Ibi Zoboi's "Nigeria Jones" centers one Black teen's commitment to her community and her journey to discovering her own path. For Nigeria Jones, home has always been The Movement, the Black Philadelphian separatist group she and her family are a part of. Nigeria has always looked up to her father, a leader in their community, but when her mother suddenly vanishes, she begins to question what life beyond their world looks like. When Nigeria attends the Quaker school her mother wished for her to attend, her decision brings forth a myriad of opinions from within her community, and Nigeria begins to find conflicts between her life and her family and who she is truly meant to become.

Release date: May 9

Jen St. Jude's heart-wrenching debut, "If Tomorrow Doesn't Come," starts with one girl's discovery of the end of the world. When Avery Byrne, along with the rest of the world, discovers that life on Earth will only go on for nine more days due to an impending meteor crash, everything changes. Avery, holding onto secrets about her sexual identity, her feelings for her best friend, and struggling with depression, planned on taking her life before she learned the world was ending. With only nine days left on Earth, Avery spends her final days learning to embrace who she is and holding onto her best friend and family before it's all over.

Release date: May 9

Following one's heart leads straight to the kitchen in Sher Lee's charming rom-com debut, "Fake Dates and Mooncakes." Winning the NYC's Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making contest is the only thing Dylan Tang can think of. He has to win if he plans to save his family's restaurant from going under. When he encounters Theo Somers on a late-night delivery run, he's intrigued by the boy's kindness but not enough to distract him from the competition. But when Theo appears at the restaurant with an offer he can't deny, Dylan can't help beginning to fall for this charitable gentleman who seems to care. But can Dylan trust Theo's intentions? Is he willing to throw away his dreams of helping his family to pursue a romance? Or is this just a recipe for disaster?

Release date: May 16

Queer pop sensation Hayley Kiyoko makes her author debut with "Girls Like Girls," a YA novel that pulls inspiration from her own music catalog. It's 2006, and 17-year-old Asian American Coley is still grieving the loss of her mother when she moves to Oregon. The only spark of joy in this new town is Sonya, a dancer whose friendship with Coley slowly evolves into something more. But Coley, battling with feelings of self-worth, and Sonya, still navigating her sexual identity, struggle to hit a stride in their relationship. When fate brings them back together after some time apart, Coley and Sonya must decide if their undeniable connection is worth fighting for.

Release date: May 30

Twin heirs are at odds in Terry J. Benton-Walker's riveting debut, "Blood Debts." Clement believes magic is the only way to reclaim the throne their family was disgracefully thrown from. Meanwhile, Cristina refuses to use her magic after it costs her someone she loves. While caring for their sick mother, Clement and Cristina realize she's not sick but cursed, and by someone within the court their parents used to oversee. Recognizing that their family is under threat, the siblings must come together to uncover who is hunting their family and what it has to do with a 30-year-old murder that incited political warfare.

Release date: April 4

F.T. Lukens makes more magic in "Spell Bound," the latest of their captivating otherworldly fantasies. Apprentice sorcerer Edison Rooker knows his work under the powerful Antonia Rex will be a trying experience, considering he has no innate magic of his own. All he has to do is break the law by hiding a Spell Binder, an illegal magical detection device, from the Magical Consortium and face off against Sun, a rival sorcerer apprentice Rook is growing fonder of with each encounter. But when the Consortium uncovers Antonia's lies and Sun's sorcerer is taken, too, the pair have no choice but to team up and fight to free their advisers or potentially lose their magic forever.

Release date: April 4

A novel in verse, "An Appetite For Miracles" is Laekan Zea Kemp's hopeful ode to first loves, the bond of family, and healing. Danna Mendoza Villarreal battles the grief of fighting her grandfather's dementia by cooking family recipes in hopes of rekindling his memories of his loved ones. Raúl Santos seems like the compassionate singer who serenades the elderly, but inside, he's still hurting over his mother's wrongful incarceration. When Danna and Raúl meet, it's impossible to miss the easy connection between the two. As they work together to help Danna's grandfather, they navigate their first steps toward healing within the safety of each other.

Release date: April 4

Stevie Green and Nora Martin, the stars of Alyson Derrick's solo debut, "Forget Me Not," have a plan. Upon graduation, they're headed for California, far away from their conservative Pennsylvania town and somewhere where they'll never have to hide their relationship. But when Stevie is in a terrifying accident, she loses her memories of everything: of the plan, of her sexuality, even of Nora. Stevie doesn't understand the shape of her life, and Nora struggles with everything they'd built together disappearing in a flash. Will starting over be the end, or can they find their way back to each other to start anew?

Release date: April 4

Eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow knows humans are about to face the wrath of the gods. After centuries of sleep, the gods have awoken and started a war, with humans facing the brunt of their army. Iris competes with fellow journalist Roman for a promotion at the Oath Gazette and, with no family around to help her, writes letters to her missing brother, who has mysteriously disappeared. The recipient of her letters is none other than her rival himself. As they develop a relationship amid the intensifying war, Roman's letter unleashes a series of consequences that affects everyone. "Divine Rivals" grounds stunning worldbuilding with the dreadful realities of loss and war.

Release date: April 4

Alexandra Bracken's "Silver in the Bone" follows a ruthless race to find a magical relic that could save the life of a girl's brother. Tamsin Lark may not have any magic, but she'll do anything to keep herself and her brother Cabell alive, so she competes against merciless magic wielders in the pursuit of enchanted items. When she learns of a powerful ring her guardian is said to have found before he died, Tamsin knows the antique could be the answer to freeing Cabell from a curse — that is, if she can find it first. Tamsin enters a questionable agreement with rival Emrys in the competition to get to the ring first.

Release date: April 4

Revenge is the only thing on the mind of Ela Dalvi, the protagonist of romance author Amalie Howard's YA debut, "Queen Bee." When she was younger, Ela trusted her best friend Poppy, who ruthlessly destroyed her reputation to ruin her chances with handsome newcomer Kes. While away at a school for other disgraced girls, Ela has reinvented herself. Now, she's back and ready to reintegrate into the English courting scene — and take down Poppy once and for all. But her plans for vengeance keep veering off track as Ela finds herself entranced by her childhood friend Kes, with whom it seems nothing has changed regarding their connection. Will keeping up her lie cost her everything, or is everything worth bringing her enemy down?

Release date: April 4

In her time-traveling tale "Throwback," Maurene Goo channels '90s film staple "Back to the Future" to repair the relationship between generations of mother and daughters in a Korean-American family. Sam can't keep up with the all-American dreams her mother, Priscilla, has for her. When her grandmother falls ill, sparking a devastating fight between Sam and Priscilla, Sam calls a ride that takes her back . . . to 1995. Trapped in the '90s with no way home, Sam meets a younger version of her mother and attempts to help her win homecoming queen in hopes of returning to and repairing Priscilla's difficult relationship with her in the present. A poignant reflection on the immigrant experience and understanding one's parents, Goo's trippy adventure is sure to warm the hearts of readers.

Release date: April 11

Ella Cerón's contemporary debut, "Viva Lola Espinoza," follows one girl's journey to Mexico to find love and discover magic. Lola Espinoza always knew she was never good at love, but imagine her surprise when she travels to Mexico to spend time with her grandmother and learns that her relationship disasters are credited to a literal curse. The only way for Lola to ever experience the beauty of true love is for her to break the curse, but she finds herself distracted by the suave Rio and mysterious Javi. Lola only has one summer to spend time with her family, figure out how she feels about two drastically different boys, and undo a curse that will doom her to heartbreak should she fail to reverse it.

Release date: April 11

Fans craving more cannibal content, à la Timothée Chalamet's "Bones and All," will enjoy the human horror in Kayla Cottingham's "This Delicious Death." The Hollowing wreaked havoc on society, leaving a portion of survivors only able to live off human flesh, but thanks to science, a substitute was created to satiate the needs of the affected. Best friends Zoey, Celeste, Valeria, and Jasmine are hollowers excited to commemorate their graduation by attending a massive music festival in the desert. When Val ends up eating a boy-band member, the festival goes from fun to fatal, with someone hunting hollowers. If the friends can't find out who is attacking hollowers, there's a chance things are going to get gory fast.

Release date: April 25

"My Dear Henry" is Kalynn Bayron's YA rendition of Robert Louis Stevenson's short story "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," the latest addition to the Remixed Classics series. Seventeen-year-old Gabriel Utterson is returning to London after a scandal that got him and his best friend Henry expelled from the London Medical School. He hopes to rekindle his friendship with Henry, who has ghosted him since his departure, and when Henry continues to ignore Gabriel's correspondence, he starts lurking by Henry's old house. There, Gabriel meets Hyde, whose close friendship with Henry causes a deepening rift in Gabriel and Henry's relationship. However, as Gabriel peers closer into Henry's absence and Hyde's constant presence, something is amiss, and looking too closely may awaken a monster Gabriel never anticipated.

Release date: March 7

Three best friends in Los Angeles find themselves at the center of a murder investigation while trying to save their gentrifying neighborhood in Jade Adia's electrifying debut, "There Goes the Neighborhood." Rhea, Malachi, and Zeke are preparing to spend summer roaming the streets of their beloved city of Los Angeles. That's until Zeke's landlord attempts to throw out tenured residents by raising the rent. To keep Zeke and his family in their community, the three devise a plan: start a fake gang to scare off incoming gentrifiers and lower interest in moving into their neighborhood. However, the threat of a new gang raises tensions within the community, and when someone winds up dead, the trio investigate the murder before they face real consequences for their fake prank.

Release date: March 7

Sarah Underwood's YA debut, "Lies We Sing to the Sea," an ode to Greek mythology, will capture the hearts of "Song of Achilles" and "Circe" fans. The rage of Poseidon wreaks havoc on the maidens of Ithaca. Still furious at the death of Queen Penelope's 12 maidens, Ithaca must offer up 12 maidens in repentance. When Leto is selected as an offering and faces her death, what she finds in eternal sleep is Melantho, a girl who offers her a prophecy that could end the suffering of Ithaca's women with the death of one more person: the prince of Ithaca. If Leto does not see to it that the prince of Ithaca dies, an epic flood will destroy the only home she's ever known, and she will lose this girl who lights up something new within her.

Release date: March 7

Chinese Filipina teen Chloe Liang is shocked when she is taken off the USC waitlist and accepted into its animation program. Now, she's forgoing her plans to stay in Manila like her parents wished and preparing to fly off to her dream school in America — but not without a proper send-off. Chloe's family are planning a massive party for her 18th birthday. In need of a last-minute escort, Chloe's life is now filled with cute boys and new feelings for her kaishaos (arranged dates), alongside the devastating realization that living her dreams means leaving her family behind. Mae Coyuito's "Chloe and the Kaishao Boys" tells the story of the ups and downs of following one's dreams, with plenty of meet-cutes along the way.

Release date: March 7

Ashley Schumacher's "The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway" gives a grieving teen a chance to cope with change by navigating modifications to her traditional renaissance-faire circuit. Following the loss of her mother, Madeline "Gwen" Hathaway wants everything to stay the same. That's why the changes made on the final stop of the renaissance-faire circuit she and her father work on are such an insult to her. The tour's last stop has new management, and they've made massive updates to Gwen's beloved spot. When Gwen meets Arthur, the son of the new owners, she's surprised by their burgeoning friendship and even agrees to become Princess of the Faire. As she oversees an event that looks nothing like the special place she shared with her mother, Gwen begins to heal amid castles, potions, and a very charming bard.

Release date: March 14

"The Next New Syrian Girl" is Ream Shukairy's YA debut that brings together two teens to explore the secrets of their past. Khadija and Leene couldn't be any more different. Syrian American competitive athlete Khadija resents the tamed role her mother pushes onto her. Syrian refugee Leene struggles with her mental health amid a bustling new high school and peers. When Khadija and Leene discover a revelation about Leene's past, the misfit pair work together to investigate this newfound secret, allowing a surprising new friendship to blossom. Their investigation will challenge their expectations and lead them across the world for answers.

Release date: March 14

Rebecca Mahoney explores intergenerational trauma and grief themes in her magical fantasy "The Memory Eater." In the caves of Whistler Beach, ME, lives the Memory Monster, who craves the hurtful memories of all who enter. The Harlow family have been left in charge of keeping the Monster caged from the rest of town, and it is 17-year-old Alana's turn at the mantle. As Alana helps visitors feed the Memory Monster, memories of her own are suddenly disappearing, and she learns the Monster has been eating her memories, including the knowledge of how to keep them locked away. With the Monster on the loose, Alana will have to chase down the painful memories the Monster has taken from her or risk losing her town, and herself, to the Monster's appetite.

Release date: March 14

With her family struggling with the American immigration system, 16-year-old Afghan American high schooler Mafi Shahin takes justice into her own hands at school, where she acts as the Ghost of Santa Margarita High, anonymously avenging the wrongdoings of her classmates. When Mafi's vengeful school activities come under investigation, and her lies begin to unravel, the newfound attention threatens to reveal her own family's secrets. Riesen's debut, "Free Radicals," is a thoughtful exploration of justice and xenophobia.

Release date: March 21

Mark Oshiro's gut punch of a thriller "Into the Light" follows the lives of two young men becoming increasingly intertwined after discovering a dead body. Manny got separated from his sister after their foster family sent him to the religious camp Reconciliation. Ever since, he has been wandering through California, hoping to find her. Meanwhile, Eli has lived his entire life within the Reconciliation compound and has only one question: why can't he remember anything about life before the camp? When a dead body is discovered in the California hills, Eli and Manny's intercrossed lives begin to unravel the history of the camp, their identities, and the histories of who they once were.

Release date: March 28

Ann Liang offers readers a hopeful fake dating romance in "This Time it's Real." Forced to move all the time with her family, Eliza Lin struggles with leaving behind her friends. At her new school in Beijing, her homework assignment waxing poetic about her relationship goes viral, landing her a writing internship she's always dreamed of. The only problem is that Eliza lied about being in a relationship and now needs a partner to help her keep her deception a secret. Her beautiful actor classmate Caz turns out to be the perfect fit for a fake relationship... that is until the lines between their real and fake feelings start to blur. Eliza hasn't given herself a chance to be real with anyone in a long time out of fear of getting hurt once again, but if anyone might be worth taking that risk, it's Caz.

Release date: Feb.7

Underhill brings nothing but joy to "Always the Almost," a tender romance centering on a trans pianist. 16-year-old Miles Jacobson has two goals for the new year: winning back Shane, his ex-boyfriend who left him after he came out and defeating his rival on the biggest stage at a competitive piano competition. However, Shane has been ignoring him, and despite his best efforts, he can't seem to find that special spark to make his music stand out. Upon the arrival of out and proud queer student Eric Mendez, Miles can't help but be attracted to Eric's charm and confidence. When Eric reciprocates, it unravels all of Miles' insecurities about himself, leading to a massive fumble in their fledgling relationship. To bring home that piano trophy and win back the heart of a charming new love interest, Miles must unpack the troubles rooted within to find his happily ever after.

Release date: Feb. 14

In her vibrant romance "When You Wish Upon a Lantern," Gloria Chao reunites former friends to keep a family tradition. Following a misunderstanding that severed their friendship, Liya is estranged from her former best friend, Kai. But when Liya discovers her family's business, a wishing lantern store, is under threat of going under, she enlists the only person who will understand her plan to save it: Kai. Liya and Kai arrange to secretly complete the wishes from the wishing lanterns of customers to garner more attention for the store, and as they grant fortunes to those around them, they find time hasn't fractured their friendship as much as they thought. With everyone around them having their wishes granted, can Liya and Kai admit what they both want or let the light of their rekindled friendship fade to darkness once more?

Release date: Feb. 14

In Yvonne Woon's "My Flawless Life," a teen hiding a massive secret of her own investigates the secrets of her private school peers. Hana Yang Lerner knows everyone's secrets, but nobody knows hers. It's her job to help her classmates maintain the glossy reputations they'll need to get into Ivy League schools. Her efficiency at keeping their mistakes undetectable makes her a popular friend to all. But her cemented status disappears when her father, Senator Skip Lerner, faces charges for a near-fatal accident. Hana spots her chance at returning to the peak of the school social hierarchy when an anonymous client asks her to look into a former best friend, Luce Herrera, but what Hana unearths has consequences for friends, enemies, and potentially even herself.

Release date: Feb. 14

"Last Chance Dance" is a raucous rom-com about bouncing back after a breakup and surprising second chances. After a devastating split, high school senior Leila leaves her love life up to her high school's matchmaking system in hopes of finding love before graduation. Her school's Last Chance Dance is soon approaching, giving students a chance to answer a survey and be matched with three partners based on their responses. Opening her heart to the process, Leila dives heart-first into her dates until her final match is Tre Hillman, her enemy ever since he embarrassed her early in their high school careers. Could love be evading Leila right when she wants it most? Or is giving up her heart a chance she can take?

Release date: Feb. 21

Liselle Sambury's unsettling thriller "Delicious Monsters" plants a haunted mansion as the through line for two teens grappling with trauma 10 years apart. Seeing ghosts is the norm for Daisy. When her mother inherits a mansion, the two use it as an escape from their lives in Toronto. But the eerie mansion holds secrets of its own, and even with her capabilities, Daisy is unprepared to uncover the roots of its evil.

10 years later, teenager Brittany has her own questions about the mansion, which has garnered a reputation for itself due to her abusive mother's book about the place. Selecting the mansion as the subject for her web series, Brittany ventures into the house to investigate the case of a missing Black girl that once lived in this house, and when she discovers the truth, she attempts to tell both of their stories.

Release date: Feb. 28

The dazzling culture of 1930s Chicago sets the stage for James Klise's queer coming-of-age tale "I'll Take Everything You Have." In 1934, queer 16-year-old Joe Garbe arrives in Chicago intending to save up money alongside his cousin, he soon discovers making money will involve partaking in some criminal activity. While running their cons, Joe meets Eddie and Raymond, who bring him into Chicago's underground queer community, and they quickly develop a bond. When Joe's job running schemes drags him into a nefarious dynamic with the city's crime bosses, and he faces betrayals from those he once trusted, he's left to choose between abandoning the new life he's built with beloved found family or confronting the dangers he's awakened in the city.

Release date: Feb. 28

"Immortality" is Dana Schwartz's follow-up to her haunting love story "Anatomy." Hazel Sinnett is still shaken by the disappearance of Jack, but must force herself to stay in the present when a sudden arrest could mean the end of life as she knows it. When an unexpected call from the high court brings Hazel out of her cell to the upper ranks of society where she's been personally requested as the caretaker for the ailing daughter of King George IV, she's sucked into the lives of the British upper echelon. Hazel comes into close proximity with a social club known as the Companions to the Death, whose dangerous secrets become a threat to not only her job but her life. With sinister intentions sweeping the halls of the palace, only Hazel can find a resolution.

Release date: Feb. 28

Anyone on #BookTok has seen Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series, and the story comes to a heartstopping close with the novella "Kill Joy." A 1920s murder mystery party featuring extravagant costumes and pretend murders is the last thing on the series star Pip's mind. Still, her initial weariness fades away with the magnetic pull of the game and its cast of dynamic players. The fictional murder playing out in front of her sparks the origins of her forthcoming status as a teen detective. Jackson's prequel gives readers a look into the mind of series protagonist Pippa Fitz-Amobi before she became the sharp teen detective readers know and love.

Release date: Feb. 28

Kate J. Armstrong's fantasy "Nightbirds" follows four young magical women battling for control over their own lives when they discover the secrets behind a dangerous system they've lived under their whole lives. Matilde is a seasoned Nightbird, a woman with the magical ability to briefly give her powers to any recipient through a kiss. Nightbirds are under heavy restrictions, with magic outlawed in their society, making them targets. They're only allowed to bestow their powers on the rich men of the Great House. But when Matilde discovers that there are more Nightbirds just like her, and with greater capabilities, she realizes the Nightbirds are not being protected, but used. Caught amid a political game, Matilde and the Nightbirds look to unveil the truth about their powers and face choosing the safety they've always known or venturing into the unknown.

Release date: Feb. 28

Talia Hibbert's funny rom-com YA debut, "Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute," follows the story of two former best friends: quirky, conspiracy-theory-obsessed content creator Celine Bangura and star football player Bradley Graeme. After Bradley dumps Celine to hang out with the popular in-crowd at school, she turns her focus toward an internship with her lawyer idol. However, once she lands it, she doesn't anticipate running into her ex-bestie there, too. Their internship experience — which consists of a survival course in the woods — then tests their teamwork abilities and later helps the two realize how much they've missed their friendship.

Release date: Jan. 3

In Priyanka Taslim's "The Love Match," Zahra Khan has a meddling mother determined to find her perfect Bangladeshi partner. Zahra's focus is elsewhere, with a dream of becoming a writer and helping her family become financially secure by working at a local tea shop. When her mother introduces her to Harun Emo, sparks don't exactly fly, but that could be a good thing. Rather than rebuff each other, the pair fake date to appease both their parents and allow themselves to pursue their real crushes. For Zahra, that's Nayim, the sweet new dishwasher recently hired at the tea shop who makes her feel seen outside of the expectations of her family. But with her feelings for Nayim growing and her fake relationship with Harum starting to feel less and less fake the more time they spend together, Zahra discovers finding a love match is anything but easy.

Release date: Jan. 3

"Song of Silver, Flame Like Night" is the latest high-octane fantasy from the author of the Blood Heir series, Amélie Wen Zhao. Lan spent her whole life trying to decipher the mysterious scar her mother left on her arm before she was brutally murdered during the invasion by Elantian colonizers. Lan, now 18, tries to keep her outlawed magic and her hunt to decipher the code on her arm under the radar from the Elantians by working as a singer at a teahouse. When a deadly encounter at the teahouse ends with a dead Elantian official, Lan is saved by Zen, another wielder of magic avoiding Elantian discovery. Together the pair must escape before Elantian officials blame them for the night in question. On the run and trying to gain answers about their powers and full capabilities, Lan and Zen may hold the answers to secrets their kingdom never wanted to be revealed.

Release date: Jan. 3

Best friends navigate struggles of choice and bodily autonomy in Thomas's timely debut "16 & Pregnant," inspired by the MTV reality show of the same name. Erykah and Kelly have big plans for their futures: Erykah wants to start her own hair salon business, and Kelly dreams of becoming a college basketball star. When Erykah discovers she's pregnant, she enlists Kelly as her sole ally in her process, fearful of what the truth could do to her family and future. Making tough decisions that could alter her life, Erykah and Kelly find their friendship fracturing as they clash on opinions of choice and see their paths diverge. Thomas's authentic depiction of young motherhood and unbreakable friendship makes her debut a must-read for young readers.

Release date: Jan. 3

Fans of Leigh Bardugo will enjoy Kaylie Smith's electrifying fantasy "A Ruinous Fate." It only takes six rolls of six on the Roll of Fate to make a witch a Blood Warrior, ordered to battle against the Fates. When Calliope rolls her fourth six, bringing her closer to fulfilling a prophecy that she'll rise as the final Blood Warrior, she is willing to do anything to rewrite her destiny. A witch offering her just that opportunity makes Calliope an offer but will require her to venture into the Neverending Forest with her best friends and a traitorous ex as her only allies. Fighting to pave her own path, Calliope threatens to upset the destiny the Fates have chosen for her, and messing with the Fates comes with brutal consequences.

Release date: Jan. 3

"Heartstopper" fans get a closer look into the endearing love story of Nick and Charlie, stars of Alice Oseman's Heartstopper series, in a new closeup novella, "Nick and Charlie." A blissful high school romance will soon end for Nick and Charlie as Nick prepares to head off to college, leaving Nick behind to finish his final year of high school without him. Despite their poignant relationship, the pressure of separation soon plants seeds of doubt in Charlie's mind that he's holding Nick back. Meanwhile, Nick is determined their relationship will hold firm, but Charlie won't tell him how he feels, and it's making him question if their relationship is as solid as he thought. Oseman's fan favorites tackle their biggest relationship trial yet in this endearing novella for fans of the series.

Release date: Jan. 3

Describing an ex as the devil turns literal in Ann Dávila Cardinal's paranormal romance "Breakup From Hell." Mica Angeles has always played by the rules her strict Abuela put in place for her, making her an excellent student and steady church attendee. But meeting the illusive Sam on a trip to church awakens something new in Mica — a desire to seek out new challenges. As Mica gets sucked into Sam's intoxicating way of living on the edge, spooky happenings around her friends and family no longer feel like a coincidence. Digging into her family history, Mica discovers that her devilishly handsome crush is more like an angel in disguise, and breaking up might be the end of the world — literally.

Release date: Jan. 3

Appreciation of the nuances of nerd culture and Black fandom take center stage in "Cool. Awkward. Black.," a YA anthology edited by Karen Strong. With stories from 18 authors of books for young readers, including Kalynn Bayron, Elise Bryant, Tracy Deonn, Julian Winters, and more, "Cool. Awkward. Black" expands across genres to share the joys of Blackness and everything "geek." Readers will find everything from aliens to werewolves in this collection that confronts the realities of racism and homophobia while highlighting the safe corners of a world filled with magic.

Release date: Jan. 10

Camryn Garrett's delightful rom-com "Friday I'm in Love" kicks off with 16-year-old bisexual Mahalia planning the biggest and best coming-out party ever. Since she couldn't have a Sweet 16 party, this coming-out celebration has to be perfect. But as preparations are underway, Mahalia finds herself struggling to communicate about financial disparities with her best friend, dealing with her mother's surgery and feeling uneasy about her crush, Siobhan, hanging out with a problematic classmate. Will Mahalia be able to have the coming-out celebration she's worked so hard for, or will the party of her dreams remain just that — a dream?

Release date: Jan. 10

Julian Winters refreshes "The Breakfast Club" with dynamic and refreshing characters in queer romance "As You Walk on By." There is no greater high school dream than having the perfect prom, which queer track star Theo Wright hopes to achieve. Theo sets out to ask his crush to prom on a seemingly kind-hearted dare from his best friend at a party, but when the promposal blows up in his face, Theo withdraws from the festivities and finds himself commiserating with fellow party-renouncers and building an unexpected "Breakfast Club"-esque friend group. The fallout from the promposal poses a detriment to both of Theo's friend groups, forcing him to confront the long-held resentments he's faced with his longtime bros and navigate rebuilding with his new friends.

Release date: Jan. 17

Accepting the pain and beauty of starting over is the focus of Emma Lord's coming-of-age novel "Begin Again." Being prepared is Andie Rose's specialty, and with her transfer to Blue Ridge State College, she already has a list of plans. Life quickly makes it clear that it has other plans, however. Right as Andie arrives, her boyfriend transfers, she doesn't know how to help her best friend for the first time, and all of Andie's notions about life are being uprooted by her frustratingly handsome RA. The only part of her plan that stays in place is her spot on the radio show her mother once worked at, but a blowup puts her most important goal — reconnecting with her mother's memory — at risk. If Andie wants to find her place in this new world, she'll have to face letting her old plans go.

Release date: Jan. 24

"6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did)" is the latest from Tess Sharpe, author of the novel-turned-Netflix film "The Girls I've Been," featuring Millie Bobby Brown. Avoiding the girl you keep almost kissing is nearly impossible when she's your roommate. Penny and Tate's mothers are BFFs, and when Penny's mother donates her liver to Tate's mother, the two families move in together to help each other through the recovery process. Coming together to navigate mounting bills and academic struggles, ignoring the undeniable attraction between them becomes more and more difficult for Penny and Tate. At some point, they will have to confront the connection they've always felt and ran away from. Sharpe's friends-to-lovers story is a compelling sapphic romance, sure to stir readers' hearts.

Release date: Jan. 24

Elise Bryant solidifies her status as a standout in contemporary YA romance with "Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling." Delilah always keeps her cards close to her chest when it comes to her feelings. Meanwhile, Reggie loves D&D and all things certified nerd but can't bring himself to put his name on his gaming blog. When the two meet by chance on New Year's Eve as the best versions of themselves, sparks fly, and fate continues to bring the two together every holiday. Each time, they grow closer to one another, until Reggie and Delilah have to face the people they pretend to be and if they're falling for their true selves. Release date: Jan. 31

Krystal Marquis's remarkable historical romance debut and series opener "The Davenports" shines a light on an oft-overlooked and important part of history while creating a deeply glamorous love story. In 1910 Chicago, Olivia, John, and Helen — the children of formerly enslaved William Davenport — live a life of luxury while searching for love under the intense spotlight of the community. Despite being betrothed, eldest sister Olivia is interested in a civil rights activist, John finds himself at the center of a love triangle between family friends, and Helen confronts the gender role imposed on her by society by exploring her interest in vehicles rather than marriage. As the Davenports navigate increasingly messy love lives and coming of age, they face the ripple effects of racism and slavery within their family lineage.

Release date: Jan. 31

Jumata Emill brings unpredictable twists and turns in "The Black Queen," a YA thriller about the murder of a Mississippi high school's first Black homecoming queen. Everyone at Lovett High School is shocked when recently crowned homecoming queen Nova Albright turns up dead, but everyone has a suspect. Tinsley MacArthur, a homecoming queen legacy, was heard threatening Nova just hours before her death. Duchess, Nova's best friend and daughter of a police officer, is determined Tinsley is responsible for the death of her best friend and will do anything to prove it, including infiltrating Tinsley's pristine friend group to gather intel. Told in dual-POV, Emill's revelation of a town's beloved queen is a surprising twisty ride.

Release date: Jan. 31

"Chain of Thorns" wraps up Cassandra Clare's Last Hours series with a jaw-dropping conclusion. After the devastating loss of her father and the fracturing of her relationship with her best friend, Cordelia Carstairs flees to Paris to recover. But even her charming life in Paris with Matthew is not enough to distract her from the news that her former adversary Blackthorn has escaped prison, and Belail, Prince of Hell, has selected London as his new target. Under threat, Cordelia returns to the Shadowhunters of London, and despite their mistrust, they'll all need to work together to end a hellish new foe.

Release date: Jan. 31