58 Young-Adult Books to Add to Your Reading List in May

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

"Flowerheart" is Catherine Bakewell's magical cottagecore romance of epic proportions. Clara has never been able to control her magic, though that hasn't been a problem since her magic is practically harmless. Until one day, she accidentally creates a poisonous flower that opens within her father's chest, and the only way to save him is through a dangerous spell. Turning to her ex-best friend Xavier only deepens her despair as he strikes a harrowing deal that will cost her greatly. While preparing to save her father's life, the duo discover dark secrets at play within the kingdom's walls. To survive this ordeal, Clara must master her capabilities and question the loyalties of everyone she meets.

Release date: March 14

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

#BookTok sensation Holly Black's "The Stolen Heir" returns readers to the Elfhame universe with a riveting new tale of war, secrets, and betrayal. Suren has disappeared. Or at least that's what the child queen of the Court of Teeth wants everyone to believe. After fleeing from her merciless mother and hiding in the human world, Suren uses her powerful magic to help humans and stay away from the political warfare of her past. When an old foe finds her and attempts to kill her, it is Oak, the man she was once promised to, who saves her. Despite his help, Suren is wary of Oak's intentions. He needs Suren to defeat Lady Nore of Court Teeth, but returning home is the most dangerous task Oak can ask of her. Is Suren ready to return to the home she left behind, and is she prepared to face off against her mother?

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

"Spice Road" is a page-turner fantasy from Maiya Ibrahim that pits sibling against sibling. Despite her high reputation as the youngest ever Shield — a protector of the secret city Qalia against monsters — 17-year-old Imani can't forget the betrayal of her older brother. Atheer vanished without a trace, taking Qalia spices containing potent magic with him, marking him as a traitor and destroying Imani and her family's name. Suspecting Atheer is alive, Imani promises to bring him back to face the consequences of his actions. Taking her closest Shield allies and a monster-seer rival with their own suspicions about Imani and her brother, Imani ventures into dangerous territory to get justice.

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