Looking for your next young adult book? Whether you’re looking for a sweet contemporary romance, a thrilling mystery, or a fantasy adventure, we got you covered! Below you’ll find six YA books and audiobooks that you can request now on NetGalley, and six that you can pick up from your favorite bookstore or library.
Request these while you can:
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
Tiffany D. Jackson puts her spin on Stephen King’s Carrie this fall. In the aftermath of racist bullying, Springville High decides to host its first integrated prom. Maddy Washington has never quite fit in at school, and things have only gotten worse since her classmates discovered she’d been passing for white. But when the school’s star quarterback asks her to prom, she starts to wonder if this night could change everything.
Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean, narrated by Ali Ahn
Ali Ahn returns to narrate the sequel to Tokyo Ever After, where Izumi Tanaka learned she was the daughter of the Crown Prince of Japan. This next installment picks up with Izumi believing she’s found her footing at last in her new life, only to be shocked when her parents’ engagement is questioned by the Imperial Household Council, who don’t believe Izumi and her mother are royalty material. Determined to help them both get their happily ever after, Izumi sets out to prove that she’s a perfect princess. But will her new focus risk her own storybook ending?
Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older
This urban fantasy from Daniel José Older is the first in the Outlaw Saints series. All Mateo Matisse wants is to make music. Unfortunately, he’s recently learned that he’s the descendant of a god and destined to bring back San Madrigal, his Caribbean island home that sank into the sea 16 years ago. Though reluctant at first, Mateo steps up once violence reaches his Brooklyn neighborhood and threatens those he loves.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston, narrated by Natalie Naudus
Natalie Naudus is a favorite among NetGalley members, who will be thrilled to learn she’s narrating Casey McQuiston’s latest. When Shara Wheeler vanishes, Chloe Green is only left with a mysterious letter and the memory of a kiss with her academic rival. Needing to know the truth, Chloe sets out to collect clues Shara left behind in the hopes of uncovering where she went and why.
Summer’s Edge by Dana Mele
Secrets come back to haunt a group of teens in this suspenseful thriller. Five friends return to the newly rebuilt lakehouse a year after it burned down with their friend Emily inside. But once they arrive odd things begin to happen and any hope of a peaceful vacation is shattered by the accusation that Emily’s death wasn’t an accident and that her killer is still among them.
Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino, narrated by Laura Knight Keating
Tori Bovalino’s latest is a retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.” Lou’s entire world is shaken when her Aunt Neela is kidnapped and taken to the goblin market. To save Neela, Lou must transform from a girl who didn’t know magic existed to one armed with enough spells, songs, and know-how to outwit the goblins. With only three days to save Neela, the clock is ticking.
Check out these books on shelves now:
Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters
Isaac Martin is planning a perfect summer with his best friend Diego before they go off to college. Unfortunately, his plans to get them tickets to a comic convention are sidelined when he runs into Davi, who he used to have a crush on. Even without the tickets, Isaac is determined to make the summer one to remember. But just as things are heating up with Davi, Diego begins avoiding Isaac. Could he be upset that Isaac failed to score them the tickets, or is it something more?
Gallant by Victoria Schwab, narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt
Victoria Schwab’s latest YA fantasy follows Olivia Prior, who receives a letter from a mysterious uncle inviting her to leave the boarding school she hates and join him at Gallant, the family estate. It’s only once she arrives that she learns her uncle is dead. Despite warnings of spirits and danger, Olivia decides to stay at Gallant to uncover the generations of family secrets hidden within its walls.
An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
Emily X.R. Pan blends the Chinese legend of Houyi and Chang’e with Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet in this YA novel. The earth seems to shift when Luna Chang and Hunter Yee meet, but maybe that’s the giant crack suddenly running through the town. Surely there’s also an explanation for the fireflies that appear anytime they’re together. As Luna and Hunter grow closer, they discover their families’ long-held feud, they learn secrets about themselves that they never could have imagined.
Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore, narrated by Vico Ortiz, and Avi Roque
Anna-Marie McLemore’s newest novel follows two non-binary teens who discover a magical world. Bastián Silvano and Lore Garcia are the only two in their town who have journeyed to the world within the town’s lake. When the underground world begins to rise to the surface, it threatens to bring with it secrets that Bastián and Lore would rather keep hidden. The narrator lineup of this book is particularly exciting with dual narration from Avi Roque, known for excellent work in queer YA audiobooks, and Vico Ortiz, of the much-loved HBO series Our Flag Means Death.
The Red Palace by June Hur
Fans of historical fiction and mysteries won’t want to miss this book set in Korea in 1758. Eighteen-year-old Hyeon is working as a nurse in the palace when four women are murdered and her mentor is labeled the prime suspect. Determined to clear her teacher’s name, Hyeon secretly teams up with Eojin, a young inspector, to find the real killer.
Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher, narrated by Cody Roberts, and Tina Wolstencroft
This contemporary novel explores the discovery and tragic loss of first love through the lens of two teens living in a small Texas town. Anna James and Weston Ryan are paired for a marching band duet. As they begin to spend more time together, shy Anna learns to open up about the pressure she feels from her strict parents, while outcast Weston begins to feel at home again for the first time since his parent’s divorce.
What’s the best YA book or audiobook you’ve read this year?
