My Mother, The Mermaid Chaser by Jamie Jo Hoang (Crown) - not yet added to Goodreads.
May 1st
Sound Check by Jennifer Fenn (Roaring Brook Press) - moved from April 2022, then from July 2023, then from July 2024.
Win is a remarkably
gifted percussionist. He's also profoundly deaf and plays the drums with
his shoes off so he can feel the music through the soles of his feet.
He has it all: he's in a band on the verge of breaking out, and he's
madly in love with Tristen, their lead singer. The only thing he could
ever want: to hear Tristen sing.
Sound Check is told in
alternating narratives. The A side - Win decides to get a cochlear
implant that will allow him to hear. The B side - Win and Tristen's love
story from the day they first met to the day Win heard Tristen for the
first time. And in the silence between the tracks? Heartbreak.
May 6th
If I Could Go Back by Briana Johnson (Peachtree Teen)
For Aaliyah Campbell, family is everything. Her cousin Ivy is her best friend and track co-star, and Grandpa Joe is her rock. He may be crotchety and dramatic, but he’s raised Aaliyah since she was a toddler. Still, Aaliyah can’t stop thinking about what’s missing—her parents.
When Aaliyah secretly contacts her mom, she risks upsetting the family who’s always been there. But Grandpa Joe refuses to explain why her parents gave her up, and without answers, Aaliyah cannot silence the anxious voice telling her she’s never been good enough.
Surprisingly, it isn’t Aaliyah’s mom, but her dad, Quincy, who steps up. Quincy turns out to be immature but surprisingly fun to hang out with. And when the rest of the family finds out they’re in contact, old secrets will finally be forced into the light.
Aaliyah Campbell is a champion for young Black girls coping with anxiety and depression, and a voice for all teens navigating the messy process of learning how to advocate for ones’ self. Through honest storytelling and a voice that oozes humor and heart, Briana Johnson’s memorable debut explores sensitive topics with authenticity and compassion.
All We Lost Was Everything by Sloan Harlow (G.P. Putnam and Sons)
River Santos is stuck—in her job at the diner, in her dead-end town, in her grief. Her father died in a house fire just a few months ago, her mother has been MIA for nearly a year, and the only people she can count on are the aunt she lives with and her best friend Tawny.
Things feel like they’re turning around when Logan—the hot guy at the diner who’s always ignored her—seems interested. It’s complicated by her ex-boyfriend Noah, who she really needs closure with, and the fact that Tawny doesn’t think either of them is good enough for River… but the tension between River and Logan can’t be denied.
But love takes a backseat when new information surfaces about the fire. After all these months trying to move forward, River is forced to rethink everything… including the idea that maybe it wasn’t an accident after all. But who would commit this deadly act? And why?
River isn’t sure who to trust or who to turn to, but she needs to figure it out, fast. Because someone has more than love on their mind. They want revenge.
It's You Every Time by Charlene Thomas (Scholastic) - previously titled Should Tomorrow Come, moved from June 2025.
In a twist of fate, Sydney Michaels bumps into cute boy stranger Marcus Burke in the heart of midtown NYC during an impromptu trip to Dunkin’. But what had initially been an effort to soften the blow of failing her impending pre-calc exam, turns into a day-long, unforgettable adventure—when Marcus asks her to have breakfast with him instead. In just a few hours, Sydney's already starting to fall, and there's just something about Marcus that makes it feel like she's known him forever.
As the night comes to an end, Sydney can’t believe that after all the loss she’s faced in the past two years, "the good part" is finally here and this perfect day gets to be hers—until an accident at the end of the night, quite literally, leaves her stuck in it.
You and Me on Repeat by Mary Shyne (Henry Holt) - YA graphic novel, previously titled Graduation Day, description not yet updated on Goodreads.
In
this swoony and hilarious debut rom-com graphic novel, two former
friends are trapped in a time loop together, repeating their high school
graduation day over and over and over—for fans of Laura Dean Keeps
Breaking Up With Me, Pumpkinheads, and Groundhog Day.
Chris
O’Brien has a genius plan: If he can share the perfect first kiss with
his crush, Andy, then of course he’ll break free from the time loop that
has him repeating graduation day over and over…and over.
Alicia
Ochoa thinks Chris’s plan is doomed. Valedictorian and a total nerd, she
knows it’ll take more than a kiss to escape the loop they’re trapped in
together. Besides, Chris may be a hopeless romantic, but Alicia doesn’t
think he has a real shot with Andy.
Once close friends, Alicia
and Chris have history—lots of it. As they got older, the pair fell out
after Chris ditched her for the “cool kids” and left her in the dust.
But when you’re looping side by side, you never know if friendship might
rekindle or what new feelings could spark along the way.
Shampoo Unicorn by Sawyer Lovett (Disney Hyperion) - description not yet updated on Goodreads.
2. A podcast by two mysterious hosts exploring rural queer life—the isolation, the microaggressions, the boredom, and occasionally, the sky-shattering joy.
In the small town of Canon, West Virginia, most people care about three things: God, country, and football.
Brian is more into Drag Race, Dolly Parton, and his gig as one of the mystery hosts of his podcast, Shampoo Unicorn.
Greg’s life should be perfect as the town’s super-masc football star, but his secret is he’s just as gay as Brian.
Leslie is a trans girl living in nearby Pennsylvania, searching for reasons to get out of bed every day. Her solace is listening to her favorite podcast...
When a terrible accident occurs, it’s Shampoo Unicorn that brings the three teens’ lives together. And what begins as a search for answers becomes a story of finding connection.
Sawyer Lovett’s powerful and ultimately joyful debut novel is about three teens, one podcast, and carving out a rainbow pocket in an otherwise red state.
The Thrashers by Julie Soto (Wednesday Books) - release date and description not yet updated on Goodreads.
Welcome to The Thrashers, the exclusive friend group of New Helvetia High. They are everything you want to be and everyone wants to be them.
Then there’s Jodi Dillion, the odd one out. The others—Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher—are rich, sophisticated, and love being the center of attention; Jodi usually feels out of place. But Zack’s been her best friend since elementary school, so he says she’s in—and no one turns down the chance to be part of their group. Like Emily Mills. She wanted to be a Thrasher. More than anything.
But then Emily dies, and with her death, the whispers begin to circulate about The Thrashers—and what they do to people when they don’t want them around anymore. As a newfound journal of Emily’s comes to light, detectives begin to circle, and the media spirals out of control, putting Jodi in the impossible decision of turning on her friends, or protecting her own future.
Then a series of increasingly disturbing situations mount into a string of accidents that threaten the very lives of The Thrashers, and one thing becomes clear—Emily is not done with them yet.
A twisty thrill-ride of unforgettable drama and suspense that "encapsulates the vulnerability of adolescents playing adult games" (Ali Hazelwood) from USA Today bestselling author Julie Soto, The Thrashers will keep you up at night desperate to read just one more page.
The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire (Little, Brown)
Rumors are the lifeblood of Idlewood, Indiana. The locals whisper that the De Lucas are witches, and that decades prior they cursed the wealthy Barrion family as revenge for a love gone tragically wrong: now, if a Barrion falls in love with you, you’ll die. If this isn’t reason enough for wallflower Penny Emberly to stay away from both families, she doesn’t know what is. But when Penny’s mom is in an accident that leaves her on the brink of death, Penny can’t ignore the rumors anymore—because the Barrion curse is real. And her mom is its latest victim.
In order to save her mom’s life, Penny must bring together two bitter enemies on either side of the feud and work with them to break the curse. For star quarterback Corey Barrion, doing so would mean finally saving his family from the magic that killed his mom. And for misfit witch Alonso De Luca, it would mean convincing everyone in Idlewood—especially Penny—that he isn’t the villain they believe him to be.
But as the trio navigates Alonso’s unpredictable magic, the tangled web of Barrion-De Luca history, and an increasingly chaotic group chat, it soon becomes clear that the curse is not what they expected. Did a De Luca really curse the Barrions in a fit of jealousy, or is something even more sinister afoot? Penny will have to conquer her anxiety, wrestle with her budding feelings for Alonso, and delve into dangerous, forbidden magic to find the truth and save her mom — even if it means putting her own life at risk.
The Lost Queen by Aimee Phan (G.P. Putnam and Sons)
Jolie Lam, a high school sophomore in San Jose, is known for two her bizarre freakout at last year’s swim meet and her fortuneteller grandfather with visions of dragons and earthquakes. Friendless and ostracized, Jolie's life takes a dramatic turn for the better when she saves the school's it-girl, Huong Pham, during a haunting vision of her own. Taken under Huong's wing, Jolie's world transforms, in more ways than one.
As Jolie and Huong's bond deepens, they unlock long lost telepathic abilities, fluency in Vietnamese, and eerie premonitions. This leads them to a shocking they are the reincarnates of legendary queens and goddesses, the Trung Sisters. While a thrilling discovery, it also sets them on a perilous journey.
The girls must navigate dreams and portals to piece together their past lives and reclaim their immortal elements before their ancient enemies strike again. But all is not what it seems, and Jolie must determine friend from foe, truth from lie, and ultimately right from wrong in this battle for all she loves and the fate of the world.
All's Fair in Love and Field Hockey by Kit Rosewater (Delacorte)
Evelyn was raised to see field hockey as war.
Before she could write her own name, her family’s legacy on the field was already spelled out. Every step Evelyn takes toward glory is within a footprint her mother left behind. And no step matters more than this next one, with Evelyn about to lead her varsity team into their final battle season. Evelyn is beyond ready to score the Nationals title and win the critical scholarship to her mom’s alma mater that comes with it.
This year, she’s out for blood, and nothing can stand in her way...
...except for Rosa Alvarez, the highly talented new recruit on her biggest rival’s team.
After a humiliating homecoming game and follow-up prank leave the two enemies in a stalemate, they grudgingly strike a deal to help each other overcome their weaknesses on the field. But the more time Evelyn spends with Rosa, the more she finds herself casting her hardened armor aside, until she begins to wonder what life might be like if she left the battlefield behind and fought for love instead.
The Rebel's Guide to Pride by Matthew Hubbard (Delacorte)
There’s nothing Zeke Chapman wants more than to tarnish the perfect reputation his father is so obsessed with. He quit the baseball team, started fighting at school, and nearly flunked junior year. Newly out as gay, Zeke isn’t sure where his queer identity fits in with his bad-boy persona. His father has always told him to stay quiet and not attract attention, but his friends are pushing him to be just as out and proud as they are. Most days, Zeke isn’t sure how to be a “good gay” or what that even means.
When his best friend, Sawyer, begs him to help the QSA plan Pride Day, he obliges—mostly to piss his dad off. But then the mayor announces an ordinance that cancels all LGBTQ+ celebrations. Angered by the injustice—and his father’s support of it—Zeke decides to put his rebellious ways to good use and plans a series of underground “Pride Speakeasies”.
As the speakeasies grow, and the community comes together to declare him “King of Pride”, Zeke finally feels like he’s doing something that matters. But friendship drama, a mysterious cyber-crush, and rising tension with his rival and ex Cohen “Coco” Fisher threaten to undermine his newfound pride. When his final party ends in near-disaster, Zeke must ask himself what he’s really trying to do. After all, there’s a reason that the first pride was a riot.
Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis (Page Street) - moved from March 2025, then from April 2025, cover not yet updated on Goodreads.
When Mira receives an unaddressed letter from her mother, she’s told the world isn’t as it seems. She suspects her mom might be telling the truth when she stumbles across strange animal tracks on a hiking trail, and when she’s miraculously saved from a twenty foot drop by the one and only, Julian Santos.
The problem? Julian would have had to jump the length of the cliff to catch her, making him incredibly fast and strong beyond belief. When she confronts him about this, he denies everything.
But when a Blood Moon rises, Mira soon finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient, magical war, with Julian on the other side of the line. She discovers there’s much more truth to the old town legends than she could ever have anticipated—and her family’s historic role in it will change her world forever.
BLOOD MOON is a dark and thrilling, intensely romantic ride, a fresh take on a werewolf love story for a new generation of paranormal romance readers, and is the first book in a series. It is set against a high-stakes paranormal backdrop—a world ripe with secret identities, rich supernatural lore, and a forbidden romance... that comes with a deadly bite.
Stuck Up and Stupid by Kate Rice and Angourie Rice (Candlewick Press) - cover and description not yet updated on Goodreads.
Lily has the whole summer stretched out before her—endless days of sunshine and friends at beautiful Pippi Beach. Then superstar Dorian Khan arrives, with his party of Hollywood types. While most of the locals, including Lily’s glamor-obsessed mum, are thrilled to be so close to the A-listers, Lily can’t help but see them as superficial and arrogant, especially Dorian, the most famous of them all. But as Lily’s and Dorian’s paths continue to cross, she begins to wonder if she’s got him all wrong. Has she been what she hopes never to be—stupid? Playwright Kate Rice and her daughter, Hollywood actor Angourie Rice, team up to write a teen romance novel from those who know firsthand what the international film industry is really like. Inspired by the ever-popular Austen fandom, Stuck Up and Stupid is for a generation of teens who are definitely NOT looking for love.
Come Home to My Heart by Riley Redgate (Union Square & Co.)
Gloria Forman and Xia Harper go to the same high school in a small South Carolina town, but they couldn’t be more different. While Gloria is part of the popular, Christian crowd, Xia sleeps through class, antagonizes anyone who dares talk to her, and buries herself in books that help her pretend she’s somewhere else—anywhere that being lesbian wouldn’t be a waking nightmare.
When the two form an accidental friendship, they begin noticing each other in ways they promised themselves they'd avoid. After all, Xia’s isolation is self-imposed for a reason, and the last thing Gloria needs is more upheaval, especially after her parents kicked her out of the house for being gay. Ever since, she has spent her nights under the stage in the school auditorium and her days terrified of being discovered.
Xia just wants to keep her head down until the end of senior year. Gloria just wants to keep her living situation quiet until her parents come around. But as their feelings for each other intensify and the truths they've hidden work their way to the surface, what they truly want will change forever.
I Can't Even Think Straight by Dean Atta (Quill Tree) - YA novel-in-verse.
Kai knows who he is to others: the reliable grandson, the best friend, the romantic backup. But he doesn’t quite know who he is to himself.
Though Kai desperately wants to come out at school, he keeps himself closeted. His best school friend, Matt, who is also queer, is afraid of getting kicked out by his religious parents if they knew—so he stays closeted and asks Kai to do the same. Kai unhappily goes along with it, but when a rumor goes around that Kai and Matt are together, Matt starts acting differently toward Kai anyway.
Kai’s other best friend, Vass, is nonbinary and doesn’t care who knows it. Vass feels that Matt is a negative influence, putting a damper on Kai’s identity—but maybe that’s just Vass’s crush on Kai talking. Caught between his best friends, Kai turns to writing to express his emotions. But when he explodes, he puts everything at risk.
Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks (Henry Holt)
After an officer-involved shooting claims the life of a Black kid, Cooper King is convinced to attend a local march by Jason, the closest thing he has to a big brother. But against Cooper's better judgment, they don’t protest—they loot. Then, the unthinkable happens: gunshots ring in the air and someone ends up dead. After Cooper flees the scene, footage shows up on the news of four teens in ski masks near the scene of the murder—Cooper and his friends. Just as Cooper fears he might get wrongfully charged, a suspect is taken into custody: Jason.
Hiding the truth from Monique, Jason's sister and Cooper's longtime crush, that he was among the looters, Cooper and Monique set out to investigate what really happened to clear Jason's name and find the true killer. If they fail, Jason will get locked up for a crime he didn't commit—and possibly drag Cooper along with him.
Murder Land by Carlyn Greenwald (Sourcebooks Fire)
At first, it seems like he died by heart attack, but by the time she returns to the body with help, it looks like a broken neck. Had she just imagined him sitting upright a few minutes ago? It's as if someone is trying to pin his death on her, and she has one night to figure out who is really responsible before she is blamed.
Billie recruits the help of her friends to sneak around the park after-hours and search for the truth. But as the night stretches on and more people wind up dead, Billie realizes she may not make it out of Murder Land alive. And her friends may know more than they're letting on.
Sometimes the Girl by Jennifer Mason-Black (Lerner/Carolrhoda)
She's still shaken from her brother's recent suicide attempt; still pining over her ex, Maya; and still struggling to write again after a long dry spell. To earn enough money for a rebalancing trip with Maya, Holi gets a short-term job: organizing the attic of acclaimed author Elsie McAllister. It's an unglamorous gig with a difficult boss. Elsie―whose fame rests on a single novel published decades ago―is in her nineties, in failing health, and fiercely protective of her privacy. But as Holi sorts through the attic's surprising contents, she realizes there's much more to Elsie than the novel that made her a legend.
Unearthing Elsie's secrets will change how Holi sees art, life, and the way they intertwine, as she grapples with choices that will redefine her own path.
Unordinary: Volume Three by Uru-Chan (Harper Alley) - YA graphic novel.
When Seraphina finds herself powerless in a world that prizes powers, she becomes an unexpected target. As Arlo grapples with the task of keeping Seraphina's predicament a secret, a rogue group called Ember begins attacking students without remorse.
Tensions come to a head in this struggle of power dynamics, loss, and the weight of secrets in a world where abilities reign supreme.
Snowglobe 2 by Soyoung Park (Delacorte) - moved from February 2025.
Chobahm’s perfect life in Snowglobe came crashing down when she discovered the truth about Haeri; the girl she watched faithfully on television was far from perfect. And the TV family, revered by millions, was nothing more than an illusion created by the Yibonn Media corporation. Nothing is as it seems in the carefully curated programs released from Snowglobe.
But revealing the lies behind the Yibonn Media group was only the first crack in Snowglobe. Suddenly, the heat is rising inside the domed utopia—and with the soaring temperatures, come new secrets.
Chobahm learned that you can’t believe what you see in Snowlglobe, but the millions of viewers watching have no idea what the truth is, so when footage emerges of Chobahm committing a murder, she knows someone’s out to get her. The only person who can help to clear her name is no other than the disgraced Yibonn heir, Bonwhe. And Bonwhe knows better than anyone that enemies exist everywhere in Snowglobe. Sometimes you can’t even trust yourself.
The Enemy's Daughter by Melissa Poett (Quill Tree)
A stunning reimagining of Tristan and Isolde set in a dystopian world woven with magic. An incredibly addictive debut YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy.
After civilsation crumbles, all that’s left of the Republic is the five clans and their enemy, Kingsland. Isadora, daughter of a clan leader, is a healer, desperate to bring back the medicine of the old world to help her people. Tristan is the young assassin-prince of Kingsland, determined to get revenge on the clans.
When Isadora is shot with a poisoned arrow, only Tristan can save her, in a magical ceremony that will bind them together for ever. As she recovers in enemy territory, she begins to question the truth of their violent history. Kingsland is everything she's ever wanted – including Tristan – but as the clans bay for blood, one side is setting a trap, and Isadora must decide which truth to believe.
Wake the Wild Creatures by Nova Ren Suma (Agonquin)
Already one of the most acclaimed novels of 2025, this extraordinary, timely, and must-read novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nova Ren Suma explores young women's freedom and rage as Talia plots her way back to her hidden mountaintop home after her mother's arrest for murder.
I reached the clearing with the seven white pines and stopped to get my breath back. The mist filled my lungs, peppery and also sweet, and momentum pushed me forward. Giddy, I dropped into a bed of moss, soft and slick in spots, and rolled in it, howled for no reason, felt close to an understanding of some kind, as if an eye inside me was peeling open. It was the first full moon after I turned thirteen, and I knew that whatever happened in this next stretch of hours would change me forever after.
I wasn’t wrong.
Three years ago, Talia lived happily in the ruins of the Neves, a once-grand hotel in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains, with her mother Pola and their community of like-minded women. Some came to the Neves to escape cruel men, others to hide from the law, but all found safety and connection in their haven high above civilization, cloaked by a mysterious mist that kept intruders away. But as their numbers grew, complications followed, and everything came crashing down the night electric lights pierced the forest. Uniformed men arrested Pola, calling her a murderer and a fugitive, and Talia was taken away.
Now sixteen, Talia has been forced to live with family she barely knows and fit into a world scarred by misogyny, capitalism, disconnection from nature . . . everything the women of the Neves stood against. She has one to return to the Neves. But as Talia awaits a signal from her mother, questions arise. Who betrayed her community, and what is she avoiding about her own role in its collapse? Is it truly magic that keeps the hotel so hidden? And what does it mean to embrace being her mother’s daughter? With the help of an unexpected ally, Talia must find her way to answers, face a mother who’s often kept her at arm’s length, and try to reach the refuge she lost—if the mist hasn’t swallowed her path home.
Fierce and lyrical, unsettling and tender, Wake the Wild Creatures marks the long-awaited return of one of the most distinctive voices in young adult literature.
This Thing of Ours by Fredrick Joseph (Candlewick) - description not yet updated on Goodreads.
The powerful and timely YA novel debut from two-time New York Times best-selling author Frederick Joseph is a deeply heartfelt story—and a rallying cry against book banning.
In an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.
May 13th
The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee (HarperCollins)
Irene Park loves romance novels—so much so she’s made a career of them as an online book reviewer with a massive following. But Irene’s real life dating story? Non-existent. So when she starts her freshman year of college, she sets her sights on finding true love using the one thing she really understands…romance book tropes.
If only it were that easy.
Enter Aiden Jeon, Irene’s online book review rival and biggest nemesis. When Aiden challenges her to see who can find love-by-trope first, he becomes the one person standing in her way to getting everything she wants both professionally and personally, too. So when the competition takes an unexpected turn, forcing the two of them to have to partner in the ultimate trope, fake dating, Irene is not prepared for everything she believed about romance, and Aiden, to flip on its head.
As Irene tackles the challenges of college life, struggles to figure out what she really wants for herself, all while trying to win the race for love, Irene realizes the answers may not be found in a romance novel. Happily Ever Afters seem so easy on page. But for Irene to find her ultimate HEA, she’ll have to get her nose out of the book and become the main character of her own story.
The Floating World by Axie Oh (Feiwel and Friends) - moved from 2024.
From
Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell
Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic
fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.
Sunho
lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier,
he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he
woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to
scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of gold
for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.
Meanwhile,
far to the west, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat living in an
idyllic mountain village with her adoptive family. But everything
changes during one of their festival performances when the village is
attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage,
Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since
childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to save
her foster father's life, or to save her adoptive uncle from being
grievously wounded.
Determined to save her uncle from succumbing
to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the
creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her
path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn't realize
she's the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking
for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize
that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them
could have imagined...
Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee (Quill Tree Books) - description not yet updated on Goodreads.
Ingredients:
· 1 try-hard salutatorian
· 1 annoying and (annoyingly) cute boy
· A handful of Korean recipes (measure with your heart)
· The spice of competition, to taste
Eliza Park’s senior year will be perfect: She’s going to be salutatorian, give a tear-jerking graduation speech in front of her parents, and enjoy her last year with her equally ambitious best friends. But when a scheduling mishap enrolls her in Culinary Arts, Eliza is suddenly the most clueless person in the class. Her typical title of star student belongs to the aggravatingly arrogant Wesley Ruengsomboon, a charming Thai American boy whose talent in the kitchen leaves Eliza both awed and annoyed.
With her rank on the line, Eliza’s only hope is to snatch the midterm cooking contest win from Wesley, however improbable that may be. Add in the flavor of her grandmother’s Korean recipes, the heat of being class partners with Wesley, and the sweetness of unexpected feelings—and Eliza must now rebuild everything she knew about success, love, and what it means to be herself, from scratch.
Out of Air by Rachel Reiss (Wednesday Books)
While diving a local reef, Phibs discovers a spectacular underwater sea cave, rumored to be a lost cave with a buried treasure. But when Phibs and her best friend Gabe surface from the cave, they notice that they're undergoing strange changes. Oozing gashes that don’t heal. Haunting whispers in their heads... Something has latched onto them, lurking beneath their skin, transforming them from the inside out.
When treasure hunters arrive, desperate to find the location of the cave and hold Phibs’ group for ransom, she’ll do anything to keep her friends safe. In the process she learns that, of all the dreadful creatures of the sea, she might be the most terrifying of them all.
The Art of Exile by Andrea Max (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Unlike the high-achieving members of her family’s secret society, Ada Castle has mastered nothing but the art of falling for the wrong guys. But now she finally has the chance to prove her she just needs to gain access to a hidden school that her family has been trying to locate for generations. Granted, she accidentally goes on a date with the recruiter first, then is temporarily abducted, but Ada manages to secure herself an invitation to the Genesis Institute, where descendants of exiled Renaissance masters practice long-lost arts and sciences.
The school is a utopia of sustainable technology, medical advancements, and myths come to life, yet they are unjustly hoarding their resources. Ada goes undercover to steal their innovations for the rest of the world, but Genesis nurtures her creativity and challenges her views, and she can’t help but fall for the school…and maybe also for her frustratingly off-limits recruiter-turned-mentor.
Ada’s tangle of lies start to unravel when one of her new friends goes missing. To rescue her, Ada is forced to work with a dangerous (and dangerously hot) classmate whose suspicions threaten her cover. And when the information she’s shared with her family puts her missing friend and all of Genesis in peril, she’ll have to choose whom to the family she loves or the school that has helped her find herself.
The Singular Life by Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed (Little, Brown)
Aria Patel likes stability, certainty, predictability. It’s why she’s so into science. It's why she dumped her boyfriend before they went to different colleges because the odds were that something would go wrong, eventually. In a life that’s already so chaotic, why obsess over complicated relationships and shadowy unknowns when the scientific method gives you direction and a straight path to avoid all the drama.
But there’s no avoiding anything when Aria finds herself suddenly falling through parallel universes and there’s no formula that can save her. She can’t explain why she’s been waking up in a new reality almost every day, or why Rohan, and a poem from her English class, seem to be following her through every new life.
As Aria desperately attempts to find a way home, she eventually ends up stuck in a parallel world very similar to her own. She cherishes this new version of her family, and she finds herself unable to deny the yearning she has for Rohan…but it’s not her life or her Rohan. It belongs to another Aria, another girl, and unless Aria can get back home, she’ll have taken this happiness away from someone else forever. And she may never find her own.
Death in the Cards by Mia Manansala (Delacorte)
Danika Dizon is a natural problem-solver. Thanks to her private investigator mom and mystery author dad, she's equipped with the skills to offer guidance to anxious classmates who come to her for a tarot reading between classes. For a price, of course.
But when one of her clients vanishes shortly after they're dealt a death card, the girl’s younger sister Gaby begs Danika to figure out what went wrong. Danika takes on the case, thinking it's the perfect way to prove to her parents that she should be an official investigator in the family’s detective agency.
What starts off as a compelling challenge quickly devolves into something darker as Danika and Gaby peel back layer after layer of the secret life the missing girl has been living. A life that those involved would do anything to keep from being revealed…
When We Were Missing by April Henry (Ottaviano) - release month announced on author website but not yet updated on Gooreads.
What if you found evidence of a crime, but no one believed you?
Seventeen-year-old Willow always has a camera around her neck. She volunteers as a photographer at Finding Home animal shelter. When Willow stumbles upon a lost camera memory card, it’s filled with hundreds of photos of teenage girls. Some are smiling, others unaware, and a few seem terrified.
The police tell her taking photos in public isn’t a crime. But Willow can’t seem to let it go, especially after she finds her own photo on the card. Willow teams up with new volunteer Dare to figure out what happened to the girls. As their investigation heats up, so does the chemistry between them. But everyone around Willow has a secret: Finding Home’s owner, her own mom, and even Dare. When Willow learns that some of the girls on the camera card have gone missing, she realizes the unknown photographer might be a serial killer. Can Willow find him before he finds her?
The Duke Steals Hearts and Other Body Parts by Elias Cold (Page Street) - cover not yet updated on Goodreads.
Adeline is not the only missing girl in their seedy city, and
Phyllis’ best chance to unravel the mystery is to become Lord Phillip of Rabbiton and strike a deal with the ambitious madame, Adeline’s former employer, for info on his leads. As a duke, Phillip finds the girls who are not dead—but undead. And when the madame finds out, she twists Phillip into helping her with her plans to rule the city.
To cement his future as a duke, save his new family of mostly-dead girls, and earn Adeline’s affection, Phillip will have to stop the madame and discover the depths of his magic—before his own lies destroy him.
When Love Gives You Lemons by Steven Salvatore (Bloomsbury) - previously titled Lemon at First Sight.
Ever since he was a kid, Fielder Lemon’s large, opinionated Italian-American family has lived next to Ricky DeLuca and his large, opinionated Italian-American family. For almost as long, Fielder has known that he wants to marry Ricky one day. And he thought Ricky felt the same way—until Ricky breaks up with Fielder the day after his high school graduation, saying he needs to figure out who he is on his own.
One year later, Fielder is asked to be one of the best men in his cousin's destination wedding on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, but there's a twist: his cousin is marrying Ricky’s sister. Fielder hasn’t talked to or seen Ricky once during the last entire, terrible year, but he hasn’t given up on his first love quite yet—and isn't a wedding in an Italian lemon grove the perfect setting to rekindle their relationship? Except Ricky might have already moved on.
Now, Fielder has less than a week to do the impossible and win back Ricky’s heart while also trying not to ruin his cousin’s wedding. But if there's one thing Fielder knows, it's that when life gives you lemons, take a bite!
One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller (Levine Querido) - some editions dated March 2025, release date not clear.
She used to have a great friend group, an amazing girlfriend, and a right foot set to earn her a Division I football scholarship—before she came out as trans. As senior year begins, Grace is struggling to find her place in early transition, new social circles, and a life without football. But when her skills as the best kicker in the state prove to be vital, her old teammates beg her to come out of retirement, dragging her back into a sport—into a way of life—she thought had turned its back on her forever.
When a chance meeting cracks the door to college football back open, she has to decide how much of herself she's willing to give up for the game she loves.
Home Has No Borders by Various YA Authors (HarperTeen)
From first crushes to first heartbreaks, complicated family dynamics to community relationships, this powerful collection of stories explores race, class, culture, language, and the very idea of home as both a place and a feeling.
Edited by Samira Ahmed and Sona Charaipotra and featuring some of the most acclaimed, bestselling South Asian authors writing for teens today—this is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it means to be South Asian.
Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand (HarperCollins) - YA graphic novel, moved from June 2024, then from October 2024 and from May 6th, details not yet updated on Goodreads.
All Nitasha’s parents want is for her to be the perfect Indian daughter—something she is decidedly not. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mom. They just don’t get that she’ll never be like her doctor older brother. To make matters worse, she’s never quite felt like she belongs at school either, and lately, her best friend, Ava, and her crush, Henry, seem to be more interested in the rich new girl than in her.
Alcohol takes the edge off, but when that doesn’t work, Nitasha turns to cutting. She can’t stop asking herself: Will she ever be enough for her friends or her family? Or even for herself?
This authentic and powerful teen graphic novel debut from Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand shines a light on how harmful the stigma of mental illness is and how lifesaving a community that is honest about mental health can be.
Love, Canter, Action by Katie Gilbert (Union Square Co.)
Nora Green wants out. Out of rural Georgia—and, more importantly, out of the house she’s been resentfully occupying with her father and his wife. It’s been five months since her mama died and the state dumped her on her father’s doorstep, and Nora’s been counting every second.
With the sudden closure of the Shep horse ranch, Nora’s last home-away-from-home, comes two surprises: news of her admission to a prestigious equine training program in Montana, and a job wrangling horses on a movie set to cover the costs.
To her eternal nightmare, she discovers that the movie stars teen heartthrob Alexander Mathis, hot off the heels of a very public scandal. Not that Nora cares who he is—to her, he’s just the obnoxious stranger who interrupted her dinner the night before.
When photos of their argument are misread as a passionate affair, the Internet falls head-over-hooves for Hollywood’s newest couple. Eager to capitalize on the press, Alec offers Nora a deal: go on three fake dates with him, and he’ll cover her ticket to Montana.
But the lines between script and reality have a way of blurring, and when the truth about Alec’s scandal catches up to him, Nora has a choice: continue shutting everyone out, or open her heart to the love that’s always been around her.
Get Real, Chloe Torres by Crystal Maldonado (Holiday House) - description and cover not yet updated on Goodreads.
Chloe Torres’ birthday has always marked the end of summer—but as she turns eighteen and prepares to leave for her freshman year of art school, it feels like the end of more than that. It’s the end of her adolescence, which means it’s time to leave the past behind… but can she really let go of the two estranged best friends she left there?
NOPE. Chloe decides to take one more shot at healing the friend breakup she’s always regretted: planning the bucket-list trip neither girl can say no to. She’s taken care of everything: the car, the hotels, and concert tickets to see their favorite boy band’s reunion show in Las Vegas—stage seats, so close they can fangirl right in front of the boys’ faces. But first, her ex-BFFs have to say yes.
And to say yes, they’d all have to be talking… which they haven’t done since Ramona kissed Chloe, and everything imploded.
But with some clever finagling (and some undignified begging) Chloe gets them all on board. Of course, being in a car together for two weeks brings back old feelings… a lot of old feelings… and soon enough, Chloe wants Sienna, Ramona wants Chloe, and everything is on fireeeee.
This sizzling summer adventure from YA star Crystal Maldonado is a hilarious and heartfelt romcom with a little something for everyone: fat positivity, sapphic romance, a blazing love triangle, ADHD representation, a diversity of Latine identities, a once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip—and the perfect it’s-finally-happening kiss.
Ruthless by Carolyn Lee Adams (Simon and Schuster) - re-packaging of a 2015 release.
When she wakes up with a concussion in the bed of a moving pickup truck, she realizes she has been entered into a contest she can’t afford to lose.
At a remote, rotting cabin deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ruth’s blindfold comes off and she comes face-to-face with her captor. A man who believes his mission is to punish bad girls like Ruth. A man who has done this six times before.
The other girls were never heard from again, but Ruth won’t go down easy. She escapes into the wilderness, but her hunter is close at her heels. That’s when the real battle begins. That’s when Ruth must decides just how far she’ll go in order to survive.
Back home, they called her Ruthless. They had no idea just how right they were.
Trans History: A Graphic Novel by Alex L. Combs (Candlewick) - YA non-fiction graphic novel, moved from 2023, description not yet updated on Goodreads.
What does "trans" mean, and what does it mean to be trans? Diversity in human sex and gender is not a modern phenomenon, as readers will discover through illustrated stories and records that introduce historical figures ranging from the controversial Roman emperor Elagabalus to the swashbuckling seventeenth-century conquistador Antonio de Erauso to veterans of the Stonewall uprising Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. In addition to these individual profiles, the book explores some of the societal roles played by trans people beginning in ancient times and shows how European ideas about gender were spread across the globe. It explains how the science of sexology and the growing acceptance of (and backlash to) gender nonconformity have helped to shape what it means to be trans today. Illustrated conversations with modern activists, scholars, and creatives highlight the breadth of current trans experiences and give readers a deeper sense of the diversity of trans people, a group numbering in the millions. Extensive source notes provide further resources.
Moving, funny, heartbreaking, and empowering, this remarkable compendium from trans creators Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett is packed with research on every dynamic page.
The Education of Kia Greer by Alanna Bennett (Knopf)
The unfiltered story of a teen girl trying to escape the spotlight and the PR relationship that helps her find real happiness. Kia’s story is messy and romantic and completely unforgettable, perfect for fans of Jenny Han, Casey McQuiston or Mary H.K. Choi.
Just a discombobulated nepo baby in an overwhelming world…
Growing up in the public eye, Kia would gladly give up her privileged life as the daughter of a reality star for the freedom to find her own way—go to parties, go to college, make mistakes and fall in love like any other teen.
Then she meets Cass, and he offers a glimpse at the ordinary life she craves. But Cass is a rising star in his own right, and what starts as something sweet and undefined soon becomes a magnet for gossip and speculation—as if first love wasn't messy enough on its own.
The pressure of the spotlight starts taking its toll, chipping away at Kia's sense of self, pushing and pulling and reshaping her—body and mind—to fit the expectations of everyone around her. But what does Kia want for herself? And can her fragile new relationship survive the fallout?
May 20th
Out of Step, Into You by Ciera Burch (FSG)
You can’t outrun love.
Taylor and Marianna were each other’s whole world – best friends, running partners, practically sisters – until Marianna moved away and Taylor promptly ghosted her. When the former best friends turned rivals end up on the same cross-country team three years later, everything is a competition… and a reminder of past feelings, as well as blossoming new ones.
Marianna runs because she’s angry.The oldest child of a single mother, she knows all about responsibility – for her siblings, at her part-time job. She just has to stay focused and be faster than the past nipping at her heels if she wants to secure a new, brighter future. With or without Taylor.
Taylor runs to prove herself. The only child of an almost-Olympian, she’s no stranger to high expectations. With enough effort, she knows she can immortalize herself with a state record and make her parents proud. Then, she can figure out her own passion. Shedefinitely doesn’t have time to untangle her feelings towards Mari.
Can this pair figure out a way to work together before their past catches up with them?
Sanskari Sweetheart by Ananya Devarajan (HarperCollins) - release date and description not yet updated on Goodreads.
Raina Iyer isn’t like the rest of her family. While her brain isn’t one for decimals or differentials, her quick-moving feet can memorize intense choreography without hesitation. Raina knows she’s the best when she’s on stage, and she’ll do anything to prove that she can turn her love for dance into a financially stable career.
All Raina needs to do is win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship, even if that means performing with Aditya Kumar, her co-captain turned ex-boyfriend, for the first time since their breakup. There’s only one problem—their Nationals choreography crumbles on stage and takes Raina, as well as her chance at winning the scholarship, down with it.
Burdened with an unexpected head injury and a serious case of déjà vu, Raina finds herself stuck in a time loop, cursed to repeat the night of her painful breakup from the year before. With no end in sight, Raina must discover a way back to the present without losing the scholarship and the man of her dreams all over again.
Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry (G.P. Putnam and Sons) - description not yet updated on Goodreads.
Nineteen-year-old Libby has always been inexplicably drawn to the old Victorian house on Mulberry Lane. So much so that when she sees a For Sale sign go up in the front yard, Libby uses all the money her grandmother left her to pay for college to buy the house instead, determined to fix it up herself—even though she knows her parents will be furious. Soon after moving in, she discovers a journal written by a young woman, Elizabeth Post, who lived in the house nearly a century earlier. It doesn’t take long for the journal to reveal that Elizabeth was madly in love with her personal maid, Patricia. A love that was forbidden and dangerous, especially at that time.
Enter Tish, a brash, broke fellow college student, who passes by the house one day and is mysteriously compelled to knock on the door. Soon Libby offers Tish a room in exchange for her help in fixing up the old house, and the two young women quickly find themselves falling for each other. But as Elizabeth’s journal entries delve deeper into her secret love affair with Patricia, uncanny similarities between that young couple and Libby and Tish are revealed, and it becomes clear that this may not be their first time in this house, or in this love. Is this their chance to get it right?
Love Craves Cardamon by Aashna Avachat (Joy Revolution)
Archana Dhawan’s fall semester of senior year is a boy-free zone. Hot off a break-up, she’s determined to find herself in her parents’ homeland of Rajasthan, India. More importantly, she must complete her capstone project by interning at one of the most prestigious art galleries in the country. There’s no room for distractions if she wants to make her mark on the art world as a museum curator.
Alas, the universe is clearly trying to tempt her. On day one, she meets the most attractive boy she’s seen ever on the train to her new school. Then she runs into him again at work. As it turns out, not only is the museum connected to a palace, but the cute boy, Shiv, is a royal gardener!
He offers to show her the real city of Jaipur, from fresh food that he cooks to local spots tourists never visit. Their chemistry is undeniable, and just as she begins to open up to the idea of romance, she gets shocking news: Shiv is actually a prince. Thrust into the spotlight, is Archi prepared to be the one on display?
This Could Be Forever by Ebony LaDelle (Simon and Schuster)
Deja’s got a plan. The first in her large family to go to college, she wants to study chemistry and sell natural skin care products, like the ones she already creates from plants grown on her family’s North Carolina farm. It all starts with the Onward Bound summer program at the University of Maryland, the summer before school officially starts.
Raja’s got a dream. His traditional Nepali parents want him to study engineering and settle down in an arranged marriage, but his passion is art, and he wants to open his own tattoo parlor one day. In the meantime, he’s apprenticing at a tattoo shop in College Park, Maryland.
When Deja walks into the shop where Raja’s working, they both start crushing hard—over the course of the summer, they fall more and more deeply for one another. But the closer they get and the more their lives entwine, the more they find that dating someone who doesn’t match your parents’ expectations is harder than they ever imagined.
Can they bridge the divide between the vision their families have for their futures and the lives—and love—that are starting to feel like destiny?
Your Final Moments by Jay Coles (Scholastic)
Hakeem goes to Narcotics Anonymous meetings to keep his addictions in check. But when his best friend Miles kills himself, Hakeem finds the days harder and harder to get through. He loved Miles -- maybe even loved loved him -- and he's haunted by the fact that there might have been something he could have done to ease his friend's pain. He meets a girl named Eliza in his NA meetings, and she is there for him when sometime truly out-there happens... Hakeem calls Miles's old phone number. And Miles not only calls back from beyond the grave, but has news to He didn’t kill himself. He was murdered.
Finding out the truth about Miles might end up helping Hakim find his way to his own truth... and further strength to stay alive himself. But as his relationship with Eliza grows, other cracks begin to show... and holding his world together may be even harder than he thought it would be.
Everyone Sux But You by Kelsey Wroten (Henry Holt) - YA graphic novel, description not yet updated on Goodreads.
To complicate matters, She has started to develop a crush on her best friend of almost a decade Ash Mars. The girls both suffered the trauma of Carson's mother's tragic death when they were young. Ash has developed a rebellious, self-centered and destructive personality, and Carson has been content as her sidekick until now. As their relationship begins to blossom, Ash seems determined to take Carson down the path of nihilism with her.
The story covers the whirlwind of learning what it means to fall in love when it's happening to you for the first time, the struggle of living with depression, learning to recognize and end toxic relationships, as well as finding the courage within yourself and your support network to recover when your heart is broken.
Just Another Meet Cute by Jenn P. Nguyen (Scholastic)
Boy saves girl stuck on a disastrous hike. What could go wrong? So. Much.
Just Another Meet Cute is the joyful and funny story about what happens when you realize you're dating the wrong twin.
When seventeen-year old Nina Riley gets saved by a super cute Knight-in-Faded-Khakis just as she lands in an embarrassingly 'ahem' sticky situation during the most disastrous hike known to man, she wasn't exactly looking for that meet cute. She really just needed some peace and quiet from her complicated family. Unfortunately, he disappears before she can properly thank him or get his number. All she has is his name (Ian Nguyen) and a navy jacket with a dog keychain, a gym card, and laundromat receipt. But a meet cute is a meet cute. And armed with years of watching Veronica Mars and a techy cousin, it should be simple enough for Nina to find the boy of her dreams, right? But when she finally tracks him down, he's different than she thought - right down to his name.
Ryan is just as cute as she remembers, but the chemistry isn't there like it was before. After a few dates, she meets Ryan's his sweet grandma, his enthusiastic sisters, and his twin brother-Ian.
You Started It by Jackie Khalileh (Tundra Books)
Seventeen-year-old Jamie Taher-Foster has big plans for Senior Year. She's made a list of things and places in Toronto she and her boyfriend of three years, Ben Cameron, need to check off before graduating. And the biggest plan of all: a very special night for the two of them at the upcoming Winter Formal. But then Ben arrives back home after a summer away with an unthinkable announcement: he wants to break up.
And when Jamie discovers him with Olivia Chen the next day, she is determined to get him back. Even if that means fake dating the younger, curly-haired, TikTok dancer, Axel Dahini, whose bicycle she accidentally ran over.
Though she and Axel have nothing in common aside from their shared Arab heritage—she’s a messy, type A with anxiety, he’s carefree but meticulous—their forced time together brings them to better understand one another. And for Jamie, it just might mean learning that not all experiences or people need to be crossed off a list.
Don't Let Me Go by Kevin Christopher Snipes (HarperCollins)
Out and proud, Riley Iverson knows there’s nothing more cringe than crushing on a straight boy. But from the moment that the handsome, sporty, and painfully heterosexual Jackson Haines walks into his life, Riley can’t help but feel an instant and undeniable connection. Mainly because, as impossible as it seems, Jackson is the spitting image of the boy who’s recently appeared in Riley’s dreams—dreams set in another time and another place where he and Jackson were desperately in love.
At first Riley tries to dismiss the coincidence as a product of his hormone-fueled, overactive imagination, but as his friendship with Jackson deepens into something more, the dreams prove harder to ignore. Especially when Jackson begins having them too. Plunged into increasingly vivid visions of the past, the boys find themselves in various eras scattered throughout history. No matter where or when their dreams take them, though, two things remain Riley and Jackson are always together, and they always die at the end.
As it becomes increasingly difficult to view their dreams as anything but warnings, the boys are forced to consider the possibility that their burgeoning relationship might be propelling them headfirst into their own tragic ending. But is it worth staying apart to save their lives if the price is forsaking a love that has defied not only time and space but even death itself?
Cruel Is the Light by Sophie Clark (Knopf) - moved from January 2025.
A bloody war between demons and the Vatican has waged for more than a century, with two elite soldiers now at its center: Selene Alleva, a high-ranking exorcist running from a dark family legacy, and orphan Jules Lacroix, recruited by the Vatican and unrivalled on the battlefield.
When their paths cross over a series of unprecedented demon attacks, the distrust–and unwelcome attraction–they have for each other is immediate. But to get to the bottom of the breaches they strike an uneasy alliance to avoid suspicion. With Jules posing as Selene’s estranged fiance, they head to the Vatican in search of answers. But even as Selene questions who her most dangerous enemy is, Jules has begun to suspect that it’s him.
Now Jules’ very existence challenges every truth Selene thought she knew, and suggests a terrible conspiracy at the heart of the Vatican. Unable to ignore their growing feelings, the two must make an impossible choice between love and duty.
They say love conquers all – but can it win in a war between demons and exorcists? Or will it tear them apart...
Salvación by Sandra Proudman (Wednesday Books) - moved from 2024.
Lola de La Peña yearns to be free from the societal expectations of a young Mexican lady of her station. She spends her days pretending to be delicate and proper while watching her mamá cure the sick and injured with sal negra (black salt), a recently discovered magic that heals even the most mortal of sicknesses and wounds. But by night, she is Salvación, the free-spirit lady vigilante protecting the town of Coloma from those who threaten its peace and safety among the rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
But one night, a woman races into Coloma, barely alive, to tell the horrifying tale of how her town was obliterated by sal roja, a potent, deadly magic capable of obliterating anything it comes into contact with and the man who wields it: Damien Hernández. And when Hernández arrives the next day with a party of fifty strong and promises of returning Alta California to México, Lola knows it’s only a matter of time before he brings the region under his rule—all Hernández needs is the next full moon and the stolen, ancient amulet he carries to mine enough sal roja to conquer the land.
Determined to protect everything she loves, Lola races against time as Salvación to stop his plans. What she didn’t count on was the distracting and infuriating Alejandro, who travels with Hernández but doesn't seem to share his ambitions. With the stakes higher than ever and Hernández getting closer to his goals, Lola will do anything to foil his plans, even teaming up with Alejandro—who she doesn’t fully trust, but can’t help but fall in love with.
Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams (Little, Brown)
MEET AUDRE. Junior class president. Debate team captain. Unofficial student therapist. Desperately in need of a good time.
MEET BASH. Mysterious new senior. Everybody’s crush. Tall, floppy, great taste in jewelry. King of having a good time.
It’s the last day of school at Cheshire Prep, Brooklyn’s elite academy—and Audre Mercy-Moore’s life is a mess. Her dad cancelled her annual summer visit to his Malibu beach house. Now? She’s stuck in a claustrophobic apartment with her mom, stepdad, and one-year-old sister (aka the Goblin Baby).
Under these conditions, she’ll never finish writing her self-help book—ie, the key to winning over Stanford’s admissions board.
Cut to Bash Henry! Audre hires him to be her “fun consultant.” His job? To help her complete the Experience Challenge—her list of five wild dares designed to give her juicy book material. She’ll get inspo; he’ll get paid. Everybody wins.
He isn’t boyfriend material. And she’s not looking for one. Can they stay professional despite their obvious connection?
SCORCHING-HOT SUMMER. SCORCHING-HOT CHEMISTRY. But Audre and Bash can’t forget—they’re just friends.
In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill (Quill Tree Books) - description not yet updated on Goodreads.
Arden isn’t excited about moving. Los Angeles was an easy place to fit in and find a supportive queer community. But Winifred, Michigan? That sounds like a much more difficult place to exist.
Pasadena, California, is the perfect city for Gabe’s reinvention. Everyone knew everything about him in small-town Shelby, Illinois. Gabe, who wants to be out and proud, can’t wait to relocate.
When Arden and Gabe randomly meet in the lobby of a motel in Nebraska, it feels like fate. Both are huge fans of the band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi, and both are trans. Clearly, the universe is trying to tell them something. Right?
But after an incredible evening of hanging out, the pair part ways only knowing the other’s first name. And as both boys struggle to adjust to their new homes, their thoughts keep being drawn back to their time together. Is one perfect night—just a few hours—enough to bring Arden and Gabe back to each other?
And the Trees Stare Back by Gigi Griffis (Holiday House)
1989, Soviet Estonia. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe—but in sixteen-year-old Vik’s isolated Estonian village, eyes are everywhere. Soldiers threaten those who so much as dream of dissent. The villagers’ words are sharp with accusations of witchcraft. And within the cursed forest lurks Soovana, the bog spirit with lantern eyes that lure villagers beyond where anyone can reach them. Five years ago, he took Vik’s sister Anna—and Vik has felt cursed herself every day since.
So when Anna finally returns, it’s a miracle. A miracle… or a lie. Worn down by years of grappling with shame, guilt, and PTSD, Vik has wanted nothing more than to hold her younger sister once again—but as unsettling inconsistencies between the girl who left and the one who’s come back reveal themselves, it’s clear that no one’s out of the woods.
Maybe this girl is Anna… and maybe she isn’t. Either way, she was never meant to leave the trees—and unless Vik can uncover the secrets of the forest, it’s going to take her back.
Rooted in real history with a speculative twist, the horrors of And The Trees Stare Back are the ones we already know: existing as a marginalized person under a hostile state. Raising powerful questions about whose humanity counts and how to survive if the governing body decides that yours doesn’t, this politically incisive YA folk horror irresistibly melds unexplored history with hot-button themes, gorgeous prose, and authentic depictions of OCD and PTSD.
Let Them Stare by Julie Murphy and Jonathan Van Ness (HarperCollins)
Sully is ready to get out of Hearst, Pennsylvania. With a fashion internship secured, the gender-nonconforming eighteen-year-old is trading in their stifling small town for the big city. Sully even sells their beloved car, to Bread—er, Brad—the most boring (and maybe only other) gay kid in town.
When Sully’s internship goes up in smoke, they’re trapped in Hearst with no cash—and no car. Desperate, they go to the thrift store, their personal sanctuary. There, they discover a vintage bag—like "put this baby in an airtight case at the MET" vintage. If Sully can authenticate it, the resale value would be enough for a new life in the city.
But when they begin to investigate, Sully finds themself haunted. Literally. With the ghost of Rufus, a drag performer from the fifties with no memory of how he died standing—no, floating—in their bedroom, Sully’s summer has a new 1) help this ghostly honey unlock his past and move on and 2) make bank—after all, the Real Real doesn’t take poltergeist purses.
With Rufus in tow, and Brad—who’s looking pretty scrumptious these days—playing chauffeur, Sully delves into the history of the town they’re so desperate to escape. Only to discover that there might be more to Hearst than they ever knew.
Nimona: Tenth Anniversary Edition by N.D. Stevenson (Quill Tree Books) - YA graphic novel, anniversary edition.
The genre-defining graphic novel from ND Stevenson, based on his beloved and critically acclaimed web comic, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a special edition!
Nimona is an impulsive young shape-shifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t the heroes everyone thinks they are.
But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona’s powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.
Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism!
All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from ND Stevenson, based on the web comic Slate called “funny and vibrant.”
Tall Water by S.J. Sindu and Dion MBD (HarperAlley) - YA graphic novel.
May 27th
Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan (G.P. Putnam and Sons)
Cass has a rule about dating summer girls—just say no. Every year the idyllic beach town Cass's working-class family calls home is flooded with summer girls, the obnoxious daughters of the rich, who stay in their families' summer homes, sail their yachts, and generally make things unbearable for townies like Cass.
Birdie is the ultimate summer girl. She’s the daughter of a wealthy real estate developer dad and a social media influencer mom, and this summer Birdie happens to be in big trouble for accidentally crashing her boyfriend's very expensive car.
As punishment, Birdie must spend the summer with her father at the beach—but it won't be a vacation. He's enlisted the help of Cass, whose dad works for him, to keep Birdie on the straight and narrow, including getting her a job as a beach parking lot attendant.
As the summer heats up, Cass realizes some rules are made to be broken, and Birdie just might be different from other summer girls. Soon they can't help falling for one another... But will the love the two girls have discovered be strong enough to overcome their differences?
Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler (Wednesday Books) - previously titled My Name Is Everett, moved from 2024.
Hot on the heels of a broken heart, Everett “Evie” Riley arrives at Camden Academy ready for a new beginning - one far away from her cheating ex-boyfriend, the sister who stole him, and the best friend who let it happen. But her fresh start is stopped in its tracks when she's accidentally placed in an all-boys dorm, with no choice but to stay.
When rumors and gossip about Evie's housing predicament spread like wildfire, she decides the only way to survive is to lean into her questionable new reputation... but she's definitely going to require help. Her grumpy emo dorm mate Salem Grayson isn't exactly her first choice, but he does need her help to repair his relationship with his parents every bit as much as she needs his to learn how to be cool. And so they make a pact - he'll teach her how to be bad, if she teaches him how to be good.
It's a flawless plan, except while Salem thrives academically, even romantically, and - annoyingly enough - even physically, Evie's quest feels like one dead end after another, and the girl she's becoming certainly doesn't feel remotely cool. But when Evie realizes what she wants more than anything, she'll have to contend with her thrice-broken heart and figure out how to become someone capable of chasing happiness.
Dahlia Adler’s Come As You Are is about refusing to accept less than you deserve, and realizing that the best relationships are with people who know exactly who you are.
The Whisperwood Legacy by Jo Schulte (Little, Brown)
Welcome to Whisperwood, a sprawling theme park nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where thrilling rides and picture-perfect scenery bring cult-classic fairy tales to life. Or at least they did until eighteen months ago, when the family matriarch, Virginia Strauss, suddenly shut Whisperwood’s gates and the beloved park was left to wither away along with the family’s dwindling fortune.
For seventeen-year-old Frankie Strauss, Whisperwood's closure has been a blessing in disguise. After seeing three generations of wealth’s corrupting influence, she is more than ready to shed the Strauss-family's gilded handcuffs.
But when Virginia goes missing, Frankie realizes that her family might be guilty of something much worse than mere dysfunction. With the help of the mysterious and handsome groundskeeper, Jem, Frankie sifts through a web of near truths and outright lies, uncovering a reality where nothing is as it seems and fairy tales aren’t just real—they’re deadly.
And They Were Roommates by Page Powars (Roaring Brook Press) - moved from 2024, changed publisher from Delacorte to Roaring Brook Press.
Romance is the last thing on Charlie’s mind.
On his first day at Valentine Academy for Boys, Charlie’s carefully crafted plan to hide his identity as the school’s only trans student is set in motion. Only to be immediately destroyed. Charlie has been assigned the worst roommate in the world (possibly the universe): Jasper Grimes, the boy who broke Charlie’s heart the year before he transitioned.
Except, Jasper doesn’t recognize Charlie.
Who knows how long until Jasper realizes the truth? Charlie has one shot at freedom and a dorm room all to himself, but only if he helps Jasper write love letters on behalf of their fellow students first. No problem. Charlie can help Jasper with some silly letters.
Long nights spent discussing deep romantic feelings with Jasper? Surely, no unintended consequences will arise…
All-Nighter by Cecilia Vinesse (Quill Tree Books) - description not yet updated on Goodreads.
Autumn Povitsky is a high-achieving, booked and busy, straight-A nightmare. She’s currently having a crisis of self—she needs a fake ID ASAP—but because she’s a total square, she has no idea where to get one.
Enter buzzcut hottie Tara Esposito. She’s a rule breaker and party crasher of the highest degree, and if anyone knows where to get a fake, it’s her. But Tara has hung up her James Dean leather jacket for the night. If she doesn’t finish this godforsaken essay that’s already weeks late, she can kiss her upcoming graduation goodbye.
One brainy girl who needs a fake ID before sundown. One serial rebel who needs to turn in an essay before sunrise. It’s obvious what needs to happen here. But with a years-long feud keeping the girls from working together, this may be a night to forget…or one they’ll remember forever.
With razor-sharp dialogue and fiery tension perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston, All-Nighter is a caffeine-fueled labyrinth of chaotic escapades—from prom after-parties to library séances to underground roller discos—led by two enemies who must decide if working together is better than their worlds falling apart.
These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa (Random House) - details not yet updated on Goodreads.
Years ago, the descendants of the god of Death were murdered. The few that remain are in hiding, including Crow, a teen who survived the genocide and hides their magic to stay alive. After fleeing their village, Crow now lives with their uncles in the lowest part of the city: the Shallows.
Life in the Shallows is tough, but Crow’s even tougher. Hiding their magic has made Crow resourceful, cunning, and unbeatable — which comes in handy as a fighter in the city’s lucrative underground fighting ring.
Then, Crow’s uncles are arrested for harboring Deathchildren.
With fists tightly clenched, Crow vows to set their uncles free. But to do that, they’re going to need to enter a world that threatens Crow’s very existence. Carefully navigating the politics of the wealthy and powerful, they enter the Tournament of the Gods — a gladiator-style competition where the winner is granted a favor. As they battle their way towards the winner’s circle, Crow plans to ask the gods for their uncles’ freedom as their reward.
But in a city of gods and magic, you don’t ask for what you want.
This Moth Saw Brightness by AA Vacharat (Dutton)
"The invisible D in my name is my mother’s second most lasting contribution to my life."
‘Wayne Le—known as "Invisible-D Dwayne" at school—has been invited to participate in a seemingly ordinary, innocuous adolescent health study by a prestigious university. The study has a few nice perks, but most important to ‘Wayne, is the opportunity to give his immigrant father an accomplishment to be proud of—something that's been in sort supply since 'Wayne's mother left.
But the study quickly proves to be anything but ordinary and innocuous, and ‘Wayne, his best friend Kermit, and a fellow study participant named Jane (a girl who shall not be manic-pixied) find themselves sucked into an M. C. Escherlike maze of conspiracies that might be entirely in their heads or might truly be a sinister government plot.
Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston (Tundra Books)
Celeste knows every inch of this ship. She's proud of her work as apprentice engineer. And as the maiden voyage of the Titan launches, she's optimistic for the promises of this new journey from Earth to Mars — this new life.
Dominic arrives at his suite where his valet is busy unpacking his things. His chest is tight, already feeling anxious inside his dad's precious new ship. Once it launches, he's trapped, inside the ship and inside the life his father has chosen for him — a life that will leave his dreams of art school behind.
Discovered under melted ice caps, ancient aliens have been brought onto the Titan as well, and stored in display cases for the entertainment of the passengers... until an act of sabotage releases them into the ship, with zero discrimination for class, decks or human life...
Simon Vs the Home Sapiens Agenda: 10th Anniversary Edition by Becky Allbertali (Balzer + Bray) - 10th Anniversary Edition.
Celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by #1 New York Times bestselling and Stonewall Honor-winning author Becky Albertalli with this stunning DELUXE LIMITED PAPERBACK EDITION, while supplies last.
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: If he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing with, will be jeopardized.
With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated.
Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.
This limited special edition includes gorgeous specs, making the package as beautiful as the read, and includes new bonus content from Becky herself!
Costumes for Time Travellers by A.R. Capetta (Candlewick) - description not yet updated on Goodreads.
Calisto and Fawkes are drawn to each other for the first time, again, as they travel from when to when to take on a threat to all they hold dear in this lyrical and playful fantasy from award-winning author A. R. Capetta.
Anyone who has hiked through time knows the town of Pocket. It’s the place travelers first reach after they stumble away from their hometime, passing through on their way to any other when. To Calisto, Pocket is home. They love their grandmother’s shop, which is filled with clothes from every era that are used to make costumes for time travelers. Calisto has no intention of traveling—it’s too dangerous. For Fawkes, traveling is life. He put on time boots when he was young and has been stumbling through eras ever since. When he floats into Pocket, Calisto meets him for the first time, though Fawkes has seen Calisto—in glimpses of what hasn’t happened yet. He’s also seen the villains chasing them both. Now Calisto and Fawkes must rush—from Shakespeare’s London to ancient Crete to California on the eve of a millennium—to save Pocket, and travelers, from being erased.
From the Lambda Literary Award–winning author of The Heartbreak Bakery comes a fairy-tale romance that weaves in and out of time, from kiss to kiss and costume to costume.
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