From stories of fake dating and werewolves, to an aspiring chef and horrifying murders, there’s something for every YA fan to devour within our May YA book round up!
With new releases from Amie Kaufman, Abdi Nazemian, Jason June, and more, to those with delightful debuts, read on to discover our picks and let us know which ones you will be adding to your TBR!
Something Like Possible by Miel Moreland
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this compelling YA contemporary, a bisexual teen’s path to political staffer stardom is in jeopardy, until she convinces a cute new candidate to team up with her on the campaign trail.
They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Jonah and Dylan get along like oil and water. Until a fake dating ploy gives them new perspective, and they realize that “falling for your enemy” isn’t as impossible as it seems.
All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Haunting of Bly Manor meets House of Salt and Sorrows in award-winning author Kyrie McCauley’s contemporary YA gothic romance about a dark family lineage, the ghosts of grief, and the lines we’ll cross for love.
If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
This heartfelt, poignant YA debut is a second-chance summer romance that will steal your heart—perfect for fans of Heartstopper, Some Girls Do, and It’s Not Like it’s a Secret.
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
#1 New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter Angeline Boulley takes us back to Sugar Island in this high-stakes thriller about the power of discovering your stolen history.
Lose You to Find Me by Erik J. Brown
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A romantic, heartfelt, and hilarious queer coming-of-age story from All That’s Left in the World author Erik J. Brown, perfect for fans of What If It’s Us and If This Gets Out.
The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro is a seductive YA paranormal romance following a runaway queer teen’s deepening and dangerous ties to a mysterious family of werewolves.
Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the Stonewall Honor–winning author of Like a Love Story comes a sweeping story of three generations of boys in the same Iranian family. Perfect for fans of Last Night at the Telegraph Club and Darius the Great Is Not Okay.
The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Magic, romance, and slumbering gods clash in the start of a riveting fantasy series that spans gangsters’ dens, forgotten temples, and the high seas from the New York Times bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle and the Illuminae Files.
If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
We Are Okay meets They Both Die at the End in this YA debut about queer first love and mental health at the end of the world-and the importance of saving yourself, no matter what tomorrow may hold.
I’m Not Supposed to Be in the Dark by Riss Neilson
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the author of Deep in Providence comes a paranormal young adult romance that follows a teen convinced that her best friend–turned-enemy is possessed by a ghost, perfect for fans of White Smoke and Twilight.
Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Two enemy kingdoms are forced to work together to break a curse in this lush YA fantasy, featuring a transgender prince and a bigender dama/assassin in the lead roles.
Lion’s Legacy by L. C. Rosen
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Against the backdrop of a sunlit Greek landscape, author L. C. Rosen masterfully weaves together adventure, romance, and magic in a celebration of the power of claiming your queer legacy.
Painted Devils (Little Thieves #2) by Margaret Owen
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A scrappy former maid and jewel thief must outwit gods, injustice, and her own past in this sequel to the Indie Next Pick, Little Thieves by Margaret Owen.
The Last One to Fall by Gabriella Lepore
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A horrifying murder occurs in the middle of the night when a mysterious figure is pushed out from the fourth floor of a warehouse. Six teens were there that night, and five of them are now potential suspects.
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A young Indigenous woman enters a colonizer-run dragon academy—and quickly finds herself at odds with the “approved” way of doing things—in the first book of this brilliant new fantasy series.
Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball by Jason June
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The next LGBTQ+ young adult rom-com from New York Times bestselling author Jason June (author of Jay’s Gay Agenda and Out of the Blue) explores how labels can limit and liberate us, and shows just what can happen when you bet on yourself.
Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success by Jessica Parra
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A joyful novel of first romance, new possibilities, and the chance to define yourself, Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success will find its way into your heart.
We’ll Never Tell by Wendy Heard
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An ambitious and juicy whodunit doused in Hollywood lore, perfect for readers of sexy summer thrillers like The Twin by Natasha Preston and The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson.
Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets The Sun is Also a Star in this YA contemporary love story from Jonny Garza Villa, Ander & Santi Were Here, about a nonbinary Mexican American teen falling for the shy new waiter at their family’s taqueria.
No Perfect Places by Steven Salvatore
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From lauded author Steven Salvatore comes a moving YA novel about twins whose incarcerated father dies and leaves behind a life-changing secret, perfect for fans of I’ll Give You the Sun and Euphoria.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer.
Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Where You See Yourself combines an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, a swoon-worthy romance, and much-needed disability representation in this story about a girl who’s determined to follow her dreams.
Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic edited by G. Haron Davis
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Perfect for fans of All Out and Cemetery Boys, this anthology claims a seat at the table of fantasy literature for trans and gender nonconforming stories.
