Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you are looking forward to any of them!

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel.

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When children start to go missing in the local woods, a teen girl must face her fears and a past she can’t remember to rescue them in this atmospheric YA novel, Lost in the Never Woods from the author of Cemetery Boys.

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
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Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange.

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
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From New York Times bestselling author Mary H.K. Choi comes a funny and emotional story about two estranged sisters switching places and committing insurance fraud to save one of their lives.

I Think I Love You by Auriane Desombre
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A YA contemporary rom com about two girls who start as rivals but after a twist of events, end up falling for one another–at least they think so.

A Trial of Sorcerers by Elise Kova
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This is the first book in a young adult, epic fantasy that’s a tale of competition, coming of age, distant lands, elemental magic, and romance. It’s perfect for fans of the Legend of Korra, Truthwitch, and A Sorcery of Thorns.

The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme
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Nothing is quite as it seems in this thrilling YA fantasy adventure by Jillian Boehme, The Stolen Kingdom!

American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar
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Fans of Sandhya Menon, Erika Sanchez and Jandy Nelson will identify with this powerful story of a young artist grappling with first love, family boundaries, and the complications of a cross-cultural relationship.

She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard
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Inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray comes an electric romance set against a rebel art scene that sparks lethal danger for two girls in this expertly plotted YA thriller. For fans of E. Lockhart, Lauren Oliver and Kara Thomas.

Follow Your Arrow by Jessica Verdi
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For fans of Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, this is a riveting and irresistible take on love, life, and identity – both online and off.

The Bright and the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski
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Debut author Jessica Rubinkowski delivers the thrilling first book in an epic Russian folklore–inspired fantasy duology filled with page-turning romance, tragedy, magic, and monsters. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sara Raasch!

Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
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Allison Saft’s Down Comes the Night is a snow-drenched romantic fantasy that keeps you racing through the pages long into the night.

What YA releases are you excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

The post March 2021 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Jessica! Tell our readers a bit about yourself!

Hello everyone! Essentially, I was probably the weird horse girl obsessed with fantasy books in your grade school. I grew up on a farm in central Illinois in a village of five hundred people. We raised horses, chickens, ducks, geese, the occasional goat, but rural Illinois isn’t rife with entertainment, so I spent a lot of my time daydreaming and making up imaginary games from my two younger sisters, which then turned into writing as I got older. I still live in Central Illinois, but traded the farm animals for three dogs, three cats, and two kids.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

• First book I ever read: Are You My Mother by P. D Eastman.
• Book that made me want to be an author: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine and this poor book hasn’t gotten away from me yet.
• Book I can’t stop thinking about: The Last Herald Mage by Mercedes Lackey. I spent too much of my tweens pretending to live in that book to ever forget it.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

My parents kept the first “story” I ever wrote, which was in second grade about a Thanksgiving turkey that didn’t want to be cooked, so it ran away to a magical portal beneath a bunk bed. From there, I continued to write stories whenever I could for school assignments from a mystery about a missing carousel horse in fourth grade, to my first novel I completed my junior year of high school.

Your debut novel, The Bright and the Pale, is out March 2^nd 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Girl travels to haunted mountain.

Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?

Valeria, my main character, agrees to lead a team of murders and thieves to the bowels of the mountain responsible for killing her entire family in order to win her best friend, Alik’s freedom. You can expect questionable motives from all characters, a friends to lovers romance, and once they reach the mountain, a descent into dark, cramped quarters where something hunts the group in the deep.

What was the inspiration behind this novel?

The thing that most inspired this book was the Dyatlov Pass Incident. The event took place in the Ural Mountains of Russia where nine experienced hikers died under bizarre circumstances. Some believed the very mountain they hiked was to blame. Its name, Kholat Syakhl, roughly translates to Dead Mountain. I started to consider what would have to be going on for a mountain to take lives and, what if, the mountain took an entire village? What if no one knew how or why? From there, I delved into Slavic folklore, learning all I could to bring the atmosphere to life and make a world where something like this might be possible.

Is there a character or scene that you really enjoyed writing?

My most favourite scene I wrote is at the end, and if I said exactly what, it would be a huge spoiler! Suffice it to say, I love high emotional moments that are a mix of sadness and anger. They feel powerful to me and I always enjoy writing them. In terms of character, besides Valeria, I absolutely adored writing Chinua. She is determined, fierce, and viciously loyal and loving to her family. She will always have a special place in my heart

What challenges did you face while writing and how did you overcome them?

The biggest obstacle I faced while writing was actually my own mental health. I diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Type 2 and ADHD while drafting and editing this novel. I struggled with finding balance and discovering how to manage it. I had suffered from the time I was seventeen and never realized what was going on until my official diagnosis. While taking medication did help a lot in evening out my mental state, I still had my highs and lows, and figuring out how to be creative and on a deadline while also struggling mentally was really tough. It isn’t something I talk about often, but I feel like it is important for people to understand what goes on behind the curtain, so to speak, because knowing someone who also struggled when I was a teen might have made a difference in how I approached my own mental health.

What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

I have been trying to get published since I was eighteen! So, it has been a twelve-year journey to get to this point. I wrote five novels before I wrote THE BRIGHT & THE PALE. I think I likely have over three hundred rejections in queries alone. I found my first agent with my fifth novel, but we ended up not working out and parted ways. I wrote THE BRIGHT & THE PALE next and found my current agent. After a round of edits with her, we went on submission and I believe I sold it in about a month. From there, I worked with my editor at Quill Tree Books since 2018 to find the heart of my story and make it shine. It has been a long process, but I would be lying if I said I regretted any step in the journey.

What’s next for you?

After the sequel to THE BRIGHT & THE PALE (which I can’t disclose the title of yet!), I intend to finish up a new young adult stand-alone, and also have a couple of adult projects in the works.

Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

I usually read several books at a time (I’m going to blame my ADHD for that). My current reads are:

• These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
• Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare  (I’m very behind the times on this one)
• A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
• Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica Olsen
• We Are the Fire by Sam Taylor

Recent books I read that I absolutely recommend would be A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone, and The Cursebreaker Series by Brigid Kemmerer

Will you be picking up The Bright and the Pale? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jessica Rubinkowski, Author of ‘The Bright and the Pale’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Prepare yourselves because this list of 2021 young adult book releases will see you adding several to your TBR! With new releases from favourites, such as Kristin Cashore, Neal Shusterman, Cassandra Clare, and Julie Murphy, as well as debuts from the likes of Ellie Eaton, Angeline Boulley, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and many more! Plus, the YA genre is absolutely delivering with gorgeous covers!

Want more 2021 book releases? Check out our list of Most Anticipated releases, Fantasy and Sci-Fi releases, Queer releases, and Queer SFF releases.

Read on to discover our January to June 2021 releases and tell us what you’re looking forward to in the comments below!

JANUARY

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A historical YA novel that takes place during the Greenwood Massacre of 1921, in an area of Tulsa, OK, known as the Black Wall Street.

The Divines by Ellie Eaton
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With the emotional power of Normal People and the reflective haze of The Girls, a compulsively readable literary debut set in a secluded boarding school, exploring the intoxicating, destructive relationships between teenage girls. 

Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis
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If Romeo and Juliet got the Hamilton treatment…who would play the leads? This vividly funny, honest, and charming romantic novel by Dana L. Davis is the story of a girl who thinks she has what it takes…and the world thinks so, too.

You Have a Match by Emma Lord
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From the beloved author of Tweet Cute comes Emma Lord’s You Have a Match, a YA novel of family, friendship, romance and sisterhood…

Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift
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The first book in an epic, heart-pounding fantasy duology about two royal heirs betrothed to be married, but whose loyalties are torn, and a ruthless enemy who threatens their world, perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, and Renée Ahdieh.

Winterkeep (Graceling Realm #4) by Kristin Cashore
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The highly anticipated next book in the New York Times bestselling, award-winning Graceling Realm series, which has sold 1.3 million copies.

Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder
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For fans of epic fantasies and sweeping adventures, this ensemble cast will immerse you in a world of unique magic, breathtaking action and unforgettable characters.

Glimpsed by G. F. Miller
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Perfect for fans of Geekerella and Jenn Bennett, this charming, sparkly rom-com follows a wish-granting teen forced to question if she’s really doing good—and if she has the power to make her own dreams come true.

FEBRUARY

What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo
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Rose Szabo’s thrilling debut is a dark and thrilling novel about a teen girl who returns home to her strange, wild family after years of estrangement, perfect for fans of Wilder Girls. 

The Girl from Shadow Springs by Ellie Cypher
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The Revenant meets True Grit with a magical twist in this thrilling and atmospheric debut fantasy about two teens who must brave a frozen wasteland and the foes within it to save their loved ones and uncover a deadly secret.

Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke
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Ren Kolins is a silver wielder—a dangerous thing to be in the kingdom of Erdis, where magic has been outlawed for a century. But when a wealthy rebel leader discovers her secret, he offers her a fortune to join his revolution. The caveat: she won’t see a single coin until they overthrow the King.

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
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When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighbouring restaurants.

As Far as You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper
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The author of The Gravity of Us crafts another heartfelt coming-of-age story about finding the people who become your home–perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli.

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
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This high-concept novel from the National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe series tackles the most urgent themes of our time, making this a must-buy for readers who are starting to ask big questions about their own role in the universe.

Love Is a Revolution by Renée Watson
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From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Rene Watson comes a new YA–a love story about not only a romantic relationship but how a girl finds herself and falls in love with who she really is. 

Love Is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann
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This is a laugh-out-loud exploration of sexuality, family, female friendship, grief, and community. With the heart and hilarity of Netflix’s critically-acclaimed Sex Education, Wibke Brueggemann’s sex positive debut is required reading for Generation Z teens. Think of this as Bridget Jones’ Diary, if it were written by Bridget’s daughter.

MARCH

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
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When children go missing, people want answers. When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers. 

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange. 

The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Nothing is quite as it seems in this thrilling YA fantasy adventure by Jillian Boehme, The Stolen Kingdom!

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson
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Cast into a well at birth for being one of the magical few who can manipulate memories when people sing, she was saved by Cyril, the opera house’s owner. Since that day, he has given her sanctuary from the murderous world outside. All he asks in return is that she use her power to keep ticket sales high—and that she stay out of sight. For if anyone discovers she survived, Isda and Cyril would pay with their lives.

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
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The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times-bestselling King of Scars Duology.

The Bright and the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Debut author Jessica Rubinkowski delivers the thrilling first book in an epic Russian folklore–inspired fantasy duology filled with page-turning romance, tragedy, magic, and monsters. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sara Raasch!

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. 

American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Fans of Sandhya Menon, Erika Sanchez and Jandy Nelson will identify with this powerful story of a young artist grappling with first love, family boundaries, and the complications of a cross-cultural relationship.

APRIL

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
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From bestselling author Lynette Noni comes a dark, thrilling YA fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, and Sabaa Tahir.

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
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New York Times–bestselling author Goldy Moldavsky delivers a deliciously twisty YA thriller that’s Scream meets Karen McManus about a mysterious club with an obsession for horror.

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens
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A young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming-of-age tour in this swoony adventure that is The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Pirates of the Caribbean.

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
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As sweet as a macaron from Laduree, with writing as crisp as a freshly baked baguette, this romantic novel set in Paris about an American ballerina and a charming French boy is parfait for fans of American Royals and Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
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I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact in this stunning story of first love, familial expectations, the power of food, and finding where you belong.

What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson
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An exhilarating, emotionally powerful and superbly written thriller that’s Winter’s Bone meets The Road.

My Epic Spring Break-Up by Kristin Rockaway
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A fun and upbeat paperback original romance about a girl who finds a cheat sheet for love.

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O’Neal
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Teen Wolf meets Emergency Contact in this sharply observed, hilarious, and heartwarming debut young adult novel about friendship and the hairy side of chronic illness. 

MAY

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

One of the most twisty, surprising, engaging page-turner YAs you’ll read this year—We Were Liars with sci-fi scope, Lost with a satisfying resolution.

Baby & Solo by Lisabeth Posthuma
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Joel’s new job at the video store is just what the therapist ordered. But what happens if the first true friend he’s made in years finds out about What Was Wrong With Him?

Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan
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In this irreverent regency romp by New York Times best-selling author Sophie Jordan, newly minted sixteen-year-old Primrose Ainsworth finds herself on a wayward birthday adventure through London with a mysterious hero—perfect for fans of My Lady Jane.

Pumpkin by Julie Murphy
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Return to the beloved world of Julie Murphy’s #1 New York Times bestselling Dumplin’—now a popular Netflix feature film starring Jennifer Aniston—in this fabulously joyful, final companion novel about drag, prom, and embracing your inner Queen.

Off the Record by Camryn Garrett
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The behind-the-scenes access of Almost Famous meets the searing revelations of #metoo in this story of a teen journalist who uncovers the scandal of the decade.

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
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Crazy Rich Asians meets The Princess Diaries in this irresistible story about Izumi, a Japanese-American girl who discovers her senior year of high school that she’s really a princess of Japan.

Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan
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In this sparkling and romantic YA debut, a reserved Bangladeshi teenager has twenty-eight days to make the biggest decision of her life after agreeing to fake date her school’s resident bad boy.

Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
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Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Nina LaCour, this queer coming-of-age story from the author of The Falling in Love Montage is wry, multilayered, and unflinchingly honest.

JUNE

Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos
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Shaun of the Dead meets Dumplin’ in this bitingly funny YA thriller about a kickass group of teens battling a ravenous group of zombies.

Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews
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A reinterpretation of the classic Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo, Daughter of Sparta by debut author Claire Andrews turns the traditionally male-dominated mythology we know into a heart-pounding and empowering female-led adventure.

The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver
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Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, this book will rip your heart out before showing you how to heal from tragedy and celebrate life in the process.

Sisters of the Snake by Sasha Nanua and Sarena Nanua
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Deadly magic, hidden temples, and dark prophecies: Sisters of the Snake is an action-packed, immersive fantasy that will thrill fans of The Crown’s Game and The Tiger at Midnight. 

Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud
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Late bloomers unite! This fresh and funny #ownvoices novel from rising star Debbie Rigaud is perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Booksmart.

A Season of Sinister Dreams by Tracy Banghart
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Furyborn meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this courtly feminist fantasy from Grace and Fury author Tracy Banghart.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully. 

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A wedding harpist disillusioned with love and a hopeless romantic cater-waiter flirt and fight their way through a summer of weddings in this effervescent romantic comedy from the acclaimed author of Today Tonight Tomorrow.

What YA books are you looking forward to releasing between January and June 2021? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 2021 YA Book Releases You Need To Have On Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.