Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from The Singular Life of Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed, which is out May 13th 2025.

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. 

This whirlwind novel from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed will whisk you through worlds unknown, all while putting a multiverse spin on one of BookTok’s favorite tropes: second chance romance.

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Singular Life of Aria Patel’ by Samira Ahmed appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This may sound weird, but reading post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction makes me feel better about the world. Sure, I’m watching our world crumble on the page, but I’m also watching people rise to the occasion, surviving and persisting and building a better world from the rubble. It’s reassuring to see that humanity can’t and won’t disappear no matter what terrible things happen to it. If that thought also inspires you, read on for my list of some of my favorite examples of teenage girls not just surviving, but kicking the apocalypse’s butt.

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He
On a future Earth devastated by climate change and the natural disasters that come along with it, Kasey wants to use her skills at logic and science both to save humanity from itself and to find her missing sister, Celia, who she knows isn’t dead—no matter what everyone else says. Meanwhile, Cee wakes up on a faraway island, unable to remember anything except that she loves and needs to find her sister, Kay.

The world of this book hit hard and hit home with its depiction of a future wracked by climate change, which feels all too real right now. I loved both sisters and how, even though they were opposites personality-wise, they were still so devoted to each other. If you pick this one up, make sure you’ve got a few tissue boxes handy: the twists in the second half will WRECK you.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Tierney lives in a brutally misogynistic society, where women are sent away for a year on a remote island when they turn sixteen to use up their “magic,” which supposedly makes them dangerous to the men. That year is called the grace year, and many of them don’t come back alive. But all isn’t as it seems in Tierney’s world. What’s the real purpose of the grace year? And will Tierney figure out her place in society, among her friends, and even among the inevitable revolution before she runs out of time?

This book kept me rapt as I turned the pages to see how Tierney and her story would develop. I especially loved how Tierney gradually learned the greater meaning of rebellion, how it isn’t just all big flashy gestures and sacrifices, but how it’s often the small, quiet things behind the scenes that wind up changing everything.

Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams
Can it really be a sin for otherwise devout Agnes to barter with the treacherous Outsiders for the insulin needed to save her younger brother’s life? In the eyes of the prophet who runs her beloved hometown of Red Creek, yes, it absolutely is. As Agnes starts to question his teachings, she realizes she has to get out of his cult to keep herself and her family safe. Except the world outside isn’t safe either—a horrifying illness is tearing through the population. A horrifying illness that is, somehow, connected to Agnes and her home, that perhaps only she can stop.

I love YA books about characters exploring their faith and figuring out who they are outside of what they’ve been taught their whole lives. Especially when those aspects of a character intersect with a plot that’s one of the most unique and interesting I’ve ever seen. I was riveted the whole way through and cheering for Agnes not just as she saved the world but as she figured out her place in it.

Internment by Samira Ahmed

In a terrifyingly plausible near-future America, Muslim-Americans have been relegated to internment camps similar to those Japanese-Americans were confined in during World War II. Seventeen-year-old Muslim-American Layla Amin is furious at the system, and she’s not going quietly. In fact, she’s going to lead a revolution against it from the inside.

This might be the scariest example of world-building on this list, just because the scenarios Ahmed depicted felt so immediate and real. I loved how strong of a character Layla was while also still being a typical teen.

This is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey

It’s 1998, and Jess is just your normal suburban teenager living a normal suburban life… or is she? Her life’s not feeling so normal anymore—her friends and even her dog have started behaving strangely, and she starts hearing things nobody else can hear. And then a mysterious metal device with an apple logo on it falls out of her friend’s bag. When the people around her start going missing, Jess is given no choice but to figure out what’s going on if she doesn’t want her world—and her mind—to fall apart.

I read this book in under 24 hours, if that tells you anything about how thrilling and addictive it is. It has so many smart, insightful things to say about celebrity culture and the entertainment industry. I’m counting down the days until the second book in the duology comes out in May!

Gone Dark by Amanda Panitch

I couldn’t leave my own book off a list like this! When all of America’s electrical grids go dark at once, the country quickly devolves into chaos. The only safe place Zara Ross can think of is her estranged father’s survivalist compound across the country, which she and her mom fled years ago after a traumatic event. But as she forges toward it, gathering a growing group of friends and followers as she unearths the survival skills she thought she buried long ago, dark secrets from her past begin bubbling up. Can she save others when she’s not sure if she herself is worth saving?

One of my favorite parts when it came to writing this book was that Zara wasn’t just surviving all of the physical chaos stemming from the world going dark—just as much of the story is about Zara surviving the mental and emotional chaos stemming from her past. Writing and researching this book was a thrilling process—I hope reading it is, too!

The post 6 Must-Read YA Books About Badass Girls Surviving the End of the World appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Vampires Never Get Old is a curated short story selection featuring some of the crème de la crème of fiction writing. From Julie Murphy to Victoria Schwab, Samira Ahmed to Mark Oshiro, and Tessa Gratton to Dhonielle Clayton, chances are you will recognise a few, if not all of the names flipping through this collection of eleven short stories that ponder age-old questions surrounding vampires in new tales.

The fun thing in this short collection is that, despite all the twists the authors take on their given topic, you can tell they’re all just fans like us, drooling over vampires because they are just so dang entertaining. Each of the authors takes one topic related to vampirism and puts their own spin on it – a much-needed queer, diverse, and inclusive spin, nonetheless!

This just shows how much more space there is to talk about vampires in new contexts. What does the transition to become a vampire look like when the person is disabled? Is it a “cure-for-all” or are there disabled vampires? How long does a transition take? An hour, a day, a week? What’s it like being a new vampire as a Desi woman? What might one look out for? What happens when you summon a group of vampires you’ve only heard about in ghost stories with a song? Or how about what happens to a trans boy who digs up a vampire in a graveyard who’s a major bully?

Though I loved all the stories and could gush about all of them, In Kind by Kayla Whaley was one of those that just blew me away. It is a story dealing with a single father caring for his disabled teenage daughter and eventually deciding to put her out of her misery with a lethal dose of morphine only for her to turn into a vampire and making his life hell. It basically ticked all my boxes without me knowing I wanted those boxes to be ticked! It discussed ableism and caregiving responsibilities (and the lack of funding for that) in real terms with a nice spin on how that attempted murder was portrayed in the media as an act of mercy with a dash of revenge for the more bloodthirsty readers of this collection. Compelling and thought-provoking, that story was one of my highlights.

A queer, star-crossed lovers romance between a vampire and a vampire hunter; a vampire who can communicate with the animals at the zoo she works a;, a gay Hispanic boy who was born as a vampire rather than bitten, isolated and hidden by his parents finds an outlet and support through a blog; a sapphic, trained vampire slayer finds herself conflicted when she encounters a teenage vampire she does not want to kill; and a family of black vampires who moves around the world and lands in New Orleans to find all sorts of trouble. All of these stories bring a breath of fresh air (not that the vampires need it) to catapult vampires back into our reading lives.

Proving that vampires never go out of style and that revered yet ancient topics can be bold and cheeky with the right voice behind it, Vampires Never Get Old is perfect for any and all lovers of vampires, be it Twilight stans or Dracula fans!

Vampires Never Get Old is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 22nd 2020.

Will you be picking up Vampires Never Get Old? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Eleven fresh vampire stories from young adult fiction’s leading voices!

In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out―and going out for their first kill―and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.

Welcome to the evolution of the vampire―and a revolution on the page.

Vampires Never Get Old includes stories by authors both bestselling and acclaimed, including Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley.

The post Review: ‘Vampires Never Get Old’ Anthology appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth
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The first novel written for an adult audience by the mega-selling author of the Divergent franchise: five twenty-something heroes famous for saving the world when they were teenagers must face even greater demons—and reconsider what it means to be a hero…by destiny or by choice.

The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence
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A stunning new epic fantasy series following a young outcast who must fight with everything she has to survive, set in the same world as Red Sister.

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
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A riveting debut novel set in contemporary Seoul, Korea, about four young women making their way in a world defined by impossibly high standards of beauty, secret room salons catering to wealthy men, strict social hierarchies, and K-pop fan mania.

Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova
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Set in a lushly drawn world inspired by Inquisition Spain, Zoraida Córdova’s hotly anticipated new fantasy is an epic tale of love and revenge perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Sarah J. Maas.

He Started It by Samantha Downing
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From the twisted mind behind mega hit My Lovely Wife comes the story of a family—not unlike your own—just with a few more violent tendencies thrown in…. (Update: He Started It has now been pushed back to July 28th 2020).

Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher
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An office attraction becomes something more when they’re off the clock in this delightful romantic comedy by the USA Today bestselling author of Not the Girl You Marry.

Fantastic Hope by Laurell K Hamilton and William McCaskey
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A collection of sixteen sci-fi and fantasy stories edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton and author William McCaskey, joined by Kevin J. Anderson, Griffin Barber, Patricia Briggs, Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Monalisa Foster, Robert E. Hampson, John G. Hartness, Jonathan Maberry, L. E. Modesitt, Jr., Jessica Schlenker, Sharon Shinn, M. C. Sumner, Patrick M. Tracy, and Michael Z. Williamson.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
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In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
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Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias meet Dracula in this Southern-flavoured supernatural thriller set in the ’90s about a women’s book club that must protect its suburban community from a mysterious and handsome stranger who turns out to be a blood-sucking fiend.

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
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A young pilot risks everything to save his best friend—the man he trusts most and might even love—only to learn that his friend is secretly the heir to a brutal galactic empire.

Something She’s Not Telling Us by Darcey Bell
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From the New York Times bestselling author of A Simple Favor comes an electrifying domestic thriller of how one woman’s life is turned upside down when her brother brings his new girlfriend to visit—and no one is telling the truth about who they really are.

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed
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Told in alternating narratives that bridge centuries, the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed traces the lives of two young women fighting to write their own stories and escape the pressure of familial burdens and cultural expectations in worlds too long defined by men.

Will you be picking up any of these April releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post April 2020 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know tells a compelling story of two young women from different centuries who become connected.

Khayyam, an American, French, Indian, Muslim teenager, is trying to get into college for art history while researching how Alexandre Dumas and Delacroix might have had a connection in the past. Her boyfriend has just ghosted her, leaving her trying to figure out more about herself and her life. She unexpectedly encounters a young man in Paris named Alexandre Dumas who is the sixth great-grandson of the original Dumas, and the two begin to spend time together and learn about the past. Meanwhile, in the 19^th century, we learn the story of Leila, a young woman who was favoured in a harem, and who struggles to keep her true love a secret for the sake of her own safety. Khayyam begins to make connections through her research to Leila and some historical figures including Delacroix, Dumas, and Lord Byron, whom she may have been connected to.

This book is in large part about shining a light on women who do not typically have or who have not historically had a voice. Samira Ahmed describes her goal of shining a light on women whom the history books, generally written by men, have ignored, and setting right the fact that history has long been an exclusionary tale. In telling the stories of Khayyam and Leila, she hopes to give voice to stories that often remain untold.

Khayyam is an art history nerd who is absolutely fascinated with the story of a painting inspired by Lord Byron, painted by Eugene Delacroix, and potentially owned by the famous Alexandre Dumas whom she suspects may have had a connection to Delacroix. She also becomes interested in the story of Leila, who is connected to the story of the painting but whose story is largely untold. Khayyam is smart, snarky, fierce, and yet at times unsure of herself. Her story is part her fascination with the research that she is doing, and part a coming-of-age story as she struggles to figure out how she will get into college, get past her feelings for the boy who stopped talking to her, and then begins to feel affection for a new, charming, and slightly mysterious romantic interest.

Leila is a romantic who falls in love with the entrancing Giaour, a young man who is not the leader of the harem that she is part of. Her love affair is dangerous though because Pasha, to whom the harem belongs, can exact revenge if he learns of their love affair. Leila is a young woman learning who she is, and she is a brave woman with plenty of depth.  Her story connects her in surprising ways to other interesting figures in history, which adds to the complexity of the story.  Her story is fascinating because it is not a story that is typically widely told, and because it unfolds in such unexpected ways.

One of the reasons this book is a great read is that it’s a mix of mystery, social and cultural commentary, and a coming-of-age teenage romance. Since this is such a multifaceted book, there is a lot to like and be interested in as the story progresses.

The story of Leila and of Khayyam’s search to unearth the true story of the painting and the historical figures that she wonders about are the highlights of this book. Khayyam feels deeply connected to Leila and is passionate about figuring out how to honour her story. The romances add depth and excitement to the story but the true highlight of the book is in the mystery of Leila and Khayyam and Alexandre’s quest to uncover its truth. Though romance adds an interesting personal (and modern day) element to Khayyam’s story, Ahmed’s writing shines first and foremost where she has written a complex mystery and social commentary about women in history.

This is a thoughtful and compelling book about history and the people whose lives are invisible and about shedding light on the stories of those (particularly women) whose stories remain untold. The characters are passionate about unearthing and bringing to life a story about a remarkable woman who few have heard of. Readers who may have learned about a more western-focused version of art history will find this story fascinating. As Khayyam says, history is really about people’s stories. What kind of history is one where we only learn about and honour certain people’s stories and not others?

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of April 7th 2020.

Will you be picking up Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Told in alternating narratives that bridge centuries, the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed traces the lives of two young women fighting to write their own stories and escape the pressure of familial burdens and cultural expectations in worlds too long defined by men.

It’s August in Paris and 17-year-old Khayyam Maquet—American, French, Indian, Muslim—is at a crossroads. This holiday with her professor parents should be a dream trip for the budding art historian. But her maybe-ex-boyfriend is probably ghosting her, she might have just blown her chance at getting into her dream college, and now all she really wants is to be back home in Chicago figuring out her messy life instead of brooding in the City of Light.

Two hundred years before Khayyam’s summer of discontent, Leila is struggling to survive and keep her true love hidden from the Pasha who has “gifted” her with favored status in his harem. In the present day—and with the company of a descendant of Alexandre Dumas—Khayyam begins to connect allusions to an enigmatic 19th-century Muslim woman whose path may have intersected with Alexandre Dumas, Eugène Delacroix, and Lord Byron.

Echoing across centuries, Leila and Khayyam’s lives intertwine, and as one woman’s long-forgotten life is uncovered, another’s is transformed.

The post Review: Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh
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In this mesmerising YA fantasy mash-up of The Road meets The Amazing Race, one girl chooses to risk her life in a cutthroat competition in order to win her freedom.

Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson
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From the acclaimed author of Defy, Sara B. Larson, Sisters of Shadow and Light is a timeless and fantastical tale of sisterly love and powerful magic.

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney
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All-American Muslim Girl is a relevant, relatable story of being caught between two worlds, and the struggles and hard-won joys of finding your place.

A Thousand Fires by Shannon Price
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Shannon Price’s A Thousand Fires is a breakout contemporary debut―think The Outsiders meets The Iliad―that’s perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Veronica Roth.

Color Outside the Lines by Sangu Mandanna, Anna-Marie McLemore, Elsie Chapman, Karuna Riazi, Lydia Kang, L.L. McKinney, Lauren Gibaldi, Tara Sim, Caroline Tung Richmond, Kelly Zekas, Tarun Shanker, Samira Ahmed, Adam Silvera, Eric Smith, Lori M. Lee, and Michelle Ruiz Keil
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This modern, groundbreaking YA anthology explores the complexity and beauty of interracial and LGBTQ+ relationships where differences are front and center.

Day Zero by Kelly deVos
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Don’t miss the exhilarating new novel from the author of Fat Girl on a Plane, featuring a fierce, bold heroine who will fight for her family and do whatever it takes to survive. Fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It series and Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave series will cheer for this fast-paced, near-future thrill ride.

Across A Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood
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The last thing eighteen-year-old Wilhelmina “Willa” MacCarthy wants is to be a nun. It’s 1936, and as the only daughter amongst four sons, her Irish–Catholic family is counting on her to take her vows—but Willa’s found another calling. Each day she sneaks away to help Doctor Katherine Winston in her medical clinic in San Francisco’s Richmond District.

Songs from the Deep by Kelly Powell
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A girl searches for a killer on an island where deadly sirens lurk just beneath the waves in this gripping, atmospheric debut novel.

A Constellation of Roses by Miranda Asebedo
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Perfect for fans of Tell Me Three Things and The Astonishing Color of After, A Constellation of Roses is brimming with a magic all its own—lovable and flawed characters, an evocative setting, and friendships to treasure.

The How & the Why by Cynthia Hand
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A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind, perfect for fans of Far From the Tree, from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand.

Refraction by Naomi Hughes
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After an attack on earth, all reflective surfaces become weapons to release monsters, causing a planet-wide ban on mirrors. Despite the danger, the demand rises, and 17-year-old Marty Callahan becomes a distributor in an illegal mirror trade―until he’s caught by the mayor’s son, whose slate is far from clean. Both of them are exiled for their crimes to one of the many abandoned cities overrun by fog. But they soon realize their thoughts influence their surroundings and their deepest fears begin to manifest.

When The Stars Lead To You by Ronni Davis
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Nicola Yoon meets Jenny Han in a heated first-love romance about two teens who are torn apart one summer by prejudice and mental illness, and find each other once again.

Will you be picking up any of these new releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post November 2019 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

But Color Outside the Lines has my whole heart.

This collection of stories approaches interracial and LGBTQIA+ relationships in various ways, addressing a plethora of topics connected to it. Love, culture, family, expectations, prejudice, discrimination, and barred communications are just a few that are explored. There are stories about trying to find common ground between cultures, facing the challenges of the privileges of being “colorblind” and understanding that to be equal is not the same as to simply say the words and be done with the topic. There are stories challenging stereotypical points of views, stories about kids who just want to find themselves in popular culture, stories about fierce people who just want to be heard and seen, who just want to be able to say, “I matter. I deserve to take up space.”. It’s a kaleidoscope of voices that illuminate how much we need more diverse literature and just how important these voices are.

I contemplated reviewing the short stories individually, but I feel like it would be doing this book a disservice. I went into the stories not knowing anything besides the title and it made the exploration of the previously mentioned topics all the more magical. The vibrant mix of stories is what makes this anthology so accessible. Truly, there is a story for everybody within these pages – whether it’s about not being aware of the monumental differences between cultures, the way one kindhearted person can change your life, or the female/female Hades/Persephone reimagination you’ve always wanted. Moreover, every single story left me wanting more – and it is my hope that this anthology is one of the necessary steps to get young readers to pick up diverse stories and find acceptance in them.

So what can you expect to get if you pick up this book? You will get a Jewish girl and an Indian boy discussing their outsider status and the worry of not fitting in. You will experience a world in which everybody has a ghost as their sidekick. A story in which colonialism separates two people who might have had one of the most epic love stories of their time. A tale about a daughter of a poisoner and a boy shunned for his scars finding common ground. And so much more!

What you can expect most of all is finding new authors to obsess over! For instance, I’ve been following Eric Smith on Twitter for ages, but I’ve never read any of his works. After reading his contribution to this fine collection, “Sandwiched in Between”, that tragic mistake will be remedied immediately. These authors put so much soul into these stories and it transpires beautifully onto the page. Whether it’s the lush descriptions of a fantastical land in which a girl gets to decide where and when her story begins or the realistic, no-nonsense prose that follows a boy wanting to find a book at the store that gives a queer character a happily ever after – there is care behind these words. Care to give teens a voice. And it is so, so encouraging, I can’t even find words for the wholesome feeling in my chest, closing this book.

All in all, I’m so happy this anthology exists and my hope is that every young individual who is craving to see themselves represented in stories will find they are very welcome in this world  – to quote this anthology: “Stories belong to everyone, not just the ones telling them”.

Color Outside The Lines is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of November 12th 2019.

Will you be checking out Color Outside The Lines? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

This modern, groundbreaking YA anthology explores the complexity and beauty of interracial and LGBTQ+ relationships where differences are front and center.

When people ask me what this anthology is about, I’m often tempted to give them the complicated answer: it’s about race, and about how being different from the person you love can matter but how it can also not matter, and it’s about Chinese pirate ghosts, black girl vigilantes, colonial India, a flower festival, a garden of poisons, and so, so much else. Honestly, though? I think the answer’s much simpler than that. Color outside the Lines is a collection of stories about young, fierce, brilliantly hopeful people in love.
—Sangu Mandanna, editor of Color outside the Lines

The post Review: ‘Color Outside The Lines’ Anthology appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Die For Me by Amy Plum (2011)
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After her parents died in a car accident, Kate and her sister move in with their grandparents. Not only do they have to settle in into their new home, but also in a new country, from the USA to Paris. Making herself at home, Kate explores the city and one day crosses paths with Vincent. Their friendship blooms to be something more and the closer she gets to him, the more of a mystery he and his family are to her.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (2011)
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Josephine Angelini’s first novel in the Starcrossed series follows 16-year-old Helen who lives on a small Island in Nantucket. Dreaming of the same nightmare every night, Helen starts to hallucinate. When she meets Lucas she has no idea that fate will take their lives in their hands and to stop the pre-programmed disaster is impossible. A retelling of the Helen of Troy will bring you closer to Greek Mythology in the most adventurous way.

The Archived by Victoria Schwab (2013)
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This book is amazing! Victoria Schwab could write about a bee sitting on a flower and it would be one of the best stories ever. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. After her Granddad died, Mackenzie is taking his place as Keeper, a person who stops Histories from breaking free. Living in an old building, which was once a hotel, unfortunately does not leave a lot of time for school and first love.

Solitaire by Alice Oseman (2014)
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Alice Oseman’s debut novel from 2014 follows Tori who feels insecure around people and the world in general. Everything is much easier through the internet, so why meet people in real life when your best friend can be there for you 24/7 via social media and be halfway around the world? But, can you know someone truly? And is really everyone happy or are they all just trying to hold up a front that is not real? This book will change your perspective about the internet and real life.

My Kind of Crazy by Robin Reul (2016)
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This is an example of “title = story”. In the eyes of others, someone might seem to be crazy, while they think of themselves as normal. Your normal can be someone else’s normal as well. Congratulations, you are my kind of crazy! Robin Reul’s book will show you that being yourself is the only way to live.

Warcross by Marie Lu (2017)
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For those who loved Ready Player One, the first book in the Warcross series by Marie Lu is definitely worth a read. Emika is one of the best hackers in the world and lives most of her time in Warcross. It is not just a game; it is a way of life. If you make it there, you have made it! But, you cannot escape your past.

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (2017)
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Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app. Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, Karen M. McManus’s amazing story follows five students going into detention, but only four come out of it alive. Who killed one of them? Why? Let’s have a look at everyone’s dirty little secrets.

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter (2017)
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The debut thriller written by actress Krysten Ritter will remind you of Season 3 of Riverdale. Abby left her hometown and all its mystery behind her. Now, as an environmental lawyer, years after she left everything behind, she is forced to come and finds herself in a crime which goes beyond the case she originally came to investigate.

Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed (2018)
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Maya is sitting between two futures. While her parents wish for her to marry a Muslim boy, Maya wants to dream big and move to NYC to become a filmmaker. But what happens thousands of miles away from her starts to affect her live, and now, people are judging her for crimes, she did not commit. Samira Ahmed’s books not only show a brave female protagonist, but shows how important it is to not judge people before you did not get to know them.

Any other 2010-2018 YA books you would recommend? Tell us in the comments below!

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