5 New Books That Were So Good, We Couldn't Read Them Fast Enough

With a fresh list on Tuesdays.

Hello, book lovers! Each week, dozens and dozens of new releases hit the shelves. Below are some of the reads BuzzFeed Books writers and contributors loved the most:

A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

Razorbill

Sabaa Tahir’s thrilling conclusion to her debut, An Ember in the Ashes, is finally here. Tahir leaped onto the YA scene with her lush, immersive, and compelling fantasy in 2015, and has intrigued audiences with brilliantly crafted characters and an exciting journey through a fantasy world that feels larger than life. With jinn attacking villages, an approaching apocalypse, and an awakening of an ancient power, readers will sink back into a familiar world and discover the final journeys of Laia, Helene, and Elias. —Farrah Penn

Read This for Inspiration by Ashly Perez

Clarkson Potter Publishers

In Read This for Inspiration, Ashly Perez (a former BuzzFeed employee) gathers bits of inspiration that she’s found helpful in her life — words of wisdom about creativity, self-worth, motivation, relationships, feminism, and more; drawn from literature, history, and her own lived experience — and pairs them with absolutely dreamy illustrations from multiple artists, so beautiful you’ll be tempted (sorry, I know this is blasphemous) to tear them out and frame them. It’s the perfect balance of personal and researched, philosophical and accessible, and great for reading in bits and pieces. Check out an excerpt of six of passages I particularly loved, about living in the present, loving yourself, and appreciating life. —Arianna Rebolini

King of the Rising by Kacen Callender

Orbit

King of the Rising is the gorgeous and brutal sequel to Queen of the Conquered, and the final installment to the Caribbean-inspired fantasy duology, Islands of Blood and Storm. King of the Rising takes place two months after the first book’s events and follows Loren Jannik, Sigourney Rose’s personal guard. Sigourney is imprisoned, though Loren argues to spare her life. Loren’s craft is growing more powerful, and the formerly enslaved people of Hans Lollik respect him and want him to take charge of the island. The Fjern aren’t going to lose Hans Lollik without a fight, though. Loren’s powers might be the key to maintaining their freedom. The duology is inventive, searing, and dark, and the final book offers a perfect, though unexpected, conclusion. —Margaret Kingsbury

How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole

Avon

King Sanyu, ruler of Njaza, completes his father's dying wish and marries Princess Shanti Mohapi. He does so out of duty and obligation, never intending to actually fall for her. However, it's hard not to given their instant chemistry, not to mention the fact that she's much more passionate about ruling than he is — which isn't hard to be, given the fact he was reluctantly forced into the position in the first place. But when Shanti runs away, he must step into power to become the king he was destined to be, and chase after the woman he loves to become the husband he wants to be. —Shyla Watson

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

Berkley

When she finds out her department at work may be cut, professor Naya Turner lets loose for a night and meets Jake, a guy who makes her laugh and forget about her problems. After their failed attempt at a fling, Naya tries to put him out of her head. But that proves impossible when they discover Jake is the person responsible for deciding what happens to Naya's job. Despite the work complications and long distance, not to mention Naya's trauma from a previous abusive relationship, they begin a relationship and fall in love. But, when more obstacles get in the way of their happiness, they're forced to ask themselves: is love enough? —Shyla Watson

For more new-release recommendations from this month, click here, or catch up on all of our weekly favorites on Bookshop. What's the best book you read this week? Tell us in the comments!