27 YA Books You'll Want To Devour By The Pool This Summer

Find your new fave.

Farrah Penn / BuzzFeed

1. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, goodreads.com

Release date: April 24

From the author of Love, Simon (released as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) comes the companion novel told from the point of view of Simon's BFF, Leah Burke. Leah's a drummer, daughter of a young, single mom, and loves the body she's been given. Although her mother knows she's bisexual, she hasn't mustered the courage to tell her friends. As senior year comes to a close, Leah faces the challenge of watching her friend group fracture in unexpected ways on top of dealing with an expected crush. Fans of Love, Simon will fall hard for Leah's unapologetically authentic voice and all the characters of Creekwood High that Albertalli has masterfully created.

Get it from Amazon for $14.86, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

2. A Lite Too Bright by Samuel Miller

Katherine Tegen Books, parnassusbooks.net

Release date: May 8

In this gorgeously told contemporary novel, Arthur Louis Pullman the Third has lost a lot. Stripped of his college scholarship and with a restraining order against his ex, he's sent to live with his aunt and uncle. In their family home, Arthur discovers a journal written by his infamous grandfather — a literary icon who was known for his Salinger-esque classic novel, A World Away. The first Arthur Louis Pullman died hundreds of miles away from home, but Arthur decided to go on a cross-country train ride to relive his grandfather’s last week, guided by the clues left behind in his journal. A Lite Too Bright is a riveting, unputdownable story with beautiful prose and an ending you don't see coming.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99, Barnes & Noble for $15.74, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

3. Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Katherine Tegen Books, goodreads.com

Release date: May 22

Claudia and Monday have been inseparable best friends for as long as she can remember, but when Monday doesn't show up for the first day of school, or the second, or the next weeks, Claudia knows something has to be wrong. The only thing is, no one seems to want to believe her. Monday's mom isn't helpful, and neither is her sister. Jackson creates a compelling contemporary thriller that will have you questioning where Monday is the entire ride.

Get it from Amazon for $14.39, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

4. The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik by David Arnold

Viking, goodreads.com

Release date: May 22

Noah Oakman is a quirky 16-year-old guy who's happiest hanging out with his BFF, Alan, and his sister, Val. But after Noah meets someone at a party who hypnotizes him, he begins seeing a slightly altered reality. For instance, his old dog, who once walked with a limp, is suddenly healthy. Everything in Noah’s world has been rewritten — except his Strange Fascinations. Don't just pick this one up for its brilliantly bright cover. This book is equal parts odd, imaginative, and insightful.

Get it from Amazon for $14.28, Barnes & Noble for $15.19, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

5. Mariam Sharma Hits the Road by Sheba Karim

HarperTeen, Christine Rogers / Via cerogers.net

Release date: June 5

In this spectacular summer road trip story, three Pakistani-American teens head from New Jersey to New Orleans for different reasons. Mariam hopes to uncover the truth about her father, Ghazala is escaping her strict family after a modeling photo of her appears on a billboard in Times Square, and Umar, who hasn't openly come out. Karim pens a lovely, lighthearted adventure that, at its core, is a highly enjoyable book about friendship.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $17.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

6. Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova

Sourcebooks Fire, Sarah Jane Jaramillo

Release date: June 5

In the sequel to Labyrinth Lost, a tragic accident turns Lula's world upside down. With Lula's healing powers, she is determined to bring the dead back to life — even if it requires defying the laws of the deos. But the danger of this brings upon consequences Lula doesn't expect. Set in the backdrop of Brooklyn, Córdova creates a magical sequel that fans are sure to love.

Get it from Amazon for $14.39, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

7. Smoke in the Sun by Renée Ahdieh

G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, reneeahdieh.com

Release date: June 5

In the sequel to Flame in the Mist, Mariko has tricked her brother and her betrothed into thinking that she was being held by the Black Clan against her will. Since Okami has been captured, Mariko plans to use her status within the castle walls to infiltrate the emperor's ranks and uncover the truth. But when secrets rise to the surface, Mariko and Okami find themselves in the midst of a political scheme that could threaten their honor. Ahdieh pulls us right back into her lush world filled with gorgeous prose and captivating plot.

Get it from Amazon for $15.19, Barnes & Noble for $15.49, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

8. Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider

Katherine Tegen Books, Emily Sandifer / Via robynschneider.com

Release date: June 5

Rose Asher lost her older brother, Logan, when he was 15 and she was 11, but Logan still keeps Rose company as a ghost. Now 16, Rose feels like a loner lost in a toxic friend group. But when Rose's former friend, Jamie Aldridge, moves back to town and rejoins her old circle of friends, Rose slowly finds herself going back to her old life. However, Jamie has a secret — something that provides Rose with a difficult choice. Fans of Schneider's contemporary stories will fall just as hard for this heartfelt, thoughtful, and wonderful read.

Get it from Amazon for $14.39, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

9. Save The Date by Morgan Matson

Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers, Twitter: @morgan_m

Release date: June 5

This weekend, Charlie Grant and her siblings will be together under one roof for the first time in four years. Her older sister is getting married, and Charlie wants one last perfect weekend with her family before the house sells and everything changes. But of course, relative drama, unforeseen bad weather, and a million other things threaten to go wrong. Over the course of the chaos, Charlie just might learn more than she thought she knew about her family. Equal parts hilarious and swoony, this is the rom-com book you've been searching for.

Get it from Amazon for $10.96, Barnes & Noble for $12.59, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

10. The History of Jane Doe by Michael Belanger

Penguin, penguinrandomhouse.com

Release date: June 5

Belanger pens a powerful debut with a story for fans of John Green and Jennifer Niven. Ray is a history buff living in the small town of Burgerville, Connecticut. But everything changes when a new girl moves to town — Jane Doe. Told in alternating before and after timelines, Ray explains his history with Jane, from the very highest to the very lowest points. It's a coming-of-age book that takes a look at the importance of mental illness. And beware — Belanger's story is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $17.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

11. All That I Can Fix by Crystal Chan

Simon Pulse, crystalchan.net

Release date: June 12

Set in Indiana, Ronney's town is surprised when a local zookeeper releases the animals in his exotic zoo before dying by suicide. With Ronney's father struggling with depression and his mother struggling to hold the family together, Ronney feels a personal responsibility to help pick up the slack, which also means taking care of his younger sister, Mina. And while his best friend wants to get close enough to these animals to photograph them, a boy named Sam might need Ronney's help now more than ever. Chan expertly touches on timely topics, like mental health and gun violence, while penning a story written in an authentic and oftentimes humorous voice.

Get it from Amazon for $18.99, Barnes & Noble for $18.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

12. Not the Girls You're Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi

Feiwel & Friends, goodreads.com

Release date: June 19

Lulu Saad and her three best friends are basically inseparable. Confident, messy, and true to themselves, they've always stuck together. But when Lulu's actions push her friends away — on top of causing a very public scene at Ramadan in front of her entire family — she must do what she can to try and fix it. Safi pens a relatable, loving, authentic, and refreshingly feminist story about female friendships, family relationships, and opening up your heart.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

13. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman

Greenwillow Books, Robin Schotola / Michael Meskin

Release date: June 26

In this short story anthology, fifteen authors pen stories that reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia. Filled with tales of fantasy, science fiction, contemporary, and more, this compelling collection will whisk readers off to fascinating, invigorating worlds.

Get it from Amazon for $14.39, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

14. Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mather

Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers, Twitter: @jlmatherwriter

Release date: June 26

In this deeply emotional contemporary, 16-year-old Indy is sent to the Bahamas to live with distant relatives. She struggles to hide her unwanted pregnancy and the trauma she's been through, but that changes when she finds a yoga retreat where she learns to redefine the definition of home. While this is a heavy oftentimes heartbreaking read, it's also full of authentic characters and beautiful passages. Bring some tissues. You'll need them.

Get it from Amazon for $18.99, Barnes & Noble for $18.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

15. Scream All Night by Derek Milman

HarperTeen, Jordan Matter Photography / Via en.wikipedia.org

Release date: July 24

Dario Heyward swears to remove himself from Moldavia Studios: the castle where his father directed cult classic B-horror movies. But when a unique circumstance brings Dario back, he believes he'll finally receive the closure he never got. What he doesn't expect is to get sucked back into the filmmaking chaos and the horrors that exist there. Milman graces readers with a distinctive and immersive setting and an authentically hilarious voice. It's the summer read you never knew you needed.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $17.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

16. Contagion by Erin Bowman

HarperTeen, Carey Hough

Release date: July 24

In this dark and thrilling sci-fi novel, a crew responds to what they believe is a typical search and rescue SOS yet stumble across an abandoned area filled with rotten food, dead bodies, and discarded weapons. But as they try to piece together what happen, they uncover darker, more dangerous, secrets. Equal parts captivating and mysterious, you'll be on the edge of your seat for Bowman's latest ride.

Get it from Amazon for $15.55, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

17. Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton

Katherine Tegen Books, Heart of Thorns

Release date: July 31

Set in an ancient river Kingdom, Mia Rose seeks to avenge her mother by killing Gwyrach: women who can manipulate flesh, bones, breath, and blood and have been branded as exceptionally dangerous. Aside from her father, the only person who Mia truly cares for is her younger sister, Angie. But when her father arranges an unexpected marriage between Mia and Prince Quin that turns into a violent disaster, Mia discovers the magic she's sworn to destroy is the very one she possesses. Barton expertly writes a magical story that puts a spotlight on female empowerment, the importance of consent, and the strong bonds of sisterhood all while keeping the reader on an intriguing, fantastical adventure.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

18. Campfire by Shawn Sarles

JIMMY Patterson Books, goodreads.com

Release date: July 17

Camping in the middle of nowhere telling scary stories is all part of the great outdoors experience, right? When a guide tells Maddie Davenport the local legend of ferocious Mountain Men who hunt unsuspecting campers, the true nightmare arises when the legend comes true the very next day. Packed with creeping suspense, this is a YA book that should be on horror fans' radars.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $14.39, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

19. Wrong in All the Right Ways by Tiffany Brownlee

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), goodreads.com

Release date: July 17

Emma is a careful planner — set to graduate at just 16 years old — but what she didn't plan for was to fall for her new foster brother, Dylan. While studying Wuthering Heights in AP English, Emma and Dylan attempt to only keep their romance on-page through an essay assignment — but will their secret forbidden love last? This swoony contemporary novel showcases the hardships and laughs of falling in love for the very first time.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $17.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

20. Hullmetal Girls by Emily Skrutskie

Delacorte, goodreads.com

Release date: July 17

Aisha volunteers to become a Scela (a mechanically enhanced soldier sworn to protect and serve the governing body of the Fleet) to save her brother. Key awakens in a Scela body with little memory of her life before. After their paths collide, Aisha and Key must work together with rebellion on the horizon. It's a sci-fi story filled with badass girls and epic adventures. Buckle your seat belt! This one's guaranteed to take you on a ride.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $17.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

21. What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey

Sourcebooks Fire, amazon.com

Release date: June 5

Despite going to the same high school for the last four years, Martin and Petra meet for the first time at graduation. There's an instant connection between them, but then a car accident puts Martin into a coma. Petra, still drawn to Martin and his friend circle, is left trying to figure out what happened, and why she can suddenly visit Martin in their shared dreams. Profound, heartbreaking, and beautifully told, Morrissey crafts a stunning contemporary debut.

Get it from Amazon for $10.28, Barnes & Noble for $10.28, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

22. Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

Delacorte Press, karathomasbooks.wordpress.com

Release date: July 31

Five years ago, Monica's older sister, Jen, died by suicide after a murderer killed her friends on the cheerleading team. Her step father was part of the police that caught the man responsible and closed the case. But when Monica finds her sister's cell phone and mysterious letters in his desk, she and her friend Ginny begin uncovering pieces of Jen's story from other people in town, realizing there might just be more to these deaths than what they were told. With incredible pacing and twists and turns you don't see coming, Thomas creates a must-read thriller that will have you guessing until the very last page.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $15.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

23. The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby

HarperTeen, goodreads.com

Release date: August 7

Mari Turner has crafted a "perfect" life online for her thousands of followers. It's almost enough to mask the pain of unexpectedly losing her cousin. But when grief overtakes her, Mari admits that she's unhappy in a video that goes viral, and her followers backlash. To get away from it all, she decides to hike the entire John Muir trail — the trail her cousin was supposed to hike on her eighteenth birthday — and along the way, searches for the girl she used to be. Relatable and inspiring, Kirby pens another heartfelt contemporary that readers are sure to enjoy.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $17.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

24. Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

HarperTeen, Photo by Chris Macke / Via katiehenrywrites.com

Release date: August 7

The Breakfast Club meets Saved!, Michael, an atheist, finds himself enrolled at a Catholic school by his parents after spending much of his life being shuffled around from city to city because of his father's job. There Micheal unexpectedly finds friendship in Lucy. Although she finds comfort in her religion, she invites him to join Heretics Anonymous: a group of outcast students who accept each other as they are and challenge certain school rules (like dress code) that have been defined. But when Michael pushes the boundaries of the group too far, he has to decide what's truly important to him. This wonderful story dives into the importance of friendship, family, and faith and is equal parts humorous and full of heart.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $17.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

25. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Dial Books, Afsoneh Khorram

Release date: August 28

Darius Kellner feels a disconnect with his Persian heritage. He doesn't quite fit in at home in Portland, and he's sure he won't fit in in Iran. When his parents propose a trip to visit his ailing grandfather, Darius meets Sohrab — the boy next door who feels like the first true friend Darius has had in some time. Sohrab even calls him Darioush, the original Persian version of his name. But when Darius goes back to America, he'll have to learn how to become Darioush on his own. This is an incredible story of friendship, family, and identity that you absolutely won't regret reading.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99, Barnes & Noble for $17.99, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

26. Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

Razorbill, nataliecparker.com

Release date: August 28

This inspiring adventure follows Caledonia Styx, the captain of an all-female ship. Her main motivation is to seek revenge on the corrupt warlord — the very one who killed her and her fleet's families and destroyed their homes — by taking him and his powerful crew down. Parker flawlessly creates a fast-paced, thrilling tale that focuses on the importance of sisterhood.

Get it from Amazon for $14.74, Barnes & Noble for $15.19, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.

27. Mirage by Somaiya Daud

Flatiron Books, Jessica Woods Photography / Via somaiyabooks.com

Release date: Aug 28

In this sci-fi Arabian fantasy, Amani's star system is dominated by the brutal Vathek empire. During the eve of festivities, Amani is kidnapped by the Vathek and taken to the royal palace, where she discovers she looks almost identical to the half-Vathek Princess, Maram. Amani must learn how to behave and act as Maram so she can replace her as her body double in dangerous situations in order to protect her. With a rebellion on the horizon, Amani must play her part in order to survive and, one day, see home again. Prepare yourself for a story that's enriching, thrilling, and captivating.

Get it from Amazon for $15.19, Barnes & Noble for $15.19, or from your local indie bookstore through Indiebound here.