32 Young Adult Books We're Excited To Read When They Release This Fall/Winter

    Here's what brand-new YA books the last half of 2020 has to offer!

    Farrah Penn
    by Farrah Penn

    BuzzFeed Staff Writer

    1. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

    Swoon, swoonreads.com

    Release date: Sept. 1

    What it's about: Yadriel is a trans boy who wants to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family so they'll accept him as a real brujo, but when he performs a ritual to find the ghost of his murdered cousin, he accidentally summons Julian Diaz. Julian was the school's bad boy and expects Yadriel to help him uncover what exactly happened to him, but the longer Julian stays among the land of the living with Yadriel, the less Yadriel actually wants him to leave.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    2. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

    Balzer + Bray, Richard Louissant / ibizoboi.net / Via epicreads.com

    Release date: Sept. 1

    What it's about: Yusef Salaam of the "Exonerated Five" and bestselling author Ibi Zoboi teamed up to write a compelling verse novel about a boy who is wrongfully incarcerated. Amal Shahid, an artist and poet, has his world turned upside down when he is convicted of a crime he didn't commit and sent to prison, finding refuge only in his art. Will he be able to fight for his truth?

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    3. Recommended for You by Laura Silverman

    Margaret K. McElderry Books, Katie King / Via laurasilvermanwrites.com

    Release date: Sept. 1

    What it's about: Pitched as To All the Boys I've Loved Before meets You've Got Mail, Shoshanna Greenberg works at Once Upon with the newly hired Jake Kaplan, a cute Jewish boy who turns into her competitive rival when their boss announces a holiday bonus to the person who sells the most books. With her car on its last legs, Shoshanna really needs that money. But what happens when the competition brings them closer together?

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    4. The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters

    Interlude Press, julianwinters.com

    Release date: Sept. 8

    What it's about: Wes Hudson only cares about two things: slacking off and crushing on his BFF, Nico. But this is not the summer for either of those things. Wes is heading off to college and has to make some decisions: How does he tell Nico how he feels? How does he save his bookstore job when a coffee chain threatens to buy it? How in the world is he going to decide what to major in? The time has come for Wes to make some choices and jump headfirst into adulthood.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    5. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

    Margaret K. McElderry Books, Tracy Deonn / tracydeonn.com

    Release date: Sept. 15

    What it's about: After the death of her mother, Bree Matthews escapes to UNC Chapel Hill for a residence program. However, during her first night on campus, she witnesses an attack on a human by an energy-feeding demon. A secret society of students, the Legendborn, are responsible for hunting these demons, but when she realizes that a Legendborn was present the night her mother died, Bree — along with a self-exiled Legendborn, Nick — infiltrate the group to learn the truth about her mother's death.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    6. Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

    Katherine Tegen Books, harpercollins.com

    Release date: Sept. 15

    What it's about: Jackson's latest is a pull-no-punches, edgy, and gripping thriller. All Enchanted Jones has ever wanted was to be an R&B singer, and when legend Korey Fields discovers her at an audition, Enchanted is under the impression that her dreams are finally coming true. But when she wakes up covered in blood and no memory of how it got there, questions and accusations begin to fill her orbit — the pressing one being: Did she murder Korey Fields?

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    7. Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

    Bloomsbury, Vanessa Acosta / Via lilliamrivera.com

    Release date: Sept. 15

    What it's about: I love Rivera's stunningly authentic and intriguing books, and Never Look Back didn't disappoint. She has such a unique way of capturing you with her lyrical prose. Never Look Back is an Afro-Latinx retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice set in the Bronx and stars Eury, who's lost everything to Hurricane Maria. She also believes she's attracted an evil spirit, Ato. Then there is Pheus, a singer, a charmer, and someone who's set on capturing Eury's affections — but it doesn't come easy. As Eury and Pheus's connection grows closer, the world threatens to tear them apart.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    8. Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

    Algonquin Young Readers, yamilesmendez.com

    Release date: Sept. 15

    What it's about: Set in Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan is a talented soccer player who has a dream of gaining an athletic scholarship to a North American university, but her home life isn't the best. She lives in the shadow of her brother and under the roof of her short-tempered father with a mother who doesn't seem to understand. And when an old flame returns to town, now an international star, Camila won't let herself get distracted — will she?

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    9. Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro

    Tor, Zoraida Córdova | zoraidacordova.com / Via markoshiro.com

    Release date: Sept. 15

    What it's about: Oshiro writes a slow burn of a spectacular novel that is eloquent, thoughtful, and transformative. I can't think of anything else like it! Our main character, Xochitl, wanders the desert alone, attempting to determine her destiny and place in the world. As a cuentista, her gift is taking other's stories and presenting them to Solís. On her journey through the desert, she meets Emilia, a girl with a dark past, who joins her. Together, they meet complex characters who help shape them. This one is introspective and atmospheric — you won't want to miss it.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    10. K-pop Confidential by Stephan Lee

    Point, Twitter: @stephanmlee

    Release date: Sept. 15

    What it's about: Candace Park has a hidden talent: singing. But she doesn't see a point in pursuing it. After all, she's never seen an Asian-American girl make it big time as a singer-songwriter anyway. But when she enters a K-pop audition on a dare and wins, she's offered the opportunity to go to Seoul, South Korea to train at the top Korean music company in the world. First rule of becoming a K-pop star? No dating. But what happens when she finds herself caught between falling for a sweet boy trainee and a superstar member of the hottest boyband in the world?

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    11. Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

    Dutton Books for Young Readers, Via ninalacour.com

    Release date: Sept. 15

    What it's about: This novel is LaCour's follow up to We Are Okay. After graduating high school and aging out of the foster care system, Mila is offered a teaching job, which includes a place to live, in an isolated portion of Northern California. While the farm acts as a refuge, Mila is still haunted by memories of her past.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    12. Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds

    Katherine Tegen Books, justinareynolds.com

    Release date: Sept. 22

    What it's about: Q doesn't know that he died...and that he's about to die again. He doesn't know that his former best friend, Jamal, tried to save him, or that the reason Jamal is his former BFF is that Jamal blames Q for the death of his parents. But Jamal wants a second chance with Q, and this is it. However, the technology allows Q to come back only for a few weeks before dying permanently. How is Jamal supposed to fix things with Q when he can't tell him the truth?

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    13. The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

    MacMillan, Aman Sharma / Via roshanichokshi.com

    Release date: Sept. 22

    What it's about: In this sequel to The Gilded Wolves, Séverin eagerly pursues a long-lost artifact that's said to grant the possessor ultimate power. But when the search takes him and his crew to Russia, they uncover a string of unsolved murders, leading them to question whether this ancient myth is a myth after all.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    14. White Fox by Sara Faring

    Imprint, Emily Lipson / Via sarafaring.com

    Release date: Sept. 22

    What it's about: If mystery books are more your speed, then you won't want to miss Faring's latest. She writes in a way that draws you in from the beginning. This one is about two sisters, Manon and Thaïs, who return to their Mediterranean island home 10 years after their mother's disappearance. They're drawn to their mother's unfinished screenplay, scouring it for clues that reveal she might be alive. But what they don't expect is to uncover even darker secrets.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    15. Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker

    Imprint, Sarah Elizabeth Younger / Via zoraidacordova.com, nataliecparker.com

    Release date: Sept. 22

    What it's about: Two words: vampire anthology. Need I say more? Okay, I will. Some of the greatest voices in YA have come together to create diverse, intriguing, and dare I say dangerous stories about vampires, and they're unlike anything you've read before. If you need more after devouring Midnight Sun, be sure to pick this one up.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    16. Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Anna-Marie McLemore

    HarperTeen, Tia Reagan Photo / Via tehlorkaymejia.com, author.annamariemclemore.com

    Release date: Sept. 22

    What it's about: Pitched as Dumplin' and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Lita Perez is fully aware there has not been a winner of the Miss Meteor beauty pageant that looks like her or her ex-best friend, Chicky Quintanilla. And when Lita wants to enter, she doesn't expect Chicky to want to help her — but can they both forget the past to make this happen?

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    17. Smash It! by Francina Simone

    Inkyard, francinasimone.com

    Release date: Sept. 22

    What it's about: Liv is sick and tired of being "wack AF." So, what better time than now to make a "Fuck it!" list to help her get out of her comfort zone and start living her life? Sure, said list got her to audition for the school musical and make some new friends, but NOW she has feelings for three different guys! Apparently, a lot can happen when your answer to every question is, "Fuck it. What’s the worst that can happen?”

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    18. Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

    Crown Books for Young Readers, nicstone.info

    Release date: Sept. 29

    What it's about: In this highly anticipated sequel to Dear Martin, this novel follows the life of Vernell LaQuan Banks and how drastically different it is from Justyce's, even though they grew up down the street from each other. While Jus is studying at Yale, Quan is behind bars at a youth detention center. This novel explores the injustices of the American juvenile "justice" system.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    19. A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

    Atheneum Books for Young Readers, laurataylornamey.com

    Release date: Oct. 6

    What it's about: If swoony, cute, and contemporary are your YA keywords, I've got the perfect pick for you. Namey creates such an adorable premise and delivers with characters you can't help but adore. Lila Reyes is really going through it. She loses her abuela, her best friend abandons her, and her long-time boyfriend dumps her. Thinking their daughter needs an escape from Miami, Lila's parents take her to Winchester, England for the summer. Lila loves creating Cuban cuisines and is given the space to do so in England, but she longs for Miami. Enter cute British boy, Orion Maxwell. When Orion shows Lila what there is to love about England, Lila can't quite ignore the chemistry between them.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    St. Martin's Griffin, goodreads.com

    Release date: Oct. 6

    What it's about: BuzzFeed Deputy Director Lara Parker writes a series of personal essays about growing up while dealing with what she calls "vagina problems," as well as her many diagnoses and the enormous flaws in the medical industry. Chronicling her experiences living with these conditions, Lara openly and conversationally talks about her sex and dating life, her experience with surgery and different doctors, and how she manages her daily pain, reminding readers with unflinching honesty that those with chronic illness are doing their very best every single day.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    [Editor's note: Lara Parker is a writer at BuzzFeed.]

    21. Beyond the Ruby Veil by Mara Fitzgerald

    Little Brown, Emily Frazier Creative / Via marafitzgerald.com

    Release date: Oct. 13

    What it's about: So, if you're looking for an extremely dark, extremely bloody, queer YA fantasy, this is the book for you — and it's releasing just in time for spooky season. Witty and confident Emanuela Ragn lives in the city of Occhia, where she's about to marry her best friend Alessandro Morandi as a power move, never mind the fact that they're both queer. The only source of water in their city comes from the magical watercrea, who uses magic to make water from blood. But when a mysterious omen gets Emanuela in heaps of trouble, she and Ale must travel through the veil that surrounds their city to uncover the secrets of the watercrea's magic — and save her people.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    22. Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe

    Balzer + Bray, benphilippe.com

    Release date: Oct. 13

    What it's about: Henri "Halti" Haltiwanger is a star debater and popular student at his notable academy in New York City, with the dream of attending Columbia University. He's also charming as hell. When classmate Corinne Troy blackmails him into helping her change her image at school, their mutual hustle transforms into something neither of them expects.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    23. This Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi

    Feiwel & Friends, Kirsten Gilliam Photography / Via aminahmae.com

    Release date: Oct. 13

    What it's about: Told in multiple POVs with big Empire Records vibes, three very different girls team up to save Wild Nights, their local indie bookstore. After Eli accidentally spends $9,000 of the store's money on fake Air Jordans in a half-hearted attempt to try and raise money to save the shop, Rin, Daniella, and Imogen have 24 hours to try and fix his mistake and save the store before it's too late.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    24. Lightbringer by Claire Legrand

    Sourcebooks, Via claire-legrand.com

    Release date: Oct. 13

    What it's about: This is the epic conclusion to the Empirium trilogy about two queens with a thousand years between them facing their destiny. Queen Rielle is being driven mad by the whispers from the empirium, which urge her to open the Gate. She steps into the role of Blood Queen, becoming the monster the world believes her to be. In another timeline, Eliana fights to keep her power at bay after arriving at the capital. But then a mysterious prophet offers two outcomes: a second chance for salvation or world destruction.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    25. Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron

    Simon & Schuster, simonandschuster.com

    Release date: Oct. 13

    What it's about: Living in the Jim Crow South, Evalene Deschamps has much to worry about: raising her younger sisters, helping her overworked mother, and juggling her longtime crush after he finally makes a move. But when Evalene discovers her magical powers — the Jubilation, which has been passed down since slavery — she has to embrace her lineage and fight the evils that threaten her world.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    26. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

    Jimmy Patterson Books, Kelli Maniscalco @ Dogwood Lane / Via kerrimaniscalco.com

    Release date: Oct. 27

    What it's about: Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are witches who live among humans. Everything changes when Emilia finds the body of her sister desecrated beyond belief, setting Emilia on a journey to avenge Vittoria's death using forbidden, dark magic. But then Emilia meets one of the Wicked-princes of Hell who claims to want to solve the series of women's murders on the island — but will they succeed?

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    27. Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao

    Simon & Schuster, gloriachao.wordpress.com

    Release date: Nov. 10

    What it's about: Pitched as To All the Boys I've Loved Before meets The Farewell, Chloe Wang has hired a boyfriend from Rent for Your 'Rents — a company that provides fake boyfriends guaranteed to impress even the most traditional Asian parents. Chloe is on a mission to get her parents to become smitten with her fake boyfriend Drew so they'll stop pressuring her to accept a proposal from Hongbo, who happens to be a rich, slimeball bachelor in their Asian American community. But then something happens that Chloe doesn't expect — she begins to fall for Drew.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    28. Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault

    Disney-Hyperion, Agatha Rowland / Via emmatheriaultbooks.com

    Release date: Nov. 10

    What it's about: Pitched as Beauty and the Beast meets the French revolution, it's 1789 and France is on the verge of facing a revolution. Belle has just freed the Beast from an enchanted curse, and the two now reside in their castle in Aveyon. But Belle has always dreamed of a life full of adventure, so when she comes across a mysterious, ancient magic that comes with a serious warning, she'll have to ask herself if she's really ready for this kind of power.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    29. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

    Margaret K. McElderry Books, thechloegong.com

    Release date: Nov. 17

    What it's about: Pitched as a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, it's 1926 and a blood feud between two gangs is sending the city into chaos. Juliette Cai is heir to a network of criminals called the Scarlet Gang. Roma Montagov is heir to the rival White Flowers, who've fought against the Scarlet Gang for generations. But when a madness runs rampant in their city, the two rivals must work together to figure out what's going on in order to save their people from what's rumored to be a monster lurking in the shadows.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    30. Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi

    Razorbill, tochionyebuchi.com

    Release date: Nov. 17

    What it's about: In the sequel to War Girls, Ify is now a high-ranking medical official in the Space Colonies. Meanwhile, back in the village that she left for good, Uzo is trying to preserve memories that would otherwise be lost due to the fallout of the war. But when a virus breaks out that's killing the children of the Space Colonies, Ify has to return to the home she left behind and team up with Uzo to find the cause of the disease.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    31. A ​Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

    Razorbill, sabaatahir.com

    Release date: Dec. 1

    What it's about: This is the fourth and final conclusion to Tahir's incredibly lush and epic An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series. Chaos is wreaking havoc in villages and cities. In order to stop the approaching apocalypse, the Blood Shrike attempts to destroy the Nightbringer. But in doing so, she releases an ancient power that could lead her to victory — or to an unimaginable doom.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.

    32. The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

    Delacorte Press, Kaitlyn Litchfield / Via karenmcmanus.com

    Release date: Dec. 1

    What it's about: Mystery queen McManus is back with another novel to close out 2020. Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are all cousins who barely know each other, so when they all receive a letter from their grandmother inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're curious. But when they arrive, it becomes clear that their grandmother has different plans, and the longer the cousins stay on the island, the more they learn of their dark family secrets.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.