17 Young Adult Books That Came Out This Summer That Are 100% Worth Reading

Here's what we're absolutely loving!

1. The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant

Knopf Children's, kestergrant.com

Release date: June 2

What it's about: This book is Les Misérables meets Six of Crows, and if that doesn't convince you to pick it up, maybe this will: In an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided. On one side, there's the merciless royalty, and on the other, underworld criminal guilds — aka the Court of Miracles. Two sisters try to keep their heads above water, but when one of them faces trouble, the other will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local independent bookstore through Indiebound here.

2. A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Ashley Hirasuna / Via roseanneabrown.com

Release date: June 2

What it's about: Inspired by West African folklore, this YA fantasy follows crown princess Karina, who is determined to use magic to resurrect her assassinated mother — all she requires is the beating heart of a king. She'll offer her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition, a competition that refugee Malick plans to enter. His younger sister has been abducted, and for her return, he strikes a deal to kill the princess. But as Karina and Malick's attraction for each other grows, it's unclear if they will be able to go through with their assigned tasks. Brown pairs gorgeous writing with a lush and atmospheric setting for an incredibly epic tale.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

3. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Scholastic Press, Reece T. Williams / Via reecetwilliams.photo

Release date: June 2

What it's about: This YA contemporary was just selected for Reese's Book Club YA, so you're going to want to get a copy ASAP because you know she has impeccable taste. Also? I cried tears of joy about three times when reading this — it's that cute. When the scholarship Liz was counting on to pay for college falls through, she decides to run for prom queen in her small Indiana town to win a scholarship. However, things get complicated when Liz starts falling for Mack, who is also running for prom queen. Johnson writes an adorable queer rom-com that's funny, heartfelt, and voicey.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

4. Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Simon Pulse, rachelsolomonbooks.com

Release date: July 28

Why we're excited: If you need more sweet, clever, and adorable YA rom-coms in your life because you've got the quarantine blues, pick up Today Tonight Tomorrow immediately. Rowan Roth and Neil McNair have been bitter rivals for all of high school, but on the last night of their senior year, they decide to team up while participating in a senior game in order to avoid another group of seniors who have it out for them. But as the night stretches on, Rowan and Neil get to know each other better than they did in high school, realizing that maybe the other isn't so bad. In fact, maybe there might be something there? Solomon nails the charm and humor in this one.

Get it from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

5. Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Bloomsbury, Black Forest Photography / Via kalynnbayron.com

Release date: July 7

What it's about: In the mood for a fairy tale with a twist? How about a feminist twist? Then you're going to absolutely devour this one. Two hundred years after Cinderella finds her prince, teen girls are required to appear at an Annual Ball. There, the men of the kingdom select wives based on the girls' display of finery. Sophia loves Erin, and she would rather flee than go forward with this tradition. When she finds herself hiding in Cinderella's mausoleum, she meets the last known descendant of Cinderella. Together, they decide that they must bring down the patriarchy. Bayron crafts a unique and intriguing premise that will keep you hooked all the way through.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

6. Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy

Balzer + Bray, Christy Archibald / Christy Archibald Photography christyarchibald.com / Via imjuliemurphy.com

Release date: July 7

What it's about: In the mood for some new superhero stories? Allow me to recommend Faith: Taking Flight. Faith is trying to have a normal senior year, but that changes when the set of her favorite show relocates to her town to film. The best part? The star of the show, Dakota Ash, begins to take a romantic interest in her. But when animals, then people, begin vanishing from her town, Faith begins to connect the dots. And she'll have to use her newfound powers if she wants to save her city. This is such a fun read! Murphy has a gift when it comes to creating characters you instantly adore, and this one is no different.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local independent bookstore through Indiebound here.

7. The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Little, brown, Jessie Weinberg / Via brandycolbert.com

Release date: July 7

What it's about: With the election just around the corner, Colbert's timely story may be just what you need to read today. Marva Sheridan is ready to make a difference in the world and is excited to finally exercise her right to vote. Duke Crenshaw is over it, ready to get his vote out of the way so he can go back to focusing on his band. But when Marva sees Duke turned away from his polling place, she's determined to help him make his vote count. Together they embark on this mission as strangers, teaming up to beat a rigged system, and slowly begin to form an unexpected connection. Told in dual POVs, this topical story will have you rooting for Marva and Duke from the very beginning.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

8. Keep My Heart in San Francisco by Amelia Diane Coombs

Sarah Deragon / Via ameliadianecoombs.com

Release date: July 14

What it's about: Here's another YA contemporary story that's so cute, you won't want to miss it. It'll definitely get you out of your reading slump. Caroline "Chuck" Wilson's family owns a bowling alley in San Francisco, but when she gets word that the failing business might be over for good, she teams up with her ex–best friend Beckett to do something about it. But can she work amicably with Beckett and save the business? Full of wit and charm, this heartwarming story is well worth a read.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local independent bookstore through Indiebound here.

9. 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

Simon Pulse, sandhyamenon.com

Release date: July 21

What it's about: Question: What's a summer read without a fake-boyfriend trope? This is 100% why you're going to love Pinky and Samir in 10 Things I Hate About Pinky. When Samir's summer internship falls through, Pinky texts him to ask if he'll be her fake boyfriend in exchange for a new internship. Pinky needs her parents to lay off her past mistakes, and Samir is just the person to help. But as the summer goes on, Samir and Pinky grow closer, and as they do, the lines of "fake" begin to blur. Menon's history of writing perfect rom-coms is impeccable, so run, don't walk, to grab her latest!

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local independent bookstore through Indiebound here.

10. The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

Simon & Schuster, goodreads.com

Release date: Aug. 4

What it's about: In '92 Los Angeles, Ashley Bennett and her friends are living their best lives, spending more time on the beaches of Los Angeles than in the classroom. But the rose-tinted sunglasses come off when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a Black man — Rodney King — nearly to death. Soon, Ashley goes from being "one of the girls" to being "one of the Black kids." With her sister joining in on the riots, her "nuclear Black family" facade beginning to crumble, and her best friends aiding in a false rumor that could ruin a fellow Black student's life, Ashley is forced to ask, who's with us and who's with them? Reed's poignant and hard-hitting contemporary story is an important one, so you aren't going to want to miss it.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

11. They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

Razorbill/ PenguinTeen, Allie Holloway / Via goodmanjessica.com

Release date: Aug. 4

What it's about: Pitched as Gossip Girl meets One of Us Is Lying, this scandalous mystery is going to suck you in immediately. Jill's best friend, Shaila Arnold, was murdered by her boyfriend during her first year at prep school. After Graham confessed, the case was closed. Now it's Jill's senior year, and she's receiving texts that say Graham is innocent. But if Graham didn't kill her best friend, then who did? Jill is going to find out, even if digging up the past puts her in danger. This is a fast-paced whirlwind of a ride, perfect for those digging YA thrillers right now.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local independent bookstore through Indiebound here.

12. Facing the Sun by Janice Lynn Mather

Simon & Schuster, simonandschuster.com

Release date: Aug. 4

What it's about: This is a beautifully told story pitched as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants meets The Education of Margot Sanchez, and the writing is as gorgeous as this cover. In this coming-of-age story set in the Caribbean, four friends — Eve, Faith, KeeKee, and Nia — face an unexpected change after a hotel developer purchases their community's beloved beach.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

13. Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Simon Pulse, raquelvasquezgilliland.com

Release date: Aug. 11

Why you should read it: This book took me by surprise! Gilliland has such a poetic, lush way of writing and creating characters that it's hard not to become sucked into the story — and it's one with such an interesting mix of genres. Sia Martinez lives in a small Arizona town and is dealing with the deportation of her mother, whom she hasn't seen or heard from in three years. She believes her mother to be dead. There's a splash of romance that happens when a new boy named Noah moves into town, but the speculative element comes into play when Noah, Sia, and Sia's best friend get caught up in a space mystery after a blue-lit spacecraft crashes in front of Sia's car and is carrying her mother, who is very much alive. Gilliland presents topics of immigration, assault, racism, grief, and abuse and writes about them in a careful, yet realistic manner. Once you begin reading, it's hard to put down.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local independent bookstore through Indiebound here.

14. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Amulet Books, jordanifueko.com

Release date: Aug. 18

What it's about: Raybearer is a lush, intriguing, and perfectly paced epic YA fantasy that you're going to FLY through, trust me. Tarisai, raised in isolation by a mother known as the Lady, is sent to the capital of Aritsar to compete with others to be chosen as the Crown Prince's Council of 11. Tarisai craves the acceptance and belonging that this position offers — a real chance at having a family. And she immediately forms a bond with the prince. But the Lady has other plans for her, planting a curse on her before she leaves for the capital compelling her to fulfill a command: Kill the Crown Prince.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

15. Now That I've Found You by Kristina Forest

Roaring Brook Press, tochihannah / Via kristinaforest.com

Release date: Aug. 25

What it's about: Oh, what's that? You need another feel-good contemporary book to fill a hole of despair? May I recommend Now That I've Found You. Evie Jones is Hollywood's next big star at just 18 years old — until she's blacklisted by a close friend. To save her career, Evie plans to make a public appearance with America's most beloved actress: her grandma Gigi, aka the Evelyn Conaway. But a huge problem arises: Days before the appearance, Gigi disappears. Evie enlists the help of a cute musician named Milo Williams, and together they venture across New York City in search of Gigi, meeting adventure and romance along the way. If a boy and girl gallivanting around New York City doesn't sound like a super-fun and cute read to you, then I don't know what to tell you. This one is full of heart!

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

16. Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

Dial Books for Young Readers, goodreads.com

Release date: Aug. 25

What it's about: This is the companion read to Darius the Great Is Not Okay, which you should pick up immediately if you haven't already. Since Darius returned from Iran, a lot has changed in his life. Between hanging out with his boyfriend Landon and landing his first internship, he stays busy. But when Darius's grandmothers come into town, he can't tell what they make of him. Plus, he's been hanging out with Chip, and although he still likes Landon, he's discovering that maybe he's not so sure about anything after all.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local independent bookstore through Indiebound here.

17. Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova

Sourcebooks Fire, Sarah Younger / Via zoraidacordova.com

Release date: Sept. 1

What it's about: If you haven't read Córdova's first two books in her Brooklyn Brujas series, do yourself a favor and pick them up. This series — this book in particular — is filled with magic, transporting you to another world. Wayward Witch follows Rose, who has come into powers she doesn't fully understand. When she and her father are pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea, Rose is forced to find a way to save Adas in order to return home, all while figuring out her powers and uncovering her father's secrets.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from a local independent bookstore through Indiebound here.