30 Of The Best YA Books To Get Your Hands On This Summer

It's poolside reading time, baby!

1. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Feiwel & Friends, faridahabikeiyimide.com

Release date: June 1

This dark academia mystery/thriller will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time you're reading! Set in Niveus Private Academy, students Devon and Chiamaka harbor dark secrets — secrets that an anonymous texter called Aces threatens to expose. But who has it out for them? And why?

Get it from Bookshop or your local indie through Indiebound here.

2. The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver

Scholastic, Trịnh Hồng Hương / Via masondeaverwrites.com

Release date: June 1

When Liam unexpectedly loses their older brother in a hit-and-run accident, they're left to sift through their grief. On top of that, Liam's tumultuous relationship with their best friends isn't helping things. The only one who seems to have a glimmer of understanding is Marcus, Ethan's best friend. And the more Marcus and Liam grow closer, the more Liam learns about their brother. Deaver pens a moving portrayal of grief and what it means to continue on when you thought you had more time.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

3. A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow

Tor, bethanycmorrow.com

Release date: June 1

Don't miss this next empowering story — full of magic and heart — from Morrow. Naema Bradshaw is an Eloko, a charismatic person gifted with a melody that people adore. But not everyone adores her, especially after she exposed a Siren to the whole world. Vilified and outcast, Naema returns to the Southwest, where she finds a new community. But when that community begins targeting other Black girls, Naema is forced to confront her privilege of fame.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

4. An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi

Harper, taherehmafi.com

Release date: June 1

What it's about: Mafi returns with another lyrical contemporary novel set after 9/11 in the year 2003. Shadi is a hijab-wearing Muslim American teen who tries to be good despite everything crumbling around her. Her father's in the hospital, her mother is suffering from depression, her brother is dead, and she's barely survived a friendship breakup. And the one boy who returns into her life — the boy who tries to understand all she's going through — is the very one Shadi can't open up to. This is an aching, emotional story that touches on various internal struggles of being a child of immigrants.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

5. Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by Suzanne Park

Sourcebooks Fire, Joanna Degeneres Photography / Via goodreads.com

Release date: June 1

Fun, voicey, and amusing! If you like your contemporary with a dose of shenanigans, don't miss Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous. When Sunny Song accidentally goes viral, she's shipped off to a digital detox farm camp in Iowa for a month. But if she wants to grow her platform (and she does), she'll have to find her way back to Wi-Fi. The longer she stays, the more IRL connections Sunny begins to make, including unexpected friendships. Plus, there's a pretty cute farm boy who might have captured her attention.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

6. Jay's Gay Agenda by Jason June

Harper, Ryan Bilawsky

Release date: June 1

What it's about: This joyful queer novel will absolutely liven up your summer. Jay was born and raised in a small rural Washington town, but everything changes when his parents move to Seattle during his senior year. Jay, who hasn't had any queer friends before, is thrilled. He makes a romance to-do list — his Gay Agenda — so he can experience many of the things he's always dreamed of. But as Jay becomes immersed in the LGBTQ+ community, he finds himself a little over his head, making promises he isn't quite sure he can keep. June writes messy, lovable characters with a rich, humorous voice, making him one to watch in the YA space.

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

7. Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Random House, David Yoon / Via nicolayoon.com

Release date: June 1

Evie has lost hope in love. Ever since she discovered her father being unfaithful to her mother, she finds it hard to be excited about romance — especially when something big and unexplainable happens, leading her to discover a dance studio in her neighborhood. And with this discovery comes ballroom dancing lessons with a good-looking musician boy named X. But as Evie and X grow closer, she begins to question everything she thinks she knows about love. Yoon's latest tackles the magic of first loves with unexpected gut punches tied together with meaningful storytelling.  

(You can read an excerpt here!)

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

8. The Marvelous by Claire Kann

Swoon Reads, Via clairekann.com

Release date: June 8

Told in three points of view, Nicole, Luna, and Stella have been chosen to spend an exclusive weekend on Jewel Van Hanen's private estate. Jewel is an heiress turned actress turned social media darling and creator of popular video-sharing app Golden Rule. But what the girls don't know is that Jewel's guests are actually participating in an elaborate estate-wide game — a game in which Jewel has crafted every challenge to test whether her guests have what it takes to win.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

9. Heartbreakers and Fakers by Cameron Lund

Penguin, cameronlund.com

Release date: June 8

This incredibly charming enemies-to-lovers rom-com was such a delight to read, filled with witty dialogue and amusing antics. Penny Harris has done everything in her power in order to achieve "perfection" — she's fallen in with the right crowd, is dating a popular boy, and puts time and effort into her looks. But she deeply messes up when she's found kissing her best friend's boyfriend — her best friend's annoying boyfriend — at a party. And in order for Penny and Kai to win their significant others back, they plan to fake date in order to make them jealous. 

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie through Indiebound here. 

10. We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Simon & Schuster, rachelsolomonbooks.com

Release date: June 8

Quinn Berkowitz's family are wedding planners. Tarek Mansour's family are caterers. It makes sense they've been in business together for the last several years. At the end of last summer, Quinn confessed her love to Tarek — lover of grand, romantic gestures — in the form of a rambling email, but he never replied. Now, it's a new summer. Quinn isn't sure she wants to be part of her family's business anymore, but with her sister getting married and Tarek returning to work, her problems are piling high. Quinn may have a realist's perspective when it comes to love, but the more she and Tarek hang out, the more she discovers she's fighting uncertain feelings. Solomon returns with another sweet YA romance full of fun banter, layered family dynamics, and characters you can't help but love.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

11. Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Margaret K. McElderry Books, lisellesambury.ca

Release date: June 15

Teen witch Voya Thomas is tasked with killing her first love in order to pass her Calling — a trial every witch must pass in order to come into their powers. If she doesn't, she will be stripped of her magic. The problem? Voya has never been in love, so she turns to a genetic matchmaking program to find her first. Enter a boy named Luc — equal parts irritating and spiteful. But in order for Voya to keep magic within her family's bloodline, Voya must grow closer to Luc. And soon, because time is not on her side. 

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

12. Broken Web by Lori M. Lee

Page Street Kids, PrettyGeeky Photography / Via lorimlee.com

Release date: June 15

This is the immersive sequel to Lee's fantasy novel, Forest of Souls. Lurking in the Dead Wood is The Soulless, who has awoken from imprisonment and is gathering strength. Sirscha is believed to be a soulguide, a hero, but deep down, she knows a soulrender like the Soulless. No one must find out. In a quest to cut off The Soulless from his power, Sirscha finds herself caught between a war brewing in the east and the Soulless waiting in the west.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

13. Sisters of the Snake by Sasha Nanua, Sarena Nanua

Harper, sarenasashabooks.com

Release date: June 15

This immersive, breathtaking YA fantasy will sweep you off your feet with its lush world and memorable characters. When Princess Rani meets Ria, a street urchin, they discover they are are unmistakably identical. They decide to switch places, all the while uncovering dark danger that encompasses both of their worlds. In order to save their home, both girls must work together before everything falls apart.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

14. Don't Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd

Bloomsbury, Kim Hoyos

Release date: June 15

Nedd's fresh, hilarious voice sparkles in this unique YA romance about a girl gamer and one hell of a competition. Told in dual POVs, Em, a junior in high school, hides the gaming part of her life from her friends and parents despite being an incredible player for Guardians League Online's Team Fury. Jake (POV #2) is an invisible, nerdy gamer who also plays GLO — but for Team Unity. Jake and Em bonded over gaming in elementary school, but have since gone their separate ways. But when a GLO competition brings them together again as each other's rivals, Em isn't sure how to act around him, especially since she enjoys hanging with him. As one of the few females in this enormously male-dominated gaming space, the competition is fierce. And a million dollars is at stake if anyone finds out about Jake and Em's friendship...

15. Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon

Quill Tree Books, Quill Tree

Release date: June 22

What it's about: Not one, not two, but six bestselling and award-winning authors come together to write a moving story of Black teen love, set against the backdrop of New York City in the summer. We follow multiple teens' journeys through love and pain in the midst of a blackout.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

16. That Weekend by Kara Thomas

Penguin, kara-thomas.com

Release date: June 29

This is a masterful, fast-paced, and compulsively readable thriller you won't be able to set down. Instead of attending prom, Claire, her best friend Kat, and Kat's boyfriend Jesse decide to embark on a weekend getaway to Kat's family's cabin. But when Claire wakes up alone on the side of a mountain, bloody and without her memory of the last 48 hours, she knows something terrible must have happened — especially after learning Kat and Jesse are still missing. 

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

17. Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson

Scholastic, Reece T. Williams / Via byleahjohnson.com

Release date: July 6

What it's about: The author of You Should See Me in a Crown — a Reese Witherspoon book club pick — returns with a new YA contemporary this summer. Toni and Olivia, each broken in their own way, are brought into each other's life at Farmland Music and Arts Festival. But when something at the festival goes awry, the two learn just how much they'll need each other.

Get it from Bookshop or your local indie through Indiebound here.

18. XOXO by Axie Oh

HarperTeen, axieoh.com

Release date: July 13

Jenny is a cello prodigy who has plans to get into a prestigious music conservatory. It's at her uncle's Los Angeles karaoke bar that she meets a guy named Jaewoo, and, together, they spontaneously have a one-night adventure. But when family brings Jenny to South Korea, she discovers Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she's enrolled. Not only that, he's also a member of a widely popular K-pop band — and he's forbidden from dating. This book was pure joy to read. If you're looking for a lighthearted, fresh, and fun romance, Oh's latest is absolutely for you.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

19. Like Other Girls by Britta Lundin

Freeform, Jenny GG Photography / Via brittalundin.com

Release date: August 3

Lundin's latest contemporary novel follows Mara, who is kicked off her high school basketball team but is still dying to play a sport. Turns out, football comes naturally to her, and joining the team leads a few other girls to join — including her crush and her nemesis. And as Mara becomes integrated into the politics of football within her small Oregon town, the more passionate she becomes.

Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

20. The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad

Margaret K. McElderry Books, goodreads.com

Release date: August 3

In this magical, atmospheric novel that's set in both reality and "the Between," we follow Paheli, betrayed by her mother and sold to a man in exchange for a favor. Then Paheli is gifted a box of stars by a mysterious boy who disappears, giving Paheli access to a world where she can collect girls like herself, using magic to help the hopeless. But when the girls discover the boy is in danger, nothing becomes safe. This unique, moving story is one that will stay with you long after you finish.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

21. Fresh by Margot Wood

Abrams, margotwood.com

Release date: August 3

Wood writes a coming-of-age story about all the ups and downs and wild experiences that happen during freshman year of college. Elliot McHugh isn't exactly sure what she wants to major in, but she is certain that she wants this year to be memorable. From parties, strict RAs, and sex to...well, bad sex, roommate struggles, and a demanding course load, Elliot might just come out of this discovering the person she wants to be.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

22. A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

Delacorte Press, victorialeewrites.com

Release date: August 3

If you love atmospheric, witchy books in a boarding school setting, look no further than Lee's latest. Felicity returns to the Dalloway School after the tragic death of her girlfriend. Dalloway's occult history is known by students who attend, including the mysterious deaths of The Dalloway Five. When a new girl, Ellis, asks Felicity's help researching further into the deaths, Felicity obliges. But when history begins repeating itself, Felicity finds she'll have to confront the darkness within her school — and herself. 

Get it from Bookshop or your local indie through Indiebound here.

23. How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao

Bloomsbury, katiezhao.com

Release date: August 3

This YA thriller is Crazy Rich Asians meets One of Us Is Lying set in an elite prep school. Top-ranked junior Jamie is found dead, leaving Nancy Luo — his former BFF — dumbfounded. But Nancy and her friends become prime suspects when someone anonymously begins incriminating them via the school's social media app. Now, Nancy must figure out what happened to Jamie before the messages begin costing her more than she can afford.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

24. The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young

Wednesday Books, adrienneyoungbooks.com

Release date: August 7

On Bryn's 18th birthday, a letter arrives from her uncle, inviting her to get to know her long-lost family. The Roths have a dark history, but even so, Bryn wants to gain their trust and be accepted. When a forbidden romance threatens the balance, Bryn slowly begins to understand the cost of being "in" with this family.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

25. In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

Crown Books for Young Readers, jeffzentnerbooks.com

Release date: Aug. 10

What it's about: Cash loves the familiarity of his small Appalachian town, but he also knows the suffering of loss. He lost his mother from an opioid addiction, and his grandfather is dying slowly from emphysema. His rock is his best friend Delaney, who he feels a fierce protection toward. But one day, everything changes. Delaney's scientific discovery has secured the both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, which means Cash must make a hard decision: Does he abandon a town he thought he'd never leave behind? This might be Zentner's greatest book yet. With profound, evocative prose and lyrical insights to the world surrounding a struggling main character, Zentner's powerful, emotional novel is one you won't soon forget.

Get it from Bookshop, Target or from your local indie through Indiebound here.

26. Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

Feiwel & Friends, amber-mcbride.com

Release date: August 17

Me (Moth) is a stunning novel-in-verse that follows a girl named Moth who has tragically lost her family. Though she lives with her aunt, she carries the weight of the accident deep inside her — until she meets someone whose emptiness matches her own. Sani is a broken boy in search of healing, someone who used to thrive off music just like Moth used to passionately love dancing. When the two set out on a road trip to escape the things that haunt them, they'll begin to tackle moving forward. The lush, poetic imagery throughout this story is deeply moving. With unmatched lyrical writing and a powerful plot, McBride is an absolute must-read author.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

27. Cazadora by Romina Garber

Wednesday Books, Photo by Drew Bordeaux / Via rominagarber.com

Release date: August 17

This is the sequel to Lobizona, a novel based in Argentine folklore, that follows Manu and her friends as they cross the border into a cursed realm in Argentina. There, they seek safety and allies as well as to track down information about the Coven, a mythical resistance. But the Cazadores are after Manu, and they won't stop until they find her... 

Get it from Bookshop or your local indie through Indiebound here.

28. Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

Amulet Books, jordanifueko.com

Release date: August 17

This is the sequel to Raybearer, a stunning YA fantasy novel that follows Tarisai. After the events of the first book, Tarisai is a Raybearer, responsible for a council of her own. Tasked with descending into the Underworld to end all future atrocities, Tarisai hopes for survival.

Get it from Bookshop, Target, or your local indie through Indiebound here.

29. Both Sides Now by Peyton Thomas

Dial Books, Courtesy of Penguin Random House

Release date: August 24

Finch Kelly wants to come in first in the National Speech & Debate Tournament, which he's certain will make a good impression as he aspires to attend college in Washington, DC. Plus? He plans on having a history-making career as the first trans congressman. The only thing standing in his way? His crush on his (gay, taken) debate partner, Jonah. Even more, the topic for this year's Nationals is transgender rights, leaving Finch to argue against his own humanity. This coming-of-age romance poignantly depicts self-discovery and finding your place in the world. 

Get it from Bookshop or your local indie through Indiebound here.

30. Act Cool by Tobly McSmith

Quill Tree Books, Allison Michael Orenstein / Via harpercollins.com

Release date: September 6

This contemporary coming-of-age story follows August Greene, who's received a top spot at the prestigious School of Performing Arts in New York. But things are far from perfect. For one, his conservative parents don't accept that he's transgender. So if August wants to stay in New York, he has to deny his true self and promise he won't transition. August is sure he can play the part for the sake of doing what he loves — but for how long?

Get it from Bookshop or your local indie through Indiebound here.