Anticipated Books for January-June 2022 | my top young adult releases

It is nearly the start of the new year, so you know what this means…

NEW BOOKS.

…and in celebration of this very fact, I am sharing my most anticipated young adult book releases for the first half of the year.

keep an eye out for my most anticipated adult books next week.

My Top Anticipated Young Adult Books: 2022 (part 1)

FANTASY BOOKS

The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 4TH

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• four siblings coming together, torn apart by broken relationships and different paths taken
• they all hunt to find a mysterious object (A QUEST)
• each for their own agenda
• lots of royal siblings drama
• … and hidden secrets
• magic !!
• an indian-inspired fantasy
• a country on the brink of war
• SIBLINGSSSSS!!!!!

SYNOPSIS:

Four siblings. A country in ruin. One quest to save them all.

Vira is desperate to get out of her mother’s shadow and establish her legacy as a revered queen of Ashoka. But with the country’s only quarry running out of magic – a precious resource that has kept Ashoka safe from conflict – she can barely protect her citizens from the looming threat of war. And if her enemies discover this, they’ll stop at nothing to seize the last of the magic.

Vira’s only hope is to find a mysterious object of legend: the Ivory Key, rumoured to unlock a new source of magic. But in order to infiltrate enemy territory and retrieve it, she must reunite with her siblings, torn apart by broken relationships and the different paths their lives have taken. Each of them has something to gain from finding the Ivory Key – and even more to lose if they fail. Ronak plans to sell it to the highest bidder in exchange for escape from his impending political and unwanted marriage. Kaleb, falsely accused of assassinating the former maharani, needs it to clear his name. And Riya, the runaway sibling who cut all family ties, wants the Key to prove her loyalty to the rebels who took her in.

They must work together to survive the treacherous journey. But with each sibling harbouring secrets and their own conflicting agendas, the very thing that brought them together could tear apart their family – and their world – for good.

First in a duology from an incredible new talent, this Indian-inspired fantasy debut is epic, fierce and magnetically addictive, taking you on a thrilling journey where magic, a prized resource, is the only thing between peace and war.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 1ST

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• one of my most anticipated
• inspired by PERSIAN mythology (I fell in love with Persian culture this year)
• a long-lost heir to the ancient Jinn kingdom… hidden as a servant
• the crown prince and supposed servant have a forbidden romance
• changing the world

SYNOPSIS:

Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.

To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.

The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.

Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir, this is the explosive first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi. 

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

Only A Monster by Vanessa Len

RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 22ND

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• it’s a dark fantasy
• there is a family… a family of monsters
• set in London
• hidden powers
• nerdy (monster) main character
• monsters vs monster slayer
• she must work with the heir from an enemy monster family
• “in this story…. she is not hero” 💀😍😍

SYNOPSIS:

With the sweeping romance of Passenger and the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song, this standout YA contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, is the first in a planned trilogy.

It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her late mother’s eccentric family in London, sixteen-year-old Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her nerdy job at the historic Holland House, and when her super cute co-worker Nick asks her on a date, it feels like everything is falling into place.

But she soon learns the truth. Her family aren’t just eccentric: they’re monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers. And Nick isn’t just a cute boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to bring them down.

As she battles Nick, Joan is forced to work with the beautiful and ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family that hates her own. She’ll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . .

. . . she is not the hero. 

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh

RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 22ND

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• myths around the Sea God
• there is a tradition to sacrifice a maiden each year to save their village
• siblings
• self-sacrifice 🥺
• THE SPIRIT REALM !! a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts !!
• a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits *save me*
• save everyone (that’s the plan)

SYNOPSIS:

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

A Thousand Steps Into Night

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 1ST

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• a Japanese-influenced fantasy
• in the realm of Awara where gods, monsters and humans exist
• a curse which begins to transform you into a demon with a deadly touch
• an quest to save her !!
• a thieving magpie spirit
• a demon prince trying to thwart her plans !!
• but then she likes the power and freedom of being a demon *dun dun dun*

SYNOPSIS:

From New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, Traci Chee, comes a Japanese-influenced fantasy brimming with demons, adventure, and plans gone awry.

In the realm of Awara, where gods, monsters, and humans exist side by side, Miuko is an ordinary girl resigned to a safe, if uneventful, existence as an innkeeper’s daughter. But when Miuko is cursed and begins to transform into a demon with a deadly touch, she embarks on a quest to reverse the curse and return to her normal life. Aided by a thieving magpie spirit and continuously thwarted by a demon prince, Miuko must outfox tricksters, escape demon hunters, and negotiate with feral gods if she wants to make it home again. But with her transformation comes power and freedom she never even dreamed of, and she’ll have to decide if saving her soul is worth trying to cram herself back into an ordinary life that no longer fits her… and perhaps never did. 

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 1ST

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• a fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica
• dreamer powers, our MC has the rare gift of dreaming truth
• the new king wants to bring the Dreamers to an end
• another main character discovers her life has been a lie and searches for answers
• themes of patriarchal power and female strength
• mirrors modern society

SYNOPSIS:

A stunning YA fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica, this gripping debut introduces us to a lineage of seers defiantly resisting the shifting patriarchal state that would see them destroyed—perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir.

Indir is a Dreamer, descended from a long line of seers; able to see beyond reality, she carries the rare gift of Dreaming truth. But when the beloved king dies, his son has no respect for this time-honored tradition. King Alcan wants an opportunity to bring the Dreamers to a permanent end—an opportunity Indir will give him if he discovers the two secrets she is struggling to keep. As violent change shakes Indir’s world to its core, she is forced to make an impossible choice: fight for her home or fight to survive.

Saya is a seer, but not a Dreamer—she has never been formally trained. Her mother exploits her daughter’s gift, passing it off as her own as they travel from village to village, never staying in one place too long. Almost as if they’re running from something. Almost as if they’re being hunted. When Saya loses the necklace she’s worn since birth, she discovers that seeing isn’t her only gift—and begins to suspect that everything she knows about her life has been a carefully-constructed lie. As she comes to distrust the only family she’s ever known, Saya will do what she’s never done before, go where she’s never been, and risk it all in the search of answers.

With a detailed, supernaturally-charged setting and topical themes of patriarchal power and female strength, Lizz Huerta’s The Lost Dreamer brings an ancient world to life, mirroring the challenges of our modern one. 

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 8TH

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• Kaya’s review *read here*
• mythical creatures
• unlocking an ancient magical secret
• a sharpshooter and alchemist (well fired apprentice) main character
• outsider characters !!
• dark magic
• atmospheric
• a love story

SYNOPSIS:

When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. If Margaret wins the hunt, it may finally bring her mother home. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.

Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist–yet. Fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed, his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret and her bloodhound Trouble. Margaret begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.

Although they make an unlikely team, Wes is in awe of the girl who has endured alone on the outskirts of a town that doesn’t want her, in this creaking house of ghosts and sorrow. And even though Wes disrupts every aspect of her life, Margaret is drawn to him. He, too, knows what it’s like to be an outsider. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt – if they survive that long.

In A Far Wilder Magic, Allison Saft has written an achingly tender love story set against a deadly hunt in an atmospheric, rich fantasy world that will sweep you away. 

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 22ND

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• deals with grief and guilt over mother’s death
• about the masters of the ancient and magical art of tea making
• competition in the imperial city for the greatest master (shennong-shi)
• she is trying to save her sister
• lots of court politics
• … and a mysterious boy

SYNOPSIS:

Judy I. Lin’s sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, “These are the hands that buried my mother.”

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

So This Is Ever After by F. T. Lukens

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 29TH

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• this cover is my favourite, it is so fantasy and pink !!
• a funny YA fantasy
• what happens after the chosen one wins, and has to marry to keep the kingdom and stay alive
• a rag-tag group of quest companions
• he needs to find a spouse in 3 months (or die, naturally)
• his attempts at wooing go painfully wrong !!
• friends to lovers …. maybe ??

SYNOPSIS:

Carry On meets Arthurian legend in this funny, subversive young adult fantasy about what happens after the chosen one wins the kingdom and has to get married to keep it…and to stay alive.

Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next.

As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead. Now Arek is stuck as king, a role that comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.

With his eighteenth birthday only three months away, and only Matt in on the secret, Arek embarks on a desperate bid to find a spouse to save his life—starting with his quest companions. But his attempts at wooing his friends go painfully and hilariously wrong…until he discovers that love might have been in front of him all along.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 14TH

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• vigilantes (ladies!!) lead an investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice
• inspired by the real 17th century Latinx teenagers
• who trade their silks for swords !!!
• set in Peru
• as they venture into crime-ridden streets
• fighting, gambling and falling in love with each other !!
• when one of their brothers is murdered they launch an investigation from brothels to aristocracy

SYNOPSIS:

Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in Valiant Ladies, Melissa Grey’s YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth century Latinx teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.

By day Eustaquia “Kiki” de Sonza and Ana Lezama de Urinza are proper young seventeeth century ladies. But when night falls, they trade in their silks and lace for swords and muskets, venturing out into the vibrant, bustling, crime-ridden streets of Potosí, in the Spanish Empire’s Viceroyalty of Peru. They pass their time fighting, gambling, and falling desperately in love with one another.

Then, on the night Kiki’s engagement to the Viceroy’s son is announced, her older brother―heir to her family’s fortune―is murdered. The girls immediately embark on a whirlwind investigation that takes them from the lowliest brothels of Potosí to the highest echelons of the Spanish aristocracy.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 28TH

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• Demons are devouring her island home
• she needs a partner to stop the invasion
• but a gift from the gods means she ends up killing every suitor she touches
• a priest convinces everyone they need to kill her to save the island
• She hires a outcast “killer” to become her bodyguard.. he has a dark secret (ofc).. could it be the the key to her survival?
• he will help her master her gift or destroyed her once and for all!!

SYNOPSIS:

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.

Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?

Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

NON-FANTASY BOOKS

Icebreakers by A. L. Graziadei

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 18TH

contemporary, sports

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• rival hockey players… who fall in love
• deals with depression and alcoholism
• themes about finding your team… in life as well as hockey
• discusses family pressure and choosing your own path

SYNOPSIS:

A. L. Graziadei’s Icebreaker is an irresistible YA debut about two hockey players fighting to be the best—and the romance that catches them by surprise along the way.

Seventeen-year-old Mickey James III is a college freshman, a brother to five sisters, and a hockey legacy. With a father and a grandfather who have gone down in NHL history, Mickey is almost guaranteed the league’s top draft spot.

The only person standing in his way is Jaysen Caulfield, a contender for the #1 spot and Mickey’s infuriating (and infuriatingly attractive) teammate. When rivalry turns to something more, Mickey will have to decide what he really wants, and what he’s willing to risk for it.

This is a story about falling in love, finding your team (on and off the ice), and choosing your own path.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

The Chosen One by Echo Brown

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 18TH

contemporary, magical realism

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• written by ECHO BROWN, author of Black Girl, Unlimited
• exploration of the first year of collage, as a Black student
• college isn’t everything everyone promises, it is a struggle (!!) and not a paradise of ideas.
• there is a portal to different dimensions of time and space
• using magical realism to take charge of her future by healing her past
• handles mental illness, grief, racism, love, friendship, ambition, self-worth, and belonging.
• promises to be an emotional read

SYNOPSIS:

Echo Brown testifies to the disappointments and triumphs of a Black first-generation college student in this fearless exploration of the first year experience.

There are many watchers and they are always white. That’s the first thing Echo notices as she settles into Dartmouth College. Despite graduating high school in Cleveland as valedictorian, Echo immediately struggles to keep up in demanding classes. Dartmouth made many promises it couldn’t keep. The campus is not a rainbow-colored utopia where education lifts every voice. Nor is it a paradise of ideas, an incubator of inclusivity, or even an exciting dating scene. But it might be a portal to different dimensions of time and space—only accessible if Echo accepts her calling as a Chosen One and takes charge of her future by healing her past. This remarkable challenge demands vulnerability, humility, and the conviction to ask for help without sacrificing self-worth.

In mesmerizing personal narrative and magical realism, Echo Brown confronts mental illness, grief, racism, love, friendship, ambition, self-worth, and belonging as they steer the fates of first-generation college students on Dartmouth’s campus. The Chosen One is an unforgettable coming-of-age story that bravely unpacks the double-edged college transition—as both catalyst for old wounds and a fresh start.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

Cherish Farrah by Bethany C. Morrow

RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 8TH

horror, thriller, contemporary

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• a slow burn horror
• with commentary on race and class
• a main character who loves control… Farrah
• when her family face foreclosure, she moves in with her best friend… Cherish Whitman
• Farrah’s parents don’t trust the Whitman family (including Cherish)
• but Farrah thinks she can keep everything under control
• but strange things start happening in the Whitman household
• as they invite Farrah closer, things start to unravel
• whose in control now ????

SYNOPSIS:

Seventeen-year-old Farrah Turner is one of two Black girls in her country club community, and the only one with Black parents. Her best friend, Cherish Whitman, adopted by a wealthy white family, is something Farrah likes to call WGS–White Girl Spoiled. With Brianne and Jerry Whitman as parents, Cherish is given the kind of adoration and coddling that even upper-class Black parents can’t seem to afford–and it creates a dissonance in her best friend that Farrah can exploit. When her own family is unexpectedly confronted with foreclosure, the calculating Farrah is determined to reassert the control she’s convinced she’s always had over her life by staying with Cherish, the only person she loves–even when she hates her.

A troubled Farrah manipulates her way further into the Whitman family but the longer she stays, the more her own parents suggest that something is wrong in the Whitman house. She might trust them–if they didn’t think something was wrong with Farrah, too. As strange things start happening at the Whitman household–debilitating illnesses, upsetting fever dreams, an inexplicable tension with Cherish’s hothead boyfriend, and a strange journal that seems to keep track of what is happening to Farrah–it’s nothing she can’t handle. But soon everything begins to unravel when the Whitmans invite Farrah closer, and it’s anyone’s guess who is really in control.

Told in Farrah’s chilling, unforgettable voice and weaving in searing commentary on race and class, this slow-burn social horror will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen

RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 8TH

contemporary, social justice

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• following three Black Muslim girls as anti-Islamic sentiment stirs throughout the country
• a blogger main character
• Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort
• the blog goes viral as fellow Muslim teens find solace and a sense of community there !!
• strong female friendships as two other teens join the blog
• deal with hateful comments
• they search for who sent a threat to them
• Their friendship is put to the test as they decide whether to shut down the blog or take a stand and risk everything to make their voices heard

SYNOPSIS:

In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Sabriya has her whole summer planned out in color-coded glory, but those plans go out the window after a terrorist attack near her home. When the terrorist is assumed to be Muslim and Islamophobia grows, Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort. You Truly Assumed was never meant to be anything more than an outlet, but the blog goes viral as fellow Muslim teens around the country flock to it and find solace and a sense of community.

Soon two more teens, Zakat and Farah, join Bri to run You Truly Assumed and the three quickly form a strong friendship. But as the blog’s popularity grows, so do the pushback and hateful comments. When one of them is threatened, the search to find out who is behind it all begins, and their friendship is put to the test when all three must decide whether to shut down the blog and lose what they’ve worked for…or take a stand and risk everything to make their voices heard.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 1ST

contemporary, historical

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• it’s SABAA TAHIR
• a story which crossed generations and continents
• multiple POV
• following the mother when she is newly married in Pakistan and moves to the US, opening an motel
• and the son, Sal, who recently fought with his closest friend and is trying to run the motel as his mother’s health fails and his father loses himself to alcoholism
• and… Sal’s friend, Noor, who is secretely applying to colleges to escape her wrathful uncle
• a breathtaking novel of young love, old regrets, and forgiveness

SYNOPSIS:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir comes a brilliant, unforgettable, and heart-wrenching contemporary YA novel about family and forgiveness, love and loss, in a sweeping story that crosses generations and continents.

Lahore, Pakistan. Then.
Misbah is a dreamer and storyteller, newly married to Toufiq in an arranged match. After their young life is shaken by tragedy, they come to the United States and open the Cloud’s Rest Inn Motel, hoping for a new start.

Juniper, California. Now.
Salahudin and Noor are more than best friends; they are family. Growing up as outcasts in the small desert town of Juniper, California, they understand each other the way no one else does. Until The Fight, which destroys their bond with the swift fury of a star exploding.

Now, Sal scrambles to run the family motel as his mother Misbah’s health fails and his grieving father loses himself to alcoholism. Noor, meanwhile, walks a harrowing tightrope: working at her wrathful uncle’s liquor store while hiding the fact that she’s applying to college so she can escape him—and Juniper—forever.

When Sal’s attempts to save the motel spiral out of control, he and Noor must ask themselves what friendship is worth—and what it takes to defeat the monsters in their pasts and the ones in their midst.

From one of today’s most cherished and bestselling young adult authors comes a breathtaking novel of young love, old regrets, and forgiveness—one that’s both tragic and poignant in its tender ferocity.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

And They Lived… by Steven Salvatore

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 8TH

contemporary, romance

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• hopeless romantic main character
• who loves disney films
• deals with not feeling good enough for anyone
• alongside eating disorder, body dysmorphia and gender identity
• ex-best friend character too !!
• possible romance, with a love interest who has a lot of internalised homophobia
• a powerful, emotional contemporary
• covers what it means to live

SYNOPSIS:

From the author of Can’t Take That Away comes a sex-positive, fairytale-inspired YA novel that celebrates first love and self-acceptance, perfect for fans of What If It’s Us.

Chase Arthur is a budding animator and hopeless romantic obsessed with Disney films and finding his true love, but he’s plagued with the belief that he’s not enough for anyone: he’s recovering from an eating disorder and suffers from body dysmorphia fueled by his father, and can’t quite figure out his gender identity. When Chase starts his freshman year of college, he has to navigate being away from home and missing his sister, finding his squad, and contending with his ex-best friend Leila who is gunning for the same exclusive mentorship. If only he can pull together a short for the freshman animation showcase at the end of the semester.

Then Chase meets Jack Reid, a pragmatic poet who worships words and longs to experience life outside of his sheltered world. But Chase throws everything into question for Jack, who is still discovering his sexual identity, having grown up in close-knit conservative family. Jack internalized a lot of homophobia from his parents and childhood best friend, who unexpectedly visit campus, which threatens to destroy their relationship. Chase will have to learn to love–and be enough for–himself, while discovering what it means to truly live.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 22ND

contemporary, romance, music

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• written by one of my favourite authors ever, ADIB KHORRAM !!
• it is about a boy band !!
• deals with break-up and rebounds !!
• discusses handing the media, in particular being queer in the public eye !!

SYNOPSIS:

A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram

Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter is the only gay member of the band, and he just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend–leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all–and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens.

But Hunter isn’t really sure what being the perfect queer kid even means. Does it mean dressing up in whatever The Label tells him to wear for photo shoots and pretending never to have sex? (Unfortunately, yes.) Does it mean finding community among the queer kids at the meet-and-greets after K&T’s shows? (Fortunately, yes.) Does it include a new relationship with Kaivan, the star of the band opening for K&T on tour? (He hopes so.) But when The Label finds out about Hunter and Kaivan, it spells trouble—for their relationship, for the perfect gay boy Hunter plays for the cameras, and, most importantly, for Hunter himself.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 29TH

contemporary, romance

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• Quique is trying to get over his crush
• by pursuing other romantic pursuits… even though he is only out to one person and has no game
• but to his surprise, some prospects come to him
• but will it help him get over his crush?

SYNOPSIS:

Enrique “Quique” Luna has one goal this summer—get over his crush on Saleem Kanazi by pursuing his other romantic prospects. Never mind that he’s only out to his best friend, Fabiola. Never mind that he has absolutely zero game. And definitely forget the fact that good and kind and, not to mention, beautiful Saleem is leaving L.A. for the summer to meet a girl his parents are trying to set him up with.

Luckily, Quique’s prospects are each intriguing in their own ways. There’s stoner-jock Tyler Montana, who might be just as interested in Fabiola as he is in Quique; straight-laced senior class president, Ziggy Jackson; and Manny Zuniga, who keeps looking at Quique like he’s carne asada fresh off the grill. With all these choices, Quique is sure to forget about Saleem in no time.

But as the summer heats up and his deep-seated fears and anxieties boil over, Quique soon realizes that getting over one guy by getting under a bunch of others may not have been the best laid plan and living his truth can come at a high cost.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding By Sajni Patel

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 19TH

contemporary, romance, music

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• just look at that cover !!
• it’s a witty rom-com
• set in a music competition AND riotous Indian wedding !!
• Zuri’s has to balance going to the competition and her sister’s wedding
• can she pull it off?
• as well as handle her mother’s match making… with the groom’s cousin… who also happens to be in the competition too
• supportive, loud cousins !!

SYNOPSIS:

A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding

Zurika Damani is a naturally gifted violinist with a particular love for hip hop beats. But when you’re part of a big Indian family, everyone has expectations, and those certainly don’t include hip hop violin. After being rejected by Juilliard, Zuri’s last hope is a contest judged by a panel of top tier college scouts. The only problem? This coveted competition happens to take place during Zuri’s sister’s extravagant wedding week. And Zuri has already been warned, repeatedly, that she is not to miss a single moment.

In the midst of the chaos, Zuri’s mom is in matchmaking mode with the groom’s South African cousin Naveen—who just happens to be a cocky vocalist set on stealing Zuri’s spotlight at the scouting competition. Luckily Zuri has a crew of loud and loyal female cousins cheering her on. Now, all she has to do is to wow the judges for a top spot, evade getting caught by her parents, resist Naveen’s charms, and, oh yeah . . . not mess up her sister’s big fat Indian wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristen Dwyer

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 22ND

contemporary, romance

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• heartache
• betrayal
• anger
• the boy she never stopped loving
• *all the sad emotions please*

SYNOPSIS:

You can’t always go home again.

Ellis and Easton have been inseparable since childhood. But when a rash decision throws ellis’s life—and her relationship with Easton— into chaos. She’s forced to move halfway across the country, far from everything she’s ever known.

Now Ellis hasn’t spoken to Easton in a year, and maybe it’s better that way; maybe eventually the Easton shaped hole in her heart will heal, but when Easton’s mother invites her home for a celebration, Ellis finds herself tangled up in the web of heartache, betrayal, and anger she left behind… and with the boy she never stopped loving.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

RELEASE DATE: MAY 3RD

horror, thriller, contemporary

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• set in a secluded summer retreat
• with a genderfluid main character
• deals with feeling like the lesser twin (sibling comparion)
• but following his twin’s death, he tries to learn everything he can about her… investigation mode !
• he insists on attending his sister’s place at the Summer Academy
• a group of beautiful girls called ‘the honeys’ … tell me more
• behind academy’s facade of folksy charm and old traditions, he finds hints of decay !!
• something is hunting him and toying with his mind.
• If Mars, can’t find it, it will eat him alive !!!

SYNOPSIS:

From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.

Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline’s radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who’d grown tragically distant.

Mars’s genderfluidity means he’s often excluded from the traditions — and expectations — of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.

What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister’s old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying — and Mars is certain they’re connected to Caroline’s death.

But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can’t find it soon, it will eat him alive.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

I Kissed Shara wheeler by Casey McQuiston

RELEASE DATE: MAY 3RD

contemporary, romance, mystery

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• Shara kissed Chloe and disappeared
• Shara was Chloe’s rival
• Why can’t Chloe find Shara ???
• Chloe hunts for answers
• Shara kissed two other people. The only thing they have in common in the cryptic cules Shara left behind
• CRYPTIC CLUES, you say
• together they all try to find her (teamwork, yay)
• unlikely alliances !!
• also parties, break-ins, puzzles and secrets
• let the funny, mysterious rom-com commence…

SYNOPSIS:

From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need…

Chloe Green is so close to winning. After her moms moved her from SoCal to Alabama for high school, she’s spent the past four years dodging gossipy classmates and a puritanical administration at Willowgrove Christian Academy. The thing that’s kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal’s perfect progeny.

But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes.

On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, Shara’s longtime quarterback sweetheart, and Rory, Shara’s bad boy neighbor with a crush. The three have nothing in common except Shara and the annoyingly cryptic notes she left behind, but together they must untangle Shara’s trail of clues and find her. It’ll be worth it, if Chloe can drag Shara back before graduation to beat her fair-and-square.

Thrown into an unlikely alliance, chasing a ghost through parties, break-ins, puzzles, and secrets revealed on monogrammed stationery, Chloe starts to suspect there might be more to this small town than she thought. And maybe—probably not, but maybe—more to Shara, too.

Fierce, funny, and frank, Casey McQuiston’s I Kissed Shara Wheeler is about breaking the rules, getting messy, and finding love in unexpected places.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

RELEASE DATE: MAY 17TH

contemporary, romance

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• following the new girl
• at the rich, predominantly white Catholic school
• who intends to keep it hidden that she is gay.
• in fact, she has three priorities (1) make her mum proud, (2) keep her brother out of trouble and (3) don’t fall in love
• Faking being straight isn’t easy when the only openly queer girl at school is so, so perfect.
• What could possibly happen??

SYNOPSIS:

Seventeen-year-old Yamilet Flores prefers drawing attention for her killer eyeliner, not for being the new kid at a mostly white, very rich, Catholic school. But at least here no one knows she’s gay, and Yami intends to keep it that way. After being outed by her crush and ex-best friend, she could use the fresh start.

At Slayton Catholic, Yami has new priorities: make her mom proud, keep her brother out of trouble, and most importantly, don’t fall in love. Granted, she’s never been great at any of those things, but that’s a problem for Future Yami.

The thing is, it’s hard to fake being straight when Bo, the only openly queer girl at school, is so annoyingly perfect. And talented. And confident. And cute. So cute. Yami isn’t sure if she likes Bo or if she’s just jealous of her unapologetic nature. Either way, she isn’t ready to make the same mistake again. If word got to her mom, she could face a lot worse than rejection.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

Primal Animals by Julia Lynn Rubin

RELEASE DATE: MAY 24TH

horror, thriller

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• set in summer at the college prep Camp Rockaway
• Arlee makes friends with the girls in her cabin, even developing a crush on one of them
• but the rest of the campers are unwilling to be near her… why?
• a secret society !!
• will joining the society help her fit in??
• oh wait…
• they ask her to do the unthinkable, putting many people’s lives in danger….including her crush’s and own life

SYNOPSIS:

Protect the girls.

Arlee Gold is anxious about spending the summer at the college prep Camp Rockaway—the same camp her mother attended years ago, which her mother insists will help give Arlee a “fresh start” and will “change her life.” Little does Arlee know that, once she steps foot on the manicured grounds, this will prove to be true in horrifying ways.

Even though the girls in her cabin are awesome—and she’s developing a major crush on the girl who sleeps in the bunk above her—the other campers seem to be wary of Arlee, unwilling to talk to her or be near her, which only ramps up her paranoia. When she’s tapped to join a strange secret society, Arlee thinks this will be her shot at fitting in…until her new “sisters” ask her to do the unthinkable, putting her life, and the life of her new crush, in perilous danger.

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster by Andrea Mosqueda

RELEASE DATE: MAY 24TH

contemporary, romance

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• the title alone !!
• messy main character
• searching for the perfect escort for her sister’s quinceañera
• she has to confront new and old feelings for three of her friends
• deals with uncertainty for the future and more
• let the chaos begin….

SYNOPSIS:

In this voice-driven young adult debut by Andrea Mosqueda, Maggie Gonzalez needs a date to her sister’s quinceañera – and fast.

Growing up in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, Maggie Gonzalez has always been a little messy, but she’s okay with that. After all, she has a great family, a goofy group of friends, a rocky romantic history, and dreams of being a music photographer. Tasked with picking an escort for her little sister’s quinceañera, Maggie has to face the truth: that her feelings about her friends—and her future—aren’t as simple as she’d once believed.

As Maggie’s search for the perfect escort continues, she’s forced to confront new (and old) feelings for three of her friends: Amanda, her best friend and first-ever crush; Matthew, her ex-boyfriend twice-over who refuses to stop flirting with her, and Dani, the new girl who has romantic baggage of her own. On top of this romantic disaster, she can’t stop thinking about the uncertainty of her own plans for the future and what that means for the people she loves.

As the weeks wind down and the boundaries between friendship and love become hazy, Maggie finds herself more and more confused with each photo. When her tried-and-true medium causes more chaos than calm, Maggie needs to figure out how to avoid certain disaster—or be brave enough to dive right into it, in Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster. 

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy

RELEASE DATE: MAY 31ST

contemporary, romance, music

REASONS I WANT TO READ:

• I’m so curious as to what the audiobook will sound like for this one
• country music *yee-haw*
• amusement park setting
• one is a wannabe superstar, the other hates country music and they start to fall in love
• a secret is revealed…
• will their relationship survive?

SYNOPSIS:

Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar – a far reach when you’re seventeen and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs.

Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World.

Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet – and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything.

Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song? 

GOODREADS // STORYGRAPH

The end…

Until part 2… coming June 2022… hopefully.

What is your most anticipated book for 2022? Did you out about any new books in this post? Did I miss any GREAT books out?