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Whether it’s an addicting guilty pleasure for adults or a relatable coming-of-age story for the young, YA books will keep you turning the pages year-round. And as the sun begins to kiss the skies and the summer waves pour in, grab your favorite beach towel and check out these upcoming releases, from imaginary worlds to lighthearted romances.
Here are the best YA books coming all year long in 2022>>
Godslayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta (June 28, 2022)
Gods are indestructible—or are they just harder to kill? For Eris and those in her city, killing a god can be done, it just requires getting close and destroying them from the inside. It’s how the Gearbreakers saw their victory during the defeat of Godolia. With one last remaining leader from Godolia, and their plans to recuperate and attack once more grow stronger, Eris must find ways to save her city and rescue Sona, the girl she loves, from the brainwashing of Godolia, who turned her into a soldier.
Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan (July 5, 2022)
There’s nothing that Nura wants more than to bite into a sweet Gulab or wear a beautiful red dupatta. But when family duty calls, Nuru spends her time mica mining. She hopes to feed her three younger siblings and support her mom, who works long hours in a run-down sweatshop, but she also hopes to discover the treasure that legend tells is hidden below. After her best friend dies and her plan for treasure goes awry, Nuru begins digging until she finds a realm of the jinn, filled with wishes, gold—and something darker she never anticipated.
Florida Woman by Deb Rogers (July 5, 2022)
As a true Floridian, Jamie grew up on beaches with humidity and the average hurricane. After she commits an unintentional crime and goes viral for it, life gets a lot more interesting. She has a few choices: she could either escape or face jail time and the infamy that follows from it. Instead, she lands in Atlas, a shelter for rescued monkeys, and a community service alternative as her punishment. If only her new home didn’t have unusual lakewood sacrifices and the distant screaming monkeys at night, Jamie could get used to her summer stay.
Twice as Perfect by Louisa Onomé (July 26, 2022)
Duty. That’s the theme for seventeen-year-old Adanna Nkwachi. Duty to her Nigerian parents, her school, her debate team, and her cousin Genny, whose wedding she is helping plan. When Ada’s older brother left the family a year before, after a fight with their parents, Ada has been picking up the pieces trying to hold them all together. When fate returns her brother to her, Ada becomes determined to know what separated the family long ago. But will Sam’s truths about his new life push Ada to put herself first, or will the pressures of duty hold her back?
The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver (August 2, 2022)
Neil Kearney and Josh, his friend with benefits and childhood friend, are ready to fly across the country for spring break. Neil is in a state of bliss. That is until Josh reveals his love for him, leaving Neil surprised and unready for the commitment. Now, with Neil rejecting Josh and the two still heading to his brother’s wedding, problems arise—including Neil’s need to find a new date. That’s when his roommate Wyatt is drafted, throwing more feelings and drama into the mix. It’s bound to be an eventful spring break for them all.
The Undead Truth of Us by Britney S. Lewis (August 9, 2022)
Zharie Young’s mother is a zombie. The sixteen-year-old is certain that when her mother died that’s what happened. If only she could figure out why she feels this way, why everywhere she goes zombies are there, and why her remaining family doesn’t want her around, life would ease up. It only makes sense that her new neighbor, a tall skateboarder with freckles like stars, would be a half zombie. As she grows closer to Bo, Zharie secretly hopes to find secrets about her mother’s death while preparing not to fall in love with a zombie.
Don’t miss these must-read YA fantasy novels>>
Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas (August 30, 2022)
Without the Seton girls at Seton Academic High, the thirteen-year conference win streak and the football team would cease to exist. The prep school loves the girls and the mystery that makes these girls so valuable, even if no one can ever discover what’s behind their secret. When the football team’s quarterback and younger brother of a Seton star, seeks the state championship and the glory that comes with it, he’ll push the limits too far. And when the truth behind their success falls into the wrong hands, everyone at Seton Academic High will feel the consequences.
Aces Wild: A Heist by Amanda DeWitt (September 6, 2022)
Whoever heard of Blackjack as an after-school extracurricular activity? Jack Shannon, the son of a Las Vegas casino mogul has; it’s why he runs a secret ring in the school’s basement. It’s a family affair for Jack, including his mother, who gets arrested for organized crime. Even as his sister Beth wants a fresh start, Jack knows he can’t do that and leave their mother behind. His first stop and primary suspect for ratting out this mom? Peter Carlevaro, his jilted ex-lover turned arch-nemesis and casino rival.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh (September 13, 2022)
When cries for freedom broke out in Syria, Salama Kassab was just a pharmacy student with an average life. Years later, she’s volunteering at a hospital that sees wounded patients daily. But she wants out, so bad that she’s created an imaginary companion, named Khawf, who watches her every move. Yet Salama remains torn between her ties to her land and herself, and when she meets a young boy, she’ll realize that her home is more than just bombs and bullets—but a country rallying together for a revolution.
Lioness of Punjab by Anita Jari Kharbanda (September 17, 2022)
In 1705, the armies of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb attacked the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, leaving the Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s men exhausted and returning home. When they return to the villages, they are met with Mai Bhago, a fierce Sikh woman and warrior ready for battle. She’s been preparing her entire life for the opportunity to lead deserters back to the Guru, and she does.
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