I get it. The school year is busy. I’ve been there and done that. You probably don’t get enough time to take care of yourself properly much less read books that are age appropriate for your students as much as you surely want to stay up to date on all of the popular new releases.
This is why you have me, your favorite book bestie, to help fill your TBR. I’m a 3-4 book a week reader and I wade through a lot of muck to find you excellent titles for your students. I specialize in Young Adult literature, so most of these titles are aimed at ages 13-17. I’ll note if a book has mature themes and should be given more caution.
I tried to choose books that are timely and came out within the past year. Some of these titles are a bit older, but the series was finished this year. There is also one book from 2022, but I had to include it just in case you didn’t get to read it yet. (It’s too good to miss!)
My hope is that this list encourages you to pick up any of these fantastic titles for your own summer reading list so you can have some fresh recommendations for your students when school starts back up.
#1: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
- Genre: Fantasy
- Age Recommendation: 13+
- My Full Review
- Common Sense Media Review
Divine Rivals was released in April 2023 as part of a duology. The second part, Ruthless Vows, came out in December 2023. It is probably the best duology I’ve ever read. (Not at all being dramatic here. It’s fantastic.)
“After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.
To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish―into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.”
#2: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
Once Upon a Broken Heart is the first in a spinoff series to her popular Caraval. In my opinion, this series is in a class of it’s own. There are three books total with the final installment, A Curse for True Love, released in October 2023. It’s fantasy and romance and lore at it’s finest.
- Genre: Fantasy
- Age Recommendation: 13+
- My Full Review
- Common Sense Media Review
“For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings . . . until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.
Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.
But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game ― and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy.”
#3: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Young Adult Fantasy has been truly having a moment lately. It’s been quite a while since I’ve read so many fantastic books in the same genre, but here we are. This series began in 2021 and was completed in January 2024. It’s some of the best adventure storytelling I’ve read in a long time. Just so much fun and the second one has pirates! This series was consistent, too. Each book was excellent. Highly recommend getting your hands on this one.
- Genre: Fantasy
- Age Recommendation: 13+
- My Full Review
“A desperate prince.
A daring outlaw.
A dangerous flirtation.
In the Wilds of Kandala, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade has been watching people suffer for too long. A mysterious sickness is ravaging the land and the cure, Moonflower Elixir, is only available for the wealthy. So every night, she defies the royal edicts and sneaks out, stealing Moonflower petals and leaving the elixir for those in need.
In the palace of Kandala, Prince Corrick serves as the King’s Justice, meting out vicious punishments and striking fear into the hearts of agitators and outlaws. Corrick knows he must play this role convincingly–with a shortage of elixir and threats of rebellion looming ever closer, the King’s grip on power is tenuous at best, and Corrick knows his brother is the kingdom’s best hope for survival.
But when an act of unspeakable cruelty brings the royal and the outlaw face to face, the natural enemies are faced with an impossible choice–and a surprising spark. Will they follow their instincts to destroy each other? Or will they save the kingdom together . . . and let that spark ignite?”
#4: Betting on You by Lynn Painter
There are very few writers who can match the genius that is Lynn Painter. Her books are funny, heartfelt, and do such a good job of exploring underlying themes. Betting on You is her newest YA release which came out in November 2023. I’d keep this one to 15 and up. For as good as the book is, there is a lot of language here.
- Genre: Romance
- Age Recommendation: 15+
- My Full Review
- Common Sense Media Review
“When seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job at a hotel waterpark, she is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance is one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Charlie’s cynicism didn’t mix well with Bailey’s carefully well-behaved temperament, and his endless commentary was the irritating cherry on top of an already emotionally fraught trip.
Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong.
Bailey and Charlie keep close track of the romantic progress of others while Charlie works to deflect the growing feelings he’s developed for Bailey. Terrified to lose her if his crush becomes known, what doesn’t help his agenda is Bailey and Charlie “fake dating” in order to disrupt the annoying pleasantries between Bailey’s mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Soon, what Charlie was hoping to avoid becomes a reality as Bailey starts to see him as not only a friend she can rely on in the midst of family drama—but someone who makes her hands shake and heart race. But Charlie has a secret—a secret that involves Bailey and another bet Charlie may have made. Can the two make a real go of things…or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start?“
#5: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
This novel came out in September of 2022, but I don’t think it got the attention it truly deserves, so I’m going to keep reminding people it exists. This one is for older teens. I think it’d make a great addition to a literature circles roundup and if you could use it with The Great Gatsby as a mentor text, it’d be perfect. Use it to explore themes like freedom, responsibility, and the American dream.
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Age Recommendation: 16+
- My Full Review
- Common Sense Media Review
“Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.
Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.
But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.
Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.”
#6: The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer
Kristin Dwyer writes absolutely fantastic contemporary romance novels. This one was published in January 2024. It’s the follow-up to the stunning Some Mistakes Were Made and I find that Dwyer really has a pulse on what matters in YA lit. This one is an excellent portrayal of grief with some really heart wrenching moments. It’s also tender and poignant. Highly recommended for teens age 14 and up.
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Age Recommendation: 14+
- My Full Review
“Atlas has lost her way.
In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she’s working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. The only plus is that the days are so exhausting that Atlas might just be tired enough to forget that this was one of her dad’s favorite places in the world. Before cancer stole him from her life, that is.
Using real names is forbidden on the trail. So Atlas becomes Maps, and with her team—Books, Sugar, Junior, and King—she heads into the wilderness. As she sheds the lies she’s built up as walls to protect herself, she realizes that four strangers might know her better than anyone has before. And with the end of the trail racing to meet them, Maps is left counting down the days until she returns to her old life—without her new family, and without King, who’s become more than just a friend.”
#7: Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
After reading and loving the powerful Firekeeper’s Daughter, I knew that Boulley was going to be an auto-buy author for me. Her follow-up did not disappoint. In a lot of ways, I liked it better. Perry is a strong, likeable protagonist with a lot of heart. The story is engrossing and important. A must-read for ages 14 and up.
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Age Recommendation: 14+
- My Full Review
- Common Sense Media Review
“Perry Firekeeper-Birch was ready for her Summer of Slack but instead, after a fender bender that was entirely not her fault, she’s stuck working to pay back her Auntie Daunis for repairs to the Jeep.
Thankfully she has the other outcasts of the summer program, Team Misfit Toys, and even her twin sister Pauline. Together they ace obstacle courses, plan vigils for missing women in the community, and make sure summer doesn’t feel so lost after all.
But when she attends a meeting at a local university, Perry learns about the “Warrior Girl”, an ancestor whose bones and knife are stored in the museum archives, and everything changes. Perry has to return Warrior Girl to her tribe. Determined to help, she learns all she can about NAGPRA, the federal law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items. The university has been using legal loopholes to hold onto Warrior Girl and twelve other Anishinaabe ancestors’ remains, and Perry and the Misfits won’t let it go on any longer.
Using all of their skills and resources, the Misfits realize a heist is the only way to bring back the stolen artifacts and remains for good. But there is more to this repatriation than meets the eye as more women disappear and Pauline’s perfectionism takes a turn for the worse. As secrets and mysteries unfurl, Perry and the Misfits must fight to find a way to make things right–for the ancestors and for their community.”
#8: The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe
This book came out in 2021 and I really liked it then. It’s actually on it’s way to becoming a Netflix film starring Millie Bobby Brown. I’m including it in this list because the sequel, The Girl in Question, was so fantastic. If you have students who can’t put down A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, lead them towards this duology next. It’s fast-paced with sharp writing and lovable characters. You can’t lose.
- Genre: Mystery
- Age Recommendation: 14+
- My Full Review
- Common Sense Media Review
“Nora O’Malley’s been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother’s protégé. But when her mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape.
For five years Nora’s been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems:
#1: Her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they’re all friends, Wes didn’t know about her and Iris.
#2: The morning after Wes finds them kissing, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised at the bank. It’s a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly, because:
#3: Right after they enter the bank, two guys start robbing it.
The bank robbers may be trouble, but Nora’s something else entirely. They have no idea who they’re really holding hostage . . .“
#9: The Getaway List by Emma Lord
I absolutely love Emma Lord and this one felt like such a strong offering up against others in the same genre. It was funny, sweet, and had a really beautiful found family. It has a really fun fandom angle that I haven’t seen this well-executed probably ever. The coming of age themes were so strong and I actually shed a tear or two. Highly recommended for older teens.
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Age Recommendation: 14+
- My Full Review
“The day of her high school graduation, Riley realizes two things: One, that she has spent the last four years trying so hard to be a Good Kid for her mom that she has no idea who she really is anymore, and two, she has no idea what she wants because of it. The solution? Pack her bags and move to New York for the summer, where her childhood best friend Tom and co-creator of The Getaway List ― a list of all the adventures they’ve wanted to do together since he moved away ― will hopefully help her get in touch with her old adventurous self, and pave the road to a new future.
Riley isn’t sure what to expect from Tom, who has been distant since his famous mom’s scriptwriting career pulled him away. But when Riley arrives in the city, their reconnection is as effortless as it was when they were young―except with one, unexpected complication that will pull Riley’s feelings in a direction she didn’t know they could take. As she, Tom, and their newfound friends work their way through the delightfully chaotic items on The Getaway List, Riley learns that sometimes the biggest adventure is not one you take, but one you feel in your heart.“
#10: Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings
Mazey Eddings has quickly become one of my favorite writers over the past year. I love her adult offerings, so when I heard she was writing a YA novel, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. It was absolutely everything I love about a Mazey Eddings novel and so much more – tender, funny, sweet, and a peek inside of characters who are messy yet full. I love all of the neurodiversity representation here and what a fun ride to get to traipse through Europe with Tilly. Pick this one up. Both you and your students will love it.
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Age Recommendation: 14+
- My Full Review
“Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.
Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything he needs: a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite―feeling things for her he can’t quite name―and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.
As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end.”
This is my first time curating a list like this, so I’d love to know what you think. Was it helpful? Is there anything I didn’t include that you’d like to see?
Happy reading!
