Best New YA Books Releasing in December 2021
Get Ready, Because December's Best YA Books Include Second-Chance Romances and Vampires
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Vampires are making a major comeback this month thanks to a sapphic supernatural love story and the latest instalment in bestselling author Renée Ahdieh's The Beautiful Quartet, but they're far from the only creatures making a splash in December's must-read YA books. There's also a spooky army base that might just be home to some monsters, a bit of metaphysical time-travelling action, and two women sparring over a literal heart in a far-flung world. Looking for something a little more contemporary? There's no shortage of swoon-worthy romances on offer this month, too. As always, the YA category remains a veritable smorgasbord of genres, and December's bounty is well worth sampling.
1 The Big Reveal by Jen Larsen
The Big Reveal by Jen Larsen follows Addie, who describes herself as "fat, fierce, and driven," as she chases her dreams of becoming a dancer. Everything seems to be going according to plan when she is accepted into her dream school, but in order to cover the cost of tuition, she'll have to get creative. That's when she and her friends decide to start a secret burlesque club, which sparks vitriol from some people in Addie's community — and leaves her with a fight on her hands.
Out Dec. 7
2 The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling
Not only are vampires making a comeback, but they're also being reinvented in The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling. This unforgettable romance follows a death oracle named Elise Beaumont and the vampire who is supposed to help her master her powers, Claire Montgomery. However, when it becomes apparent they're not the only supernatural creatures around, Claire and Elise can't help but grow closer as they work together to stop a killer.
Out Dec. 7
3 Fools in Love Edited by Ashley Herring Blake and Rebecca Podos
If you love a good romance trope — think enemies to lovers, missed connections, and fake romances turned real — then Fools in Love, a short-story collection edited by Ashley Herring Blake and Rebecca Podos, is the book for you. Each story in the collection puts a fresh twist on a familiar trope from authors including Rebecca Barrow, Ashley Herring Blake, Gloria Chao, Mason Deaver, and Sara Farizan.
Out Dec. 7
4 If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich
Love a good boy-band romance? Then prepare to fall head over heels for If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich. Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are members of the boy band Saturday, but when Ruben confides in Zach that he feels an immense amount of pressure to hide his sexuality for the sake of the band, the two boys begin to fall for each other.
Out Dec. 7
5 No Beauties or Monsters by Tara Goedjen
Strange, unnerving, and downright unputdownable, No Beauties or Monsters by Tara Goedjen gives off major Stranger Things vibes in the best way possible. Set at a mysterious military base in the Mojave Desert, a teen named Rylie must face long-held family secrets and potentially even actual monsters when she returns to Twentynine Palms for the first time since her father's death.
Out Dec. 7
6 The Righteous by Renée Ahdieh
Renée Ahdieh's The Beautiful Quartet continues with The Righteous, another romantic and adventurous story of vampires, fey, and magical worlds. This time around, Arjun ventures into The Sylvan Vale to save Odette, while Pippa travels between worlds on a dangerous mission to save her dear friend Celine.
Out Dec. 7
7 The Upper World by Femi Fadugba
The Upper World by Femi Fadugba is so unique, it's already set to become a Netflix original movie starring Daniel Kaluuya. On what might be the worst day of his life, Esso visits a world where he sees both glimpses of the past and the future. Then, 15 years later, he needs the assistance of a young woman named Rhia to help him change the course of history itself.
Out Dec. 7
8 How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkins
What happens when a cynic and a hopeless romantic teach each other lessons in love? Sparks fly, of course. That's the story of Jacqueline Firkins's How Not to Fall in Love, in which serial dater and rom-com fanatic Theo tries to learn how to stop falling in love from his friend Harper, who has seen enough heartache to make her believe true love doesn't exist.
Out Dec. 21
9 Here's to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera reunite to continue the story they began in their beloved novel, What If It's Us. In Here's to Us, Arthur and Ben have moved on with other guys and started their adult lives as the assistant of an off-Broadway director and college student, respectively. But when they reconnect in New York City, they begin to wonder if they're destined to be more than just each other's first loves.
Out Dec. 28
10 The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska
Karnawał is a time of endless wintry festivities in The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska, but Zosia and Marynka are interlopers on a mission. Both of the young women are after the heart of a prince, a prize that will give the victor great power, but as the competition heats up, they realise there's a real spark between them that they can't ignore.
Out Dec. 28
