February is a big month for new YA releases [1]: this month's selection of books includes fresh titles from Neal Shusterman, Phil Stamper, and Courtney Summers, as well as several highly anticipated debuts from authors who will no doubt be household names among YA fans [2] soon. It truly is a bounty of must reads that span every genre from fantasy to romance and thrillers.
Go ahead and clear some extra space on your shelves now, because you'll want to snag every one of these books. (And don't forget to check out January's selection of new releases [3] as well, because 2021's YA game is strong this year.)
Dearest Josephine by Caroline George
Dearest Josephine [4] by Caroline George is a love story that spans centuries. In 2021, Josie De Clare finds a collection of letters from Elias Roch, a man in 1821 who met a woman once and then proceeded to write her dozens of letters. Of course, Josie falls hard for Elias, even though they're separated by time itself.
Out Feb. 2
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
Crystal Maldonado's Fat Chance, Charlie Vega [5] is a beautiful coming of age story about a young woman who is constantly told she's too fat, too brown, and too loud. But Charlie is tired of listening to everyone's voice except for her own, so when she discovers her new boyfriend asked out her best friend first she makes it her mission to show the world who she truly is.
Out Feb. 2
Love in English by Maria E. Andreu
Maria E. Andreu's Love in English [6] is the story of a young woman finding her way in America. At 16, Ana moves from Argentina to the United States, and begins taking classes to master all of the weird quirks of the English language. Along the way, she finds herself torn between the cute boy in her maths class and a fellow student in her ESL course who is going through many of the same experiences she is as they adjust to life in a new country.
Out Feb. 2
The Project by Courtney Summers
Courtney Summers, the bestselling author of Sadie, returns with a new twisted thriller in The Project [7]. Budding journalist Lo is determined to extricate her sister from The Unity Project, a cult that's gained widespread acceptance due to its charitable donations. But in order to save her sister, Lo will have to infiltrate the cult, which proves to be far more seductive than she ever imagined.
Out Feb. 2
This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria
This Golden Flame [8] by Emily Victoria is a refreshing YA fantasy novel that doesn't revolve around romantic relationships. The story's main character, Karis, is ace, and her primary goal is to find her brother while defying the Scriptorium, a governing body that's only goal is to unlock an ancient magic in order to release an army of automatons.
Out Feb. 2
What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo
Rose Szabo's gothic fantasy What Big Teeth [9] is a fascinating debut about the lengths people will go to for their families. After she leaves boarding school in the aftermath of an accident, Eleanor returns home to discover her family members have become actual monsters that stalk the woods at night. Rather than flee, she becomes determined to save her family and confront the darkness that lives inside of her.
Out Feb. 2
Yesterday Is History by Kosoko Jackson
Mesmerising and romantic, Yesterday Is History [10] by Kosoko Jackson follows Andre Cobb, whose recent liver transplant also gave him the ability to time travel. Soon, Andre is bouncing between 1969, where he's falling for a boy named Michael, and the modern day, where his donor's brother struggles to set his grief aside long enough to teach Andre how to use his new power.
Out Feb. 2
As Far As You'll Take Me by Phil Stamper
As Far As You'll Take Me [11] by Phil Stamper is a moving book about self-discovery and the search for a place to call home. When Marty arrives in London, he can't wait to finally be himself, but while he quickly finds his first boyfriend and enjoys bouncing around Europe, he discovers he can't stop yearning for home.
Out Feb. 9
Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
A football accident leaves a young man named Ash bouncing through universes in Neal Shusterman's powerful and twisty Game Changer [12]. With each leap, Ash sees the world from new perspectives, gaining an understanding of people from all walks of life. There's just one problem: He doesn't know how to stop moving through dimensions and return home.
Out Feb. 9
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
A Pho Love Story [13] by Loan Le is a sweet romance that will leave readers swooning. For as long as they can remember, Bao Nguyen and Linh Mai's families have been feuding, but despite their parents' disdain for each other, when Bao and Linh bump into one other by chance they develop a serious case of feelings that they can't deny.
Out Feb. 9
Prepped by Bethany Mangle
Bethany Mangle's debut Prepped [14] is a quirky love story set in the world of doomsday preppers. Becca Aldaine dreams of escaping her family's community of preppers as soon as she possibly can, but when a disaster leaves her parents even more panicked about the future than they were before, Becca turns to a fellow prepper who is ready to runaway and dare to see the world in a positive light for a change.
Out Feb. 23
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Namina Forna is the fresh voice the world of YA fantasy has been missing. The Gilded Ones [15] kicks off a new series where a group of girls who are outcasts because of their blood band together as warriors. The story centres on Deka, who leaves her village behind to journey to the capital where dangerous battles and political intrigue awaits her and her new comrades.
Out Feb. 25