Best New YA Books of January 2021
12 Best YA Books of January 2021, Including the Latest From Angie Thomas
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The world of YA storytelling seems to become more inclusive and expansive with every passing year, and if you need proof, then look no further than January's collection of new YA book releases. The first month of the year includes a historical novel about a forbidden romance between two young women in San Francisco's Chinatown, a fantasy tale about cursed Greek gods, and a sweet rom-com about a teen looking for a real-life happily ever after to improve her writing.
No matter what kind of story you're looking to get lost in, the best YA reads of January have you covered — just be forewarned, it's going to be hard to resist adding all 12 of these fantastic books to your TBR immediately.
1 Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala
Ryan La Sala's Be Dazzled is a queer love story about second chances and nurturing your creativity. Raffy is on a mission to craft the perfect cosplay look in hopes of earning a sponsorship and recognition for his work — there's just one problem: His main competition is his ex-boyfriend, Luca.
Out Jan. 5
2 Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant is so charming it feels like it's destined to become a Netflix rom-com in the vein of To All the Boys.... At 16, Tessa lives and breathes romance. Not only does she love to read romantic books, she pours her heart into writing swoony tales, too. But when she gets accepted to a creative arts program, her inspiration seems to disappear, leaving her best friend to send her on a quest to find her own romance novel-style happily ever after to get her groove back.
Out Jan. 5
3 Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Set against the backdrop of the Agon, an event that occurs every seven years and finds nine Greek gods turned mortal and hunted by people eager to murder them for their own gain, Lore by Alexandra Bracken is an epic fantasy that blends elements of mythology with modern world touches. Years ago, Lore left her world and the Agon behind and settled in New York City, but when two gods seek out her help, she finds herself drawn back into the deadly ritual all over again.
Out Jan. 5
4 One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Writers Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite craft a heartbreaking and thought-provoking story in One of the Good Ones. After social activist Kezi Smith is killed, her family is left to reckon not only with their loss, but with the way Kezi is depicted by the media. Her sister Happi is particularly frustrated by the way her Kezi is depicted as "one of the good ones," and she embarks on a journey to honour her sister's memory in a way that feels more truthful to who she truly was.
Out Jan. 5
5 The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks
Amy Noelle Parks's debut YA rom-com The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss is the delightful story of maths-obsessed teen Evie Beckham, who decides she's ready to try dating. But her desire to branch out and find her first love takes a surprising turn when she becomes caught between the new guy at school and her best friend, who has been nurturing a crush on her for years.
Out Jan. 5
6 Roman + Jewel by Dana L. Davis
If you're still obsessing over Netflix's Tiny Pretty Things, Roman + Jewel by Dana L. Davis should be your next read. Jerzie Jhames wants nothing more than to land the lead in Broadway's hip-hop update of Romeo and Juliet, but when she becomes the understudy to the lead instead things get complicated fast.
Out Jan. 5
7 Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Set 17 years before the events of The Hate U Give, Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas is a story about what it means to be a young Black man in America. At 17, Maverick is dealing drugs for a gang to help his mother, who is already working two jobs. But when he discovers he has a son, Seven, Maverick decides it's time to go straight, but he soon finds extricating himself from the gang isn't simple.
Out Jan. 12
8 You Have a Match by Emma Lord
Emma Lord's second YA novel You Have a Match is a warm story about family, friendship, and young love. When Abby signs up for a DNA service to impress her crush, she never expects to discover she has an older sister, Savannah, but that's exactly what happens. Now she not only has to find a way to get to know the newest member of her family, she also has to unravel the secret behind why her parents gave Savannah up for adoption.
Out Jan. 12
9 Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Set in San Francisco's Chinatown in 1954, Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo follows 17-year-old Lily Hu as she enters the lesbian bar the Telegraph Club and begins a journey of self-discovery that's as necessary as it is dangerous. Soon, Lily falls in love with Kathleen Miller, and finds herself risking everything to be with Kathleen at a time when the Red-Scare is engulfing America.
Out Jan. 19
10 Wench by Maxine Kaplan
Maxine Kaplan's Wench is a fiercely feminist fantasy about one barmaid's quest to defy expectations and convince the queen she deserves to run the bar she's worked at her whole life after the death of her guardian. Her journey will be a treacherous one that includes encounters with bands of thieves and a magical feather, but it will all be worth it if it means maintaining her independence.
Out Jan. 19
11 Wider Than the Sky by Katherine Rothschild
Wider Than the Sky by Katherine Rothschild is a lyrical novel about family secrets. When twin sisters Sabine and Blythe's father dies, their mother moves them into a mansion owned by a man named Charlie. They soon learn that their father and Charlie were lovers, leaving them to wonder if they actually knew their father at all.
Out Jan. 19
12 The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe
The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe is a thrilling story of a young con-woman who ends up in the middle of a bank robbery alongside her girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend. (And it seems this book is so good that Netflix is already turning it into a movie starring Millie Bobby Brown, according to Deadline, so it should definitely be at the top of your TBR this month.)
Out Jan. 26
