June's crop of must-read YA books [1] are full of action, romance, and magic. From stories about witches embracing their powers to a young man owning his truth and setting out on a journey to find love, the one thing all of these incredible books have in common is that they centre on young adults who are coming into their own — no matter the cost. Whether that means confronting grief head on, thwarting a zombie apocalypse, or convincing your fake girlfriend that you're perfect for each other, the path is never easy, but in these coming-of-age tales [2], confronting your fears is always worth it. These 12 new releases represent the very best of the YA genre [3], and they all deserve a place on your TBR this month — even if it is already overflowing.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's debut, Ace of Spades [4], is part nail-biting thriller, part Gossip Girl [5] homage. Set at Niveus Private Academy, the book centres on Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, who are both chosen to be class prefects. Unfortunately for them, someone who goes by the name of Aces is determined to expose all of their secrets to the world and bring their plans for their futures crashing down around them in the process.
Out June 1
An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi
An Emotion of Great Delight [6] by Tahereh Mafi is a searing story about everyday life for a Muslim family in 2003. With the Muslim community facing more harassment than ever before, Shadi is trying her best to avoid the spotlight. But with her family falling apart around her and the world proving to be a hostile place, she won't be able to keep her emotions bottled up forever.
Out June 1
Instructions For Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Bestselling author Nicola Yoon is back with another stunning YA romance. Instructions For Dancing [7] follows Evie Thomas, who loses her faith in love when she discovers she can tell how people's relationships will end just by looking at them. Still, even though her faith in love has been rattled, she can't stop herself from falling for her dance partner, X, at the La Brea Dance Studio.
Out June 1
The Lucky List by Rachel Lippincott
Rachael Lippincott's The Lucky List [8] is a coming-of-age story that deftly balances heartbreak and grief with the thrill of a new beginning. Emily and her mom were always lucky, especially when it came to Bingo. But since her mother's death, Emily's world has been in a tailspin, and the only thing that could possibly pull her out of her spiral is completing her mom's summer bucket list. Luckily for her, she'll have a little help from a girl who might just show Emily how to be happy again.
Out June 1
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
There's a powerful parable at the heart of Rachel Griffin's lyrical novel The Nature of Witches [9]: if we don't take care of our planet, we're going to lose it. No one knows that better than Clara, an Everwitch whose powers are tied to the changing seasons, for better or worse.
Out June 1
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by Suzanne Park
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous [10] by Suzanne Park is a hilarious YA novel about a teen who is shipped off to a digital detox camp for the summer after she accidentally films a PG-13-rated cooking tutorial. Now Sunny's carefully crafted summer plans have all been tossed out the window in favour of getting in touch with the real world beyond her phone's screen, whether she likes it or not.
Out June 1
Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa
One tweet forces Julián Luna to come out before he's ready in Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun [11] by Jonny Garza Villa. And heartbreakingly, his worst fears about his family's response come true. However, the one upside to Julián's situation is that he can now embrace his true self, which includes embarking on an epic journey to meet his Twitter crush.
Out June 8
Girls at the Edge of the World by Laura Brooke Robson
An apocalyptic flood forms the backdrop for Laura Brooke Robson's inventive fantasy novel Girls at the Edge of the World [12]. With the waters rising, Natasha Koskinen will do whatever it takes to save her troupe of aerial silk performers, including courting a royal. But when her newest recruit's quest for revenge threatens everyone's safety, Natasha will be forced to reevaluate her plan and everything she thought she knew about herself.
Out June 8
Love and Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura
Love and Other Natural Disasters [13] by Misa Sugiura is a warm-hearted queer rom-com with a fake-dating plot line that will leave you grinning. Nozomi Nagai wasn't looking for a fake summer romance, but she embraces her role as Willow's new girlfriend in order to make Willow's ex jealous. But Misa might just have an ulterior motive in mind: to make Willow see that she's the perfect girl for her (for real).
Out June 8
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
In Blood Like Magic [14] by Liselle Sambury, a modern-day witch must make the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect her family's magical bloodline. Voya Thomas only has one more shot of receiving her powers and protecting her family from losing theirs — she has to sacrifice her first love. There's just one problem: Voya has never been in love before.
Out June 15
Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos
Why yes, you do need a body-positive YA zombie apocalypse novel in your life, especially if it's Eat Your Heart Out [15] by Kelly deVos. This darkly hilarious tale of a young woman whose trip to a weight-loss camp becomes even more nightmarish with the addition of zombies is a sharply observed slice of social commentary mixed with edge-of-your-seat apocalyptic action.
Out June 29
Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
Gearbreakers [16] by Zoe Hana Mikuta is even more entertaining than a big summer blockbuster. The story follows two girls on opposites sides of an ongoing war involving mechanized weapons know as Windups. When the unlikely duo are forced to work together, they quickly realise they have more in common than they first thought.
Out June 29