The sheer breadth of the YA genre never fails to astound us. As November 2021's selection of must-read YA books illustrates, there's no other genre quite as daring or varied as the world of YA. This month alone, there is a tale of high seas adventure, a queer romance set against the backdrop of early 20th century Norway, and a murderous twist on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Whether you want to lose yourself in a rom-com or delve into an intricate fantasy world, there's no shortage of incredible YA books [1] waiting to sweep you away in November. (And just in case you need a few more suggestions, don't forget to check out October's must-read list [2], too.)
Tahira in Bloom by Farah Heron
Small-town fun, flower arranging, and summer crushes are all at the forefront of this winning YA novel Tahira in Bloom [3] by Farah Heron. After losing out on a fashion internship, Tahira's parents send her to the small town of Bakewell to work at her aunt's store. Despite it being the total opposite of how she imagined she would be spending her summer, Tahira soon finds a new passion in flower arranging, as well as an interest in the boy next door.
Out Nov. 1
Gilded by Marissa Meyer
Bestselling author Marissa Meyer returns to her fantasy roots in Gilded [4]. This spooky retelling of Rumpelstiltskin tells the story of Serilda, a young woman cursed to tell fantastical tales that attract the attention of a dark king who orders her to spin straw into gold.
Out Nov. 2
Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
Inspired by West African mythology, Skin of the Sea [5] by Natasha Bowen is an engrossing fantasy novel about a mermaid who must take on the gods to save her people. After Simi breaks the rules of her world by saving the life of a boy who falls overboard from a ship, her entire life changes in an instant as she must face the gods to protect the other mermaids.
Out Nov. 2
All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman
All of Us Villains [6] by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman will give you magical Squid Game [7] vibes in the best way. Set in the small town of Ilvernath, every generation of seven prominent families name a champion to fight to death in a tournament where the winner controls the high magic. Things are a bit different this time around due to the release of a tell-all book that puts the champions in the spotlight and gives them invaluable information about their opponents in the process.
Out Nov. 9
Aurora's End by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff's bestselling Aurora Cycle concludes with Aurora's End [8]. In the final book, Squad 312 has one more chance to save the galaxy — and even though the odds are once again stacked against them, the ragtag group is feeling optimistic about winning the war.
Out Nov. 9
The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath
The Reckless Kind [9] by Carly Heath is a beautifully told work of queer historical fiction. Set in a small town in 1904 Norway, a young woman named Asta Hedstrom refuses to marry her fiancé after he injures her best friend, Gunnar. Instead, she moves into the cabin Gunnar shares with his wealthy boyfriend Erlend, where the trio hatches a dangerous plan to win enough money to leave their small-minded community behind.
Out Nov. 9
Sway With Me by Syed M. Masood
There are shades of She's All That in Sway With Me [10] by Syed M. Masood. Fearing what will happen after his great-grandfather dies, Arsalan asks the step-daughter of an Indian matchmaker to help him secure his future. She agrees, but only if he helps her perform a dance that's sure to ruin her sister's wedding first.
Out Nov. 9
You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao
Have your tissues at the ready when you dive into Dustin Thao's emotional novel You've Reached Sam [11]. This story of grief begins with 17-year-old Julie struggling to move forward after the sudden death of her boyfriend Sam. As she tries to make sense of her loss, Julie dials Sam's number just to hear his voice on his voicemail one more time, but when he somehow actually answers the phone, she realises she has been given a chance to truly say goodbye.
Out Nov. 9
The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzie Lee
The Montague siblings return for one last epic adventure in The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks [12] by Mackenzie Lee. When his mother dies unexpectedly, Adrian Montague meets the brother he never knew he had: Henry "Monty" Montague. Soon the brothers set out on a globe-trotting journey to track down their sister, Felicity, and solve a family mystery, all while dodging pirates and navigating uncharted waters.
Out Nov. 16
Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
Our Violent Ends [13], the sequel to Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights, is every bit as engrossing as the first book in the series. Set in 1927 Shanghai, the story picks up where These Violent Delights left off with Juliette sacrificing her relationship with Roma in hopes of saving his life. But with trouble brewing in their city, the two star-crossed lovers will have to set their differences aside to stave off a new evil.
Out Nov. 16
Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
Huda Fahmy, the creator of Yes, I'm Hot in This, serves up a spectacularly funny coming of age graphic novel in Huda F Are You? [14]. When her family moves to Dearborn, MI, Huda goes from being the only hijabi girl in her school to one of many. For the first time, young Huda must really think about who she is, but first she's going to try out a whole lot of personas along the way.
Out Nov. 23
You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus
No one writes YA thrillers quite like Karen M. McManus. In You'll Be the Death of Me [15], a trio of old friends spontaneously decide to ditch school together, but what begins as a fun day off quickly spirals out of control when they witness the murder of a fellow student.
Out Nov. 30