From stunning fantasy debuts to the long-awaited sequel to Benjamin Alire Sáenz's Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, October is going to be an exciting month for YA readers [1]. As always, this month's selection of must-read YA books encompasses a wide variety of genres including fantasy with a dash of horror, romance, and a social justice read that's grounded by an unshakable friendship. Ready to dive into some fresh reads? Grab your favourite cosy blanket and a hot drink, because these 11 new YA books [2] are guaranteed to keep you inside reading all month long. (And if you need even more inspiration, don't forget to check out September's selection of YA must-reads [3], too.)
Everything Within and in Between by Nikki Barthelmess
A teen named Ri Fernández struggles to find and claim her identity in Nikki Barthelmess's moving Everything Within and in Between [4]. Raised by her strict Mexican grandmother, Ri has been forbidden from learning Spanish in favour of chasing her grandma's version of the American dream. But Ri wants nothing more than to get in touch with her heritage, even if it means defying her grandmother's wishes and reaching out to the mother who left her so many years ago.
Out Oct. 5
The Falling Girls by Hayley Krischer
Two of October's best YA books focus on cheerleaders, but the stories couldn't be more different. Up first is The Falling Girls [5] by Hayley Krischer, a thriller that delves into toxic friendships and the complex relationships between teen girls. When Shade joins the cheerleading team, her best friend, Jadis, isn't happy about the idea of sharing her friend with a new group, but would that really drive her to commit murder?
Out Oct. 5
Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Written by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Lisa Sterle, Squad [6] is a graphic novel with bite. Even if you've never picked up a comic book before, this smart werewolf tale about a group of popular girls who use their supernatural secret to take down the school's most loathsome boys is a perfect Halloween [7] read.
Out Oct. 5
Why We Fly by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal
In Why We Fly [8], authors Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal tackle the topics of social justice and female friendship with a sharp sincerity that's sure to resonate with readers of all ages. At the start of their senior year, cheerleaders and lifelong best friends Eleanor and Chanel are already feeling anxious about the changes coming their way, but when the cheerleading team takes a knee at a football game and enters the public spotlight, their friendship is put to the test.
Out Oct. 5
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
The long-awaited sequel to Benjamin Alire Sáenz's Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is finally here, and it is more than worth the wait. In Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World [9], Dante and Ari are still very much in love, but life is anything but easy for the couple. Things become even more complicated when a sudden loss leaves Ari searching for a way to live the life he truly wants.
Out Oct. 12
Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan
Looking to get lost in an epic fantasy novel this month? Then you need to read Jade Fire Gold [10] by June CL Tan as soon as possible. In this incredible debut, a lost heir teams up with a young woman with no past who may be the only person who can help him retake the throne that is rightfully his.
Out Oct. 12
Where There's a Whisk by Sarah J. Schmitt
Where There's a Whisk [11] by Sarah J. Schmitt combines the joy of cooking competition shows with juicy teen drama, and it's definitely a recipe for success. In hopes of leaving her small town behind to attend culinary school, Peyton joins the reality show Top Teen Chef. However, she quickly learns that separating fact from fiction in the world of reality TV is no easy task.
Out Oct. 12
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
Margaret Owen has crafted an unputdownable heist novel in Little Thieves [12]. Former servant Vanja thought stealing the life of a princess would be easy, but when she angers the wrong god, she ends up in a race against time to keep her carefully crafted scheme from completely unravelling.
Out Oct. 19
Our Way Back to Always by Nina Moreno
Set during those halcyon days of the last summer before senior year, Our Way Back to Always [13] by Nina Moreno is a beautiful second-chance romance about two teens who find their way back to each other via a forgotten bucket list. It has been four years since former best friends Lou and Sam spoke to one another, but with the pressures of senior year looming, they come together to check off all the items on the bucket list they made way back in middle school.
Out Oct. 19
Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood
Within These Wicked Walls [14] by Lauren Blackwood is a clever reimagining of Jane Eyre. This version of Jane, named Andromeda, isn't a nanny — she's an exorcist, who is hired by an eccentric heir named Magnus Rochester to rid his home of the Evil Eye. Unfortunately, his sprawling manse is far more dangerous than anything Andromeda has ever faced before, but she's fallen too hard for her employer to turn back now.
Out Oct. 19
We Light Up the Sky by Lilliam Rivera
We Light Up the Sky [15] by Lilliam Rivera puts a refreshing new spin on the old alien invasion trope. The story follows three Latinx teens — Pedro, Luna, and Rafa — as they try to warn people about the arrival of extraterrestrials, but the more they try to tell people what's happening, the more they begin to wonder whether or not humans are more dangerous than the visitors from the sky.
Out Oct. 26