Today’s post is sponsored by Jenn Naughton and The Bookish Society!
Every parent wants to raise a reader but a staggering number of adults haven’t read a book since graduating from high school. Too often reading in school is conflated with books written by dead dudes, waxing on about topics kids find irrelevant and (ahem), boring. What’s to love about reading if it doesn’t excite and engage?
At The Bookish Society we aim to change the trajectory of our juvenile and young adult readers. We know that reading can and should be a lifelong passion. As such, we do what we know works to raise readers and not just English class students — provide irresistible books that kids actually want to read, along with a community of readers to support, encourage and engage one another. Whether it’s digging into topics and issues kids want to know more about, as we do in in our Women’s Studies Class, or treating the middle schooler’s obsession with graphic novels as a worthy passion in our Tween Graphic Novel Round Table, or enjoying getting lost in another world in the plethora of middle grade fantasy in our Advanced Kids Round Table, there’s something at The Bookish Society that will appeal to every kid.
Let us be part of your child’s journey to becoming a reader for life.
Hot Off The Press is a regular feature on Pop! Goes The Reader in which I share a selection of new books being published in the forthcoming month.
Another new month has begun, and you know what they say: New month, new books! And by ‘they’, I mean me, because it’s time for another edition of Hot Off The Press! With 45 new YA releases in today’s post, there’s no shortage of choices from a variety of different genres, and I sincerely hope you can discover at least one new title that’s right for you! Happy reading!
Did you find this post helpful? Over on Pop! Goes The Reader’s Patreon, I share two additional Hot Off The Press posts detailing over 300 middle grade and adult fiction and non-fiction books being published each month along with other exclusive posts and rewards including downloadable wallpapers for your desktop and devices and book lists on a specific theme for a pledge of $5!
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Delacorte Romance
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In this swoony young adult romance from the acclaimed author of Sunkissed, Indy and Beau’s friendship is shattered, but getting accidentally locked in a bathroom together just might be what’s needed to reconnect.
When the walls close in, the truth comes out.
When Indy’s life came crashing down, she made a rule: no one could know. To the world, she’s still the same Indy — cool, calm, unshaken. But behind the scenes? It’s chaos.
Her tight-knit crew — Beau, Caroline, and Ava — were once her everything. Now they’re strangers she can’t seem to reach — especially Beau. And the only person she talks to these days is Cody, a skater-boy she used to think was so not her type. Funny how everything changes when your world flips upside down.
And then, as if things couldn’t get weirder, Indy finds herself literally stuck in a school bathroom with Beau. After months of silence, and there’s no escape. If they want out, they’ll have to face the messy truth about what happened between them and find a way back to what they once had. Or maybe even more…
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Sarah Barley Books
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Beth March’s sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer — until they begin to suspect each other — in this “brilliantly snappy…electrifying” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) debut thriller that’s also a bold, contemporary reimagining of the beloved classic Little Women.
When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.
Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.
Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt — money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.
Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.
Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Christy Ottaviano Books
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American Royals meets Gossip Girl in this scandal-driven sequel where four teenage royals team up to defend their beloved school from an unknown threat, risking their futures and their hearts in the process.
It’s been eight months since King Leander named Ashland’s heir apparent and a new year is about to begin at Almus Terra Academy…
Sadie is trapped in a fake dating scheme with one prince, while the other is dead set on winning her heart. Titus is desperate to make things right with the girl he wronged, but his own ambitions and secrets stand in his way. Emmeline has lost her friends, her dreams, and her family. For the first time in her life, she’s not sure she has what it takes to win them all back. Alaric goes down dark paths to strike against his traitorous father, but his quest for revenge will only keep him apart from the girl he loves.
When the Ashland heirs learn that the school and the country they’ve come to love are in danger, can they put their egos aside long enough to make a difference? Or will their rivalries cost them everything?
Complete with enemies-to-lovers romance, political intrigue, and legendary betrayals, this is the thrilling conclusion to the saga begun in Royal Heirs Academy.
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by HarperCollins
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It’s the morning of Carter Cohen’s 16th birthday, and everything’s going his way.
He’s psyched and ready to get his driver’s license, his little brother’s not hogging the bathroom, and, man, something smells good for breakfast…
But when Carter bounds downstairs, Mom bursts into tears. It happened again. It’s Carter’s 16th birthday — for the sixth time. Every time he’s supposed to turn 17, he loops back a year. His memory gets wiped clean, his body ages backward — the rest of the world moves on, just not him.
Maggie Spear, on the other hand, has been dreading this day ever since she and Carter started dating. When she spies him in the halls and he doesn’t seem to know her at all, it’s obvious that it’s over between them. She can’t be in a relationship with someone who is just going to forget her again and again. Since Carter doesn’t remember that they’re together, then it’s probably better if she just pretends that they never were.
Except Carter senses that there’s more to their story than Maggie’s letting on, and Maggie’s keeping secrets of her own — but in the process of trying to let the other go, they find themselves falling in love all over again.
With Maggie soon leaving for college and Carter’s birthday quickly coming around again, will they be able to find a forever that isn’t stuck at 16?
Filled with tender moments, silly banter, and lots of teenage angst, 16 Forever is the latest YA page-turner from New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Lance Rubin.
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by HarperCollins
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Rebellion happens in the shadows. In the sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Language of Dragons, language is the greatest weapon in a war between humans and dragons — and one translator has the power to change the world. Perfect for teen fans of Fourth Wing and Babel.
Who is Vivien Featherswallow?
It’s the question on the lips of every human and dragon in Britannia, and even she doesn’t know the answer. Is she the Swallow, the face of the rebellion against the corrupt government and invading Bulgarian dragons? Is she a brasstongue, a translator on the cusp of discovering a new dragon language? Or is she just Viv, the girl who lost the love of her life after playing spy?
Viv isn’t sure, but she knows she has to fight back.
Armed with a machine that allows her to listen to dragons’ thoughts, a diary with the clues of a never-before translated dragon tongue, and her own need to avenge her lost love, Viv seeks out the elusive Hebridean Wyverns. If she can find them and convince them to join the war, the rebellion might have a chance.
Viv will soon realize that while translation is a weapon, it might not help her on her journey to victory — or to finding herself.
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Wednesday Books
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In this lush and enchanting novel from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi, a prince is only as good as his beating heart and a maiden is only as good as her honest word. But when love and the truth become impossibly tangled, the two must figure out how to survive together, or fall completely apart.
To find love is a curse…
Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. Thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, all one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand of the kingdom’s heir. Historically, this has been construed quite literally.
Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris’s parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle. Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him…or lust for power.
Until he meets Demelza.
As a veritas swan, Demelza’s song wrings out the truth. Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.
While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one’s life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Random House/Marvel
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Ms. Marvel trips into a mystery that brings her from Jersey City to Lahore, Pakistan, and back again, all on a chase for a magical artifact in this adventure from Marvel Press.
Kamala Khan is Jersey City’s premier super hero, Ms. Marvel! She’s stretched between going to the mosque, posting Avengers fanfic on the internet, and fighting crime.
But then a clash ends with a pair of priceless spectacles in the wrong hands — Ms. Marvel’s! Now she’s on a mission to return them to where they belong, once she’s figured out where that is. A mysterious new bad guy drops hints at magical secrets the spectacles hold, setting Ms. Marvel on a quest to Lahore, Pakistan. It’s the trip of a lifetime, seeing the land of her father’s youth, but Kamala is forced to grapple with what to do when the choice between right and wrong isn’t so clear.
Saadia Faruqi delivers a beautiful exploration of the Pakistani American experience through the eyes of Marvel’s Kamala Khan.
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Entangled: Mayhem Books
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The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…
Since the dragons emerged – along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people – there’s only one human city that remains standing: Vinguard.
But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to the threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything – and everyone – you love.
Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.
And I’m terrified that I might be next.
There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.
Because Lucan definitely knows something.
And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Delacorte Press
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A girl with the power to command the tides has her life changed when she secures a job serving a wealthy noble family – only to learn upon arrival that the last person to fill her post mysteriously died, and her new employers are hiding dark secrets – in this haunting and lush debut fantasy.
Corith Fraine is a Floodmouth – her words can control water. Yet for those born with her rare elemental ability, paths forward are few, and Corith is one of the lucky ones. She has spent most of her life in a prestigious magic institution, training to one day achieve the highest possible honor for a member of her kind: the chance to serve one of the hundred noble houses.
When Corith learns she’s secured a post working for House Shearwater, a reclusive noble family living on a wave-battered island, she thinks her hard work has paid off. Until she discovers that their previous Floodmouth – Corith’s closest friend – mysteriously died in their service. And Corith is her replacement.
To learn the truth of her best friend’s accident, Corith must unravel the dark conspiracies at the heart of Bower Island. Yet doing so will require contending with the island’s deadly tides and her enigmatic new employers – including the family’s brooding youngest son, Llir, who she finds herself equally drawn to and repelled by. With her loyalties pushed to the breaking point, these treacherous waters may well pull Corith under…
Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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An aspiring pop star crafts a fake relationship with a small-town boy to rehab her image, until her ex and her real feelings get in the way in this sweeping romance perfect for fans of Lynn Painter.
Love Thompson went viral. Now she has it all — fifty million followers, brand deals, a Hollywood address, and the fast track to the music career she’s always dreamed of — until…she doesn’t.
After Love takes the blame for her influencer boyfriend’s mistake, the fallout goes more viral than the video that rocketed her to fame. By the next morning, she’s already lost sponsorships, ten million followers, and her debut single. Love needs to rehab her image, and that means dating someone a little more homegrown.
Enter Austin Grey. Austin is about as homegrown as it gets. His only followers are the regulars at his family’s struggling diner that he’s doing his best to save. But everything changes when he gets a DM from a star he never expected to cross paths with again.
When Love walks back into Austin’s life, she thinks this is a purely online scheme with an expiration date. But as genuine feelings start to develop that keep them coming back to each other again and again, will either of them be willing to take a chance on something real?
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Delacorte Romance
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In this swoony young adult rom-com, things get bumpy when a girl gets stuck on a cross-country flight with her ex — as if flying couldn’t get any worse…
Olive Austin just wants to get on her flight to visit her long-distance boyfriend in peace — a spring break filled with white-sand beaches, cute date nights, and soaking up the sun in Hawaii. It’s exactly what the doctor ordered…especially since lately she can’t shake the feeling that her relationship is on the rocks.
Unfortunately, when she boards her cross-continental flight she discovers that her seatmate for her 13-hour journey is none other than Tyler Ferris, her ex…a.k.a the boy that her heart never really got over.
Even though Olive’s prepared to ignore him and survive the flight with her heart unscathed, Tyler has other plans, and before long, with nowhere else to go, the past begins to resurface. Now, Olive’s feeling more confused than ever about her heart, what went down that tore her and Tyler apart, and — most importantly — what she’s going to do once the turbulence passes and the flight finally lands.
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Bloom Books
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New York Times bestselling author K.A. Linde returns to the Royal Houses series with House of Shadows: the story of Kerrigan Argon, a half-Fae, half-human as she seeks her place in an unforgiving world filled with magic, mayhem, and romance. A YA romtantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and V.E. Schwab.
A half-Fae outcast. A forbidden prince. A world teetering on the edge of collapse.
Kerrigan Argon was never meant to be chosen. As a half-human, half-Fae pariah, her admission into the Dragon Society breaks every law of her world. Now she’s bound to a dragon ― and to a brutal year of training that could claim her life.
But first, she must survive a journey into the infamous House of Shadows, led by the dark Fae prince Fordham Ollivier. No half-Fae has ever returned from its halls. In a place built on cruelty, secrets, and absolute power, Kerrigan must battle not just enemies ― but centuries of prejudice and the slow unraveling of magic itself.
Something ancient is cracking. A long-buried spell is weakening. And Kerrigan may be the only one who can stop the collapse ― or cause it.
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Union Square & Co.
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A must-read coming-of-age story that gives an authentic look at the awkward and beautiful times of growing into your own skin.
Miri is fourteen, and in the last year she’s grown six inches, expanded in all directions, and is plagued by bouts of uncontrollable acne. Life already feels like a nightmare, and now she’s been asked to be a bridesmaid twice.
Two weddings and two bridesmaid dresses — could things get any worse? They can, and they will. Her brother is getting married to Scarlett, whose sister is Tiffany — Miri’s nemesis at school.
Plus, Tiffany is the other bridesmaid, and, if that’s not bad enough, the pink satin dress they’ve chosen makes Miri feel like a stuffed sausage.
This sharp-witted story of family, friendship, and embracing your true self (no matter what you’re forced to wear) is perfect for fans of Dumplin’ and Fat Chance, Charlie Vega.
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Feiwel & Friends
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This cozy fantasy romance combines magic, first love, and college life into a sweetly brewed and delicious read about a girl roped into investigating a company’s dangerous product, perfect for fans of Coffeeshop In An Alternate Universe!
Dani Lionet is no stranger to working hard. But now she’s attending her dream magic university, and must manage classes, shifts at the local cafe, and maintaining her partial scholarship ― all while trying to keep her unique ability under wraps. That way, no one else can take advantage of it like her parents used to. So when a visiting professor calls Dani out on her ability, she’s terrified.
Yet, it seems Professor Silva just wants to pay Dani to use it to investigate a soon-to-be-released lucid dreaming product with horrible side effects. Dani is hesitant, but she needs the money, and it would help her new friend who was part of the product’s clinical trials. Plus, she has a swoony distraction in Kass, a mage and her endearingly cute new regular at work…even if she can’t tell him about her ability or extracurricular activities. The fact that he seems just as interested in her is very uncharted territory for Dani since, thanks to her parents, she’s never lived in one place long enough to have a real crush.
Can Dani help with the professor’s “group project,” learn to embrace her ability, and get to know Kass? Or will it all fall apart before the semester is over?
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Page Street YA
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Maybe this is possession; maybe this is truly what it is to be haunted.
There’s a ghost haunting Drew Tarpin’s new room. Liam Orville has been dead for ten months and has no idea how to move on. But the longer he stays, the more likely it is he’ll degrade into an energy consuming husk ― which Drew is more concerned about than her grades or her inability to make meaningful connections with other students.
Drew is everything Liam never was when he was alive, but they do share some common ground: Drew finds herself hopelessly attracted to ― and completely tongue-tied around ― Hannah Sullivan, who happens to be Liam’s former best friend.
After a run-in with a ghost-eating monster leaves Drew and Liam desperate for answers, they strike up a deal: In return for Drew investigating why Liam is still around, he’ll help her talk to Hannah. But Liam’s time is running out, and if Drew doesn’t help him move on, he risks becoming a monster himself.
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Bindery Books
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The Breakfast Club meets 28 Days Later in this revised and expanded edition of Courtney Summers’s cult classic about a traumatized young woman forced to survive the zombie apocalypse.
Sloane Price knows there are worse things than the end of the world, so when the zombie apocalypse happens, the opportunity to escape her violent home life offers no relief. She’s already lost the one thing that matters most — her sister — and now seems like the perfect time to give up.
But when she inadvertently ends up barricaded in her high school with five other teens, their desperate and volatile bids for survival force a series of impossible decisions. As the days creep by and the dead close in, Sloane must confront everything she thought she knew about life, death, survival, and sacrifice and — once and for all — make a choice.
Joined together for the first time in this special “director’s cut” edition, This Is Not A Test and its novella sequel Please Remain Calm explore the forces that tether us to life — and to each other — in our darkest times.
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Little, Brown Ink
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Whoever said ‘til death do us part wasn’t trying hard enough.
Toonimated’s wildy popular Webtoon is now in print for with a never-before-seen short story! For fans of Anatomy: A Love Story and Lore Olympus comes a graphic novel romantasy about the love triangle between a necromancer, a resurrected bride, and her very-much-alive groom.
In the city of San Guadario, necromancy has been banned for one hundred years. Every aspect of life, from buying food to getting married, requires a signature written in one’s own blood. If a necromancer were to sign, their identity would be revealed by the magic that courses through their veins. As a necromancer, Victor and his cute one-eyed cat must live a discreet life, constantly on the run.
Everything changes when the wealthiest patron in San Guadario hires Victor to resurrect his recently deceased, and impossibly beautiful, bride. The catch? Victor must perform an ancient ritual which eternally binds himself to this bride. After he brings her back to life, Victor finds himself magically entangled with the bride and groom and caught in the middle of more romance than he knows what to do with.
Adapted from the wildly popular webtoon series, Love Me To Death is a gorgeously illustrated saga that is bound to stop your heart.
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Abrams Fanfare
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A thrilling, spine-chilling YA graphic novel from debut author Victoria Setian and Bloom artist Savanna Ganucheau ― a modern spin on the classic horror novel Dracula.
Mina Murray is followed by death ― at least, that’s the rumor in her small town of New Whitby. An aspiring photojournalist, she has a knack for finding herself in unsettling situations to find interesting shots, like on the deck of the recently crashed boat the Demeter.
While exploring the wreckage, Mina comes across large cases of dirt and debris ― and the decaying body of the ship’s captain.
Intrigued by the ghastly scene, Mina tries to unearth more information about the abandoned ship, the captain, and the missing crew. Instead, she finds herself roped into her high school’s newspaper club covering the big school dance her BFF, Lucy, is coordinating. It’s a major bummer, but all might not be too bad if it gets her closer to Jon, her crush and guitarist for the local punk band the Romeros.
But instead of catching Jon’s eye, Mina enters the orbit of Raf, the brooding (and frankly, hot) transfer student who has everyone under his thrall. As Raf’s popularity grows and the dance draws near, sinister events begin to shake the core of the school: The head of the newspaper club gains an unseemly appetite for flies. Jon is getting close to Raf.
And Lucy falls ill…with strange puncture wounds on her neck. Mina starts to suspect that new student is hiding a dark and terrible secret…but will she be able to figure it out before it’s too late?
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Wednesday Books
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The first in a series of compelling and skillful dark academic thrillers from a brilliant new voice in YA fiction.
Love, Lies, Legacy…
Eva has one dream: to study English at Oxford University. Not only will she receive a world-class education – getting into Oxford is a path to freedom.
But when Eva and her best friend George are invited to interview week, they find themselves in the cutthroat ultra-competitive world of elite academia, and at the center of gossip on anonymous student forum Oxford Slays. When Eva finds George dead near the steps of a statue in the college, she knows he’s been murdered – but all eyes are now on her. Can she clear her name, catch the true killer and win her place at Beecham College?
Eva has one week to prove her innocence, and Oxford Slays will be watching.
Oxford Blood is a riveting murder mystery thriller, packed with narrative twists and turns, complex and appealing characters and a captivating, authentic setting in its searing examination of the true cost of privilege.
Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Delacorte Press
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A psychological thriller about a night of babysitting that turns fatal and a girl determined to figure out if the gas leak was an accident, perfect for fans of E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars.
Ella was supposed to be out with friends. But a blinding headache and a twist of fate leave her babysitting instead.
Only, when she arrives, the house is quiet, the door is wide open — and the air reeks of gas. She manages to call 911, but not everyone survives.
As Ella struggles to recover, cracks begin to form in the investigation. Whispers, memories, and buried motives point to something sinister. The gas leak might not have been an accident after all. And someone might be out to kill Ella next.
The door’s open, the gas is leaking, and nothing is what it seems — your next book club obsession starts here.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Amulet Books
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An enemies-to-lovers romance about nemeses who are forced to share their school’s Queer Alliance presidency following a tie in the election, new from beloved author Ray Stoeve.
Sidney has one goal for their junior year. Well…two, if they’re being honest. Number one: become president of their school’s Queer Alliance club. And number two: keep their self-diagnosed anxiety in check so their grades don’t tank like they did last year.
But when the election results in a tie with none other than Sidney’s arch nemesis, the class clown Forrest, the two are forced to share the presidency until a revote at the end of term. Sidney expects Forrest to be insufferable, but it turns out that working together is…kind of nice?
As surprising feelings for Forrest emerge, Sidney’s techniques for managing their anxiety stop working. With the reelection approaching and assignments starting to pile up, will all this pressure be too much for Sidney to handle on their own?
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Bloom Books
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From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Jenshak comes the next in a brand new YA romance series that follows Frost Lake High School’s state champion soccer team.
Tutoring the captain of Frost Lake High’s soccer team isn’t on her bucket list. And neither is falling for him.
Seventeen-year-old Lacey Kerr is a lot of things: head cheerleader, an A+ student, vice president of student council, a loyal friend, and beloved by her classmates.
What she isn’t is a fan of star soccer player Vaughn Collins.
And he knows it.
Unfortunately for him, he needs her.
With his grades on the line, he’ll do anything to turn it around and keep his spot on the soccer team. Even if it means winning over his ex-girlfriend’s best friend and convincing her to tutor him.
They’re different. She’s sunshine and he’s…not. She has a bucket list of fun things to do before high school is over and he’s allergic to fun.
But as they spend more time together, studying and crossing things off Lacey’s list, they realize they’re more alike than either of them wants to admit.
She doesn’t want to fall for him, and he doesn’t want to fall for anyone. They’re both good at playing the game, but maybe this time it could be forever.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Bright Matter Books
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The New York Times bestselling memoir now adapted for young adults! Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to ever be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, chronicles her life story and her extraordinary path to becoming a jurist on America’s highest court in this inspiring, intimate memoir.
Growing up, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s parents taught her that she could achieve anything she wanted, and be whoever she wanted to be. In high school, she dreamt of being a Supreme Court judge. In 2022, her dream came true: she was sworn in as the first African American woman judge.
Lovely One is Justice Jackson’s journey to making her dreams a reality, the hurdles she faced, and the lessons she learned along the way. She recalls feeling different and lonely as one of the few Black kids at her high school. At Harvard University, she was homesick and grappled with imposter syndrome. She took on the difficulties of working in the legal field as a Black woman, and the challenges of balancing a career and relationships.
But Justice Jackson persevered. She found like-minded people at her high school’s speech club and Harvard’s musical theatre group. With support from her family and strength from friends, she took on the world with optimism, determination, and hard work. Justice Jackson’s story will resonate with dreamers everywhere, spreading hope and inspiration for generations to come.
This young adult adaptation has a brand-new preface and epilogue and includes an exclusive prize-winning speech the justice delivered as a high school student.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Penguin Workshop
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Inspired by Armenian and Persian mythology, this delectable YA graphic novel follows the youngest of three dysfunctional siblings who strike a magical deal to save their mother’s life.
Seventeen-year-old Katah Fustukian has always felt like the odd one out in his family of chefs. Unlike his older siblings, he is useless in the kitchen, and too young to have known their late father—a legendary Hye chef who’d made a name for himself in the Pars Empire.
But with his mom’s illness worsening, Katah hopes that his vision-like dreams are a sign of magic stirring within him—especially after they lead him to Az, a powerful div with some mysterious connection to his family. In an attempt to save their mom’s life, he and his siblings strike a deal: Az’s help in exchange for a dish that rivals their father’s.
But after the siblings clash over what to cook, Katah will have to make sense of his magic and family history—and wager far more than a single meal to meet Az’s demands…
Creator Robert Mgrdich Apelian weaves together multiple timelines in an inventive, fantastical story of Armenian family and food, speaking to diasporic culture and how those within it relate to their different worlds.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Page Street YA
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To win back his soul from the Devil, a cynical witch must decide if his own freedom is worth delivering a selfless boy to damnation.
Perpetually seventeen, Callum the green witch is indebted to the Devil until he fulfills 666 tasks. When Lucifer offers Callum an unusual job that will end Callum’s contract early and return his soul, Callum readily agrees. All Callum must do is ensure Augustus “Auggie” Sanderson makes it from London to New York by the next blood moon.
This proves more difficult than Callum could’ve predicted as power-hungry witch kings and queens, blood witches, and even necromancers are also out to capture Auggie. To deliver Auggie on time and win back his soul, Callum will need the help of his black cat familiar, his human assistant (whom he accidentally turned into a frog), a four-armed, tally undead witch, and Auggie himself―who seems too good to have made a deal with the Devil.
But if Auggie didn’t make a deal with the Devil, what awaits him in New York? And if Auggie doesn’t deserve his fate, is Callum willing to give up his own chance at freedom to save him?
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Godwin Books
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An intergalactic enemies to lovers romance where tensions are high but the stakes are higher.
When eighteen-year-old Keller Hartman is recruited into the Legion’s most prestigious galactic unit, it’s a dream come true. He’s worked hard for this. He’s ready to prove himself. The problem? His new partner―the beautiful, no-nonsense pilot Lament Bringer―wants nothing to do with him.
Forced to work together under Legion orders, Keller and Lament team up with a motley crew of specialists to investigate a mysterious visionary who can predict catastrophes. As they begin to peel back layers, however, they realize there’s more to the story than meets the eye. With threats mounting and secrets unfolding, Keller and Lament will need to trust one another in order to stop the dangers at play. But with trust comes other feelings―ones neither of them is prepared for.
With the fate of the universe hanging in the balance, the only thing worse than failing their mission might just be losing each other.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Peachtree Teen
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A searing and romantic fantasy adventure about an oligarchic state on the verge of a magical industrial revolution, perfect for fans of Arcane, Wicked, and Iron Widow.
Josephine Haven is about to find out exactly where she fits into the march of Progress. Her outbursts are infamous at the House of Industry, the school for children who can wield radiance, an electricity-like magic. She’s tried to follow the rules, but her fiery nature is at odds with the core tenet of the House: Never form attachments. If she is meant to feel nothing, why are her emotions so volatile?
No one is surprised when, upon graduation, Josephine is banished from the city to a remote Mission. In Frostbrook, she must work under standoffish Julian, the former golden boy of the House of Industry who seems determined to watch her fail. And then there’s Ezra, the flirtatious stranger who’s a little too curious about how the Mission operates.
But there are bigger problems than Julian and Ezra’s secrets. A deadly disease is spreading across the countryside, and in Frostbrook, not everyone is eager to embrace Progress. As Josephine questions the system that raised her—and gives in to desire she’s been taught to suppress—she must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to expose not just corruption within the House, but the devastating truth about the radiance in her core.
An epic and romantic fantasy that reimagines the War of the Currents, A Wild Radiance explodes with the same queer chaotic tension, magical industrialization, and class revolution themes that made Arcane a #1 Netflix sensation.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Storytide
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A harrowing, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller about a queer homeless teen who, in a bid for safety, assumes the identity of a boy who went missing ten years ago…only to find that his new home is anything but a safe haven—from All That’s Left in the World author Erik J. Brown!
Perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, and Ryan La Sala.
When a runaway teen is arrested for shoplifting, he’s desperate not to be sent back to the hyper-religious parents he knows will never accept him. While at the police station, he notices a resemblance to the aged-up photos of Nate Beaumont, a child who went missing ten years ago—and, in a moment of desperation, he takes Nate’s identity in hopes that it will help him make a quick getaway.
Before he can run again, Nate’s family arrives and welcomes him home to a life he never had. As “Nate” watches and waits for his chance to escape, he finds that the Beaumonts are nurturing and loving, very different from his own parents.
But soon unsettling things start to happen—vandalism, alarms going off in the middle of the night—and it becomes clear that someone knows “Nate” isn’t who he says he is…and that the real Nate wasn’t kidnapped, but murdered.
As he starts to unravel the mystery, he gets ever closer to the devil he may know—and learns he might be their next victim.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Wednesday Books
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Welcome to Bleak Haven: The town you won’t (or can’t!) leave… Deep fake murders have taken over the high school, but what happens when they start to become real?
Would you Swipe to Die?
When the new craze takes over Bleak Haven High, Ava Wilson refuses to join in. As the niece of an infamous murderer, it’s the last thing she needs.
The mysterious website allows people to view their own ‘death’ – an AI generated version of their final slasher-movie-moments. But, when some of her classmates’ deepfakes are replicated in real life, Ava can either catch the killer…or be the next victim.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Wednesday Books
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Welcome to Bleak Haven: The town you won’t (or can’t!) leave… The second nail-biting novel in the Bleak Haven series, in Vincent Ralph’s signature, terrifying style!
Bleak Haven High’s senior class of 1987 have already survived the town’s most horrifying tragedy to date. As a result, 17-year-old Noah understands everything there is to know about monsters.
When the bookstore that Noah works in is held up by masked attackers, he assumes they want cash. But the assailants aren’t demanding a ransom. They are searching for Bleak Haven’s very own urban legend – The Burning Book.
After something with a thirst for flesh creeps from the book’s pages, Noah must use his knowledge of Bleak Haven’s terrifying history to help his fellow hostages escape the mall, without turning their town into another bloodbath.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Sourcebooks Fire
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From the spectacular storyteller, Buck Turner, – a coming-of-age tale – with a twist.
Cole Mercer is a young man angry at the world… and for good reason. After the sudden loss of his father, Cole’s mother moves them hundreds of miles away from all that is familiar to the sleepy town of Evergreen, North Carolina. He struggles to settle in, but navigating difficult classmates is offset by the beautiful girl next door. And he begins to understand there’s something different about this small southern town and the forest that surrounds it, which seems to have more of a presence than it should.
Nothing in Evergreen is quite what it seems.
Readers will fall in love with Evergreen’s southern charm and the love story at its center which transcends time.
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Sourcebooks Fire
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A betrayal. A deception. A tragedy. A murder.
Charity has a past full of dark secrets that she keeps buried deep inside her cold heart. Samantha didn’t used to have any secrets, but that’s all about to change. And Roy, who seems to be caught in the middle, may have a haunting past of his own. All three of them were never supposed to survive.
But when the small town they live in is hit with a devastating flood, the isolation and danger of the rising waters will lead the three of them down a path they can never return from.
How long will it take the three of them to realize that one will have to go, for the others to survive?
Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Delacorte Press
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A teen investigative podcaster decides to dig into the truth behind a grisly murder spree that rocked his hometown five years ago, but soon discovers that this cold case is still hiding deadly secrets—in this chilling thriller perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Five years ago, the infamous Trojan murders turned the small town of Moss Pointe, Louisiana into a living nightmare. Four teen boys—all star players on Moss Pointe High’s football team—were murdered one after the other by a Trojan-mask wearing killer.
Eventually, the murderer was unmasked. But the community has never forgotten—and some folks in town still wonder whether the police got it right.
Eighteen-year-old Pryce Cummings is one of them. An aspiring journalist, Pryce is pretty sure he just stumbled upon evidence that throws the killer’s guilt into question. It’s the perfect story for his own podcast, and a reason to go back to the hometown he’s avoided since coming to terms with his sexuality while at college.
But in Moss Pointe, digging into the past is anything but welcome. There’s so much more to what happened there five years ago, and Pryce is ready to crack it all wide open…if he lives to tell the tale.
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Joy Revolution
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A teen goth fashion designer travels to Tokyo, Japan, where she meets a tattoo artist apprentice who may just be the one to change her mind about love—part of the international Love in Translation series of standalone YA romances.
Lilyn Jeong is living her best life—in Tokyo! She gets to learn from the legendary yet notoriously terrifying tailor Mrs. Matsumoto. Getting a glowing recommendation from her could be Lilyn’s ticket into her dream fashion school.
So when Lilyn is tasked with designing an entire collection, panic sets in. She has only weeks to figure out how to mix her goth aesthetic with traditional Japanese style. Thankfully, Mrs. Matsumoto’s rebellious, tattooed, rainbow-haired daughter Yua offers to help.
But going on cozy dates with this cute girl is way easier than sewing yukatas. Can Lilyn find a path forward in fashion and love? Or will she watch as everything falls apart at the seams?
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Union Square & Co.
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A bold and authentic reimagining of The Winter’s Tale full of tragedy, triumph, and forbidden romance—perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Kathleen Glasgow, and Sarah Dessen.
Pia and her brother, Max, live on an isolated farm in rural Maine, and it’s the only life they remember. Their father says the only way for them to stay protected is to stay on the farm. Pia doesn’t question it. Pia’s entire world turns upside down when her father breaks his leg, and she must be the one to venture into town to make farm deliveries. And then she sees him. Felix, a boy who is both a stranger and somehow familiar, makes her question everything she thought she knew about herself, her past, and her family. But no matter how she feels about Felix, she must always obey her father, above all else.
But Pia’s feelings are too big to ignore, and the more she engages with Felix, the more she begins to see that there’s promise for her beyond the isolated world to which she’s grown accustomed. And the more she dreams about a better life, the more she wonders if her father is telling the truth about their family’s past. Pia knows her father and his friend Anthony are hiding something, and soon Pia must reckon with the damage her father is doing to their community and the damage he has done to their own lives.
Winter White is an astonishingly told and searingly authentic reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Kathleen Glasgow, and Sarah Dessen.
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Feiwel & Friends
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Jenny Han meets Mean Girls in Freddie and Stella Got Hot, Maggie Horne’s YA rom com about getting revenge and falling in love.
By the time the Beaumont-Gardiner Award is announced, everyone’s going to hate Levi Preston. And they’re going to love us.
Freddie and Stella are on a mission: take down their former best friend turned queen bee Levi Preston by depriving her of the one thing she wants more than anything: The Beaumont-Gardiner Award. Only the coolest, smartest, and―let’s face it―hottest girls win…so Freddie and Stella are going to have to get a whole lot cooler, smarter, and hotter.
At first, it seems to work―Freddie and Stella slowly manage to worm their way in with the cool girls. With every shopping date, agonizing salon appointment, and hot yoga class, the girls get closer to the in-crowd and Levi fades more and more into the background. The higher they rise, though, the more uneasy Freddie starts to feel. Stella’s gone from her lovable, goofy best friend to someone she barely recognizes, using her newfound power for evil at every opportunity. Soon, Freddie realizes she’s created a monster―and she needs Levi’s help to put a stop to it.
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Delacorte Press
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After a group of teens visit a dangerous island where three are left behind, the surviving girls realize they must return to confront the sinister force hunting them. This dark YA thriller is perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.
Eight were lost. Five were found. None will ever be free.
For Evie Williams, life is about to get a lot more complicated. Haunted by the events of a school trip to Hollow Lake National Park that went disastrously wrong, Evie and her friends returned changed, their lives forever marked by the mysterious Island they encountered—and the three girls they left behind.
Now, someone is picking off those who were involved, one by one. Their families, friends, and even online investigators are all caught in a deadly game. The stakes are raised when Evie receives a chilling message: to save her loved ones, she must return to the Island.
As Evie and the other “Lost Girls” navigate the treacherous terrain of the Island once more, they must confront the secrets they’ve buried, the horrors they witnessed, and the person—or thing—that’s hunting them. But some secrets refuse to stay hidden, and the Island demands a price for freedom.
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by HarperCollins
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Buckle up for a wild ride with this cheeky and charming rom-com where one girl’s quest across India to seal her first kiss turns into finding first love in the most unexpected places. Perfect for fans of Axie Oh and Jenny Han!
Krishna Kumar may have gotten into her dream college, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped being a bi disaster. Even after spending her whole summer in India flirting with her gorgeous neighbor Amrit, she has nothing to show for it. And now, her fate is sealed: she’s destined to be the only freshman who’s never been kissed.
But when her flight home is delayed right as a distinctly flirty text from Amrit lights up her phone, Krishna is determined to seize her last chance at a perfect first kiss with Amrit, even if it means asking her cousin-turned-nemesis, Priti, for help. Because Amrit is miles away at a family wedding—and Priti’s best friend, Rudra Desai, is the only one with a car.
The unlikely trio set off on a road trip to crash a wedding and save Krishna’s summer. But as she starts to fall for the quiet yet irresistibly hot and charming Rudra, who everyone knows is unrequitedly in love with Priti, Krishna realizes her heart better catch up to her head before she skips right past her first kiss and falls directly into her first heartbreak.
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
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When Blair accidentally becomes college roommates with her brother’s best friend, sparks fly in this hilarious rom-com from bestselling author Samantha Markum, perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Emma Lord.
Blair might be a little type-A, but she never thought of herself as completely overbearing…that is, until her two best friends drop her from their housing arrangement a week before her pre-college summer coding program is about to start.
Blair knows if she switches to an on-campus dorm, her parents will make her give up her expensive sculpture class with her dream mentor in order to pay for it. Desperate, she agrees to be the fifth roommate to four off-campus sophomores who are also in a last-minute bind. But things get complicated when one of her new roommates turns out to be her brother’s best friend, Jamie Atwater.
Blair begs Jamie not to tell her brother about the new living arrangement. Her brother would go straight to their parents, who would definitely not approve, and all her plans would fall apart. So they strike a deal: she’ll help him finish coding the app he’s building if he promises to keep her secret.
Spending more time together shouldn’t be a problem. Sure, Jamie has a new haircut, a mysterious tattoo, and a year’s worth of earned muscle, but it’s not like Blair is noticing. After all, they’re only roommates, right?
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Roaring Brook Press
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From the bestselling author of SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY comes the rerelease of HER NAME IN THE SKY, the beloved YA sapphic romance―now with foil on the jacket and a new bonus chapter!
Hannah has big plans for senior year: football games, Mardi Gras parties, and spring break on the beach with her tight-knit group of friends. No drama, no detours. Just a year to remember.
Falling for another girl―her best friend, Baker―was not part of the plan.
Hannah knows she should date Wally, the earnest, dependable boy her sister is always teasing her about. She should be happy when Clay, the golden boy of their group, asks Baker to be his girlfriend. She should follow the rules of her traditional Louisiana town―especially those she hears from the pulpit―and bury the feelings that don’t fit.
But how can she, when Baker makes boxed mac and cheese feel like a love language, when they share dog-eared books and secrets that crack something open inside her, and when being close to Baker feels less like a mistake and more like coming home?
Hannah must decide if she’s willing to risk everything for the one girl who sees her clearly―and who might just feel the same way. If she and Baker are brave enough, this could be the start of everything.
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by HarperCollins
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From New York Times bestselling author Ryan Douglass comes a gripping and tender reimagining of The Great Gatsby about the pursuit of happiness—and love—in a society built on cruelty and secrets.
Seventeen-year-old Nick Carrington wants nothing more than to leave Greenwood, Oklahoma, behind and make a name for himself in the papers. But when tragedy strikes, dreams turn into a twisted reality. Forced to start anew in Harlem, only a letter of acceptance from the prestigious West Egg Academy is able to pull him back into the world.
But the supposedly integrated private boys’ school is more of a catchy headline than a fact, with the same prejudices Nick left behind back home. And his secret but growing feelings for the founder’s wickedly charismatic son, Jay Gatsby Jr.— who dances past society’s conventions with practiced ease—only add more complications.
When Nick’s cutting pen exposes dangerous truths about West Egg and leads to perilous consequences, he and Jay must decide whether to spend a lifetime outrunning trouble or be the ones to light the match. Can they not only fight back but triumph? Or will the powers that be win yet again?
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Wattpad Books
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Readers who loved The QB Bad Boy and Me, and books like The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams and Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning.
Eleven whole weeks. Summer vacation.
Camping trips, lakehouse getaways, and late-night motorcycle rides—the best summer of their lives is finally here. Dallas and Drayton are ready to celebrate their last official summer before heading off to college. Making the most of their time together before the inevitable…
Eleven weeks. Until they’re off to separate colleges.
Dallas is excited about her new start at CalArts, but knowing she has to leave everything behind—especially her boyfriend—hurts more than any dance injury. In just a few weeks, she’ll be on a plane to California while Drayton begins college in Texas. The future of their entire relationship is called into question—a question Drayton refuses to answer.
In fact, Drayton’s nonchalant attitude towards their soon-to-be long distance relationship has Dallas questioning his feelings for her. However, Drayton’s been carrying a secret that will change the course of their entire love story…he’s just waiting for the perfect moment to tell her.
But with the chaos (and excitement) of watching Josh and Gabby prepare for parenthood, planning a baby shower, finding Dallas’ older brother Nathan a girlfriend, and coming to terms with what it means to grow up—the “perfect moment” might be harder to find than Drayton realizes.
Tay Marley, the author of the hit Wattpad sensation The QB Bad Boy and Me, captures the sizzling heat of summer love in this new novel, offering a peek into that fateful summer before Dallas and Drayton’s lives are forever changed.
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Bloomsbury YA
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Broken loyalties. Uncertain fates. Two kingdoms hanging in the balance…The exhilarating finale in bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Forging Silver series will leave readers breathless!
Callyn has grown closer to Queen Lia Mara in Syhl Shallow, bonded by the secret magic they share. But their magic can stay hidden only so long, especially when a dangerous plot on the Queen’s life forces Callyn to work with the man who betrayed her.
In Emberfall, Tycho and Jax are struggling to rebuild their connection after months apart, complicated when they learn of Truthbringers causing trouble at the borders. Sent to investigate together, Jax and Tycho soon discover that the rebellious faction has formed a devil’s bargain with the magical scravers to destroy human magic once and for all.
When their missions bring them together, Tycho, Jax, and Callyn find themselves facing threats from all sides. With one last chance to save their magic and their kingdoms, they must work together, or lose everything.
War has erupted. Love is tested. And without sacrifice, magic could destroy everyone…
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Nancy Paulsen Books
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In the tradition of Jordan Peele and Tiffany Jackson’s The Weight of Blood, a YA thriller about a Black teen whose fight for survival forces a small southern vacation town to face its dark history of racial violence.
When sixteen-year-old Naomi Ward and her family head to a secluded cabin in the Shenandoah Valley for summer vacation they don’t know the small, mountain town of Sparksburg, Virginia has a dark and twisted past. But when they arrive, Naomi can’t shake the feeling that something about Sparksburg just isn’t right—and it smells god awful, but for some reason Naomi is the only who can smell the town’s stench. When she learns Sparksburg had once been a Sundown Town—a town where Black people weren’t allowed after sunset lest they be murdered—Naomi’s unease starts to make sense.
As Naomi digs more into Sparksburg’s violent origins, she finds herself haunted by the ghost of a girl, appearing nightly outside her window. Then she learns of two girls who’ve recently gone missing and suspects the past may still be present in Sparksburg and beneath the quaint façade of this tourist town is a palpable danger.
When Naomi decides to track the disappearance of the two girls herself, she becomes suspicious of a local man who has kindled fear in Naomi more than once. She soon learns he has a connection to one of the missing girls, and Naomi is certain he’s responsible for the disappearances.
When no one believes her, Naomi takes matters into her own hands. But to save the missing girls, she’ll have to finally face her own past trauma as a “missing girl” as she finds herself in a fight for survival.
Gripping and triumphant, L.S. Stratton tells an important and unforgettable story of racial reckoning inspired by historical events.
Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Disney Hyperion
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From the author of It Waits in the Forest comes Sarah Dass’s next stand-alone supernatural thriller—a lush and evocative tale of the rot that grows at the heart of even the most beautiful places. Perfect for fans of Angeline Boulley and Tiffany D. Jackson!
All Maya Woods wants is to reunite her three best friends, Pearl, Erica, and Lystra, for one last epic boat trip to the islands around their Caribbean home before they all graduate from high school. But the girls are forced to make an emergency landing on Annatto—an island avoided by locals and tourists alike because of the rumors of monsters and shadows that lurk in its depths—and their yearly tradition descends into darkness as Erica turns up dead and the girls are forced to leave her body behind.
Their tight-knit community is sent into a spiral of grief and suspicion, and Maya and her friends are at a loss to understand what happened: was it simply an accident or is there truth to the rumors about Annatto?
And while the community rejoices when Erica mysteriously returns alive and well a week later, Maya can’t seem to let go of her questions. What did they see that night? And who—or what—has Erica returned as? As old arguments and new betrayals rise to the surface, Maya and her friends can feel the shadows closing in on them. Something is lurking in the night, and they must be ready to face it.
Drawing from the darkest corners of Caribbean mythology, acclaimed author Sarah Dass delivers a supernatural thriller blends cultural nuance with monsters that go bump in the night, giving long-time Rick Riordan Presents fans the kind of story that will root into their hearts and awaken never their deepest fears.
