Hey there readers! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. So with the summer coming, or in my case as a Floridian, ramping up, we are always looking out for the next big read. As many of you know, I prefer young adult books, so this list, in order to contain its length (which was a chore) solely focuses on Young Adult books. Lately, it has been tough for me as a full-time mom, and then working 6-7 days straight, I am left absolutely exhausted. But hopefully, I will be getting a raise soon which will hopefully mean I can squeeze in some summer reading.

Now, these are the top 15 books I am highly anticipating and oh my god, I hope you guys keep a lookout for them too! Happy reading

1. Beasts of Ruin
by Ayana Gray
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Action & Adventure
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Beasts of Ruin is the sequel to Beasts of Prey which I absolutely loved so I am really looking forward to this novel and excited to see where the journey takes these characters. “In this much anticipated follow up to New York Times bestselling Beasts of Prey, Koffi’s powers grow stronger and Ekon’s secrets turn darker as they face the god of death.“

2. The Dragon’s Promise
by Elizabeth Lim
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Epic / Fairy Tales & Folklore
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Okay, so maybe I cheated a little with this one seeing as how I have already read it. But I’m still so excited for the release that I have to shout it to the world! Six Crimson Cranes is an amazing novel, and this one was as well, I honestly could not put it down. “From the New York Times Bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes comes a thrilling new adventure! A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it… Fans of Shadow and Bone will devour this soaring fantasy.“

3. How to Survive Your Murder
by Danielle Valentine
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Horror / Thrillers & Suspense
Publisher: Razorbill

Okay, I cheated again with this one but this is one I could not put down, honestly, it was everything I loved and more. I love Scream, the whole franchise, and I love Happy Death Day, i mean that movie makes me all kinds of giddy. “Scream meets Happy Death Day in this terrifying stand-alone horror novel from YA scream queen Danielle Valentine.“

4. Moon Dark Smile
by Tessa Gratton
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

For this one, it was the cover that drew me in first and then the title. Princess drawn to the great demon bound to the royal court named Moon? Sign me up! The two embark on an adventure to free themselves from their gilded cages and become freer people. But, of course, nothing is as simple as that. “The fate of an Empire lies with a headstrong Heir and a restless demon in this lush YA fantasy for fans of Laini Taylor and Girl, Serpent, Thorn.”

5. Wild is the Witch
by Rachel Griffin
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

I fell in love with Rachel Griffin’s writing with The Nature of Witches. I love that book, I can recommend it to a thousand people and often do it at my work (I work in a bookstore). So when I saw that she was releasing another witchy book, because I will read anything witchy, I quickly put it on my TBR pile. “From the instant New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches comes an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance about a young witch attempting to undo a terrible curse.”

6. My Imaginary Mary
by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Publisher: HarperTeen

These three authors are amazing. I fell in love with them with My Lady Jane and since then I have picked up and read (almost) every novel. I’m still missing My Calamity Jane but I have it as an audiobook and this is probably my favorite series as an audiobook because the voices of these characters they create are amazing. And when following the great Mary Shelley, you have me hook, line, and sinker. Just take my money guys. “It’s aliiiiiiiive! The bestselling authors of My Lady Jane are back with the electric, poetic, and (almost) historical tale of the one and only Mary Shelley. With comic genius and a truly electrifying sense of adventure, Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows continue their campaign to turn history on its head in this YA fantasy that’s perfect for fans of The Princess Bride and A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue.”

7. These Twisted Bonds
by Lexi Ryan
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
Publisher: Clarion Books

Let me just say, I was not okay after reading These Hollow Vows. That ending kind of sent me through a loop. So, I am really excited to get my hands on a copy of this. I need to know what is going to happen next. “In this thrilling conclusion to These Hollow Vows—the sexy, action-packed fantasy by New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan that started it all—Brie finds herself caught between two princes and two destinies while the future of the fae realm hangs in the balance.”

8. Long Live the Pumpkin Queen
by Shea Ernshaw
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Paranormal / Dark Fantasy
Publisher: Disney Press

One: The Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite movie. I watch it twice a year, every Halloween and every Christmas. Two: I will read everything and anything by Shae Ernshaw; I freaking love everything she does. I really am a huge fan of her writing, I own everything she’s published. So when you combine two things I love, yes, I’m going to buy them. “Read Sally’s story in this young adult sequel to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas written by New York Times bestselling Shea Ernshaw.“

9. What Souls Are Made Of
by Tasha Suri
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Historical
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

I love the Bronte sisters and Wuthering Heights is probably one of my favorite ones (right next to Dracula and Frankenstein). I’ve read a couple of different retellings but not one as different as this one and I’m looking forward to one that deals with skin color and class differences. “Two lost souls cut off from their heritage find solace in each other in this YA remix of the gothic novel Wuthering Heights.”

10. Blood and Moonlight
by Erin Beaty
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Epic
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Okay, anything with moon in the title I just automatically add to my TBR pile. I love the moon. Gifted magical sight by the moon, Catrin finds herself caught between a detective and a serial killer as she deals with hiding her own magic that would make her an outcast. “From the author of the Traitor’s Kiss trilogy, a YA medieval fantasy thriller about an orphan girl with secret powers of perception who gets caught between a mysterious genius and a serial killer.”

11. The Dream Runners
by Shveta Thakrar
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen

Another author that has won my heart. After Star Daughter, I am in love with Thakrar’s storytelling. And this one, much like Star Daughter,is also inspired, in-part, by Hindu Mythology. She has such a great way of incorporating her mythology to weave together an amazing story that just makes me want to read more and more of her. “A lush tapestry of dreams, myth, and magic—perfect for fans of Holly Black, Roshani Chokshi, and Margaret Rogerson. The Dream Runners is a stand-alone contemporary fantasy, partly inspired by Hindu mythology, is full of slow-burning romance, haunting intrigue, and shimmering magic.”

12. Our Crooked Hearts
by Melissa Albert
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary 
Publisher: Flatiron Books

Melissa Albert is another one of those authors that just pulls you in and wraps you in a dark cocoon of mesmerizing and dark storytelling. I loved The Hazel Wood and I’m so mad at myself for not reading the other books in the series. But this one, you bet I’m going to make time for it. “Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood.”

13. Not Good for Maidens
by Tori Bovalino
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural 
Publisher: Page Street Kids

I will never say no to a retelling. If it is a retelling, send it my way please because I will most likely love it. There are very few that I hate. And a horror retelling of a classic fairy tale, that just screams Grimm to me. “Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market. They’ll lure you in with fruit and gems and liquor and dancing, merriment to remember for the rest of your life. But that’s an illusion. The market is death itself.”

14. Forging Silver into Stars
by Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy 
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

I loved A Curse so Dark and Lonely. A Heart So Fierce and Broken was a bit of a letdown for me, but not that big of a letdown that I was not excited for A Vow So Bold and Deadly. So to see Kemmerer expanding her universe is exciting! “Return to the Cursebreaker world in a new series by New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer.“

15. Valiant Ladies
by Melissa Grey
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Historical 
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

As a Mexican, I love Latinx literature. And a historical LGBTQ+ romance in a historical setting such as Spain just makes me even more eager to read this novel. “Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in this YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth-century Latinx teenagers.”

Thanks for joining me! I hope many of you keep a lookout for some of these titles. Now tell me, what are you looking forward to this Summer?