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A guide to new adult books: 20 titles to get you started.

In 2009, St. Martin’s Press announced a contest for “new adult” manuscripts — cutting-edge stories that take college-age protagonists and walk them through the gauntlet of growing up. The resulting submissions read like young adult , but aged up: hotter romances, grittier plot-lines, characters grappling with college stress, career transitions, and all manner of first times. And thus, a new genre was born.

Like YA, new adult (or NA) is fundamentally about coming of age, though it looks at what happens after the messiness of adolescence. Unlike their young adult counterparts, NA protagonists have left childhood in the rearview mirror. But that doesn’t mean they feel like full-fledged grownups just yet. As NA writer Cora Carmack puts it, “ New adult is the ‘I’m officially an adult, now what?’ phase. ”

Carmack and her fellow genre superstars tend to pen sleek, steamy collegiate romances that feel destined for the big screen. Cardigan-clad ingenues fall for tattooed heartthrobs over econ problem sets or dorm-room shenanigans — you can practically hear the TSwift-forward soundtrack.

But NA isn’t all about coed love stories. Within this vibrant genre, you’ll find edgy urban fantasies , heart-wrenching historical fiction , and soft-focus magical realism. And the books that do play the “college girl meets college boy” trope straight will make the formula feel exciting again with their compelling characters — not to mention a few love scenes guaranteed to make your blood run hot.

Feeling intrigued? Then let’s get started with these 20 wildly popular new adult books.

1. All of You by Christina Lee

Avery Michaels has never been interested in dating — which makes sense, given her mom’s string of terrible ex-boyfriends. Instead of love, she’s focused on her nursing studies, with the occasional hookup when she wants to have a little fun. But all that changes when she meets Bennett. He’s hot, tattooed — and a virgin. Unfortunately for Avery, he’s not interested in changing that last part unless she’s willing to try something truly brazen: a relationship. With steamy love scenes and likeable reads, All of You is a delectable, escapist treat.

2. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Originally a self-published hit , Beautiful Disaster wound up in Simon & Schuster’s catalogue after a stint on the New York Times Best Seller list. At its center is Abby Abernathy, a once-troubled teen hoping for a fresh start in college. Unfortunately, resident bad-boy Travis Maddox won’t make it easy for her. With his streetwise charisma and breathtaking looks, Travis threatens to tempt Abby off the virtuous path of chastity and cardigans. Will she end up falling for him, against her own better judgment?

3. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

This gripping World War II novel kicks off when a young British spy crash-lands right in the middle of enemy territory. When “Verity’s” plane goes down over Nazi-occupied France, her pilot — and best friend — Maddie manages to escape. But Verity isn’t so lucky: she ends up a prisoner of the Gestapo. Held in an abandoned hotel, she’s forced to write a confession detailing her part in the Allied war effort. As rigorously researched as it is emotionally devastating, Code Name Verity is a historical tour de force.

4. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

When savvy readers think “new adult fantasy,” A Court of Thorns and Roses might just be the first book that comes to mind. This darkly sexy tale, which remixes “Beauty and the Beast” with the Scottish legend of Tam Lin, introduces us to the teenage huntress Feyre Acheron. After killing a wolf that turns out to be a faerie in disguise, she winds up as a prisoner of the High Lord Tamlin, a bestial figure who hides his green-eyed countenance behind a mask. In true fairy tale form, Feyre’s resentment of her captor warps into something like love. But before they can have their happily ever after, she must dispel that curse that shadows Tamlin and his court.

5. The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham make an odd pair. She’s a snarky bookworm who's never been in love, and he’s a puck-shooting bad boy who never sleeps alone. They’ve only come together thanks to a cold-blooded transaction: Hannah will tutor Garrett so he can skate by academically, moving on from studies he doesn’t care about to his pro hockey career. In exchange, he’ll make her crush jealous with a carefully calculated fake dating gambit. It’s a clear-cut, mutually beneficial deal… until an unexpected kiss changes everything.

6. Easy by Tammara Webber

This steamy collegiate romance helped define NA’s penchant for tortured protagonists, rollercoaster relationships, and grown-up grit. Easy ’s narrator, Jacqueline, has always been willing to sacrifice for her relationship — she even set aside her music school dreams to join her high-school boyfriend at an in-state college. Of course, he decides he wants to see other people. Heartbroken, Jackie can’t bring herself to go to the econ class she’s taking with her ex. Then a quiet classmate saves her from a sexual assault. A brooding figure with a deceptively sharp mind, Lucas is nothing like Jackie’s ex. With him by her side, can she find the strength to stand on her own?

7. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Identical twins Cath and Wren grew up together in the Simon Snow fandom — reading and rereading the series, writing fanfiction, donning elaborate costumes for midnight premieres. But now that they’re heading off to college, Wren is ready to put her fangirl days behind her in favor of new friends and college parties. That leaves Cath alone with her social anxiety — prompting a deeper retreat into the Simon Snow universe. Written by the author of Eleanor and Park , Fangirl is a charming, relatable look at mental health, family bonds, and the magic of fandom.

8. The Impact of You by Kendall Ryan

This sexy bestseller helped cement Kendall Ryan’s reputation as a NA superstar, a collegiate romance maven with a legion of devoted fans. The sizzling chemistry in The Impact of You will show you exactly why she enjoys so much hype. At first glance, Avery and Jase seem like a classic case of “opposites attract”. She’s a quiet virgin who keeps to herself, and he’s a hard-living staple of the frat party scene. But they’re bound together by the darkness of their pasts — for better or worse. You see, Avery has striven to leave her painful history behind. But Jase decides he’d rather help her through her trauma than confront his own.

9. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

As far as NA hits go, Lily and the Octopus is a bit of an outlier. For one thing, the relationship at its heart isn’t a torrid romance between a cardigan-clad freshman and her sexy tattooed beau. Instead, this quirky, magical realist confection of a novel centers on the love between man and man’s best friend. Writer Ted Flask and his dachshund Lily have done everything together for the past twelve years. But now, she has a brain tumor, an “octopus” clinging to the back of her eye. Based on Steven Rowley’s own bond with his beloved dog, this unconventional love story is a triumph of emotional modulation, at once riotously funny and deeply sad.

10. Losing It by Cora Carmack

Bliss Edwards might have seven semesters of drama school under her belt, but she’s never had sex. That’s why she’s committed to finally “losing it” in the most efficient way possible. Unfortunately, her first one-night stand doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. When she shows up for class on the first day of her senior spring, Bliss is horrified to recognize her professor: the last time she saw him, he was naked in her bed. As her beloved Shakespeare would say, “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

11. One and Only by Viv Daniels

YA stalwart Diana Peterfreund also writes sexy collegiate romances under a pen name. One and Only opens her popular Canton series, which offers all the sweeping intensity fans expect from the Viv Daniels brand. When Tess McMann earns a scholarship to the prestigious Canton College, it seems like the perfect opportunity to escape her troubled past. There, she reunites with Dylan Kingsley, an old summer love whose keen wit and smoldering grin still make her heart beat fast. There’s just one problem: Dylan has a girlfriend now. What’s worse, she happens to be Tess’s half-sister — the cherished daughter of a father who won’t give Tess the time of day.

12. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

This witty LGBT romance takes new relationship shenanigans to the world stage. The White House’s resident prince, Alex Claremont-Diaz, hasn’t always gotten along with Henry Mountchristen-Windsor, the actual prince he tussled with at a paparazzi-plagued royal wedding. That’s why he’s been forced to make nice with Henry for the cameras. But as Alex and Henry play up their “bond” in front of an adoring press, their staged friendship turns into real passion. As far as inventive NA love stories go, Red, White & Royal Blue takes the crown.

13. Slammed by Colleen Hoover

In this heart-wrenching romance, poetry slams offer Layken Cohen a refuge from her less-than-perfect senior year: she’s starting over in a whole new state after her father’s death. Luckily, her cute new neighbor Will is there to show her everything Ypsilanti, Michigan has to offer. Before long, they’re going out to poetry clubs, unable to deny their mutual attraction. When the school year starts, though, Layken is “slammed” by a nasty surprise: she walks into class only to lock eyes with her new poetry teacher — Will.

14. Social Skills by Sara Alva

Social Skills is an understated love story with nuanced characterization and a subtle, elegant literary voice. Its protagonist, Connor Owens, has a tendency to get tongue-tied, especially around cute boys. What he lacks in social skills, though, he makes up for in musical virtuosity: his violin says everything he can’t manage to express in words. That starts to change when he meets Jared, a smooth-talking football player who gets under Connor’s skin. Can things really work out between two people so different — especially if neither of them is exactly out yet?

15. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danier

This gorgeously written bestseller was one of 2016’s most anticipated titles. Sweetbitter mixes a heart-rending bildungsroman with a richly textured look at New York’s Michelin-starred restaurant scene. The result? A culinary coming-of-age tale that’s sure to hit the spot. It’s narrated by twenty-two year old Tess, who harbored dreams of New York long before she arrived from Ohio. She’s got no connections and no credentials to her name, but she manages to snag a backwaiter gig at a glitzy Manhattan restaurant. There, Tess gets a hands-on education in fine dining, unrequited love, and other rarefied tastes.

16. The Sound of Us by Ash Poston

If you like your new adult fiction with more spunk than grit, add The Sound of Us to your TBR. This spun-sugar romance is the perfect way to while away a lazy afternoon. When Junie Baltimore learns that Roman Holiday is breaking up, she couldn’t care less: pop fans throughout the country might be crying their eyes out, but she’s always been more of a rock-n-roll girl. When she runs into the band’s former lead singer on the beach, though, they turn out to have more in common than she ever expected. Now, if only the paparazzi would leave them alone…

17. Sunshine by Robin McKinley

For fans of children’s fantasy , Robin McKinley is just about a household name. In Sunshine , though, she tackles more grown-up fare, to spellbinding — and sometimes blood-draining — effect. Set in an alternate universe plagued by black magic, this darkly fascinating story centers on Rae Seddon, a pastry chef with long-submerged supernatural abilities. Unfortunately for her, tapping into those powers now is kind of do-or-die: she’s just been kidnapped by vampires . Imprisoned in an abandoned manor, Rae is forced to work with her fellow abductee, a vampire from a rival gang with a strange allure.

18. Unteachable by Leah Raeder

When Maise O’Malley meets a cute stranger at a summer carnival, she’s not looking for anything but a night of fun. Still, there’s something about Evan that she just can’t stop thinking about: it’s like he saw right through her tough-talking facade. In true NA romance fashion, the start of the school year brings a nasty shock — guess who’s teaching her film class? Maise and Evan — or rather, Mr. Wilke — have no choice but to stay away from each other. But not even saintly self-control can stop the rumors from spreading. Passionate and provocative, Unteachable offers a no-holds-barred look at a relationship with soaring highs and catastrophic lows.

19. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

Any Shakespeare fans here? What about 10 Things I Hate about You ? Either way, Vinegar Girl is for you — this witty romcom reimagines The Taming of the Shrew . College dropout Kate Battista finds herself facing a challenge she never anticipated: an arranged marriage. On the verge of a major breakthrough, her biochemist father has encountered a setback: his Russian lab assistant, Pyotr, is running out of time on his student visa. To keep him in the country, Dr. Battista devises a madcap scheme: a sham marriage between his protégé and his daughter. Kate is less than thrilled with this plan, at least at first. But something about the quietly brilliant Pyotr tugs at her heartstrings. Maybe it’s the fact that he has no interest in “taming” her at all.

20. Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout

One of new adult’s biggest and most versatile talents, Jennifer L. Armentrout has topped bestseller lists with her fantasy and contemporary romances alike. Wait for It falls squarely into the latter category: it’s a collegiate love story with swoon-worthy leads, whip-smart banter, and a fast-moving, thriller-inflected plot. When college freshman Avery Morgansten starts to fall for local heartthrob Cameron Hamilton, she knows she’s in trouble. She’s still haunted by a traumatic Halloween party from five years ago, and blue-eyed, dimpled distractions like Cam make it hard to keep it together. That’s before you add in the threatening phone calls she’s been fielding… Will the two keep bonding over astronomy class, or will Avery’s past keep them apart?

Have you developed a taste for swoonworthy love stories? Why not check out our roundup of the 25 hottest romance authors and their steamiest works ?

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Ballerina Geneviève Valery is desperate to find work and Lysander Blackstone just wants to get his work done without being pursued by the society ladies of London. A chance encounter in a dark alley may be the solution to both their problems. A retelling of fan favorite, 90's rom-com "Pretty Woman".

Bend Toward the Sun: A Novel

Noah is mourning a patient. Rowan is only interested in her plants at the winery and getting her PhD. But like Rowan's plants, their affection blossoms. Is it enough to overcome the problems that threaten to keep them apart?

The Best Men

One weekend in Miami: two men who are unapologetically horny for each other, last-minute wedding planning, a British period drama, and one very scandalous spreadsheet.

Bet on It: A Novel

All bets are on when Aja and Walker make a bingo-based sex pact. As their friendship grows, so do feelings. Will their pact keep things between them from getting out of hand?

The Bodyguard: A Novel

Bodyguard Hannah is having a terrible year. Enter Hollywood heartthrob Jake Stapleton. He needs protection from his stalkers while visiting his family’s ranch—with one stipulation: they can’t know who she is and she must pose as his girlfriend instead.

Book Lovers

Literary agent Nora never gets to be the plucky heroine of her own love story until she heads to a small Southern town for vacation and runs into brooding book editor Charlie—a plot twist she didn’t see coming.

The Bride Goes Rogue

In Gilded Age New York, Katharine is tired of waiting for her potential groom to get his act together and finally propose to her, so she decides to take matters into her own hands—scandal be damned!

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris: A Novel

Sparks fly in 1899 Paris when Dominican heiress Luz Alana Heith-Benzan travels to the Paris Exposition to market her family's rum and meets Lord Evan Sinclair, a Scottish Earl and whiskey distiller. As problems arise, they realize an arranged marriage could benefit them both.

A Daring Pursuit

A feud between their families has always kept Carys and Tristan apart. When Carys, who is doing everything in her power to never get married and avoid scandal, proposes a week of indecency together, they might find they are more entwined than expected.

The Dark King

Tricked into marrying a faerie king on a trip to Vegas, Bryn is now a pawn in a deadly game of power and every night of passion with Caiden makes it harder for her to be certain if she wants to leave or not.

The Dead Romantics: A Novel

A floundering romance ghostwriter and medium, Florence Day’s belief in true love has died…along with her new editor Benji. Then he shows up in her hometown as a ghost. Turns out Benji is one broodingly handsome and irritating ghost that cannot be ignored.

Delilah Green Doesn't Care

Pressured into photographing her estranged stepsister’s wedding, Delilah Green returns to the small town she ran from. She plans to do the job and leave. But her plans go sideways when she runs into Claire, a single mom and her stepsister’s BFF.

Electric Idol

After Aphrodite orders her son Eros to kill Psyche, he does the next worst thing. He marries her. A modern retelling of the famed Greek myth.

Every Summer After: A Novel

Persephone and Sam had six summers to fall in love and one to ruin it all. Now, twelve years later, they have one weekend to make it right. Told between past and present, this is also a great YA crossover novel.

From Bad to Cursed

The witch families of Thistle Grove are back. When Beltane festivities are brought to a halt by dark magic, it’s up to wild child Issa Avramov and her nemesis, (wildlife superhero) Rowan Thorn to find out the cause before it’s too late.

Funny You Should Ask: A Novel

Chani Horowitz once wrote a career-defining profile of heartthrob Gabe Parker. Ten years later, Chani has the chance to set the record straight about that weekend—but only if she can keep her cool around the man she’s never been able to forget.

Grace Under Fire

In this romantic suspense novel, Grace is just supposed to be making a quick trip to Boston on her way to Scotland. While on a walk, she gets lost, a wounded man stumbles into her arms, and she ends up firing at his shooter in self defense. Surrounded now by more questions than answers, she has ex-Navy Seal, Michael, to watch over her whether she wants him to or not.

Heartbreaker: A Hell's Belles Novel

Matchbreaker and thief Adelaide Frampton and Henry, the crusading Duke of Clayton, race to Gretna Green together to both make and break a marriage—if they don’t kill each other first.

Honey & Spice

College student Kiki Bongo is smart, sassy, and no man’s fool as the campus relationship expert on her popular radio show, Brown Sugar. Then one kiss from her nemesis Malakai Korede, compromises her credibility. The only way to fix it? Have a fake relationship with Malakai.

Hook, Line, and Sinker: A Novel

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The Hookup Plan

For pediatric surgeon London, a weekend hookup with her former high-school archnemesis Drew is exactly what the doctor ordered. But when he shows up for work at her hospital a few days later, London must devise rules and a plan to keep it casual. What could go wrong?

How the Wallflower Was Won

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How to Deceive A Duke

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I'm So (Not) Over You

When Kian receives a text from his ex, Hudson Rivers, he doesn’t know what to expect: a declaration of undying love or an anguished apology. What Hudson needs is a favor—he wants them to pretend they’re still together while his parents are visiting.

The Kiss Curse

By-the-book Wells Penhallow learns the hard way what happens when you open up a competing witchcraft shop across from the woman who drives you crazy. Newbie witches, a talking cat, and witchy hijinks included...

Daniel and Catie are both athletic, focused, and always at odds—until they get snowed in together and rumors start to swirl. To avoid a PR scandal, they agree to a pretend courtship. Can these two fierce competitors survive this new game they’re playing with hearts intact?

A Lady for a Duke

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A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting: A Novel

With massive debts and sisters to support, Kitty Talbot needs a husband with a fortune, and fast. When she starts circling his younger brother, Lord Radcliffe tries to put a stop to her plans, but he’s never met a woman like Kitty before… A very Austen-esque romance.

Lead Me Astray

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Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake: A Novel

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A Merry Little Meet Cute: A Novel

Adult film star Bee is trying to change up her acting career when she’s cast as the lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie with former bad boy pop star Nolan. Things heat up when Nolan recognizes her from her ClosedDoors account—which he just happens to be a member of.

Much Ado About Dukes

Beatrice believes marriage is a trap. But when she finds herself without a fortune or home, the forward-thinking Duke of Blackheath proposes. Entering a marriage of convenience with her former rival is the only sensible decision, even if the duke refuses to fall in love.

Not the Witch You Wed

Violet Maxwell is a witch who never came into her powers. Lincoln Thorne is the alpha werewolf who shattered her heart when she was just a teenager. Now as adults they need to pretend to be together, but their mutual animosity grows into something else.

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes: A Novel

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The Proposal Playbook

Cheery wedding planner Daisy gleefully helps her brother come up with the perfect proposal, only to come up against his friend—grumpy ex-Navy Seal Xander who doesn’t believe in love or happily ever after.

A Proposal They Can't Refuse: A Novel

Forced into a fake engagement by their scheming grandfathers, Puerto Rican chef Kamilah Vega and Irish American whiskey distiller Liam Kane are perfect for each other if they could just stop fighting and admit it.

The Rake Gets Ravished

Mercy Kittinger is determined to do anything, including ravishing the most captivating man she’s ever met, in order to steal back the deed to her home. However, Silas Masters won't be played like that.

The Rodeo Queen

The Closed Circuit Rodeo is back with lawman Diablo joining Rodeo Queen Sierra in the arena. While sparks instantly fly between them, their contracts clearly prohibit fraternizing. With so much at stake, is their budding romance worth the price?

Rules of Engagement

United in tragedy, Raleigh and Adam, operatives for a top-secret organization, are thrown together for one last mission to bring down a terrorist group. Forced to untangle a web of secrets and lies, tensions mount as their suspicions of each other begin to turn into intense desire. A romantic suspense novel from politician and activist Stacey Abrams.  

The Runaway Duchess: A Novel

Lavinia was born to be a duchess, but is desperate for a way out after her wedding to the most terrible duke in England. When Neal mistakes her for the botanist correspondent he invited to his nursery to woo, Lavinia sees her chance to escape.  

When Henrietta, the only child of a country gentleman, goes to London for the Season and becomes the toast of the town, Charles, her longtime, friend-zoned neighbor must join her to head off the sudden competition. A sweet, Austen-esque romance.

Shenanigans

Charli and Neil are melting the ice as their teams return to the hockey rink. After a drunken night, the pals return home married. With annulment not an option, Neil suggests they leverage their situation for good. Will their rocky start put an end to what could have been more?

Ship Wrecked: A Novel

What’s worse than being abandoned by the best one-night stand of your life? Finding out you’ve been cast as each other’s love interests in a hit, fantasy TV show.  

The Stand-Up Groomsman: A Novel

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Starry-Eyed Love

London does not have the time for a new relationship. She is focused on expanding her family’s hotel business, but when hunky millionaire Jackson enters her life, offering a partnership, she has to decide if it will be business or personal.

The Summer Proposal

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Thank You, Next

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A Thousand Miles: A Novel

Ten years ago, BFFs Dee and Ben took a road trip and buried a time capsule. Then their friendship imploded and they haven’t talked since – until Ben shows up at Dee’s door, asking for her help in digging up the capsule. After all, what’s a thousand miles between old friends?

To Catch a Raven

In the Reconstruction Era South, expert thief Raven is forced to use her skills to retrieve a stolen artifact. She and new partner Braxton must pretend to be married to infiltrate the household of a vile person. Raven is resistant to love, but Braxton has plans to make her truly his.

Would You Rather: A Novel

Best friends Noah and Mia would do anything for one another—even get married to secure a good insurance plan. When a suspicious coworker and hopeful friends start to meddle, the pair are forced to confront old feelings and baggage.

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Book Recommendations and Book Lists For Adults And Kids

My Most Anticipated Books For 2024: Adult Fiction Guide

January 10, 2024 - Updated March 27, 2024 // 2 Comments

My favorite time of year — talking about all the new book releases coming out and narrowing down my most anticipated books for adults in 2024 (okay narrowing down is not actually my favorite)!

Seriously looks like so many good new books to read in 2024 when it comes to adult fiction.

My YA new books list will be coming soon, by the way, but this book list is all about book releases for the first half of the year in 2024–January through June.

Things about this list that are always true:

• My reading taste, as always, is eclectic and this list reflects that — from romcoms to fantasy to literary fiction to escapist thrillers. That can be a pro or a con to people checking out what books I am anticipating! I tend to have more commercial tastes but definitely can get into less commercially appealing stuff and very genre-specific. Take what you are into, leave what you are not! Maybe even try something you wouldn’t have otherwise looked at.
• This list isn’t at all about what books I think are going to get the biggest hype or best sellers but some of those types of books are definitely the big buzz books. I pick based on what has me absolutely saying “OH I NEED THIS BOOK!” — new books I am personally anticipating. Sometimes they are also the darlings of the book world that year and sometimes they will most definitely be under-the-radar, very niche to my tastes books. Maybe even a very niche sub-genre I’ve hyper-fixated on lately that you might not even understand why, out of all the new books in 2024, I’m so excited about it.

I think that’s the beauty of these lists — the must read books for 2024 are going to look different from list to list (honestly even year to year for me) on every website you come across!

Sure, most of the big media lists are going for the more popular ones, but depending on the taste of the curator of the list–it looks different giving you a wide range of new books to discover! Particularly because I’m an independent site not beholden to anyone!

If you’ve read my lists before, you know my tastes are ALL over the place! So hopefully you will find something you are interested in genre-wise. And if not, stay tuned for some genre specific lists!

This year was SO HARD to narrow down to the point where I’m like wanting to quit during creating this list. I have WAY MORE to talk about that you’ll see on genre specific lists but I also talk weekly about new books that didn’t make this list (but easily could have) exclusively for email subscribers.

Check that out here (along with my thoughts as I tackle these new book releases and let you know if they were everything I hoped them to be) and other books I end up picking up throughout the year.

Interesting things about the list this year that I noticed:

• Apparently I’m into all things that have even a hint of magic or speculative twist to them still. Family dramas still absolutely roping me in.
• Romance and thrillers are normally reads that show up a lot on here but I feel like, as much as I still love both genres, they didn’t rank as high as usual. Still well represented on here but not as much as in recent years — I seem to be drawn to other things in 2024.
• Another year in which YA authors are debuting in the adult fiction scene and I am so excited!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I’ve talked about or recommended, I’ll receive a very small percentage of the sale. Please see my disclosure policy for more info

P.S. Save these other lists for later: New Historical Fiction Books In 2024, New Thrillers & Mysteries For 2024

Most Anticipated New Book Releases For Adults (January to June 2024)

The titles are listed in order of the month they are published in from January to June. Stay tuned for the second half of this list of new books for adults to read coming out July through December.

Like I said above, there were SO many more selections I’m excited about each month so I highly suggest signing up for my newsletter as they receive even more of a deep dive into what other books are coming out each month.

So many books I’m intrigued by that are left off this list and I’m sure books will emerge that weren’t really on my radar or didn’t stick out to me initially.

A Little Tip…

Below you’ll see Bookshop.org mentioned. Bookshop.org is a fantastic place to buy books online that supports local bookstores. If you are looking to shop small when it comes to your books, I personally buy my books from here and highly recommend! Local bookstores are the heart of communities and Bookshop.org makes it SUPER easy to support them.

Anticipated New Books Coming Out In January 2024

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan Out January 2, 2024

At A Glance: historical fiction, set in Malaysia, WW2, family saga, espionage

Why It Makes The List : I’ve read so many WW2 novels and it’s getting harder for new ones to grab my attention these days. That is — unless I feel they are going to give something new or a different perspective that I’ve rarely or never read before to give a bigger picture of the time/of the War. A book centered around what was happening in Malaysia during WW2? Definitely fits the bill for me personally.

A Malayan mother becomes an unlikely spy for the invading Japanese forces during WW2 (to help oust the British) as she tries to contend with the consequences of that decision on her community and on her family as they try to survive war.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston Out January 2, 2024

At A Glance: domestic suspense/thriller, cat & mouse game, deception, high stakes & twisty, Southern setting

Why It Makes The List : I’ve enjoyed Ashley Elston’s YA books since her debut ( Rules for Disappearing — a YA mystery ) came out and then really fell in love with her Christmas-y rom-com 10 Blind Dates so once I heard about her adult debut thriller I’ve been excited– especially with some industry folks raving! Love a good cat and mouse thriller!

A con artist for hire, who has assumed many new personas over the year, has been give her new mark by her mysterious boss and has fallen into her new persona as Evie Porter with ease!

Until she starts to find herself actually falling for her latest mark and someone claiming her actual identity comes strolling into town threatening to ruin the job and the potential future of returning to her real identity one day. So it’s game on to outsmart the imposter!

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns Out January 2, 2024

At A Glance: multi-generational family drama, 1990’s (with time jumps forward), small town life, Pennsylvania

Why It Makes The List : You know by now that family sagas are my book catnip! As someone who grew up in a small blue collar town in PA until I was a teen in the late 90’s, I was really drawn to the setting and premise of this one as it tells the story of a family, through the span of many years, told through a woman who becomes one of them through the years.

Teenager Marley West, perpetually the new girl, moves with her mother to the small blue collar town of Mercury, Pennsylvania in 1990 where she soon finds herself brought into the dynamic Joseph family who become her whole world then as a young woman and even more later as she marries into the family — a family she later becomes the glue to hold together through hard times, family business troubles, dysfunction, secrets and uncertain futures .

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins Out January 9, 2024

At A Glance: Gothic suspense, wealth, family secrets, North Carolina

Why It Makes The List : Rachel Hawkins thrillers/mysteries and I have a rollercoaster relationship (her YA Hex Hall series though – it’s all love!) but the premises for them ALWAYS make me willing to give her new one an enthusiastic try. And this one sounds her best yet to me!

Cam’s adopted mother was the infamous Ruby McTavish — a famous heiress who was kidnapped as a child and whose been mysteriously widowed four times — and he rejected it all after his mother’s death: the huge fortune to inherit, the estate, the rest of the McTavishes.

Ten years later, now a teacher and married to Jules (a woman with her own messy past she was eager to escape), he’s forced to return back to the estate and confront Ruby’s legacy, the family & their secrets, rumors and the depths of what he has inherited.

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino Out January 16, 2024

At A Glance: literary sci-fi, aliens, “what it means to be human” type book, coming of age

Why It Makes The List : While I do enjoy some more traditional sci-fi genre books, I REALLY love literary fiction that uses a sci-fi element/plot for musings on life and social issues. This one, by using the coming of age of an alien girl living on Earth, looks like a really interesting and tender exploration of what it means to be human as she is reporting back on the humankind experience to her superiors.

A baby is born to a single mom in Philadelphia — a baby who, as she comes of age, is to report on what it is like to be a human on Earth to those back on the faraway planet she is from. As she experiences life as a human on Earth — all the highs and lows — she tries to make sense of it all in her dispatches back to the planet where she belongs.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett Out January 23, 2024

At A Glance: mystery/true crime, cults, unique storytelling format (articles, interview transcripts, messages, etc) .

Why It Makes The List : I love a good mystery/thriller that is told in a unique format and is complex and this one has been getting rave reviews from readers in the UK since it’s been out there for a bit.

A true crime writer looking for her next book idea has a potential huge true crime hit on her hands if she can find the baby, now a young adult, or the mother at the center of the 2003 Alperton Angels mass suicide case and interview one of them. Nobody has heard from the mother (a former member of the cult) or the baby (that the cult believed to be the anti-Christ) after she exposed their criminal activities. Finding them is a massive undertaking and made even more difficult when a rival author is on the same trail for the scoop.

Family Family by Laurie Frankel Out January 23, 2024

At A Glance: family story, adoption, parenthood, chosen family, great book club book potential

Why It Makes The List : I love Laurie Frankel’s books and always look forward to them. Also, I tend to gravitate towards more dark, trauma-filled family dramas for some reason but I have been reaching for ones that look a little more joyful and full of heart even in all the familial complications and messiness (a la Remarkably Bright Creatures ) and this seems to fit the bill.

An actress, India Allwood, decides to speak up about the latest film she is in and tells the truth about how she feels about its depiction of adoption in the film — the topic being something very close to her heart as an adoptive mom. The comments swirls a media storm and she finds herself at the center of it and parts of her story that weren’t known publicly come to light risking the things she’s built. But when her twins set out to help by reaching out to family, things get even more complicated!

Other new books high on my list for January :

• Here In Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton (1/2) — magical realism/fairy tale vibes
• Emily Wilde’s Map of the Other Land s (1/9) — cozy fantasy; sequel
• The Djinn Waits A Hundred Years (1/9) — gothic; magical realism
• Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky (1/9) — literary fiction
• You Only Call When You’re In Trouble (1/9) — family drama
• The Search Party by Hannah Richell (1/16) — mystery/thriller (update: listened to this on audio — fantastic!)
• Say You’ll Be Mine by Naini Kumar (1/16) — romance
• The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James (1/23) — historical fiction; magical realism
• Faebound by Saara El- Arifi (1/23) — fantasy
• Good Material by Dolly Alderton (1/30) — contemporary literary fiction
• Interesting Facts About Space (1/30) — literary fiction

Anticipated New Books Coming Out In February 2024

The Women by Kristin Hannah Out February 6, 2024

At A Glance: historical fiction, 1960’s setting, Vietnam War, nursing, female friendship

Why It Makes The List : Kristin Hannah is a must read for me whether she is writing historical fiction or more contemporary fiction a la Firefly Lane. I’ve only read a couple things set during the Vietnam War but I’m interested in her exploration of the women (so often erased from history) who were there.

A young woman and nursing student deviates from her life’s plan when she impulsively enlists, just like her brother, to join the Army Nurse Corps in Vietnam. Her story unfolds amidst the destruction and horror of war (alongside the other women by her side) and through the trauma of finally returning home a changed person in a different America.

Night Watching by Tracy Sierra Out February 6, 2024

At A Glance: thriller, psychological, home intruder, wintry set thriller

Why It Makes The List : I love a good claustrophobic feeling thriller (trapped in your house during a blizzard) and this one sounds downright terrifying.

A blizzard rages on in the middle of the night as a newly widowed mother settles one of her children back to bed. When she hears someone walking around in her house, she gathers her children and hides a hidden space behind a wall in the older part of her house. As she tries to keep them hidden and her children quiet, while also trying to formulate a plan, she realizes they are in more danger than she ever could have realized.

A Love Song For Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams Out February 6, 2024

At A Glance: romance, genre-bending, Harlem setting, ode to Harlem Renaissance, found family

Why It Makes The List : Did you read Seven Days In June ?? Of course a new Tia Williams is on my list! (If you didn’t read Seven Days In June, let’s rectify that!). Regardless that I’d read anything by this author, this sounds fairytale-like and magical — a bit of the genre-blending romance of Ashley Poston and even maybe Rebecca Serle!

Ricki Wilde, already the black sheep of her family, has left her high society Atlanta family and the family business to pursue her dreams to become a florist and own her own shop. The pursuit of her dreams lands her in Harlem and brings into her life a larger-than-life 96 year old land lady, a new bff and former child star as well as the mysterious jazz pianist named Ezra.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood Out February 6, 2024

At A Glance: paranormal romance, vampires & werewolves, fated mates, marriage of convenience

Why It Makes The List : I love Ali Hazelwood’s romcoms ( The Love Hypothesis was her first hit!) and this seems like QUITE the departure from those but I love vampires and all sorts of other paranormal creatures in books so this is going to be FUN, I know it! (She also has another contemporary rom com coming out in June but I’m honestly more excited for this one!).

The only daughter of a powerful Vampyre leader agrees to give up her life among humans and get married to an Alpha Werewolf in a peace keeping alliance move with their mortal enemies. But she’s got her OWN reasons as to why to she agrees to the marriage of convenience that have nothing to do with the politics of this arranged marriage and she’ll stop at nothing for the sake of her goal.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden Out February 13, 2024

At A Glance: historical fiction with a speculative edge, WWI, family saga, standalone

Why It Makes The List : The Winternight trilogy is a favorite (and makes for a great winter read !) and this seems very different but I’m super intrigued because I love historicals with some magic/fantastical/speculative bends to them. This one honestly feels like a great Fall read from what I’m seeing — a little horror and eerie feeling.

A combat nurse, wounded during the war and honorably discharged, receives word that her brother Freddie is missing and presumed dead in combat. She’s convinced that not everything is as it seems so she volunteers to return to Belgium and work at a hospital in order to search for the truth about her brother. Her search leads to things she could not imagine leading her to believe he could have fell prey to something else entirely.

Meanwhile, in another timeline starting the year before the letter arrives to Laura, we learn the story of what happened to her brother Freddie in the trenches (where he did find himself in a precarious position) as their two stories converge in Laura’s search for her brother amidst the horrors of war and beyond.

I Love You So Much It’s Killing Us Both by Mariah Stovall Out February 13, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary literary fiction, coming of age, complicated friendships, music (emo/punk scene), mental health

Why It Makes The List : This is one of those books where I’m not sure that it will be a huge mainstream popular book but elements of it make for a perfect storm of most anticipated for ME. This one is driven by music/the art of the mixtape & soundtracks to our life (huge draw for me!) and complicated/toxic/unhealthy friendships.

A young woman receives a letter and party invitation from her longtime best friend that she’s been estranged from for a decade. As she contemplates her RSVP and the mixed emotions about possibly reconnecting, she starts creating the perfect mixtape that weaves her mind through the formative memories of the past and that all-consuming & confusing friendship to guide her path forward.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown Out February 13, 2024

At A Glance: commercial contemporary fantasy, books about books, magical books, time travel adventures

Why It Makes The List : While I LOVE reading high fantasy and fully built fantasy worlds, there is something I love about books like The Midnight Library or Addie LaRue — there’s enough familiar that meshes with the perfect notes of fantasy and magic that even the fantasy beginner or avoider can enjoy.

Sometimes my mood dictates just a dip of the toes into the fantastical rather than a full submersion. If that makes sense? ANYWAYS this sounds delightfully charming and I love taking the idea that “books are doors” quite literally.

Cassie works in a NYC bookshop and comes into the possession of a strange book owned by one of her favorite customers who devastatingly dies right in front of her. The book is no ordinary book she comes to find but is magical and gives her the ability to travel in and out of time and the world. But a book so special is something others want and she finds herself hunted by those who also want to possess this rare book and must work to protect the book –and others like it– from those who want them for themselves.

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker Out February 20, 2024

At A Glance: dual time-line (1920’s to 2015) family drama, circus setting, family secrets, found family

Why It Makes The List : I saw it described as Orphan Train meets Water For Elephants meets When We Were Yours but mostly I’ve been looking for a new circus set book to love for a while! Plus, y’all know I can’t resist a sweeping family drama for the life of me.

Cecily Larson is only four years old when her mother drops her off at an orphanage promising to return with money to support both of them. Her mother never comes back and years later a seven year old Cecily finds herself sold to a traveling circus where she’ll find adventure, a different sort of family, forbidden love and discovers the dark side of the circus and the world all too young.

Many decades later, her great grandchild wanting to do a DNA project will force to light the many secrets a now 94 year old Cecily has hidden hidden away for so long that will surprise and shake up her family.

A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen Out February 27, 2024

At A Glance: fantasy romance/romantasy, Norse inspired mythology, rivals to lovers, forbidden romance

Why It Makes The List : The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen is one of my favorite fantasy romance books (I’ve been recommending it a ton for those looking for books to read after Fourth Wing ) so I am STOKED for this.

“A shield maiden blessed by the gods becomes trapped in a union with a power-hungry jarl convinced she is fated to make him king. Eager to prove her strength, and survive the machinations of both the jarl, and his cruel wife, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, while battling her dangerous attraction to the jarl’s son, a beautiful and witty warrior who wields the fire the gods.”

Other new books high on my list for February 2024 :

• Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Holl ander (2/6) — mystery thriller
• Girls With Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod (2/6) — contemporary; romance
• The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn & Jamie Chang (2/13) — historical fiction
• The Blueprint by Rae Giana Rashad (2/13) — dystopian
• Medea by Eilish Quin (2/13) — historical fiction; mythology retelling
• This Disaster Loves You by Richard Roper (2/13) — contemporary; romance
• Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa (2/20) — gothic horror; historical
• River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta (2/20) — magical realism; Jamaican folklore
• Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana (2/27) — fantasy romance
• Brooklyn by Tracy Brown (2/27) — mystery thriller
• Piglet by Lottie Hazell (2/27) — literary fiction
• Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange (2/27) — literary fiction; historical fiction
• The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard (2/27) — speculative fiction

Anticipated New Books Coming Out In March 2024

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering Out March 5, 2024

At A Glance: domestic suspense/drama, female friendships, motherhood, obsession, social media

Why It Makes The List : Carola Lovering has delivered some solid suspense/thriller books for me and this premise sounds like her best yet. I love domestic suspense diving into all 3 of these things: female friendships, motherhood and social media.

Billie and Cassie have been best friends since childhood, with a complicated history full of shared secrets, but lately it seems like Cassie is really slipping away from Billie who feels like she’s been cast aside and having to share her with all Cassie’s social media followers, her new infant daughter and a wealthy husband.

Told from both girls in the past and present, we find out what transpired between them to lead up to the shocking event we find ourselves in at the start of the story — Cassie’s baby is missing and Billie has her.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle Out March 5, 2024

At A Glance: love story, contemporary fiction with a healthy dose of magical realism, “the one”, set in LA

Why It Makes The List : I have loved every single one of Rebecca Serle’s adult fiction books so this new release from her is definitely a most anticipated.

I always can anticipate a contemporary novel with a magical sort of hook, a fast read, an emotional response normally resulting in tears and something really thought-provoking embedded. Her books are so discussable even when people don’t fall on the side of loving them like I do. Great book club books for that reason!

Daphne Bell, for the last 20 years, has received notes from the universe at the start of every romantic relationship that details how long exactly each relationship will last and it’s always right. (Whew is that a blessing or a curse? lol). It’s a secret — not the only secret though that Daphne is keeping — that only her best friend knows about.

And then a note arrives for Jake, a blind date, and there is no end date revealed like all the previous messages.

Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera Out March 5, 2024

At A Glance: murder mystery, true crime podcast element, small town drama, unreliable narrator

Why It Makes The List : I’m familiar with this author through her fantastic YA sci-fi/post-apocalyptic duology that starts with Reboot so this is QUITE the departure and sounds like a FANTASTIC and thrilling murder mystery.

What if your best friend was murdered and everyone thinks you just may have done it — and, to be honest, you aren’t so sure if you did or didn’t because you can’t remember anything from that night?

That’s what Lucy is trying to figure out — what happened the night her best friend was murdered and did she actually do it? Ben, a true crime podcaster, is also trying to find out the answers to that for a new episode by digging into the unsolved murder and the small town they lived in, which in the processes, exposes dark secrets kept in the community. Will these secrets prove that she did it or finally exonerate her ?

The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft Out March 5, 2024

At A Glance: literary fiction, humorous literary mystery, translators, set in Poland, nature

Why It Makes The List : It sounds so compelling and I’m always looking for a riveting read that is also funny which all the early buzz has been raving about in addition to just how layered and complex it is as this dark comedic mystery unravels.

Eight translators arrive at the forest-dwelling house of renowned author Irena Rey in order to translate her latest novel into their respective languages. Within a few days of their arrival the author disappears without a trace and the group is thrown into chaos as they try to figure out what happened– unearthing secrets they aren’t prepared for in the process — while also trying to keep paranoia, rivalries, isolation at bay as the fate of their beloved author (and their own work) is hanging in the balance.

Baby X by Kira Peikoff Out March 5, 2024

At A Glance: speculative thriller, engineered babies, black market DNA theft, celebrities

Why It Makes The List : Anything that sounds like it could be a Black Mirror episode is always a must-read new book for me!

Set in a not too super distant future, scientific advancements in genetics have made it possibly to create life from anyone’s cells (and you can basically baby shop to have the best characteristics). The downside is that a black market has emerged that focuses on stealing and selling the DNA of celebrities. We meet a singer who is sick of paying ransom money on his own DNA, the bio-security agent he hires (and falls for) who specializes in protecting celebrities from this kind of thing and will do anything in her power to protect him and a young journalist hoping to make it big with her own genetics story.

The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez Out March 5, 2024

At A Glance : historical fiction, Panama Canal construction (1900-1910 timeframe), colonialism, exploitation

Why It Makes The List : These days the historical fiction that make my anticipated new books lists are the ones where I’m like “hey I haven’t ever even really seen any books set in that era/about that event/from that perspective” and a book centered around the construction of the Panama Canal hits that for me.

A sweeping story centered around the construction of the Panama Canal and the stories of interconnected lives of those who labored, lived it and were otherwise impacted by this huge project that changed the world.

Murder Road by Simone St. James Out March 5, 2024

At A Glance: thriller, supernatural, 1990’s setting, murder, small town secrets

Why It Makes The List : A new Simone St. James novel will never NOT be on my list of anticipated reads. The queen of atmospheric and spine-tingling thrillers tinged with supernatural horror.

A young couple takes a wrong turn on their way to their honeymoon and find themselves caught up in the latest in a string of gruesome murders committed along this deserted road after stopping for a bleeding young woman who later dies at the hospital. As the couple starts investigating the road and its violent history, in order to clear their names since they are now suspects, they soon learn the haunting truth as well as dark secrets surrounding the town.

A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda Out March 26, 2024

At A Glance: literary fiction, family drama, Indian-American, discrimination, immigration, the American Dream , California setting

Why It Makes The List : I’m always looking for a smart and meaty drama to dive into — especially ones in the vein of books like Little Fires Everywhere, Such A Fun Age, etc.

The Shahs are a close-knit Indian American family who is new to the gated community that the family has worked so hard to be successful enough to move into. The family is changed forever when, as the parents are enjoying a dinner party with their new community, their 12 year old son is being arrested in a violent encounter with the police that will fracture the foundation upon which they’ve built everything.

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn Out March 26, 2024

At A Glance: slow burn romance, road trip, sisters, family drama, light mystery element , podcast

Why It Makes The List : I really enjoy Kate Clayborne’s books and this seems like a unique hook for a romance novel!

Two sisters embark on a road trip with a podcast team — reluctantly for one sister as she’s tried to keep this part of her life a secret — to find their estranged mother who abandoned them 10 years ago when she ran off with an infamous swindler who is now at the center of this true crime podcast episode.

Worry by Alexandra Tanner Out March 26, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary literary fiction, sisterhood, dark comedy, chronically online , mental illness

Why It Makes The List : Sometimes I just need a plotless, slice of life novel that is perfect for chronically online millennials who love sad girl fiction and musings on the collective ennui of our generation. It was also described as “Seinfeldian” and some of the descriptions of the sisters fighting feels TOO REAL so YES please — a most anticipated new release for 2024 indeed.

A slice of life novel set in 2019 about two twenty-something sisters turned bickering roommates navigating this new chapter in their relationship, mental health, existential crises, dysfunctional family, life as a 20-something in NYC and more.

Other new books high on my list for March 2024 :

• The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger (3/5) — mystery thriller
• Anita De Monte Laughs Last (3/5) — literary fiction; historical
• The Wren in the Holly Library (3/5) — fantasy
• The Last Verse by Caroline Frost (3/5) — historical fiction
• Such A Lovely Family by Aggie Blum Thompson (3/12) — murder mystery
• Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (3/12) — speculative
• Memory Piece by Lisa Ko (3/19) — literary fiction with speculative twist
• The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves (3/26) — contemporary romance
• The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian (3/26) — thriller

Anticipated New Books Coming Out In April 2024

Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez Out April 2, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary romance, summer romance, online meet cute, fake dating/dating pact, complicated family

Why It Makes The List : I love Abby Jimenez’s romance books so much — there is always so much depth in them (and things that make me cry) in addition to just wonderful romances to get swept up in. Her books make the perfect beach reads while also being great book club books , too!

Justin and Emma share the same curse — everyone they date and break up with immediately goes on to finding their soulmate.

After Justin’s story goes viral on Reddit, Emma contacts him and the two start chatting. Soon a plan is formed — they decide to a dating pact which will result in a break up in hopes to rid themselves of this curse.

But as their summer fling and pact are underway, things get complicated in both of their lives and in the feelings they start to actually have for each other.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio Out April 2, 2024

At A Glance: marriage/love/dating, Sliding Doors-esque, humorous

Why It Makes The List : You should know by now I love anything time-travel or Sliding Doors or Groundhog’s Day. I’ve yet to get sick of these premises (even if some don’t pan out how I hope) and this one sounds amazing — an endless supply of husbands/lives with said husband to try out?? Definitely seems like one for fans of Rebecca Serle or even Ashley Poston.

A woman comes home drunk from a night out and finds a man, who she has never seen before, claiming to be her husband. Despite not knowing him, the evidence around her supports that he has indeed her husband of quite a few years.

Even more curious is when he goes up to the attic to change a light bulb, he doesn’t come down but instead is replaced by a new husband (and quite a few more after that). A seemingly endless supply of husbands leads her to a year of adventures in trying to figure out what she wants in a husband and life as she tries these different husbands on for size.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo Out April 9, 2024

At A Glance: historical fantasy, 16th century Madrid, Spanish Inquisition, Jewish MC, standalone (at least as of now)

Why It Makes The List : I’ve been a fan of Leigh Bardugo since Shadow & Bone came out. I will ALWAYS look forward to her new fantasy books (I mean honestly though I’d read whatever) and THIS TIME IT IS HISTORICAL FANTASY. Top tier anticipated new book territory for 2024!

After a young servant girl’s magical abilities to perform little miracles is found out and exploited by her employer, for their own social gain, she’s thrust into a world of magic, power, politics and those who want to use her for their own purposes and gain. As she tries to use this opportunity to forge her own path and fortune, her notoriety grows and so does the danger she’s in.

How To End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang Out April 9, 2024

At A Glance: romance, second chances, complicated romance, Hollywood setting, trauma/grief, Chinese American MC

Why It Makes The List : I will be honest — it hooked me that this author is tied to screenwriting and directing some of Emily Henry’s upcoming book to movie adaptations and then I read the summary and it sounded like the type of a little more emotionally driven romance (a la Abby Jimenez/Emily Henry/Kennedy) books with depth that I love to read (with some spice!).

Helen and Grant, bound together by tragedy, haven’t seen each other in 13 years but find themselves forced to work together in the writers room of the tv adaptation of Helen’s YA novel. As they try to work together and contend with the painful past between them, their complicated feelings unfurl into something more healing in the present which makes things even messier for them .

A Short Walk Through A Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke Out April 9, 2024

At A Glance: historical fantasy/magical realism, outrunning a mysterious curse/affliction, travel/adventure

Why It Makes The List : I know, I know, I know — lots of books have been throwing around “Addie LaRue meets X” but 1) I am still in a never-ending search for Addie-esque books and 2) I have a GOOD feeling this new book coming out is going to deliver. But also? They said Addie LaRue meets The Life of Pi so there’s no way I’m not reading this, you can’t stop me. And even before I saw that I wanted to inject this synopsis into my bloodstream.

A young girl leaves home when she is afflicted with a condition which she think is a curse that, she realizes, seems to only go away when she is on the move.

She can’t stay too long in one place and it seems she can’t return back to a place. This realization begins her lifetime of adventures and wandering the globe to outrun her condition, trying to discover meaning in her vagrant life and hoping to find a place she can finally settle for good and call home.

Funny Story by Emily Henry Out April 23, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary fiction, romance, opposites attract, roommates, faux dating (to get back at their exes), family drama

Why It Makes The List : I have loved each and every one of Emily Henry’s romances/rom-coms! The premise of this is too fun to pass up — two exes that got left behind become roommates and hatch a plan to give the illusion of them being together in front of their exes?? Plus a children’s library as a main character? Love it.

The only thing Daphne and Miles have in common is that they’ve both been left behind when their partners, two childhood best friends named Peter and Petra, realized they were actually in love with another. The two become roommates out of necessity and then hatch a little plan to leave the illusion of ~being together~ to save face in front of their exes. As the two keep up their little ruse and deal with their own baggage, it becomes evident there’s more there between them than their shared breakup.

Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson Out April 23, 2024

At A Glance: coming of age story, Jamaica setting, baking/cooking, dysfunctional family

Why It Makes The List : I love a good coming of age story (especially a coming of age story set amidst another culture) featuring a determined and clever young woman and Pumkin, the main character of this one, sounds like that type of voice I LOVE reading.

A young girl tries to find her place in the world and get away from her dysfunctional family by using her talents in baking to raise money for an amazing and life-changing opportunity away from home — an opportunity that she starts to see slipping through her fingers as obstacles gets in her way (a big one being her own mother).

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall Out April 23, 2024

At A Glance: cozy fantasy, underwater world, pen pal romance, magical academia, epistolary

Why It Makes The List : I’m still very much loving cozy fantasy books and this one is being pitched as “Emily Wilde but underwater” and you should know how much I love Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries !! It sounds delightful!

Set in a magical underwater world, Sophie and Vyerin come together to read through and examine the correspondence between their siblings in hopes of finding answers about their sudden disappearance one year ago.

The pair had started corresponding through letters, initiated first out of a potential scientific discovery, and blossomed into something more in addition to their more academic inquiries that they were pursuing — a mystery that could be the very reason they’ve disappeared.

Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zenter Out April 30, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary fiction, romance, music, grief , Southern setting, starting over/reinvention

Why It Makes The List : Jeff Zentner is one of my ALL TIME favorite authors and I’m over-the-moon for his adult debut. If I could only read one book coming out this year, this would be the one I’d pick because of how much I’ve loved Jeff Zentner’s work. (Seriously The Serpent King and In The Wild Light are two of my all time favorite books though I’ve loved all of his)

Colton Gentry has fallen hard from the top of a soaring career in country music when, drowning in grief after losing his best friend to gun violence, he takes the stage and gives his unfiltered opinion to the packed crowd at his show.

His career and marriage have taken a devastating blow so he heads back to his hometown in Kentucky where he’s works on redemption, reinvention and second chances at love.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong Out April 30, 2024

At A Glance: literary fiction, science/genetic engineering, multi-generational family story, identity

Why It Makes The List : I’ve been waiting for a new book from Rachel Khong since her debut Goodbye, Vitamin! I’m hearing this one is mostly a family saga with a hint of the speculative.

“Real Americans begins on the precipice of Y2K in New York City, when twenty-two-year-old Lily Chen, an unpaid intern at a slick media company, meets Matthew. Matthew is everything Lily is not: easygoing and effortlessly attractive, a native East Coaster, and, most notably, heir to a vast pharmaceutical empire. Lily couldn’t be more different: flat-broke, raised in Tampa, the only child of scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Despite all this, Lily and Matthew fall in love.

In 2021, fifteen-year-old Nick Chen has never felt like he belonged on the isolated Washington island where he lives with his single mother, Lily. He can’t shake the sense she’s hiding something. When Nick sets out to find his biological father, the journey threatens to raise more questions than it provides answers.”

Other new books high on my list for April 2024 :

• A Better World by Sarah Langan (4/9) — dystopian; horror
• The Gathering by CJ Tudor (4/9) — horror
• The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton (4/9) — historical fiction; Gothic
• The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes (4/9) — literary fiction
• You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen (4/16) — thriller
• When I Think of You by Myah Ariel (4/16) — romance
• Better By Far by Hazel Hayes (4/23) — genre-bending
• Darling Sisters by Sally Hepworth (4/23) — domestic thriller
• Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett (4/30) — thriller

Anticipated New Books Coming Out In May 2024

The Ministry of Time by Kaliene Bradley Out May 7, 2024

At A Glance: time travel romance, speculative spy thriller, workplace comedy

Why It Makes The List : When I first read about this in the publisher’s catalog, I had the most visceral I NEED THIS reaction. Always a sucker when it comes to time travel!! I think it’s going to definitely be a most anticipated debut book for 2024!

In the near future, a woman who works for the UK government and has been given a new role within a time-travel ministry that is conduction an experiment around time travel. They have extracted 5 people from different centuries to test the effects of time travel and each person will have a handler to acclimate them to modern life and report on everything.

And when her assignment brings Commander Graham Gore, an Arctic explorer from 1845, into her life she couldn’t have imagined the fact that over the year together they’d fall for one another. But, as the project continues on, it becomes harder to ignore aspects of the project and the implications of it and their feelings towards one another.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune Out May 7, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary romance, summer romance, Prince Edward Island, forbidden romance, friendship

Why It Makes The List : I trust Carley Fortune for all my summer reading romance needs (even if I didn’t LOVE Meet Me At The Lake as much as Every Summer After ) so this is a must read anticipated no-brainer for me.

Lucy has a summer fling with a local while vacationing on Prince Edward Island – only to find out it’s her best friend’s younger brother and both vow to never let it happen again. But it’s easier said than done each year when she returns to the island. And when one unexpected visit happens, chasing her best friend who fled to the island in a crisis before her wedding, the temptation this time becomes even harder.

Loneliness and Company by Charlee Dyroff Out May 7, 2024

At A Glance: literary fiction, speculative near future setting, loneliness/isolation, connection/friendship, technology , AI

Why It Makes The List : I feel like this is going to be one of those quiet Jamie-specific books that gets put on here because it scratches a particular itch for me so to speak. I’ve been accidentally going down rabbit holes (books, podcasts, etc) talking about loneliness because of the way our society is set up, social media, our need for community, etc. and have been feeling some of these things on a personal level so immediately this premise just jumped out to me as something I’d like to read since it seems like an exploration of these things.

Set in a near future New York, it’s about a young woman who finds herself assigned to work in a covert government project that aims to solve loneliness — the same emotion that was allegedly erased from society’s lexicon decades ago.

Her role is to train AI on how to be a friend and she takes to using her roommate’s life as a metric. Determined to succeed, she puts herself into more and more dangerous experiences in the name of the project to have the best data possible all the while learning how to be a good friend and what she’s willing to give up for success.

888 and the Divine Burden of Numbers by Abraham Chang Out May 7, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary literary fiction, pop culture, 90’s setting, love story, Chinese-American family story , NYU setting

Why It Makes The List : Oh I am so excited for this one! The thing that grabbed me — before I even read the synopsis — was “for fans of Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow, High Fidelity, and Everything Everywhere All At Once”. I’ve enjoyed each of those things and I am a sucker for anything nostalgia-filled and fated love stories.

Young Wang, always finding meaning in just about everything and believer in numerology/superstitions, has always heeded his uncle’s warning that everyone gets seven great loves in their life — no more, no less.

But when he meets Erena at NYU in 1995 they fall in a deep and real love — their unfolding love story interspersed with flashbacks from his first five loves — and he begins to wonder if maybe his uncle could possibly be wrong. Is she the one and only or is their love doomed to end so he can have his final seventh love?

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean Out May 7, 2024

At A Glance: suspense/mystery, crime, missing persons, captivity, trauma

Why It Makes The List : I’m a fan of this author though this is quite the departure and it sounds fantastic. I love a good mystery/suspense novel that also seems balanced with some good character-driven elements.

When busy detective Chelsey Calhoun — whose own sister went missing many years ago — gets a shocking call that a missing girl from two years ago has reappeared, she’s ready to jump into the case.

The investigation becomes difficult when the young girl refuses to assist in the investigation of her own disappearance leaving the detective with more questions than answers and a tricky investigation to ensure nobody else goes missing.

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland Out May 7, 2024

At A Glance: fantasy romance, epic fantasy, assassins, inspired by Korean history & mythology, planned series

Why It Makes The List : I feel like this one is going to be for the Throne of Glass and Fourth Wing fans. The official pitch I keep seeing is Game of Thrones meets Kill Bill. GoT comps are a dime a dozen but I’m here for treacherous assassins competing to take the crown!

Five of the most skilled and dangerous assassins have been assembled to work together on the biggest and most difficult job of their careers — to kill the eternal God King Joon.

But can five deceptive killers — well versed in betrayal and lies — form an alliance to get the job done? After all, only one can take the crown?

Oye by Melissa Mogollon Out May 14, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary fiction, coming of age, family drama, unique format, Colombian-American family

Why It Makes The List : The unique format of this family story is what made this stand out for me — it’s told in snippets of phone calls, as if we are sitting eavesdropping, from a girl to her old sisters relaying all her personal and family happenings.

A young woman finds herself at the center of her family’s drama — from hurricane evacuation to upending health crises to family history revelations — and relays the family’s drama and updates to her older sister on the other end who is away at college.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren Out May 14, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary romance, fake relationship/marriage of convenience

Why It Makes The List : I’ve never met a Christina Lauren romance I didn’t like and this one sounds like a fun, light and easy read !

A struggling artist gets caught back up in the fake marriage scheme she created for subsidized house at UCLA years ago — a marriage she thought ended in a divorce when they graduated — until her “husband” shows back up in her life letting her know they are technically still married and he needs her to pretend just a bit longer to be his wife for the sake of his huge inheritance that stipulates he must be married for five years .

Agreeing to meet his family eager to meet this mysterious wife of his and help him get the money, they set off to the tropical wedding for his sister to get him to the finish line of his inheritance.

The Last Murder At The End of the World by Stuart Turton Out May 21, 2024

At A Glance: high concept murder mystery, post-apocalyptic vibes, isolated Greek island

Why It Makes The List : I loved The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and look forward to another unique mystery to get wrapped up in!

A group of 122 people (plus 3 scientists) live an idyllic and harmonious existence on a private island used for research. The rest of the world? Destroyed by a horrible fog that killed anyone it touched.

Life has been peaceful and content as they follow what they are told by the scientists — until one morning the peace is destroyed when one of the scientists is found stabbed to death. They learn that, triggered by this event, that the security system that kept the horrible fog from reaching them has been lowered and they have 92 hours before it reaches them.

Solving the murder is their only chance to hopefully reset the security system and save them all. The only problem? Nobody has any memory of what happened the night before, having been wiped by the security system, and now they have to solve the murder with the murderer in their midst.

Anticipated New Books Coming Out In June 2024

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Out June 4, 2024

At A Glance: literary fiction with a mystery, family drama, missing child, summer camp , Adirondack setting

Why It Makes The List : I could not rave enough about Long Bright River when it came out and it’s still a novel I recommend often! Looking for Liz Moore’s immersive blend of mystery/crime with family drama and depth of character. Seems less crime fiction/police procedural this time around but a literary novel driven by a compelling and suspenseful mystery.

A wealthy child goes missing from her bunk at the Adirondack summer camp her family owns — a horrific tragedy for the family and community only compounded by the fact her older brother went missing 14 years ago . What happened to the Van Laar siblings and are they connected?

The Unwedding by Ally Condie Out June 4, 2024

At A Glance: locked room mystery, Big Sur setting, wedding

Why It Makes The List : When I tell you I GASPED when I saw that Ally Condie was writing an adult thriller and added it to my 2024 Must Reads list! All my fellow 2010 era YA dystopian fanatics where are you at? Excited to see how this departure goes — it seems like it’s going to be a big buzzy book for summer, too! “White Lotus meets Agatha Christie” — please deliver!

A recent divorcee decides to travel solo to the high end resort she was supposed to spend her wedding anniversary at. Already annoyed that she will have to endure a wedding taking place there, things get even worse when she discovers a dead groom and all the resort guests realize they are trapped thanks to a mudslide taking out the only way in or out. When the body count starts to grow, it’s evident danger is lurking.

Swift River by Essie Chambers Out June 4, 2024

At A Glance: literary fiction, family drama, New England, sundown towns, family history, identity, generational trauma , racism

Why It Makes The List : I love family stories especially when it’s one of uncovering a family history that helps a character understand how their family shaped them and how to move beyond that.

Diamond Newberry hasn’t had it easy since her dad disappeared seven years ago — her mom is stuck in her sadness, she’s the only Black person in all of Swift River and she’s constantly being tormented about her weight. Her mom decides, in the summer of 1987, that they will declare him legally dead, collect insurance and move on. But a letter arrives from a relative she’s never met, on her father’s side, that help her learn about her father’s life and the story of her family — including two generations of women who came before her — and helps her find her own way.

Margo’s Got Money Problems by Rufi Thorpe Out June 11, 2024

At A Glance: contemporary literary fiction, humor, motherhood, self discovery, complicated family, Being Online

Why It Makes The List : April 2020 was when I was introduced to Rufi Thorpe and her amazing book The Knockout Queen and the absolutely banger of a promotional tour she took on Instagram and Youtube to promote her book (including her hilarious self interview) while the world was shut down. This one looks hilarious and a bookseller friend said it’s even better than The Knockout Queen!

As the child of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, Margo Millet’s always known she’d have to make it on her own. So she enrolls at her local junior college, even though she can’t imagine how she’ll ever make a living. She’s still figuring things out and never planned to have an affair with her English professor—and while the affair is brief, it isn’t brief enough to keep her from getting pregnant. Despite everyone’s advice, she decides to keep the baby, mostly out of naiveté and a yearning for something bigger.

Now, at twenty, Margo is alone with an infant, unemployed, and on the verge of eviction. She needs a cash infusion—fast. When her estranged father, Jinx, shows up on her doorstep and asks to move in with her, she agrees in exchange for help with childcare. Then Margo begins to form a plan: she’ll start an OnlyFans as an experiment, and soon finds herself adapting some of Jinx’s advice from the world of wrestling. Like how to craft a compelling character and make your audience fall in love with you. Before she knows it, she’s turned it into a runaway success. Could this be the answer to all of Margo’s problems, or does internet fame come with too high a price?

A Love Like The Sun by Riss M. Neilson Out June 11, 2024

At A Glance: romance, emotional, childhood friends to lovers, fake dating, summer setting

Why It Makes The List : Riss M. Neilson is writing some absolutely fantastic books that I feel like need more attention (YA previously before this) and I am hoping this will be her breakout hit this summer! Definitely looks like a great read for folks who have been gobbling up Carley Fortune.

Two childhood best friends — one a private homebody; the other internet famous — end up in a pretend relationship for the summer after, in an attempt to help Laniah’s family business, tells the internet they are dating. Business suddenly starts booming which makes Laniah agree to this faux relationship for the summer so that she can leverage the sudden interest it to get things back on track — even though she knows it’s a dangerous charade considering the “more than friends” pull they’ve always had but have denied.

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager Out June 18, 2024

At A Glance: thriller meets horror, mysterious disappearance, creepy woods housing a mysterious institute

Why It Makes The List : I have a great success rate with his books — he brings the thrillers and the creepiness. This one brings a mysterious disappearance, creepy woods, a crumbling estate where clandestine research happens! Cannot wait!

Thirty years ago Ethan Marsh’s best friend disappeared during a sleepover. Now, after reluctantly returning home, he notices some strange things happening in the middle of the night that lead him on a quest to find out what happened to his best friend — leading him to the dark secrets lurking just beyond his neighborhood.

Four Squares by Bobby Finger Out June 18, 2024

At A Glance: literary fiction, found family, queer, humor, community, friendship, grief, senior citizens

Why It Makes The List : I feel like every year I always find book I MUST have that features an older protagonist and some element of found family/community after loneliness! I can’t wait to meet Artie.

“Spanning the 1990s and present day, about a young writer and the community he builds in New York City, and his lonely life 30 years later when an unexpected injury lands him at the local queer senior center”

All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker Out June 25, 2024

At A Glance: crime novel, family epic, bildungsroman, serial killer, missing girls, friendship, love

Why It Makes The List : We Begin At The End was my absolute favorite book of 2021 (and Dutchess a most memorable character ) and I’m really looking forward to this one! I looked at the page count at this one versus that one though and said OH WOW — 600 pages?? BABY that’s ambitious. There’s almost nobody that could make me read anything thriller/crime adjacent that long. But it seems this one is a crime novel but so much more — getting coming of age and epic love story vibes. I can’t wait to meet Patch and Saint!

Starting in 1975 and spanning decades, it centers around two friends and the abduction that is the catalyst for the rest of the story telling the story of a young girl’s search for her best friend and, in the aftermath of his homecoming, the singularly focused obsession for the rest of his life to find the young woman who comforted him while in captivity — no matter the cost.

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston Out June 25, 2024

At A Glance: romance, contemporary with a dash of magical realism, books about books

Why It Makes The List : Who among us hasn’t dreamed of falling into the pages of a particular romantic or delightful novel? I love Ashley Poston’s brand of romances that blend a bit of magic in them!

For literature professor Eileen Merriweather, this weekend was supposed to be a great weekend at her annual book club retreat. But when her car breaks down she finds herself stranded in a little town that feels like it could be right out of her favorite novel.

And that’s exactly where she is: in the very town her favorite romance series is set in. Realizing she’s trapped in the late author’s unfinished story, she sets out to help bring the town its storybook ending — a task made complicated by a grumpy bookstore owner.

So those are the adult fiction new book releases for 2024’s first half that I am DYING to get my hands on. SO hard to narrow it down.Which book are your most anticipated books for adults in 2024?

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About Jamie

Jamie is a 32 year old married lady (with a new baby!!) who is in denial that she's actually that old to be a married lady and a mom. When she's not reading you can find her doing Pilates followed by eating ice cream, belting out Hamilton (loud and offkey) and having adventures with her husband, daughter and rescue dog.

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Susan (Bloggin' 'bout Books) says

January 15, 2024 at 11:53 am

Well, my TBR just exploded! LOL. Thanks for this list. I found lots of new books to get excited for. Happy reading in 2024!

Susan http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

March 12, 2024 at 1:42 pm

So late to reply!! I’m glad you found some good ones. The ones I’ve been reading so far my list have been going pretty darn well!

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• BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

12 New Adult Novels For Your Adult Reading List

When YA books are just a tad too young, turn to New Adult books.

Can you ever be too old for Young Adult books? Despite what some people think, the many (many) adult readers of YA would answer with a resounding “no.” Case in point: this list of books like Harry Potter for adult readers , not to mention all the incredible novels on this list of the best YA books in 2020 .

In fact, a 2012 poll found that 55% of all YA books were purchased by adults. That said, even the most ardent lovers of the genre can occasionally get tired of all the, well, high school drama. And that’s where New Adult (NA) literature comes in. A relatively recent category—it was coined by St. Martin’s Press in 2009—New Adult is YA graduated from high school. The protagonists, in the 18 to late 20s range, deal with issues related to college, first jobs, and changing relationships with family and friends. Another demarcation: more sex and cursing!

The transition between youth and true adulthood—“not a girl, not yet a woman,” as Britney Spears so aptly put it—is prime for exploration. Until recently, there’s been a dearth of novels about the college experiences (at least believable ones, sorry Tom Wolfe ). As NA author Cora Carmack wrote , “Young Adult books are about surviving adolescence and coming of age. New Adult is about how to live your life after that. New Adult is the ‘I’m officially an adult, now what?’ phase.”

New Adult books have all the sub-genres of YA—there’s romance (a lot of romance), sci-fi, fantasy, realism, historical—and it’s a genre that’s only going to keep growing as the traditional YA audience ages up and the adult YA audience continues to read voraciously. Here are 12 New Adult novels to add to your reading list, with no need for those pesky age brackets.

Related: 12 Indie Books You Don’t Want to Miss

If you're into romance:

Just One Trilogy

By Gayle Forman

A delightful trilogy from the author of the weepy New York Times bestseller If I Stay , these three books follow a couple who, in the tradition of Before Sunrise , meet on a train in Europe, spend a magical day (and night) together, then part. Just One Day is from the girl’s perspective—she wakes up and he’s gone. She goes home, gets a job, goes to college, but can’t stop thinking about him—and how he ditched her. Just One Year tells his side of the story—where he went, his search for her around the world, and all of their close calls and missed connections. The e-book novella follow up, Just One Night , ties up all of the loose ends and will make you swoon.

By Cora Carmack

Twenty-two year old Bliss Edwards is a college senior and a virgin, a fact she is determined to change before she graduates. She goes out with her friend on the hunt for a one-night stand, and ends up with a very hot, naked, British man in her bed—who just so happens to be her new professor. This is where NA becomes a handy distinction—it’s not adult literature, but it’s definitely not YA either—parents would be yanking this steamy romance out of the hands of their teens (and reading it themselves).

Related: 8 Modern Romance Novels to Cozy Up With This Winter

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If you're into dramas:

Remember Us

By Lindsay Blake, Layne James

At twenty-five years old, twins Ben and Reese Hamilton slink back home to Nebraska to care for their father as he wastes away from cancer. Not long after they arrive, their mother Bernice shows up on their doorstep—thirteen years after she abandoned them without so much as a goodbye. In the wake of tragedy, resentment, lost love, and anger, the Hamiltons spend the course of the next few months relearning how to be a family. Along the way, Reese has to make some tough decisions about what it means to be an adult in general.

Related: 10 Books About Dysfunctional Families

All the Good Things

By Clare Fisher

At twenty-one years old, Beth has found herself going down a path bad enough to land her in prison. But Beth is more than just the bad—she has a baby to show for that—and at the insistence of her counselor, she takes a trip through her past to write out a list of all the good things she’s had in her life. Her past is full of hard times—being abandoned by her mother, bounced around different foster homes, trudging through thankless jobs, and being pushed around by boyfriends. But as she looks back, she sees that not only does every life have its beautiful moments of joy, but the chance for redemption, as well.

Related: 8 Realistic Fiction Books for Young Adult Readers  

If you're into a blend of realism and fantasy:

By Rainbow Rowell

If you haven’t read any of Rainbow Rowell’s books yet, get thee to a bookstore, ASAP. Fangirl is about Cath, a college freshman who is still obsessed with the Harry Potter-esque fantasy series Simon Snow . As she moves out of her childhood home and heads off to college with her twin sister Wren, who wants to get the typical college experience (i.e. drinking and partying), Cath sits in her dorm room, writing fan-fiction, and slowly falling for her roommate’s (maybe) boyfriend. If you enjoy the fan-fic portions of the book, check out Rowell’s latest novel, Carry On , the meta final installment of the fictional Simon Snow series.

Related: 8 Must-Read Adult Fantasy Books for Fans of Artemis Fowl  

Lily and the Octopus

By Steven Rowley

One of the most moving new adult books to date, Lily and the Octopus follows Ted, a gay writer who seems incapable of opening his life up to anyone besides his beloved dachshund, Lily. When the poor elderly pup is diagnosed with a brain tumor, Ted is determined to save her at any cost. Spinning a tale of magical realism, this striking novel explores grief and longing, grasping the beautiful nature of love and the wonderful healing power of laughter.

Related: The 18 Best Magical Realism Books You Haven’t Read

If you're into reality TV:

By Lauren Conrad

Fans of MTV’s reality series The Hills (or its ilk) will definitely like these books, but there’s also a reason it’s a New York Times- bestselling series. Shockingly, they’re actually good . Lauren Conrad has a fantastic ghostwriter (apologies, co-writer ), who keeps the plot moving. LC herself presumably provided the juicy details and behind-the-scenes drama you didn’t see on TV—you’ll find yourself wondering how much is real TMZ-worthy scoop. Though the average 18-year-old isn’t starring on a reality show, the characters deal with every-girl problems, including workplace challenges, changing friendships, and relationship woes. Also recommended: the follow up series, The Fame Game , from the mean girl’s perspective.

If you're into historical fiction:

Code Name: Verity

By Elizabeth Wein

With plot twists and surprises galore, this World War II-era adventure story is a fascinating read, both for the historical details and emotional plot. Queenie is a Scottish spy in her early 20s who arrives in occupied France and almost immediately gets captured by the Nazis for looking the wrong way before crossing the street (a detail based in history). Her best friend Maddie is the pilot who flew her in and crash-landed, getting stuck in France—a very bad place for a Jewish girl in 1943—and aiding the French Resistance. Each fears the other dead. With masterful storytelling and attention to detail, this book is an A+ crossover read for YA and NA readers alike.

Related: The Past is Present: Our Favorite Historical Fiction Novels

If you're into vampires:

By Richelle Mead

This follow up series to the more classically YA Vampire Academy series follows 19-year-old Sydney Sage as she deals with a career that she’s not sure she wants, family values she doesn’t agree with, and boy trouble. Sounds like your typical NA novel—except the career is as an Alchemist, an inherited position that involves cleaning up after rampaging blood-thirsty vampires. And the boy is a super hot “good” vampire, not that that distinction matters to her family—if they knew about her forbidden relationship, she’d get sent to a “re-education” center (i.e. brainwashing camp). All in all, this is one of the new adults books that is more grown up than Twilight — and better written, too.

Related: 10 Fantasy Books That’ll Give You Chills

By Robin McKinley

Sunshine is set in an alternate universe where a terrible conflict—the Voodoo Wars—pits humans against an array of supernatural creatures called “Others,” and pockets of thriving black magic are occurring more and more frequently. When human baker Rae “Sunshine” Seddon decides she needs some quiet time away for herself, she sneaks away to her family’s lakeside cabin. She shouldn’t be surprised that she never heard the vampires coming. Kidnapped by a vampiric gang with a nefarious plan, Rae might find that some of the Others are full of surprises—and she’s got a few of them, too.

Related: 5 Scariest Vampires in Literature

If you're into thrillers:

The Good Girl

By Mary Kubica

If you’re in the mood for some thriller New Adult novels, then there’s no better place to start than The Good Girl . When Mia Dennett is stood up by her on-again, off-again boyfriend, she ends up following a mysterious stranger home. But after the seemingly innocuous Colin Thatcher locks her away in an isolated Minnesota cabin, she starts to regret some of her choices. Mia’s mother, Eve, and the determined Detective Gabe Hoffman set out to find Mia at any cost—but what complicated, emotional snares threaten to shatter their lives?

Keep You Close

By Lucie Whitehouse

The official story is that Marianne Glass fell off of the roof to her death—but Rowan Winter knows better. She may not know anything about Marianne’s adult life, but she knows that her old best friend had crippling vertigo that would have kept her far from the building’s edge. Determined to find the truth, Rowan dives into the present that Marianne left behind: three very different men in states of mourning. And as she delves deeper into the sinister mystery, she traces it back to Marianne’s past: a family that Rowan loved being a part of.

Related: 31 Psychological Thriller Books That Mess With Your Head

Keep Reading:

The Best Young Adult Books for Adult Readers    

13 YA Books for Fans of John Green  

10 Books Every College Grad Should Read

7 Hi Lo Books for Adults

Featured image from cover of "Just One Day" by Gayle Forman

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The 30 Best Erotic Novels to Curl Up With

Spice up your to-read list.

• Mild Erotica
• Medium Erotica
• Hot Erotica

Thanks to TikTok’s community of book lovers, a.k.a. BookTok, erotic novels have gone mainstream. Readers, especially fans of spicy stories, have taken to the platform to share their new favorite BDSM books and discuss fan theories (you may even run into smutty character fan art). If BookTok’s spicy obsession has proved anything, it's that flipping through several hundred pages of sexy prose is fun and nothing to be embarrassed about. So, please come (no pun intended) with us into a whole new world of erotic novels with stunning sex. 

Erotica often gets labeled a "guilty pleasure," and while, I mean, yes—there are many campy books to read, some of which are on this list—there are plenty of erotic novels that overlap with genre and literary fiction. Some of these books have inspired Golden Globe-nominated shows, after all (hi, Outlander !). In other words, erotic novels are fun, they're sexy, and they can be prestigious. I mean, where else could you find hot billionaires, rugged war heroes, professors that don't mind giving you a "D" (jokes!), or actors who are just as hot on the screen as they are off? Nowhere but NSFW stories! 

Whether you’re a newbie looking to dip your feet into one of the hottest genres on the planet, or a returning reader in search of a new title to pore over, this list has something hot for everyone. Because everyone has a different comfort level on the subject, we’ve arranged this list according to spice level: Mild, meaning plot-driven stories with a few sex scenes thrown in; Medium, a happy middle ground between plot and sex; and Hot, the steamiest of stories for when you couldn’t care less about what actually happens. So without further ado, here are some of the best erotic novels that will leave you seriously blushing and maybe, just maybe, needing a cold shower afterward.

Best Mild-Level Erotic Novels

These are the kind of books that make for the perfect introduction into erotica. These books either have plenty of PG-rated (compared to the rest of the stories on this list) smut, or have less than a handful of sexy scenes. The sex scenes may even leave all the steaminess to your imagination. All in all, though, each erotic novel below is filled with thoughtful prose and a great love story that will make your heart flutter. 

The year is 1497, and Scottish Jennifer Merrick finds herself agreeing to marry a much older man to please her father. But that never happens, because Jennifer and her step-sister Brenna are taken by Englishman Lord Royce Westmoreland (known as the Black Wolf) as a hostage. They should be enemies, but something keeps drawing them closer.

A hot professor by the name of Gabriel Emerson falls in love with his graduate student Julia Mitchell, even though it's forbidden. (Does this trope ever get old? The answer is no.) Hardcore fans deem it as the professor and student version of  Fifty Shades of Grey , albeit with a lot less sex scenes, so you know we had to spread the word. 

To quote Roxane Gay's blurb, "This book truly is as charming as it is sexy." And not just because of the bedroom scenes (of which there are many, but lean on the "fade to black" kind), but because of the nuance with which the love story—between a black woman and white man who meet in an elevator—is told.

Where would this list be without a historical romance book ? Isolde Ophelia Goodnight (yes, that's her name) is a 26-year-old woman who has never been kissed. Deciding that there is no such thing as fairy tales, she decides to give up love, but life has a couple of surprises for her. Let's just say, it all starts with a Duke and an empty castle. 

Call Me by Your Name is so much more than an "erotic novel" (though there's plenty of eroticism). It's a coming-of-age story filled with beautiful prose and, more than that, it's a reflection on the all-consuming power of love and attraction. The movie is great, but the book is a masterpiece.

Arguably the best thing about the Netflix series  Bridgerton  was how it started out like a lush, innocent romp through estates and high society and marriageable men and women and then, out of now, BAM! Some of the steamiest sex scenes we've ever seen on TV. So why not read the series of Bridgerton books that inspired those scenes, and start here:  The Duke and I  is about a naïve young woman who gets married off to a tempestuous Duke who loves her and, in return, teaches her the ways of love.

What is it about stories that revolve around sex and Paris? Two great tastes that go great together. Here, a moody Russian artist in 1920s Paris is in pursuit of inspiration and finds it in a gorgeous young American visiting the city. The two women have a hot and heavy romance, and the resulting art from her new muse pushes the artist to creative heights. But a looming world war and a stock market crash threaten to cut the party short. 

Best-selling erotica novelist Eva meets reclusive literary author Shane meet at an event and sparks fly. Little does their literary circle know, though, that the two previously spent one sexy week together during their teenage years. Now as adults, their chemistry is hotter than ever but Eva isn’t sure she can trust Shane after her teen heartbreak.  

This classic love story from Judy Blume (yes,  Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret  and  Superfudge  Judy Blume) is a raw coming-of-age story about first love, complete with all of the awkward and beautiful sexual moments that come with it.

The premise of this book sets up the perfect meet-cute: Londoners Tiffy and Leon share a bed, but they’ve never met. No, it’s not a The Lake House situation—Leon works nights at a hospital and decides to make a bit of passive income by subletting his apartment to someone with a more typical sleep schedule. Enter Tiffy, a quirky book editor who strikes up a friendship with Leon via Post-It note. This book is a true slow burn: It’s not until deep into the story that Leon and Tiffy actually meet in person, but once they do, their chemistry is undeniable.

The sex scenes in this book are largely of the “fade to black” variety, but you’ll still be swooning over the sweet, forbidden romance between Alex Claremont-Diaz, First Son of the United States, and the British Prince Henry. Plus, after you’ve fallen in love with them on the page, you can root for them onscreen, too, thanks to the recent movie adaptation of the novel, which has been hailed for inducting a gay romance into the hallowed halls of the cheesy rom-com genre.

Best Medium-Level Erotic Novels

You can think of these medium-level spice stories as the bridge between sexy romance novels and full-on smut. In each of these erotic novels, there’s a healthy balance between plot and sex. Here, spicy scenes don’t carry the story, but they certainly don’t hurt it either. If you’re like me and love an amazing story and characters mixed with a generous amount of smut, these are the books for you.  

Stella Lane, who's on the autism spectrum, wants to get better at all things physical so she can find the husband her parents expect her to have. Since it's the 21st century, she hires escort Michael Phan, a Vietnamese and Swedish sex god of sorts who agrees to help Stella out. We're not one for spoilers, but the steaminess of this book will definitely fog up some windows.

Actress Caidence Harris has just landed a role in a new police drama and to say she's thrilled is an understatement, especially when she gets to work with mega A-lister Robyn Ward. Caidence wants to be more than just friends with her co-star, but Robyn doesn't seem to want the same...or so Caidence thought.

If you thought Outlander the show was sexy, you have no idea what's coming. The  Outlander  novels are about a time-traveling nurse who finds herself in 18th-century Scotland, where she falls for a Highlander. The catch? She's definitely married and her husband is living in the future.

This book had me at " Schitt's Creek- inspired rom-com. " It follows Hollywood socialite Piper whose out-of-control partying lands her in prison and subsequently cut off financially by her father. He ships her and her sister off to Washington, where she meets a sexy, surly fisherman named Brendan. He thinks she won't last in their small coastal town for more than a week, and she's determined to prove him wrong. If you're a fan of the "grumpy guy meets sunshine girl," you're going to want to pick this one up. 

TikTok (and myself) are obsessed with the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, but to label it as pure smut would be a huge discredit to Maas's incredible storytelling, world-building, and character development. The fourth installment focuses on the eldest Acheron sister, Nesta, who, let's just say has turned cold since the events of the last few books, and Cassian, the Fae general who may be the only one who can thaw her icy attitude. This book is definitely the steamiest of the series so far with plenty of hot-as-hell sex scenes, but its story is so much more than that. Hence why we've given it a "Medium" rating.  

This 2022 novel might be a thoughtful reflection on grief and healing after the death of a partner, but that doesn’t mean it’s tame. When we meet main character Feyi, she’s easing her way back into love and intimacy five years after her husband died in a car accident. It happens in progressively more serious relationships, from the spicy encounter with a stranger that opens the book to the powerful connection she ultimately strikes up with an unlikely love interest.

In the spring of 2023, just as it seemed that no other spicy fantasy series would ever be able to top the BookTok-induced hype of Sarah J. Maas’ ACOTAR books, in came Fourth Wing . The first book in the Empyrean series—the second, Iron Flame , was released just a few months later—is largely about setting up the world of Violet Sorrengail, a dragon rider-in-training. But it’s not all work and no play for Violet: She’s got two men fighting for her affections (classic), and when she finally chooses to go for one, they’ll leave a very sexy trail of destruction in their wake.

It’s not often that a rom-com gives you a stronger grasp on a subject as dense as theoretical physics, but more than a handful of readers have claimed that Love, Theoretically helped them better understand the science-y parts of Oppenheimer . This will surely be the hottest thermodynamics class you’ve ever taken (pun absolutely intended), as Ali Hazelwood’s novel serves up a classic enemies-to-lovers plotline that definitely cranks up the heat—no Bunsen burners needed.

Best Hot-Level Erotic Novels

Be prepared to get all hot and bothered while reading these books. These are the type of stories not for the faint of heart—books where any kind of plot takes the backseat to intense, spicy sex. They explore all kinds of fantasies and kinks with language that would make your grandma faint. We wouldn’t blame you if you were a bit too embarrassed to pull these out on your subway ride…or if you read them with one hand (wink, wink).  

We're talking three wealthy brothers (Gabe, Jace, and Ash) who can get anything and anyone with the snap of their fingers—except Mia Crestwell, their best friend's little sister. But, when they run into Crestwell and discover she's not the girl they used to know, all bets are off and it's game on. 

Get this: a psychologist goes on tour with one of the hottest bands in the world and has to keep it professional. As they travel across the country, she starts to fall for the lead singer, and one thing leads to another. Get ready to blush, like, a lot.  

Sexual fantasies are unique and individual and this is a book that understands that. Per Night Shift's Amazon description: "Your mission: In a sketchy and sexy world filled with tissues, gallons of lube , sex toys, tiger print, and swinger parties, help Taryn choose her way as she learns what happens in this small, unexpectedly kinky town. From butt plugs to cross-dressing truckers to being held-up at gunpoint over dildos , experience this fun and sexy journey along with Taryn, as she goes from shy and sweet to skilled and empowered—but how she gets there is up to you!" So. In. 

If you like your erotic fantasy with an extra dose of fantasy, the vampire-heavy Black Dagger Brotherhood series is can't-miss. The series is regularly name-dropped in lists of books with the hottest sex scenes and this  New York Times  best-selling series has 19 entries and counting to keep your blood flowing primarily below the waist.

Best-selling author Sylvia Day's series takes you through a complicated web of 20-something Eva Tramell and billionaire Gideon Cross' love lives. Their relationship begins as an "office" romance—they work in the same building—and develops into an emotional roller coaster as both characters deal with past sexual abuse and secrets they've buried.

Alayna Withers is recovering from a "love disorder" that involves stalking charges (so many questions). She's finally getting her life together when she meets her new boss—a dashing man who could cause Alayna to revert to her old habits. Next book club read?

You know how we said there are plenty of campy reads in the erotica genre? This one definitely falls into that category. In case you missed the premise during your TikTok scroll (BookTok is obsessed with this one!), it follows a group of women who have been abducted by big, blue, attractive (?) aliens who take them to their icy home planet. Am I embarrassed to have this on my to-read list? Yes, but I'm going to have a hell of time enjoying it. 

If you were weirdly obsessed with Greek mythology growing up (I blame the Percy Jackson series), this is the much more adult way to get your fix. Katee Robert, who writes some of BookTok's favorite fantasy romances, tackles the myth of Hades and Persophone in Neon Gods . Basically, this story puts a modern spin on the love story of the God of the underworld and the Goddess of spring with the addition of lots of sex, which means we'll be adding this to our carts immediately.  

Don't let the cutesy rom-com cover fool you. This book will introduce you to your new book boyfriend: Nate, captain of his town's hockey team who also happens to have an insanely dirty mouth. When Nate meets the hard-working figure skater Anastasia, sparks fly and the two find themselves stuck together in more ways than one. This one is an especially fun read when you're in need of a lighthearted, sexy romance. 

You know when a book has a content warning in its description, it's going to be seriously hot. This story follows Alex, a.k.a. a super hot alphahole with a tragic past. The only thing that can thaw his icy heart, of course, is his best friend's sister, Ava. This one has the makings of a classic smutty romance: a morally-gray male main character, a bed-sharing scene, and the opposites-attract trope. 

In my opinion, the enemies-to-lovers trope is the best trope in romances. There's something about a couple hating each other that turns into the fiercest chemistry. The characters of Restore Me definitely fall into that category. Sloane, a widow, suddenly starts to see her late husband's best friend in a new light after years of hating him. Meanwhile, Dominic has secretly been pining after Sloane the entire time. Eventually, these two collide in a hugely sexy way. 

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Brooke Knappenberger is the Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she specializes in crafting shopping stories—from sales content to buying guides that span every vertical on the site. She also oversees holiday coverage with an emphasis on gifting guides as well as Power Pick , our monthly column on the items that power the lives of MC’s editors. She has over three years of experience writing on fashion, beauty, and entertainment and her work has appeared on Looper, NickiSwift, The Sun US, and Vox Magazine of Columbia, Missouri. Brooke obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with an emphasis on Magazine Editing and has a minor in Textile and Apparel Management.

Tour outfit number two is already here.

By Halie LeSavage Published 10 May 24

Rapunzel hair, don't care.

By Katherine J. Igoe Published 10 May 24

“I gotta say, she seemed to be having the time of her life,” Selleck said of their turn on the dance floor in 1985.

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The 22 best young adult books published in 2021 so far, according to Amazon

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• Few things are as magical as a young adult book that transports you to another world.
• Below are 22 of the best new young adult book releases of 2021 , according to Amazon's book editors .
• Read more: The 37 best young adult books we've ever read .

Reading a great young adult book comes as close to magic as any activity can — and can appeal to readers of all ages .

When we come into contact with the undertow of a great YA story, we get to disappear into another world — one that can so often strengthen our imaginations while creating a sympathetic blueprint for maneuvering heartbreak, high school politics, and tiffs with our best friends. Young adult books are also an affordable ( check out Libby if you're on a budget ) way to gift yourself hours of enjoyment. 

Below, you'll find the 22 best new young adult books of 2021 so far, according to Amazon's book editors , who frequently round up the best new book releases.  Be it through the lens of a mythological rebellion or the messiness of ordinary life in high school, each YA book engages with fundamental themes like identity, sexuality, friendship, and love.

Descriptions provided by Amazon and edited for length and clarity. 

The 22 best young adult books of 2021, according to Amazon's book editors

"firekeeper's daughter" by angeline boulley.

Available on Amazon and Bookshop  from $17.46

18-year-old Da unis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi's hockey team.

Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug.

Now, as the deceptions ― and deaths ― keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she'll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she's ever known.

Note: This book will soon be adapted for TV on Netflix with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground.

"Ace of Spades" by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.10

All you need to know is… I'm here to divide and conquer. Like all great tyrants do. ― Aces

When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school's senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too.

Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures.

As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?

"Lore" by Alexandra Bracken

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $11.34

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.

Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family's sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt's promises of eternal glory. For years she's pushed away any thought of revenge against the man — now a god — responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.

The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore's decision to bind her fate to Athena's and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost — and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.

"The Desolations of Devil's Acre (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children)" by Ransom Riggs

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $16.89

The last thing Jacob Portman saw before the world went dark was a terrible, familiar face.

Suddenly, he and Noor are back in the place where everything began — his grandfather's house. Jacob doesn't know how they escaped from V's loop to find themselves in Florida. But he does know one thing for certain: Caul has returned.

After a narrow getaway from a blood-thirsty hollow, Jacob and Noor reunite with Miss Peregrine and the peculiar children in Devil's Acre. The Acre is being plagued by desolations — weather fronts of ash and blood and bone — a terrible portent of Caul's amassing army.

Risen from the Library of Souls and more powerful than ever, Caul and his apocalyptic agenda seem unstoppable. Only one hope remains — deliver Noor to the meeting place of the seven prophesied ones. If they can decipher its secret location.

"Concrete Rose" by Angie Thomas

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $13.98

If there's one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it's that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: Dealing for the King Lords. With this money, he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad's in prison.

Life's not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav's got everything under control.

Until, that is, Maverick finds out he's a father.

Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it's not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he's offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he's expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he's different.

When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He'll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.

International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights 17 years before the events of " The Hate U Give " in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

"The Gilded Ones" by Namina Forna

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.16

16-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity — and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: Stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki — near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one is quite what they seem to be — not even Deka herself.

"Rule of Wolves (King of Scars Duology)" by Leigh Bardugo

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $13.78

The Demon King. As Fjerda's massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm ― and even the monster within ― to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king's gift for the impossible.

The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.

"Instructions for Dancing" by Nicola Yoon

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $12.66

Evie Thomas doesn't believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began... and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.

As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything — including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he's only just met.

Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. If her visions of heartbreak have taught her anything, it's that no one escapes love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk?

"The Passing Playbook" by Isaac Fitzsimons

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $14.51

15-year-old Spencer Harris is a proud nerd, an awesome big brother, and a David Beckham in training. He's also transgender. After transitioning at his old school leads to a year of isolation and bullying, Spencer gets a fresh start at Oakley, the most liberal private school in Ohio.

At Oakley, Spencer seems to have it all: more accepting classmates, a decent shot at a starting position on the boys' soccer team, great new friends, and maybe even something more than friendship with one of his teammates. The problem is, no one at Oakley knows Spencer is trans — he's passing.

But when a discriminatory law forces Spencer's coach to bench him, Spencer has to make a choice: cheer his team on from the sidelines or publicly fight for his right to play, even though it would mean coming out to everyone — including the guy he's falling for.

"Realm Breaker" by Victoria Aveyard

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $12.42

A strange darkness grows in Allward.

Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea.

She soon discovers the truth: She is the last of an ancient lineage — and the last hope to save the world from destruction. But she won't be alone. Even as darkness falls, she is joined by a band of unlikely companions.

Together they stand against a vicious opponent, invincible and determined to burn all kingdoms to ash, and an army unlike anything the realm has ever witnessed.

"Kate in Waiting" by Becky Albertalli

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $14.43

Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.

But when Kate and Andy's latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off-script. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.  

Turns out, communal crushes aren't so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson's friendship.

"Fadeaway" by E.B. Vickers

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $10.69

At 8:53 p.m., thousands of people watched as Jake Foster secured the state title for his basketball team with his signature fadeaway. But by the next morning, he's disappeared without a trace. Nobody has any idea where he is: not his best friend who knows him better than anyone else, not his ex-girlfriend who may still have feelings for him, not even his little brother who never expected Jake to abandon him. 

Rumors abound regarding Jake's whereabouts. Was he abducted? Did he run away to try to take his game to the next level? Or is it something else, something darker — something they should have seen coming?

"House of Hollow" by Krystal Sutherland

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $10.99

Iris Hollow and her two older sisters are unquestionably strange. Ever since they disappeared on a suburban street in Scotland as children only to return a month later with no memory of what happened to them, odd, eerie occurrences seem to follow in their wake. And they're changing. First, their dark hair turned white. Then, their blue eyes slowly turned black. They have insatiable appetites yet never gain weight. People find them disturbingly intoxicating, unbearably beautiful, and inexplicably dangerous.

But now, 10 years later, 17-year-old Iris Hollow is doing all she can to fit in and graduate high school on time — something her two famously glamourous globe-trotting older sisters, Grey and Vivi, never managed to do. But when Grey goes missing without a trace, leaving behind bizarre clues as to what might have happened, Iris and Vivi are left to trace her last few days. They aren't the only ones looking for her, though. As they brush against the supernatural, they realize that the story they've been told about their past is unraveling, and the world that returned them seemingly unharmed 10 years ago might just be calling them home.

"Tokyo Ever After" by Jean Emiko

 Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $13.06

Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in ― it isn't easy being Japanese-American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it's always been Izumi ― or Izzy, because "It's easier this way" ― and her mom against the world. But then Izumi discovers a clue to her previously unknown father's identity… and he's none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.

In a whirlwind, Izumi travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn't all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight.

Izumi soon finds herself caught between worlds and between versions of herself ― back home, she was never "American" enough, and in Japan, she must prove she's "Japanese" enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairy tale, happily ever after?

"An Emotion of Great Delight" by Tahreh Mafi

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $13.62

It's 2003, several months since the US officially declared war on Iraq, and the American political world has evolved. Tensions are high, hate crimes are on the rise, FBI agents are infiltrating local mosques, and the Muslim community is harassed and targeted more than ever. Shadi, who wears a hijab, keeps her head down.

She's too busy drowning in her own troubles to find the time to deal with bigots.

Shadi is named for joy, but she's haunted by sorrow. Her brother is dead, her father is dying, her mother is falling apart, and her best friend has mysteriously dropped out of her life. And then, of course, there's the small matter of her heart — it's broken.

Shadi tries to navigate her crumbling world by soldiering through, saying nothing. She devours her own pain, each day retreating farther and farther inside herself until finally, one day, everything changes. She explodes.

"All Our Hidden Gifts" by Caroline O'Donoghue

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $12.97

After Maeve finds a pack of tarot cards while cleaning out a closet during her in-school suspension, she quickly becomes the most sought-after diviner at St. Bernadette's Catholic school. But when Maeve's ex-best friend, Lily, draws an unsettling card called The Housekeeper that Maeve has never seen before, the session devolves into a heated argument that ends with Maeve wishing aloud that Lily would disappear. When Lily isn't at school the next Monday, Maeve learns her ex-friend has vanished without a trace.

Shunned by her classmates and struggling to preserve a fledgling romance with Lily's gender-fluid sibling, Roe, Maeve must dig deep into her connection with the cards to search for clues the police cannot find — even if they lead to the terrifying Housekeeper herself. 

Set in an Irish town where the church's tight hold has loosened, and new freedoms are trying to take root, this sharply contemporary story is witty, gripping, and tinged with mysticism.

"When the World Was Ours" by Liz Kessler

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $16.62

Three friends. One memory. Vienna. 1936.

Leo, Elsa, and Max spend a perfect day together, unaware that around them, Europe is descending into a growing darkness and that they will soon be cruelly ripped apart from one another. With their lives taking them across Europe — to Germany, England, Prague, and Poland — will they ever find their way back to one another? Will they want to?

Inspired by a true story, "When the World Was Ours" is an extraordinary novel that shows how the bonds of love, family, and friendship allow glimmers of hope to flourish, even in the most hopeless of times.

"Pumpkin (Dumplin')" by Julie Murphy

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $16.54

Waylon Russell Brewer is a fat, openly gay boy stuck in the small West Texas town of Clover City. His plan is to bide his time until he can graduate, move to Austin with his twin sister, Clementine, and finally go Full Waylon so that he can live his Julie-the-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music-Andrews truth.

So when Clementine deviates from their master plan right after Waylon gets dumped, he throws caution to the wind and creates an audition tape for his favorite TV drag show, Fiercest of Them All. What he doesn't count on is the tape getting accidentally shared with the entire school… As a result, Waylon is nominated for prom queen as a joke. Clem's girlfriend, Hannah Perez, also receives a joke nomination for prom king.

Waylon and Hannah decide there's only one thing to do: Run — and leave high school with a bang. A very glittery bang. Along the way, Waylon discovers that there is a lot more to running for prom court than campaign posters and plastic crowns, especially when he has to spend so much time with the very cute and infuriating prom king nominee Tucker Watson.

"Fat Chance, Charlie Vega" by Crystal Maldonado

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $12.99

Charlie Vega is a lot of things. Smart. Funny. Artistic. Ambitious. Fat.

People sometimes have a problem with that last one. Especially her mom. Charlie wants a good relationship with her body, but it's hard, and her mom leaving a billion weight loss shakes on her dresser doesn't help. The world and everyone in it has ideas about what she should look like: Thinner, lighter, slimmer-faced, straighter-haired. Be smaller. Be whiter. Be quieter.

But there's one person who's always in Charlie's corner: Her best friend, Amelia. Slim. Popular. Athletic. Totally dope. So when Charlie starts a tentative relationship with cute classmate Brian, the first worthwhile guy to notice her, everything is perfect until she learns one thing — he asked Amelia out first. So is she his second choice or what? Does he even really see her? Because it's time people did.

"The Prison Healer" by Lynette Noni

Available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.39

17-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last 10 years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer.

When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: A series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals.

Then a coded message from Kiva's family arrives, containing a single order: "Don't let her die. We are coming." Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva's heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can't escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.

• Main content

The Best Book Series for Adults in Every Genre

Emily Martin

Emily has a PhD in English from the University of Southern Mississippi, MS, and she has an MFA in Creative Writing from GCSU in Milledgeville, GA, home of Flannery O’Connor. She spends her free time reading, watching horror movies and musicals, cuddling cats, Instagramming pictures of cats, and blogging/podcasting about books with the ladies over at #BookSquadGoals (www.booksquadgoals.com). She can be reached at [email protected].

View All posts by Emily Martin

Forget about spending your summer marathoning your favorite Netflix shows (again). Try powering through your next favorite book series. With so many great books out there and so little time, it can be hard to know where to begin with book series. So, to make it a little easier for you, I’ve put together a list of some of the best book series for adults in every genre. Now pick your favorite, pick a comfy reading spot, and get to your summer reading marathon ASAP!

Science Fiction

The broken earth series by n.k. jemisin.

On a planet with a single supercontinent called The Stillness, the inhabitants endure what is called a “Fifth Season” every few centuries. The Fifth Season brings on disastrous climate change, and the people on the planet must struggle to survive. The series centers around Essun and her daughter Nassun, two magically talented people (orogenes) who are separated before the start of the most recent Fifth Season.

Area X by Jeff VanDerMeer

Also known as The   Southern Reach Trilogy,  Jeff VanDerMeer’s  Area X  books are now available in one volume for your marathon reading convenience. Area X is a remote location that’s been cut off from the rest of the continent for decades. Expeditions into the area have proven unsuccessful, with the majority of the explorers dying. The 12th expedition is a group of women: an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist, and our narrator, a biologist. This is how  Annihilation , the first book in the trilogy, begins. From there, expect the unexpected.

The MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood

This trilogy, featuring the novels  Oryx and Crake ,  The Year of the Flood , and  MaddAddam ,  is set in a dystopian future world that has been forever changed by plagues, floods, and genetic engineering. Only a few humans remain on Earth, fighting to survive. What makes this novel all the more unsettling is how easy it is to imagine our world devolving into the place Atwood has imagined in her series.

The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson

What would happened if humans colonized Mars? Kim Stanley Robinson explores that idea in this series. The first novel,  Red Mars ,  is about the settlement of a colony on Mars.  Green Mars   picks up thirty years later as the colony is terraforming the planet. Lastly, with a wider scope than the first two books,  Blue Mars   examines the long term effects of the colonization of Mars, with the book covering an entire century. In addition, Robinson has written a collection of short stories called  The Martians   that take place over the same period of time as the three novels in the trilogy. Robinson uses these stories to imagine a successful colonization of Mars while Earth is suffering from ecological disasters and overpopulation.

The Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal

As a newer series, Mary Robinette Kowal’s  Lady Astronaut  series is only two books long; however, Kowal has promised more books in the series are forthcoming. The series starts off in 1952 after a meteorite falls to earth and destroys Washington D.C. along with much of the U.S.’s Eastern coast. The Meteorite will ultimately lead to a climate cataclysm, forcing Earth to accelerate their efforts to colonize space.

The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss

Another newer series, Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller Chronicles consists of two published books, with the third book in the series,  The Doors of Stone , forthcoming. This is the story of Kvothe, an adventurer and musician, as he recalls his life’s adventures to a scribe named Devan Lochees, also called The Chronicler. Eventually, Kvothe will grow up to be the most notorious wizard the world has even known. This is his journey, alternating between the present timeline and looking back at how Kvothe got to where he is today.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

This series is so new that there is only one book currently available, but the second book in the series,  The Dragon Republic,  will be released in August of this year. So you won’t have to wait much longer! This adult fantasy series is based on the history and politics of mid-20th century China and the Second Sino-Japanese War. The story follows protagonist Rin as she goes from being a poor orphan to training to be a part of an elite militia academy.

The Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson

For an epic fantasy series with many books currently published, check out this series, starting with the first of the ten books,  Gardens of the Moon .  In this series, Steven Erikson tells the epic fantasy story of the Malazan Empire, including many characters’ stories spanning thousands of years across multiple continents. Interestingly, this world was first created as a backdrop for a  Dungeons & Dragons   campaign, which partially explains why the world and characters in it are so detailed.

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

Part fantasy and part dystopian fiction,  Who Fears Death  is set in the distant future in a post-nuclear-holocaust Africa. Onyesonwu (whose name means “who fears death?”) is born into this world out of violence. But she is also born with magic and a destiny to end the genocide of her people. Currently, Who Fears Death  and the prequel  The Book of Phoenix ,  but with HBO recently optioning this for a television series, it’s likely there will be more to this story soon.

The Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas

In this gender-swapped series inspired by Sherlock Holmes ,  Charlotte Holmes investigates crimes under the pseudonym “Sherlock.” Charlotte first gets into investigation in order to clear her family name after her father and sister are suspected of a crime. What follows from there are a series of investigations starring Charlotte and her helpful assistant Mrs. Watson. Thomas’s feminist take on these characters, reimagined as women subverting the gender norms of their time, is a whole lot of fun, and there are currently four novels available in this series. The fifth is expected to release in 2020.

Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French

Each novel in this mystery series follows a different detective character loosely connected to previous protagonists in the series because they all work within the same murder squad in Dublin, Ireland. If you’re interested in a character-driven mystery series, Tana French’s novels cannot be missed. Start with the first book in the series,  In The Woods,  or read them in whatever order you’d like. For a thoughtful suggestion on which Dublin Murder Squad books you should read first, check out this Book Riot article .

The Easy Rawlins series by Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley’s private detective Easy Rawlins is a compelling character for many reasons. He’s an African American private detective working in the often racist setting of Los Angeles in the 1940s to the 1960s. Because of this, issues of racism and social justice are just as integral to the storyline as the mysteries Rawlins is solving. Mosley has written 14 novels and a collection of short stories featuring Rawlins, so there are plenty of Rawlins mysteries to get you through the rest of the summer.

The Perveen Mistry series by Sujata Massey

If you’re looking to jump into a newer mystery series, Sujata Massey’s  Perveen Mistry  series is the way to go, with the second novel in the series,  The Satapur Moonstone ,  having just been published a month or so ago. This series is set in 1920s Bombay, and it is based on an actual person from history, Cornelia Sorabji, India’s first woman lawyer.

The Loyal League series by Alyssa Cole

There are three books currently available to read in this historical romance set during the Civil War in America. The books in this series follow the story of a group of Black spies who are working for the Union Army. While on missions, however, these spies find much more than just the information they need to fight against the Confederate soldiers. They find romance.

The Beautiful series by Christina Lauren

Written by Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings under the singular pen name Christina Lauren, The Beautiful Series(also known as The Beautiful Bastard Series) is a collection of romance novels and novellas featuring Chloe, a hardworking intern, and Bennett Ryan, her no-nonsense, extremely demanding (and yet extremely attractive) boss.

Bollywood by Sonali Dev

Sonali Dev’s  Bollywood  series currently consists of four loosely connected romance novels which can be read in any order. The first novel in the series,  A Bollywood Affair ,  follows Mili, a girl who grew up in a small village and was promised to a man when she was only four years old. In order to prepare her for this marriage, Mili’s family sends her off to America to go to school and learn how to be the perfect modern wife. However, unbeknownst to Mili, the man she is meant to marry has moved on and is involved with another woman. Samir Rathod, a beloved Bollywood director, goes to America to find Mili and secure a divorce for his brother. But when Samir meets Mili, he becomes much more involved in her life than he intended.

The Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

The Crossfire Series  follows the romantic journey of Eva Tramell and Gideon Cross. Eva moves to New York from San Diego for a chance at a new start after an abusive childhood. When she meets her boss Gideon Cross, she immediately feels a connection. Then she discovers Gideon also comes from a troubled past, and the two begin to find ways to heal one another.

The Newsflesh series by Mira Grant

In the year 2014, humans discovered a means for curing diseases. Cancer became a thing of the past. The only problem? The cure created something new: an infection that spreads quickly and takes over a person’s body and mind, essentially creating zombie-like beings. This series starts twenty years after the spread of this infection. Protagonists Georgia and Shaun are trying to discover what lead to this infection. But in a future America paralyzed by fear, no one with any sense dares to leave their home. Georgia and Shaun’s search for the truth might just kill them.

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

Interview with the Vampire   by Anne Rice is basically a classic by now, and for good reason. Anne Rice’s vision of vampires has essentially shaped the way we view vampires in contemporary literature. With 13 books currently available in the series, you could be following Lestat and his fellow vampire’s storylines through an intense marathon reading session all summer long. The most recent novel in the series,  Blood Communion ,  just came out last year, so it doesn’t look like Anne Rice’s successful vampire chronicles are going anywhere anytime soon.

Historical Fiction

The war of the roses series by conn iggulden.

There are many adult series about The War of the Roses out there, but Con Iggulden’s is by far the best, especially if you’re looking for thoughtful and meaningful characterization. The first novel,  Stormbird ,  begins in 1437, following the death of King Edward III. Following what was a mostly peaceful regency, Henry VI ascends the throne to an atmosphere of political unrest and uncertainty.

The Wolf Hall series by Hilary Mantel

Wolf Hall chronicles one of the most fascinating moments in British history, the reign of Henry VIII. The novels are told from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell, one of Henry Tudor’s most trusted advisors. Mantel follows Thomas Cromwell’s journey from his humble beginnings, to his rise to a powerful advisor of the court, and finally to his eventual downfall. The first two books in the series are currently available, and the third is coming out in 2020. So catch up on the first two now so you can start preparing for this series’ thrilling conclusion.

Still not sure which is the best book series for adults for you to read? Be sure to check out Book Riot’s subscription service TBR for tailored book recommendations, picked out just for you. Specify that you’re looking for an adult series, and your Bibliologist will hook you up!

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The Award-Winning Books You’ll Actually Love

With so many books sporting metallic stickers, it can be hard to know which one to pick up first. We’ve got you covered with a list of this year’s crème de la crème.

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In a perfect world, we’d be able to read every single prizewinning book every single year. In a perfect world, we’d be able to read every single book, period! But in reality, time is short, and you can’t always count on a fancy sticker to guarantee a great read. That’s why we did the pre-reading for you and rounded up the absolute best award-winning books of the past year. Read on for the ones you really don’t want to miss.

Night Watch, by Jayne Anne Phillips

The 2024 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction is a story of resilience and reinvention, set in a Civil War–era mental hospital. Born in 1861 (the same year of the confederacy’s secession), 12-year-old ConaLee has “not seen the War except in what it ruined.” Her father has been absent all her life. Her mother has gone mute in response to the relentless abuse of a violent veteran, who inserts himself in their lives before dumping them at a Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Within this West Virginian asylum, readers' assumptions about 19th-century mental healthcare are tested and secrets of ConaLee’s past are unveiled. Flashing between perspectives and timelines, Phillips traces the long tail of trauma through her characters’ lives and our nation’s history.

How to Say Babylon, by Safiya Sinclair

The winner of the 2024 National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography is an intimate and ferocious tale of the author growing up under—and eventually, outgrowing— a father’s strict Rastafarianism. Sinclair spent her “early childhood in a wild state of happiness” on Jamaica’s achingly beautiful coast. But she soon learns that she is not simply a child on an island—she is a girl in a culture obsessed with female purity and obedience. As her father’s control tightens, her own creative passions grow; soon, she must choose between betraying the values that raised her and forfeiting the woman she desperately wants to become. While Sinclair’s story itself is deeply inspirational, it is her language that makes this book truly exceptional; her background as a prizewinning poet ignites every sentence.

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez, by Claire Jiménez

The heaven & earth grocery store, by james mcbride.

If you haven’t already read the latest, Kirkus Prize–winning novel from the author of Deacon King Kong (Oprah’s 85th Book Club pick ), what are you waiting for? This characteristically energetic read takes readers back in time to 1930s Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where Black and Jewish residents lived side by side in a neighborhood known as Chicken Hill, sharing apartment blocks and dark secrets. Though set up as a mystery—complete with a dead body—the story finds its footing in Dodo, the deaf, parentless boy hidden by locals from officials attempting to put him in a home for the insane. Heartwarming and heartbreaking, a feat of language, life, and imagination.

When We Were Sisters, by Fatimah Asghar

The first ever winner of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction—an award named for the late Canadian writer and aimed at addressing the “continued inequality of women in the literary world”—is a debut novel about three orphaned Muslim sisters raising each other and coming into their own in America. The children of Pakistani immigrants and the daughters of a mother who died years ago, Noreen, Aisha, and Kausar are “familyless in America” save for their beloved father. When he is senselessly murdered, they are sent to live an uncle, whose “care” ranges from brutally strict to utterly neglectful. While this may sound like a grim premise, the novel is illuminated by Asghar’s rich and inventive language, the book’s nuanced exploration of gender identity, and the girls’ ever evolving and death-defying bond.

A First Time for Everything, by Dan Santat

While this National Book Award–winning graphic memoir is technically for children, adults and middle graders alike will see themselves in this story of self-discovery, international exploration, and first love. For many recent eighth-grade graduates, a three-week-long class trip across Europe would be a dream. For 13-year-old Dan—who has spent middle school dodging taunts from his classmates and doing his best to be invisible—it’s a nightmare. But as he makes his way across the foreign continent, he shares in humiliations, adventures, and some touchingly relatable tween-age romance with his once terrifying peers. Gradually, he begins to recognize the cracks in everyone else’s facade, and the bravery pulsing beneath his own protective shell. Santat’s luxurious illustrations give us a window into the narrator’s awe, allowing us to see the Eiffel Tower and the exotic European Fanta selection alike with fresh eyes.

The Hive and the Honey, by Paul Yoon

The winner of the 20th annual Story Prize, this collection of stories reckons with the Korean diaspora and the ties that bind. A North Korean maid, living in Barcelona, learns that the child she left behind may have grown into a Soviet middleweight boxing star. A samurai escorts a Korean orphan on a late winter voyage through 1608 Japan. The children of North Korean defectors build a new life for themselves in London—only to be pulled back into the past by an encounter with a strange child. With spare language and open questions, Yoon draws attention to the physical vastness of the world, and the emotional nearness of our experiences within it.

Charley Burlock is the Associate Books Editor at Oprah Daily where she writes, edits, and assigns stories on all things literary. She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from NYU, where she also taught undergraduate creative writing. Her work has been featured in the Atlanti c , the Los Angeles Review , Agni , the Apple News Today podcast, and elsewhere. She is currently working on a book about collective grief (but she promises she's really fun at parties). 

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15 Best Young Adult Books You Need to Read in 2024

Posted: February 16, 2024 | Last updated: February 18, 2024

It doesn't matter whether you've gone through young adulthood over a decade ago, or you're currently going through it now— YA is for everyone . It is probably the most relatable genre of all time. Dare I say it might be even more enjoyable for millennials such as myself. Is it the because it reminds us of the blissful days of yore, free of real-world worries? The feeling of accomplishment after ticking the box on your firsts? Or is it because of the trauma bond we all share because of growing pains and many awkward (sometimes scary) situations we found ourselves in? The answer is all of the above, honestly.

YA lays out all the good, the bad, and the ugly of being young, dumb, and broke. And we love it for all its unabashed, messy glory! It comes in multiple sub-genres like YA romance, drama, otherworldly fantasy, murder-mystery, horror, and so much more. There are many amazing, timeless, tried-and-tested YA books that you must have heard of either from a friend or on BookTok or somewhere else. I definitely encourage you to read those, but there are also exciting new releases this year that you definitely want to check out. Here's our list of the best young adult books of 2024.

Just Another Epic Love Poem by Parisa Akhbari

Mitra Esfahani and Bea Ortega have been best friends for five years now. They have each other, and The Book. The Book is a dogeared moleskin that they have been filling up with the stanzas of an epic, never-ending poem since they were 13. This is the safe place where they can write openly and honestly about all their feelings. Things never got messy, but that changes when Mitra realizes she's in love with Bea.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price disappeared, leaving her two-year-old daughter Bel—and the rest of the Price family—in the dust. She's long been presumed dead, but the case gets dug up from the grave when the Price family agrees to a true crime documentary. Bel can't wait for filming to end so that life can go back to normal. But then Rachel Price reappears, and there's no way life can ever be normal again.

Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia

Tara just wants to be treated like any other girl at Ainsley Academy. But that can be difficult when you're the first out trans girl at an all-girls school. Now she must choose whether to keep her head down and lay low, or blaze a trail for all the trans girls that come after.

Snowglobe by Soyoung Park

This dystopian thriller is definitely a page-turner, especially if you're a fan of The Hunger Games or Squid Game . The story is set in a frozen wasteland, where the last warm place on Earth is a vast dome called the Snowglobe. The residents are the rich and famous, who broadcast their lives on television as entertainment for those outside. One day, Snowglobe's biggest star, Goh Haeri, dies. A fangirl named Chobahm is chosen to replace her. This is the life she's always dreamed of! But soon she discovers that life in the Snowglobe is nothing like what everyone sees on TV.

Wander in the Dark by Jumata Emill

Amir Trudeau goes to his stuck-up half brother's birthday party for a girl, and wouldn't you know it? He leaves the party with her: the beautiful and wealthy Chloe Danvers. She asks him to take her home and stay the night, and everything is grand! That is, until Amir wakes up in the middle of the night and Chloe is dead. A Black teenager caught fleeing the scene of a rich white girl's murder? All of New Orleans sees it no other way: he did it. Now Amir must race to prove his innocence.

Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson

This is a collection of poetry that honors Black girlhood. New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Renée Watson writes semi-autobiographical verses that speak to her youth, love, justice, and safety.

I Hope This Doesn't Find You by Ann Liang

Sadie Wen is practically perfect on paper. She's the class valedictorian, school captain, and a pleasure to be around. She's also a good daughter to her parents. The only way she can manage to always have a smile on her face is by channeling all her frustrations through e-mail drafts. Many of them are addressed to her academic rival, Julius Gong. All these e-mails sit privately in her account, until one day they all get sent. Everyone begins to resent Sadie, except the one person...Julius.

Icarus by K. Ancrum

This book reimagines the legend of Icarus as a story of star-crossed lovers. Young art thief Icarus steals art and replaces them with his father's forgeries, but then he finds himself in a conundrum when he falls for the son of the man he's been stealing from.

Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao

College freshmen Sophie Chi and Jo Ephron are aromantic and asexual, but still enjoy secretly running their respective Instagram relationship advice accounts. Sophie runs "Dear Wendy," while Jo has "Sincerely Wanda." Soon the two become rivals and begin an online feud. While, in real life, the two become really good friends.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Sade Hussein has always had misfortune follow her wherever she goes, but she's hoping that changes as she starts fresh in a new school for her junior year of high school. That hope quickly vanishes when, on her first day at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school, her roommate disappears. And people think she's had something to do with it.

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

Riley dreams of becoming a big Broadway director, and a step towards that is helping her high school bring back their spring musical. But she makes the mistake of borrowing her mom's car without permission, which leads to her grounding. Now she has to work at her dad's game shop, and has no time to save the show! So she makes a deal with Nathan, one of her dad's nerdy teen employees. He'll cover her shifts and, in exchange, she'll flirt with him to make his gamer-girl crush jealous.

A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman

Everybody loves a good boarding school thriller. This one follows queer teen Cal Ware from Mississippi. He wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school called Essex Academy. Soon he finds himself swept into a world of old money, privilege, and the secret society at the heart of it all.

Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah

Seventeen-year-old Krescent Dune is an orphan left with no choice but to deal with her deceased parents' debt and their ruinous legacy. In order to fend for herself and earn enough money to escape the island is by battling monstrous creatures in an underground fighting pit. After a fight goes terribly wrong, she becomes banned from the pits. But someone offers her a deal: in exchange for clearing all her debts, she must work on a a rescue mission deep within the mining caves beneath the island.

This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill

This sweet love story follows queer teens Abby and Leo. The two end up on the same subway train, and embark on a life-changing adventure together as they explore New York City.

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

Seventeen-year-old Malik has kept his powers hidden since the sudden disappearance of his mother ten years ago. But as he enrolls at a magical HBCU in Louisiana, he wants to make use of his abilities to learn more about his roots and secrets from past.

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Pulitzer Prizes 2024: A Guide to the Winning Books and Finalists

Jayne Anne Phillips won the fiction award for “Night Watch,” while Jonathan Eig and Ilyon Woo shared the biography prize.

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By Elizabeth A. Harris and Joumana Khatib

Eighteen books were recognized as winners or finalists for the Pulitzer Prize on Monday, in the categories of history, memoir, poetry, general nonfiction, fiction and biography, which had two winners.

Night Watch , by Jayne Anne Phillips

A story about a mother and daughter set in the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, W.Va., after the Civil War. “Night Watch,” which was also longlisted for the National Book Award, is about surviving war and its aftermath. “I consider Phillips to be among the greatest and most intuitive of American writers,” wrote our critic Dwight Garner.

Fiction finalist: Wednesday’s Child: Stories , by Yiyun Li

A short story collection written over the course of a decade that examines aging and loss. The stories touch on a woman who makes a spreadsheet of every person she’s lost, a middle-aged practitioner of Eastern medicine and an 88-year-old biologist.

Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Fiction finalist: Same Bed Different Dreams , by Ed Park

An imagined alternate history of Korea that includes assassins, slasher films and the dangers of social media. In a review in The Times, the critic Hamilton Cain called the book “wonderfully suspenseful, like watching a circus performer juggle a dozen torches; will one slip his agile hands?”

Random House

No Right to an Honest Living , by Jacqueline Jones

Jones, a historian and a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, examines the hypocrisy of Boston before the Civil War. The city was known for its antislavery rhetoric and as the center of abolitionism, but Black residents endured “casual cruelty” in the work force and were condemned to lives of poverty without the chance for equal employment.

Basic Books

History finalist: Continental Reckoning: The American West in the Age of Expansion , by Elliott West

This is an examination of the American West and its physical and cultural transformation in the 19th century. The book covers the 1840s, when the West was home to various Native cultures, and moves through the next three decades, when the area was organized into states and territories and connected by railroads and telegraph wires.

University of Nebraska Press

History finalist: American Anarchy: The Epic Struggle Between Immigrant Radicals and the U.S. Government at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century, by Michael Willrich

This book is a history of the American anarchist movement in the early 20th century. While many working class immigrants saw it as heroic, others considered it a frightening foreign ideology.

King: A Life , by Jonathan Eig

This major study of the civil rights icon draws on a landslide of recently released White House telephone transcripts, F.B.I. documents, letters, oral histories and other material. Eig shows a masterly command of his research, showing King in intimate moments, and arguing that his nonviolence has been mistaken for passivity. Put simply, our critic Dwight Garner wrote, “Eig’s book is worthy of its subject.”

Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey From Slavery to Freedom , by Ilyon Woo

In 1848, William and Ellen Craft, an enslaved couple, disguised themselves as a sick, wealthy white man traveling with his male slave and headed north. Woo tells the story of their stunning, perilous journey in novelistic detail, tracing their path through the United States and eventual passage to England, where they wrote a popular book about their escape.

Simon & Schuster

Biography finalist: “ Larry McMurtry: A Life ,” by Tracy Daugherty

This is the first comprehensive biography of McMurtry, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Lonesome Dove” and “The Last Picture Show,” among other novels. Daugherty has also written biographies of Joseph Heller and Joan Didion, and his latest “reads a bit like one of McMurtry’s novels,” our critic Dwight Garner wrote in his review. “Elegy and humor bleed into each other.”

St. Martin’s Press

MEMOIR OR AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice , by Cristina Rivera Garza

In 1990, Rivera Garza’s 20-year-old sister was killed, and the case is a jumping-off point for this searching, personal examination of femicide in Mexico. The book is “one of the most effective resurrections of a murder victim I have ever read,” our reviewer, Katherine Dykstra, wrote. “Rivera Garza draws her sister, then complicates that drawing and then complicates the complication, creating layer upon layer of nuance.”

Memoir finalist: The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight , by Andrew Leland

The author, a longtime editor and podcaster, details his life with retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that is gradually causing him to lose his vision. His writing is “jazzy and intelligent,” our critic Alexandra Jacobs said, “with licks of understated humor.” Yet Leland also “rigorously explores the disability’s most troubling corners,” resulting in an affecting study of vision and its limits.

Penguin Press

Memoir finalist: The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions , by Jonathan Rosen

In this account of his friendship with Michael Laudor, who came to prominence as a Yale student trying to publicly destigmatize mental illness and later was convicted of stabbing his pregnant girlfriend to death, Rosen offers a look at the boundaries between brilliance and insanity. Our critic Alexandra Jacobs called it “an act of tremendous compassion and a literary triumph.”

GENERAL NONFICTION

A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy , by Nathan Thrall

This book tells the story of a deadly bus crash outside Jerusalem through the eyes of a Palestinian father whose 5-year-old died in the accident. The father’s agony is compounded by the physical and legal restrictions that shape the lives of Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Thrall also examines the political, bureaucratic and personal decisions that contributed to the crash, and “vignettes of individual guilt come up against stark political realities,” our reviewer Rozina Ali wrote.

Metropolitan Books

General nonfiction finalist: Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World , by John Vaillant

In 2016, wildfires tore through Fort McMurray, in the Canadian province of Alberta. Vaillant details how the fire began, how it traveled and the wreckage it left behind, weaving a story of a warming climate, a massive oil reserve and the apocalyptic fallout. The heart of the story, of course, is the fire itself: “Vaillant anthropomorphizes fire,” our reviewer David Enrich wrote. “Not only does it grow and breathe and search for food; it strategizes. It hunts. It lays in wait for months, even years.”

General nonfiction finalist: Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives , by Siddharth Kara

Cobalt is an essential mineral used in the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that power devices from smartphones to electric vehicle. This book, from an academic who has studied modern slavery, examines the horrors of cobalt mining, particularly the hazardous conditions and subsistence pay that workers face.

Tripas: Poems, by Brandon Som

In this collection, Som celebrates his multicultural heritage and family memories, writing about his grandmother, who was Chicana and worked nights on an assembly line at a Motorola factory, and his Chinese American father and grandparents, who ran a corner store.

Georgia Review Books

Poetry finalist: Information Desk: An Epic , by Robyn Schiff

Schiff chronicles her five years working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s information desk, where she answered mostly one question. As she writes in “Information Desk,” the “catechism/commences: Where’s the bathroom? / Where’s / the bathroom? Can you direct me to a / men’s room? ” Writing about the book for The Times, Maggie Lange called it “a searing yet reverent book-length poem, containing as many jokes as it does social critiques.”

Penguin Poets

Poetry finalist: To 2040, by Jorie Graham

Graham’s 15th poetry collection is narrated by a speaker looking toward the future while reflecting on her own mortality. The collection begins with questions stated as fact: “Are we / extinct yet. Who owns / the map.”

Copper Canyon Press

  More about Elizabeth A. Harris

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