Alethea Kontis

Bangladeshi-Irish author Adiba Jaigirdar's latest YA romance promises a spoonful of drama and a dash of deception, leading to a well-baked resolution.

In Maria E. Andreu's latest YA romance, Julieta Toledo escapes into writing, the perfect haven for her increasingly runaway imagination. There she connects with the mysterious "Happily Ever Drafter."

Elise Bryant tells a fantastic tale full of shenanigans and escapades, while also delving into deeper issues of race and the perception of a successful future for young people of color.

The heartbreak starts right away in Dustin Thao's debut novel: 17-year-old Julie's boyfriend Sam is killed in a car crash — but then she calls his phone, just to hear his voice again. And he answers.

In their new YA novel, Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal tell the story of a cheerleading squad whose white captain convinces them to take a knee to protest injustice — and the backlash that follows.

Michelle Quach's immensely lovable YA debut Not Here to Be Liked centers on Eliza, who's just been done out of her dream job as editor of the high school paper by an unqualified but very charming boy.

Laura Sibson's Edie in Between follows our heroine as she learns her own magic and unravels a family mystery. If only we didn't have to keep yelling at her to stay out of the metaphorical basement.

Britta Lundin's Like Other Girls follows Mara, a hot-tempered 6'2" high school sports star who's booted from basketball for brawling, but finds a new life and a new way of being on the football field.

Sometimes books can be a literal escape, not just a figurative one. Our critic Alethea Kontis recommends three fantasy novels that helped her along the way as she escaped an abusive relationship.

Nisha Sharma's new YA novel follows two Indian American teenagers who overcome differing backgrounds to find love while prepping for an important dance competition — a perfect teen movie setup.