It's finally here...Spring! The weather is starting to warm up at long last, plus it's not raining every five seconds. Thank goodness! I thought for a minute we were all going to float away.
Spring is when a ton my favorite types of YA books are released. This includes the cutesy contemporary reads and the thrilling fantasy reads that sweep you away to another world. Not to mention, some of my highly anticipated reads are finally getting published after being delayed to the pandemic. Here are just a few of my must-reads this Spring:
Lucky Girl by Jamie Pacton
I can't say enough about this author I fell in love with her last year when I read her debut novel The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly. Her book gave me all the feels and had me rooting for the main character to get the justice she deserved, all while falling for her best friend.
Her newest release is all about Jane Belleweather, who just so happens to have just won 58,642,129 dollars from the lottery jackpot. Lucky girl, right? Nope! Because Jane has several reasons why this poses a problem - including the fact she is too young to have played the lottery in the first place, and several of her money hungry friends and family would be nipping at her heels if they knew about her life-changing win.
Release Date: 5/11/21
Pumpkin by Julie Murphy
Excuse me while I fan-girl scream!!! I absolutely adore this series by Julie Murphy set in a small West Texas town called Clover City. The first two in the series followed some of the gals in town, while this one mixes it up a bit and follows openly gay Waylon Russell Brewer.
Waylon's plans of getting out of Clover City take a turn when his sister Clementine deviates from their original plan of moving in together. So, in the wake of his newest breakup, Waylon auditions for his favorite drag show, Fiercest of Them All, and in true high school fashion the audition tape gets leaked to the entire school. While Waylon deals with the aftermath of the leaked tape, he soon learns that trying to plan his future prevents him from living for today.
Release Date: 5/25/21
Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
Well...you had me at Grease inspired and set in the Outer Banks.
Lara has been infatuated with high school football star Chase Harding. She has been trying to win his affection for three years and he has finally noticed her [insert dramatic swoon]. So, what could possibly be holding Lara back from dating the swoon-worthy Chase? Her summer fling with a girl named Jasmine who she met while vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Lara is torn between her seemingly perfect life and not being able to get Jasmine off of her mind or heart.
Release Date: 5/11/21
Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
Iconic fantasy writer, Victoria Aveyard has struck gold again with her newest series featuring pirates and assassins. If this series is anything like her Red Queen series, then we are in for a fantastic read.
Corayne, an Amarat, discovers she is the last of an ancient lineage, and it falls on her to save the world from it's impending doom. She is joined by a rag tag group of companions to guide her in the quest to fight a formidable foe and his army whose goal is to burn all the kingdoms down.
Release Date: 5/04/21
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Australian best-selling YA author Lynette Noni is sure to wow us with her newest series, The Prison Healer. This fantasy gives me vibes of Sarah Maas and Sabaa Tahir's fantasy novels.
Kiva Meridan has worked day in and day out for the last ten years at the death prison, Zalindov. Kiva's newest patient, the Rebel Queen, is under her care until she is sent to undergo the Trail by Ordeal. This elemental challenge has killed all of its previous adversaries. Kiva soon finds herself taking the Queen's place in the challenge to save both of their lives after receiving a note from her family instructing her to keep the queen alive - no matter what the cost.
Release Date: 4/13/21
Go the Distance by Jen Calonita
Who doesn't love Disney? Especially, when they are Disney adaptations. This novel is the 11th in this Twisted Tale collection from various YA authors that asks the question "What if things would have been different?"
This riff on the Disney classic Hercules asks "What if Meg had to become a Greek god?" This novel picks up where the movie left off with Hercules regaining his godly title and safely in the arms of his new love, Meg. Just one slight problem: Meg is not a goddess. So, Meg must complete a grand quest that forces her to deal with her past which includes an ex...ugh!
Release Date: 4/06/21
Now, all we have to do is wait till these books and many other great Spring reads are released.
Looking for more reading recommendations? Feel free to fill out this form for personal reading recommendations from your fellow Bookworms.
- Ashleigh Edwards
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