21 Must-Read YA Books to Obsess Over in Fall 2021
by Laurie Espino
Yes, the end of the summer season is a bummer. And while it’s sad that vacation season has ended, there are some BIG book releases around the corner! Whether you’re craving a new murder mystery, undead vampires, or poetry, there’s something for everyone with these hot new releases! From the final installment of Holly Jackson’s New York Times bestselling series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, to the third book in the New York Times bestselling The Aurora Cycle series, there’s no shortage of good books to read this season.
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Both Sides Now
Available from:High school senior Finch Kelly has big dreams of becoming the first transgender congressman in history. The first step is bringing home the gold at the National Speech and Debate Tournament. But this year’s topic, transgender rights, hits close to home for Finch. What was supposed to be an easy last year of high school turns into months of self-discovery and new, unexpected romances.
(On sale: 8/24/2021)Also available from: -
Take Me With You When You Go
Available from:New York Times bestselling authors David Levithan and Jennifer Niven team up to create the phenomenal story of Ezra and Bea, siblings stuck in a dysfunctional household and both looking for a way out. When Bea sees an escape, she takes it, leaving her little brother behind. Raw and authentic, Ezra’s story unfolds as he navigates life with his abusive stepfather and neglectful mother without his loving sister by his side.
(On sale: 8/31/2021)Also available from: -
The Girls Are Never Gone
Available from:From the author of the Reign of the Fallen series comes a story that will haunt readers from beginning to end. Thirty years ago, a girl died at Arrington Estate, and Dare Chase wants to know what happened. As more and more mysterious events occur, Dare realizes that there’s more to the house than meets the eye—and some of them are deadly.
(On sale: 9/7/2021)Also available from: -
Dark and Shallow Lies
Available from:Get ready for the supernatural tale of the season! Grey spends every summer in the small southern town of La Cachette, Louisiana. Six months ago, her best friend Elora disappeared, and now, Grey is determined to find out what happened. But the more she investigates, the more she learns that everyone in town is hiding something, even members of her own family. Can Grey solve the mystery, or will she become the next victim?
(On sale: 9/7/2021)Also available from: -
Hello (From Here)
Available from:Max’s life as a part-time grocery shopper is normal and kind of boring. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hits, the craziness starts. Just when she thinks things couldn’t get more complicated, she meets Jonah, and sparks fly between them. But how do you keep a new romance alive when everything is in lockdown, and you’re supposed to socially distance? Follow Max and Jonah as they navigate FaceTime dates, class differences, and mental health during a global pandemic.
(On sale: 9/7/2021)Also available from: -
Lies Like Wildfire
Welcome to Gap Mountain, California, where wildfires are a severe problem and secrets run ablaze. One day, the sheriff’s daughter, Hannah Warner, and her best friends accidentally cause the most destructive fire of the season. To save themselves, they lie. But as the flames grow, so does their deceit. Gripping, fast-paced, and addictive, the novel explores what happens when good people do bad things.
(On sale: 9/7/2021) -
Allies
Available from:This book couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. Seventeen bestselling and critically acclaimed authors come together to share raw and real stories. Reflective and thought-provoking, Allies teaches young readers that life can be challenging, screwing up is okay, and everyone needs a friend.
(On sale: 9/14/2021)Also available from: -
When We Make It
Available from:For as long as she can remember, Sarai has been told that she won’t amount to anything. But she’s determined to prove the naysayers wrong. Written in beautiful prose, debut author Elisabeth Velasquez tackles real-life issues like toxic masculinity, gentrification, and family trauma while teaching readers the importance of perseverance. Sarai’s story will stay with you long after you finish the final page.
(On sale: 9/21/2021)Also available from: -
As Good as Dead
Available from:Holly Jackson is back with the final installment of the instant New York Times bestselling series, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder! Pip is no stranger to receiving threats — it’s just part of being a true-crime podcaster. But when the threats get personal, Pip can’t help noticing a mysterious stranger following her. Will this investigation be her last? Compelling and addictive, this finale will keep you glued to the page.
(On sale: 9/28/2021)Also available from: -
Beasts of Prey
Available from:Calling all fantasy lovers! If you’re looking for a new book full of magic and adventure, don’t miss this buzz-worthy YA fantasy novel. Reluctant allies Ekon and Koffi march headfirst into the mystical jungle to hunt down the monster destroying their city. Overflowing with Pan-African nods, author Ayana Gray pays tribute to both African mythology and Black History in this first-in-a-series debut.
(On sale: 9/28/2021)Also available from: -
You’d Be Home Now
Available from:Emmy knows who she’s supposed to be — the rich, pretty, good girl in her small town, Mill Haven. But after she and her brother survive a horrendous car accident, her point of view changes. Maybe she doesn't want to be what everyone thinks she should be. New York Times bestselling author Kathleen Glasgow gives us a beautifully written story about PTSD, self-discovery, and a girl finding her place in the world.
(On sale: 9/28/2021)Also available from: -
The Falling Girls
Available from:From the author of Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf comes a compelling new story about the intense relationships between young girls in high school. Shade and Jadis are best friends, but when Shade falls in with the mean girls on the cheerleading squad, it sends their relationship into a tailspin. Jadis will do anything to hold on to her friend. So when one of the cheerleaders mysteriously dies, Shade wonders ... would Jadis kill for her? Wonderfully chilling and clever, this book will have you furiously flipping pages.
(On sale: 10/5/2021)Also available from: -
Skin of the Sea
Available from:Dive under the sea with this magical retelling of The Little Mermaid! Meet Simi, a mermaid who serves the gods. When she breaks an ancient decree and rescues a human boy from drowning, she must face the consequences. Inspired by West African mythology, author Natasha Bowen makes her fantasy debut with a heartbreaking story bursting with mystery, enchantment, and Black Girl Magic.
(On sale: 11/2/2021)Also available from: -
The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Lost Stories Collection
Available from:Attention Potterheads: here comes the third book of the New York Times bestselling series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel! Follow the legendary alchemist who created the Sorcerer's Stone in the Harry Potter series as he travels the world and learns the secret to his immortality. Along the way, he meets up with familiar names in history like Edgar Allan Poe, Billy the Kid, and even Niccolò Machiavelli.
(On sale: 11/2/2021)Also available from: -
Aurora’s End
Buckle up for the final book in The Aurora Cycle series! Squad 312 makes their (kind of triumphant) return for more interstellar mayhem and mishaps. Things didn’t go so smoothly for them the last time they tried to save Earth. Can they rewrite their history? Will they get it right this time and, you know, actually save the galaxy?
(On sale: 11/9/2021) -
Cytonic
Available from:Spensa’s life as a space pilot has been interesting — and that’s putting it mildly. After saving her planet and traveling the galaxy, she hopes things will calm down. But when a new government threatens to start an intergalactic war, Spensa has no choice but to help. Does Spensa have what it takes to win, or will she lose everything?
(On sale: 11/23/2021)Also available from: -
Huda F Are You?
Available from:Huda has always let her hijab define who she was. But when her family moves to a new city with a substantial Muslim population, she doesn't know who she is anymore. Huda struggles to fit in among the sea of hijabs while trying out various personas. Unique, hilarious, and memorable, this graphic novel is a must-have for every book lover’s shelf.
(On sale: 11/23/2021)Also available from: -
You’ll Be the Death of Me
Available from:From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying and its sequel, One of Us Is Next, comes a brand new mystery that’s too good to miss. When three high school classmates play hooky, they never thought they would witness a murder. But, as the day progresses, it’s clear that each friend is hiding something, and it could mean life or death — literally! Enthralling, compelling, and full of twists and turns, this book is impossible to set down.
(On sale: 11/30/2021)Also available from: -
Call Us What We Carry
Available from:On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in the United States’ history. Her unforgettable poem, “The Hill We Climb,” joins Amanda’s latest work in her new book. Take home a piece of our country’s history from one of the most unique and moving new voices in poetry.
(On sale: 12/7/2021)Also available from: -
The Coldest Touch
Available from:Vampires, curses, and death — oh my! Claire’s cold touch means one thing; she’s a vampire. She gets assigned to help a girl named Elise master her ability to predict people's deaths. While they’re not crazy about working together, they gradually grow closer and start to develop feelings for each other. But there’s a killer loose in town, and the dangerous situation has Elise wondering if she can trust anyone — especially Claire.
(On sale: 12/7/2021)Also available from: -
The Righteous
Available from:#1 New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh gives us another delicious, dark addition to The Beautiful series. Return to the 19th-century fantasy world where vampires and fairies roam the Earth. When Celine Rousseau mysteriously disappears, it’s up to her best friend, Pippa Montrose, to figure out what happened. Pippa is determined not to lose another important person in her life. Still, she may be in over her head with this mystery.
(On sale: 12/7/2021)Also available from:
