The Most Exciting Young Adult Books of 2019
by Dena McMurdie
2019 has been a fantastic year for YA readers with new releases from favorite authors, additions to popular series, and stunning debuts. With so many great titles to enjoy, YA lovers have been happily turning pages all year long. Whether it’s a dark mystery, a lighthearted romance, or a sweeping fantasy, check out our favorite YA books from 2019.
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Two Can Keep a Secret
Available from:From the author that captivated readers with One of Us Is Lying comes a new YA thriller about a small town, sinister secrets, and a doomed homecoming. With enough plot twists to leave you reeling, this captivating mystery will keep you glued to the page.
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Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday
When Abdi’s family is kidnapped, he’s forced to infiltrate a Somali terrorist group and act as a spy for the American CIA. Both horrific and touching, this novel is about humanity, family, redemption, and hope.
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Imprison the Sky
Aspasia captains a ship dedicated to rescuing women and children from slavery. With war brewing and a constant threat hanging over her, Aspasia must rely on her magic, tenacity, and loyal friends to win her freedom. This action-packed sequel to Reign the Earth will satisfy your craving for magic, romance, and suspense.
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Song of the Dead
With her kingdom’s newly opened borders, Odessa sets out to explore the world, but doesn’t get far before a new threat summons her home. The sequel to Reign of the Fallen plunges readers back into a world filled with dragons, magic, and necromancy.
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Lady Smoke
Prepare to be whisked back into the world of Ash Princess with the second installment in this dark fantasy series. Theodosia managed to escape the Kaiser with Prinz Soren as her prisoner. Now, she must raise an army to take back her kingdom. Magic, war, and romance abound in the pages of this can’t-miss YA fantasy series.
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Four Dead Queens
Available from:A theft gone wrong, a conspiracy, and four murdered monarchs make this fast-paced novel a must-read. Perfect for fans of Divergent, this murder mystery is jam-packed with plot twists, romance, and heart-stopping suspense.
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Superman: Dawnbreaker (DC Icons #4)
The irresistible DC Icons series continues with the story of a teenage Clark Kent. When he stumbles across a dark secret hiding beneath the charm of Smallville, Clark and his best friend set out to find the truth and save the town.
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Field Notes on Love
YA romance lovers will be thrilled to get their hands on this book. A recently dumped high school graduate teams up with an artistic girl to take a cross-country train trip. Charming and utterly swoon-worthy, Jennifer E. Smith’s heartwarming novel is a breath of fresh air.
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Lovely War
Available from:Four teens meet and fall in love at the height of World War I while Aphrodite, the goddess of love, watches over them. This lush historical romance will sweep you off your feet and keep you turning pages all night long.
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SHOUT
Available from:From the author of the bestselling novel Speak comes a powerful memoir written in verse. Simultaneously angry and hopeful, this book recounts the author’s upbringing and experience with sexual assault. It is both a call-to-action and an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse.
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The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe
Available from:Fans of Ally Condie’s Matched series will be anxious to get their hands on her upcoming YA novel. A river dredge, a search for gold, a murdered boyfriend, and a girl determined to get revenge make this post-apocalyptic story a captivating read.
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Killing November
This prep-school thriller will keep you reading well past your bedtime. November arrives at a secluded school where students train to become spies and assassins. When she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, November must find the true killer before she becomes the next victim.
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All for One (Alex & Eliza #3)
Available from:The much-anticipated finale to the Alex & Eliza trilogy will be hitting bookstores this April. New arrivals, matchmaking, true love, and a dangerous threat combine into a riveting conclusion that fans of this bestselling series will adore.
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How to Make Friends with the Dark
Available from:Early reviewers are calling Kathleen Glasgow’s upcoming YA novel “stunning” and “powerful.” Dark and intense, this novel follows the experience of a girl named Tiger after her mother dies suddenly. Consumed with grief, Tiger now has to face the world alone.
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Nyxia Uprising (Nyxia Triad #3)
Available from:If you’re not hooked on this deep-space thriller yet, now is a good time to get caught up. Nyxia Uprising is slated for publication in April and promises to be an epic final installment of the series. Emmett and his friends team up with the Imago to challenge Babel for control of their Earth-bound ships before Eden’s moons collide and destroy the planet.
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Hope and Other Punchlines
Available from:Accidentally famous due to a baby photo taken during the terrorist attacks on September 11, Abbi wants nothing more than anonymity. Being the camp counselor to a bunch of 4-year-olds seems perfect, until a boy named Noah shows up and changes everything.
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Aurora Rising
Available from:A band of misfits, a girl just out of cryo-sleep, and a galaxy on the brink of war make Aurora Rising an addictive space opera you won’t want to miss. Told from six alternating points of view, it promises to be an action-packed adventure set in the distant future.
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Girl Gone Viral
Desperate to learn more about her father’s disappearance, Opal Hopper enters a contest run by a virtual reality company. If she wins, she could meet the founder of the company — a billionaire who might know where her father is. This high-tech thriller is perfect for fans of Marie Lu’s Warcross and Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One.
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The Haunted
Available from:Hair-raising chills await readers brave enough to take on a new horror novel from the author of the Merciless series. A teenage girl with a traumatic past moves to a small town where schoolmates whisper that her house is haunted. When things turn violent, Hendricks enlists the help of the boy next door to defeat the ghosts that plague her.
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We Walked the Sky
As a third-generation circus performer, Callie feels lost when her grandmother dies. When Callie faces her new life attending public high school, she finds solace, comfort, and wisdom in the letters her grandmother wrote when she joined the circus 50 years earlier. This is a beautiful multi-generational tale of love and family.
