1. One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
Summary: “Come on, Bayview, you know you’ve missed this. A ton of copycat gossip apps have popped up since Simon died, but in the year since the Bayview four were cleared of his shocking death, no one’s been able to fill the gossip void quite as well as he could. The problem is no one has the facts. Until now. This time it’s not an app, though—it’s a game. Truth or Dare. Phoebe’s the first target. If you choose not to play, it’s the truth. And hers is dark. Then comes Maeve, and she should know better—always choose the dare. But by the time Knox is about to be tagged, things have gotten dangerous. The dares have become deadly, and if Maeve learned anything from Bronwyn last year, it’s that they can’t count on the police for help. Or protection. Simon’s gone, but someone’s determined to keep his legacy at Bayview High alive. And this time, there’s a whole new set of rules.”
My thoughts: I read the first book and was thrown into a journey of suspense, sadness, happiness, and many more emotions. This book is just as good as the first one, if not even better.
2. Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
Summary: Shortly after teenager Quan enters a not guilty plea for the shooting death of a police officer, he is placed in a holding cell to await trial. Through a series of flashbacks and letters to Justyce, the protagonist of Dear Martin, Quan’s story unravels. From a troubled childhood and bad timing to a coerced confession and prejudiced police work, Nic Stone’s newest novel takes an unflinching look at the flawed practices and ideologies that discriminate against African American boys and minorities in the American justice system.
My thoughts: I haven’t read this book but with all that’s going on in the world it seems like it would be the best book for someone who doesn’t understand why and how it’s happening. I can’t wait to read it!
3. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Summary: “Yadriel, a transgender boy desperate to prove himself a brujo to his traditional Latinx family, attempts to summon the ghost of his murdered cousin to set it free. The ghost that shows up instead? Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy. Since Julian is so determined to find out what happened to him, Yadriel agrees to help. But the longer the two boys spend together, the less Yadriel wants Julian to leave. Speaking from experience, this is the kind of book that you read and then immediately go force all your friends to read, so they can share the pleasure.”
My thoughts: I haven’t read this book yet but the reason it sounded interesting is that I am also Latina and I’m familiar with the culture and community. I’m excited to see how much I can relate to this book.
4. Cinderella Is Dead by Kaylnn Bayron
Summary: “Kalynn Bayron has written a Cinderella story like no other. Two centuries ago, Cinderella found her prince. Now, teen girls have to attend the Annual Ball, where the kingdom’s men select their wives. If a girl is not chosen, she’s never heard from again. This is the world that Sophia lives in, though if she had a choice, she’d just marry her childhood best friend, Erin. When Sophia’s ball approaches, she flees instead to Cinderella’s mausoleum. It’s there she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella’s family, and together they vow to bring down the king.”
My thoughts: This sounds like the best up-to-the-time story about destroying the patriarchy. This is what I can only imagine being the best addition to a fairy tale.
5. The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper
Summary: “This heartwarming, NASA-filled, boy-meets-boy romance is everything you want a debut to be. Cal is a successful social media journalist with half a million followers on social media who is accustomed to sharing his life for all to see. But when his pilot father is selected by NASA for a highly publicized mission to Mars, Cal moves to Houston and is thrust into a different kind of media spotlight. When Cal meets Leon, a fellow “Astrokid,” sparks fly. But when mission secrets are uncovered, Cal must find a way to reveal the truth while protecting those he cares for most.”
My thoughts: I haven’t read this book but it does seem really interesting, and, to be honest, it’s the cover that caught my eye.
6. The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly by Meredith Tate
Summary: “When band-geek Ivy and her friends get together, things start with a rousing board game and end with arguments about Star Wars. Her older sister Autumn is a different story. Enigmatic, aloof, and tough as nails, Autumn hasn’t had real friends–or trusted anyone–in years. Even Ivy. But Autumn might not be tough enough. After a drug deal gone wrong, Autumn is beaten, bound, and held hostage. Now, trapped between life and death, she leaves her body, seeking help. No one can sense her presence–except her sister. When Autumn doesn’t come home, Ivy just knows she’s in trouble. Unable to escape the chilling feeling that something isn’t right, Ivy follows a string of clues that bring her closer to rescuing her sister… and closer to danger. Autumn needs Ivy to find her before time runs out. But soon, both sisters realize that finding her also means untangling the secrets that lead to the truth–about where they’re hiding Autumn, and what Autumn has been hiding.”
My thoughts: This description made me think of 13 Reasons Why, and I’m interested in how it tells the story.
7. Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin
Summary: “Elle and her friends Mads, Jenny, and Summer rule their glittering LA circle. Untouchable, they have the kind of power other girls only dream of. Every party is theirs and the world is at their feet. Until the night of Elle’s sweet sixteen, when they crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party. The night the golden boys choose Elle as their next target. They picked the wrong girl. Sworn to vengeance, Elle transfers to St. Andrew’s. She plots to destroy each boy, one by one. She’ll take their power, their lives, and their control of the prep school’s hierarchy. And she and her coven have the perfect way in: a boy named Mack, whose ambition could turn deadly. Foul Is Fair is a bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy for the girls who have had enough. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.”
My thoughts: This book just sounds so amazing by taking back girl power. I can’t wait to read this book because it seems like it’ll be a good story on revenge.
8. Clique Bait by Anna Valett
Summary: “Pretty Little Liars meets Burn for Burn in this thrilling debut from Wattpad star Ann Valett. Chloe Whittaker is out for revenge. Last year her best friend Monica’s life was unceremoniously ruined by the most popular students at their high school, so this year Chloe plans to take each and every one of them down. She’s traded in her jeans and T-shirts for the latest designer clothes, erased anything on social media that would tie her to Monica (and blow her cover), and carefully figured out how she will befriend the members of the clique, find out their deepest and darkest secrets, and reveal them to the world. Chloe has the perfect plan … but there’s one thing she didn’t prepare for. And that’s falling for someone she’s determined to destroy. The closer she gets to uncovering the secrets the in-crowd is determined to cover up, the more she realizes that she is going to have to choose between betraying her oldest friend or the boy who’s captured her heart.”
My thoughts: I’m a little skeptical because this book was originally a Wattpad story but I’m willing to give it a try,
9. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Summary: “From Stonewall and Lambda Award-winning author Kacen Callender comes a revelatory YA novel about a transgender teen grappling with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time. Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle…. But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve”
My thoughts: I am also skeptical of this book because it portrays the idea of the “victim falling in love with the bully” scenario, but I’ve read reviews that highly praise the storytelling so I’m excited to give it a read.