14 Must-Read Young Adult Books Out in August
After months and months of waiting (and contemplating a plane ticket to London to see the stage production), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is finally here on July 31! Since we’re probably going to binge this new Harry Potter book in a day, we thought we would stock our bookshelves with a few new young adult titles to keep the magic going all summer long. Here are the 14 young adult books we can’t wait to read in August.
1. The Smaller Evil by Stephanie Kuehn ($11): When 17-year-old Arman goes to an expensive summer retreat for his anxiety and chronic illness, he’s not quite sure if he ended up in a mental health facility or a cult. Filled with intrigue, quirkiness and even a potential murder, this YA read is sure to delight and inspire.
2. A Torch Against the Nightby Sabaa Tahir ($14): Fans have been patiently (okay, not so patiently) waiting for the sequel to An Ember in the Ashes since the New York Times bestseller was released. Finally, this heart-pounding fantasy that every Game of Thrones fan will love comes to a close in this epic finale that is definitely worth the wait.
3. A Week of Mondays: A Novel by Jessica Brody ($13): Have you ever wondered what it would be like to redo a day, Groundhog Day style? In this original and awesome high school adventure, Ellison gets the opportunity of a lifetime — if only she could figure out exactly how to fix her no-good, rotten Monday.
4. The Gilded Cage by Lucinda Gray ($11): A period piece set in the 1820s, this YA novel begins when Katherine finds her brother dead in the lake on the estate. Distraught, her family tells her to move on. But Katherine just can’t let it go.
5. How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo ($8): After a cyberbullying incident almost resulted in their classmate’s suicide, mean girl Nikki Baylor finds comfort in a handsome wheelchair-bound rugby player in this aww-inspiring summertime read.
6. Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall ($8): This heartfelt LGBT novel will immediately transport you back to high school. Crushes, friendship drama and nerdom combined, it’s all the things we love in a good beach read.
7. This Modern Love by Will Darbyshire ($15): Filmmaker and YouTube vlogger Will Darbyshire posed this question to his vast audience: “What would you say to your ex, without judgment?” Crowdsourcing hundreds of letters, stories and artwork, this compendium of love stories is sure to pull at your heartstrings.
8. Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown ($13): Things get a little complicated when out and proud Joanna moves to a conservative town. She makes a promise to her father to lie low for a year, and let’s just say this modern love story is definitely not to be missed.
9.The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen ($10): When young Ani tests positive for the deadly Scourge, she’s shipped off to a former prison to live out the rest of her life in a makeshift refuge. Filled with adventure, suspense and mystery aplenty, this is the perfect page-turner to pack in your summer beach bag.
10. Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow ($14): One of the most anticipated YA titles of the season, Kathleen Glasgow’s epic tale of a girl with a harrowing past will leave you demanding a sequel.
11. The Assassin Game by Kirsty McKay ($7): At Cate’s boarding school, “Killer” is the most popular (and exclusive) game around. When she finally gets tagged to play, she can’t believe that her time has finally come — until she learns that the game might actually be waaay too real.
12. All We Have Left by Wendy Mills ($11): Alternating between the stories of Alia, a Muslim teen who died in the September 11 attacks, and Jesse, her sister dealing with the aftermath years later, this story is a harrowing look at one of the most horrific events in recent history — and a touching reminder to love deeply.
13. Fair to Hope by Sam Reed ($15): Balancing life in a secret order is no easy task — especially when you’ve been selected as the fabled chosen one destined to fight the most important battle in history (no pressure).
14. For This Life Only by Stacey Kade ($18): After losing his twin brother in a tragic accident, Jacob Palmer doesn’t know how he’s supposed to move on. A tale of heartbreaking loss and unpredictable friendship, this novel will definitely have you texting your sibling before you finish the final chapter.
What young adult book are you most excited about? Tweet us your comments using @BritandCo.
(Featured photo via Getty)
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