Do you need some joy right now? Because we need some joy right now. And nothing screams “joy!” to us quite like love. And summer. Are we ready for summer love stories? Heck yes we are! Summer love, to us, represents the ultimate freedom and relaxation. Think sunny dates in the park, long hot summer nights with ice cream and/or s’mores (and hopefully a bonfire, too.) Dipping your toes into a cool pool, lake, general body of water somewhere, where for just a moment all your troubles seem to melt away and you can be in the moment, enjoying life to the fullest. That’s what summer love is, right ..read more

Sometimes, a book mesmerizes you so deeply that right after you finish it, you just need to sit and stare at a wall for a good 10-15 minutes. Oh… is that just me? These mystery books are some of the best I’ve ever read. Something different than your standard whodunnit (though let me be clear, I LOVE a whodunnit), these seven books have something to say, a beating heart that begs to be heard from the pages. If you read any mystery book this year, let it be one of these. 7 Incredible Mystery Books THAT I NEVER STOPPED THINKING ABOUT   1. Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell When local girl Lor ..read more

In this queer coming-of-age teen graphic novel by breakout talent Alex Assan, high schooler Rotem feels herself growing apart from her friends in a million inexpressible ways. But an unexpected connection with another student makes her feel more herself than ever before. This incisive and stunningly gorgeous debut is perfect for fans of Bloom and Gender Queer. Rotem is a Sunhead, a fan of the international smash hit Sunrise series of books and films. She’s obsessed with the story’s love interest, Edmund, and no one else gets it. But all that changes when she befriends Ayala, a ..read more

Two young artists have a chance meeting on the last night of summer arts camp in this YA novel in verse and dialogue cowritten by acclaimed authors Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro. Jude loves photography, and he’s good at it, too. Between his parents’ divorce and his anxiety, being behind a camera is the only time his mind is quiet. Florence is confronting the premature end of her dance career as a degenerative eye disease begins to steal her balance. She’s having a hard time letting go. The two meet at Sunrise Night, their sleepaway art camp’s dusk-to-dawn closing celebration, and decide ..read more

What If It’s Us meets They Both Die at the End in this sequel to the beloved postapocalyptic queer YA adventure romance All That’s Left in the World by USA Today bestselling author Erik J. Brown. After a long and treacherous journey south, Andrew and Jamie have finally found safety in the Florida Keys. But they soon learn that safety doesn’t always mean happily ever after. Settling into life in the Islamorada colony with other survivors of the bug, Andrew believes they’ve finally found themselves a home, even a family. But anxious Jamie is less comfortable i ..read more

Four teens on the Blackfeet Reservation find themselves the suspects of an investigation when a classmate is found murdered during the annual Indian Days celebrations. K.A. Cobell’s compassionate debut thriller casts a light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic through a page-turning story that readers won’t be able to put down. Since moving to the Blackfeet Reservation with her parents, Blackfeet teen Mara Racette has felt like an outsider. So, when local girl Loren includes Mara in a traditional Blackfeet giveaway, Mara thinks she’ll finally make some friends. Instead ..read more

One of Us Is Lying meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder in this don’t-dare-to-look-away dark academia thriller that explores how secrets can rot an institution—and the people who uphold it—from the inside out. Everyone wants to be a Lily. At Archwell Academy, it’s the ticket to a successful future. But like every secret society, there is something much darker beneath the surface … sometimes girls disappear. When four Archwell students find themselves trapped in a time loop, they must relive their worst memories, untangling the Lilies’ moldering roots and unraveling the secr ..read more

This irresistible and hilarious rom-com from acclaimed author Alex Crespo is a whirlwind of telenovela-level drama and hijinks when Joaquin Zoido finds himself fake-dating his childhood crush and newly minted date to his queerceañera. Joaquin Zoido is out and proud of it. And while he knew his dad and sister, Carmen, would be super supportive, he wasn’t quite ready for them to surprise him with a queerceañera, a coming out party to celebrate him. Between all the talks of tastings and venues, and the chirping of his family’s RSVP texts, the question of who will be his chambelán is on ..read more

Outer Banks meets Bone Gap in New York Times bestselling author Samuel Miller’s propulsive and genre-bending YA mystery, following a group of teenagers who discover a dead body while playing an app-based adventure game that sends players to “random” locations, unlocking a much deeper mystery about their small town.  In Calico Springs, Willie’s life has been defined by two powerful forces: God and the river. The “miracle boy” died for five minutes as a young child, and ever since, Willie is certain he survived for a reason, but that purpose didn’t become clea ..read more

Y’all, there are SO many good books coming out in April—no foolin’! (SORRY) Between the new books from of Holly Price, June CL Tan, and Judy I. Lin, a viral web comic-turned-graphic novel, and some of the year’s most exciting debuts, you’re bound to be booked up through the rest of spring. BTW, did you know Independent Bookstore Day is on April 27th this year? Just a little something to keep in mind… although showing your local indie shop some love isn’t a bad idea through the rest of the year too What are you planning to read this month? Let us know and scroll below for the best new books o ..read more