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Hooray for the Most Anticipated YA Books of May

Posted by Sharon on May 1, 2022

As dedicated readers already know, some of the best and most innovative stories on the shelves come from the constantly evolving realm of young adult fiction. Every month our team looks at the books being published and how they're resonating with early readers, as determined by Want to Read shelvings and initial reviews. We use this information to put together a roundup of soon-to-be favorites.

New in May: Isabel Ibañez presents a new kind of dragon story in Together We Burn. Rachel Lynn Solomon untangles a time-space knot in See You Yesterday. And Emiko Jean profiles a modern-day Japanese princess in Tokyo Dreaming. Also new this month: American royalty, African warrior women, and an unlikely romance at Willowgrove Christian Academy.

Add the books that catch your eye to your Want to Read shelf, and let us know what you're reading and recommending in the comments!

I Kissed Shara Wheeler
by Casey McQuiston

Chloe Green is having some trouble navigating her senior year at the puritanical Willowgrove Christian Academy. Her goal to win the coveted valedictorian crown goes haywire when Chloe kisses her main rival—prom queen Shara Wheeler, who also happens to be the principal’s daughter. Then things get really weird when Shara suddenly vanishes. From the author of Red, White & Royal Blue, this new YA love story combines romance and mystery with a kinda-sorta ghost story, too.

Family of Liars
by E. Lockhart

The highly anticipated prequel to We Were Liars—winner of the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction—Family of Liars introduces an earlier generation of the severely complicated Sinclair family. Details about the story itself are slim, but advance material promises more family drama, a private island off the coast of Massachusetts, and “a summer of unforgivable betrayal and terrible mistakes.” Those summers are the worst.

Together We Burn
by Isabel Ibañez

Teenage flamenco dancer Zarela Zalvidar has a lot to live up to. Her father is the world’s most famous Dragonador—think dragon + matador—and he’s just been knocked out of commission. It’s now up to Zarela to defend and preserve the family’s ancestral home from the fearsome Dragon Guild. Author Isabel Ibañez (Woven in Moonlight) combines traditional fantasy with Bolivian cultural elements to deliver a new take on the old dragon tale.

A Show for Two
by Tashie Bhuiyan

Author and native New Yorker Tashie Bhuiyan offers a kind of love letter to the city with A Show for Two, a contemporary YA romance with a clever municipal theme. High school artist Mina has just discovered a secret about the new kid in class—he’s actually indie film star Emmitt Ramos, undercover to research his next role. Mina makes a deal: Emmitt will star in her short film and, in turn, she will act as his New York City tour guide.

The Merciless Ones
by Namina Forna

Sequel to 2020’s The Gilded Ones—and book two in the ongoing Deathless series—Namina Forma’s The Merciless Ones continues the story of Deka, the girl whose innate power can save the kingdom…or destroy it. As Deka leads her army of young warrior women, a mysterious dark force returns to the land. Bonus trivia: Author Forna moved to America at age nine from Sierra Leone, West Africa, and splits her time between her two homes.

See You Yesterday
by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Ever wish you could start your day all over? College freshman Barrett Bloom doesn’t have a choice—she’s stuck in a time loop, reliving her first day of classes over...and over...and over. On the plus side, she soon discovers that Miles, the cute guy from her Physics 101 class, is also stuck in the loop. Can they help each other break out of their temporal dilemma? Author Rachel Lynn Solomon specializes in love stories, and this one looks like a lot of fun.

Rivals
by Katharine McGee

Rivals is technically book three in the popular American Royals series, an exercise in alternate history wherein the United States retains its own royal family. This time around, Queen Beatrice must navigate palace intrigue at a convocation of the world’s reigning monarchs. Meanwhile, the twins—Prince Jefferson and Princess Samantha—are each dealing with separate and tricky affairs of the heart. Author Katharine McGee’s alternative timeline is getting pleasantly twisty.

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
by Sonora Reyes

Winner of this month’s unofficial Most Compelling Book Title Award, The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School follows the adventures of 16-year-old Yamilet Flores, one of the only Mexican kids at her very rich, very white private school. Yami’s plan to stay under the radar spins out of control when she’s outed by her (ex-)best friend. This debut YA novel from writer Sonora Reyes is earning good early reviews for its warmth, honesty, and sly sense of humor.

Tokyo Dreaming
by Emiko Jean

It’s fair to say that Izumi Tanaka’s life took a weird turn when she learned her father was the Crown Prince of Japan. Hustled off to Tokyo and the life of a princess, Izumi is doing the best she can with her radically changed circumstances. Her bodyguard is now her boyfriend, and it looks like her parents might even get back together. What could go wrong? Author Emiko Jean has some plot twists for you in this sequel to last year’s big hit Tokyo Ever After.

The Agathas
by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

Castle Cove is a town full of mysteries, and Alice Ogilve finds herself at the center of its newest puzzle when her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend disappears. Determined to clear his name and armed with the complete works of Agatha Christie, Alice joins forces with her tutor Iris to solve the case. Will their sleuthing manage to save the day?

Which new releases are you looking forward to reading? Let's talk books in the comments!

Check out more recent articles, including:
Get a Clue with These New and Upcoming YA Mysteries and Thrillers
The 52 Most Beloved Young Adult Novels of the Past Two Years
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