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Readers' Most Anticipated YA Books of August

Posted by Sharon on August 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. We use this information to put together a roundup of soon-to-be favorites.

New in August: Elizabeth Lim returns to her Six Crimson Cranes fantasy series with The Dragon’s Promise. Mason Deaver delivers a story of queer romance with The Feeling of Falling in Love. And Adalyn Grace summons Death Himself in the gothic thriller Belladonna. Also in the mix this month: Spooky old mansions, Taiwanese folklore, and witches in trouble.

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!

The Final Gambit (The Inheritance Games, #3)

The Final Gambit
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

In this third installment of The Inheritance Games series—a kind of high stakes funhouse mystery—author Jennifer Lynn Barnes returns readers to the labyrinthine Hawthorne House, where every room poses a potentially deadly new puzzle. Avery Grambs stands to become the world’s richest teenager if she can remain in the mansion to figure it all out. Bonus trivia: Author Barnes is both a former primate cognition researcher and a former competitive cheerleader.

Lightlark
by Alex Aster

Author Alex Aster (Curse of the Night Witch) kicks off a new series with this introduction to the island of Lightlark, which appears once every hundred years. For reasons no one really understands, the island’s appearance means the rulers of six cursed realms must play in a lethal competition known as the Centennial. Isla Crown is the young ruler of Wildling, whose residents are cursed to kill anyone they love.

The Dragon's Promise (Six Crimson Cranes, #2)

The Dragon's Promise
by Elizabeth Lim

The second installment in the Six Crimson Cranes series from Elizabeth Lim returns to the story of Princess Shiori, tasked with returning a magical but malevolent pearl to its rightful owner. The princess’ quest has led her into the kingdom of dragons, where pretty much everyone she meets wants that pearl—and will lie, cheat, steal, or kill to get it. Bonus trivia: Author Lim began her writing career at age 10 posting Sailor Moon fanfic to the Internet.

Nothing More to Tell
by Karen M. McManus

Kids these days get away with murder—possibly quite literally, in this YA mystery thriller from Karen M. McManus (One of Us is Lying.) Four years ago, the students at Saint Ambrose School were shocked when a favorite teacher was found dead in the woods out back. Former student Brynn, now working at a true-crime show, returns to investigate the murder, and to find out whether her former best friend had anything to do with it. This is going to be awkward.

Belladonna
by Adalyn Grace

Another twisty whodunit, this time with some creepy gothic flair, Belladonna follows the fortunes of young orphan Signa Farrow, just months away from inheriting her deceased family’s vast fortune. Now ensconced with distant and highly shady relatives at the spooky Thorn Grove mansion, Signa finds that tragedy seems to follow wherever she goes. That’s when she reluctantly reveals her secret: She can see Death. He really does follow her around. And they don’t get along.

Wild is the Witch
by Rachel Griffin

Iris Gray is in trouble. As a teenage witch with a spotty record, she’s being watched by the Witches’ Council, who enforce their rules with highly unpleasant punishments. The real problem, though, is that one of her curses was recently stolen by a bird—long story—and if the bird dies, the curse will be unleashed. As such, Iris has found herself in a remarkably strange predicament: hiking the Pacific Northwest, looking for a single bird, with a witch-hating aspiring ornithologist.

The Honeys
by Ryan La Sala

After his twin sister dies in a mysterious accident, teenage Mars Matthias is determined to find out what really happened. But Mars’ genderfluidity makes things complicated at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy, where he infiltrates a clutch of very beautiful, very scary girls known as the Honeys. This new mystery thriller from Ryan La Sala (Reverie) is a clever spin on the dark academia template, moving the action from dusty halls into the over-bright weirdness of cult-like summer camps.

The Feeling of Falling in Love
by Mason Deaver

The old wedding date disaster story rears its awkward head in this new queer romance from Mason Deaver (I Wish You All the Best). Neil Kearney was supposed to attend the big wedding with his friend-with-benefits Josh. But then it got weird and now Josh has recruited his roommate Wyatt. Wyatt is not into it, until he kind of is. Oh, and Josh is still going to the wedding, too. In any case, The Feeling of Falling in Love is recommended for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue and What If It's Us.

This Is Why They Hate Us
by Aaron H. Aceves

Enrique “Quique” Luna is enduring that most unpleasant of romantic traditions—trying to get over a crush. The kind and beautiful Saleem Kanazi is going away for the summer, leaving Quique all alone in Los Angeles. There are plenty of other guys in the city, of course. Tyler, the stoner jock. Ziggy, the senior class president. Does getting over one guy require getting with other guys? This is the summer that Quique will find the answer.

A Venom Dark and Sweet (The Book of Tea, #2)

A Venom So Dark and Sweet
by Judy I. Lin

Recommended for fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo, author Judy I. Lin’s duology The Book of Tea explores new realms in YA fantasy. Drawing on Taiwanese folklore and mythology, Lin escorts readers to the kingdom of Dàxi, where four young women are one a quest to return a young princess to her rightful throne. Lin’s innovative magic system focuses on Ning the shénnóng-shi, a young sorcerer who wields the ancient and delicate art of tea-making.

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

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