There’s a chill in the air, holiday lights are twinkling in neighborhoods around the world, and in the spirit of the season, we have a gift for you! Presenting… our favorite tradition of the holiday season here at Simon Teen: a list of the books we’ve loved over the past year! Take a look to find a little something for your loved ones (or yourself).
Emily recommends Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto.
Bonesmith is Gideon the Ninth meets Throne of Glass meets The Witcher. I mean, what more do you want from a dark YA fantasy book?! In Bonesmith, exiled Wren teams up with her sworn enemy to venture into a haunted wood to rescue a kidnapped prince and reclaim her family’s respect. Along the way, she and fights and falls for her reluctant enemy-turned-partner Julian, and discovers an even bigger conspiracy at play. I’m already counting down the days until the sequel, Ghostsmith, is released next summer!
Amelia recommends Betting on You by Lynn Painter.
This is the PERFECT book for rom-com lovers. Romance queen Lynn Painter is back with a swoon-worthy rom-com in the vein of She’s All That, 10 Things I Hate About You, and When Harry Met Sally. Seventeen-year-old Bailey unwittingly finds herself at the center of a bet while working at a waterpark with cynical Charlie, who is her polar opposite. We have enemies to friends to lovers. We have fake dating. We have secret bets. We have yearning and pining. We have excellent banter and Taylor Swift references. What more could you possibly want in a romance?
Remi recommends Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong.
The epic Foul Lady Fortune duology comes to an end in this addicting sequel! I loved Foul Heart Huntsman and would definitely recommend it as a gift for this holiday season (especially if they have already read books from Chloe Gong’s Secret Shanghai Series!). It has action, it has heart, it has mystery, and it continues the romance between one of my favorite tragic couples, Rosalind and Orion. Better yet, gift it along with the first book, Foul Lady Fortune!
Shirley recommends Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds.
You don’t need Spidey-Senses to know that Miles Morales is our new favorite Spider-Man (sorry, Tom Holland)! Alas, a hero’s job is never done, and Miles Morales: Suspended finds Miles facing unexpected challenges as a fierce threat looms—all while trying to impress his crush and save the world from book censorship. A perfect mix of poetry and prose, you don’t have to have seen every last Marvel movie to enjoy this gripping read (although if you still haven’t watched the Spiderverse movies, this is your sign to do so)!
Lindsey recommends Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong.
With the end of the Secret Shanghai Universe, fans of #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong are not ready to say goodbye to the glittering world of Shanghai. Return to the romantic intrigue with two captivating novellas surrounding the events of Foul Lady Fortune and following a familiar cast of characters from the These Violent Delights Duet! Last Violent Call is a collectible paper-over-board boxed set of Chloe Gong's novellas, A Foul Thing and This Foul Murder, set in between Foul Lady Fortune and Foul Heart Huntsman! Find out what fan favorite couples Roma/Juliette and Marshall/Benedikt have been up to in this heart-melting read that's sure to sweep you away.
Saleena recommends Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury.
Delicious Monsters has everything you could ever want in a book. It follows two timelines and two characters, Daisy and Brittney. Daisy sees dead people, and when her mom inherits a mansion in a secluded area, she sees this as a new beginning. A decade later, Brittney strives to get out from under her abusive mother's thumb and finally expose her mother's lies about the so-called "Miracle Mansion." Daisy and Brittney's stories collide as Brittney investigates the mansion in present-day. Eerie and emotional, this book is perfect for the someone in your life who loves a good ghost story.
Antonella recommends Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington.
Their Vicious Games is a page turning thriller that everyone from Simon Teen has been obsessed with since the second we heard about it. This is perfect for fans of The Bachelor and The Hunger Games where our main character Adina must enter a competition between 11 other girls in order to regain her Ivy League acceptance.
Elizabeth recommends Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson.
An enchanted manor with a mind of its own, ice skating in the middle of the night, and a brawl against evil pajamas… what’s not to love? In this sequel novella to Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth Scrivener is settling into her new life with charismatic Nathaniel Thorn. But as public interest in the sorcerer and librarian’s romance grows more intrusive, the Thorn estate’s magical wards begin doing their job a little too well to the point of trapping all residents inside. Cozy fantasy’s comfort couple will have you blushing/giggling/kicking your feet as they untangle the manor’s secrets before the Midwinter Ball. If you’re looking for the literary equivalent of wrapping yourself up in a fluffy blanket with a cup of hot cocoa, you’ll find it in Mysteries of Thorn Manor.