2023 has been a truly another amazing year for book releases! They all make us proud, but these books have made it onto some notable 2023 “Best-Of” lists. We’re so excited to share them with you! Were these books also your favorites from 2023?
Are you looking for some of the year’s bestselling books? Well, look no further! Here is every New York Times bestselling book from Simon Teen so far this year.
In this delightful sequel novella to the New York Times bestselling Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas must unravel the magical trap keeping them inside Thorn Manor in time for their Midwinter Ball!
This “pulse-pounding” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) fantasy thriller follows six teenage wizards as they fight to make it home alive after a malfunctioning spell leaves them stranded in the wilderness.
Two rival apprentice sorcerers must team up to save their teachers and protect their own magic in this “charming and engaging” (School Library Journal) young adult romantic adventure from the author of In Deeper Waters and So This Is Ever After.
From the author of The Sky Blues and Blaine for the Win comes a speculative young adult romance about a teen stuck in a time loop that’s endlessly monotonous until he meets the boy of his dreams.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes the “action-packed…banter-filled” (School Library Journal, starred review) sequel to his groundbreaking young adult novel Miles Morales: Spider-Man about the adventures of the unassuming, everyday kid who just so happens to be Spider-Man.
From the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow comes a magical, “emotionally savvy[,] and genuinely romantic” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) story in the vein of Groundhog Day about a girl forced to relive her disastrous first day of college—only to discover that her nemesis is stuck in the time loop with her.
From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Feet Apart and She Gets the Girl comes a fresh and inventive sapphic romantic comedy that’s What If It’s Us meets Bridgerton.
Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeous dark academia fantasy following a teen mage who must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates’ deaths.
The young adult adaptation of the “hopeful” (Kirkus Reviews) and refreshingly candid bestselling memoir by the husband of a former Democratic presidential candidate about growing up gay in his small Midwestern town. Completely rewritten with new stories, including resources for readers, parents, and teachers.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, this swoon-worthy rom-com in the vein of She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You follows a teen girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of a bet while working at a waterpark.
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, this young adult fantasy follows the forbidden romance between a powerful prince and an ordinary girl as they try to survive their kingdom’s grueling laws pitting them against each other.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the second book in the captivating Foul Lady Fortune duology following an immortal assassin in 1930s Shanghai as she races to save her country and her love.
James and Cordelia must save London—and their marriage—in this thrilling and highly anticipated conclusion to the Last Hours series from the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare.
Happy holidays! We’re celebrating this festive season by rewatching all of our favorite classic holiday movies, and adding a few new picks to our list too. But when we’re not watching… we’re reading! After all, if there’s anything better than cozying up on the couch to watch a holiday movie it’s starting a new book that gives you all the same feels!
The Holiday
Sometimes you just need a change of scenery to shift your perspective, and that's exactly what our main characters get in both The Holiday and Betting on You! Bailey and Charlie don't have to travel internationally to start to see what's right in front of them, instead they begin to go from fake dating to... something more during a ski trip to Colorado, and you'll have to read this delightful rom-com to find out the rest for yourself!
Love Actually
Is there anything better than a classic romcom for the holidays? Both Love Actually and The Love Match are delightful and heartfelt rom-coms that will tug at your heartstrings and make you laugh, a perfect combination!
New Year's Eve
Both New Year's Eve and The Reunion take place on... you guessed it, New Year's Eve, so they're a perfect fit! Plus, both of these stories feature intertwining stories and multiple POVs, but The Reunion has a little more mystery (and even murder?!), making it a perfect thriller to end your year with!
Happiest Season
Sometimes the person we think is the right fit for us might end up being the exact opposite of what we need, a truth that Abby and Harper must face in Happiest Season, and the same one Audrey and Lucy realize in Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh! This adorable time travel romcom (inspired by Pride and Prejudice) follows both girls as they try to embrace the happily-ever-afters everyone expects of them, but fall for each other instead.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Grinch's attitude towards the holiday season (and towards people in general) is completely turned around when he learns how to love, and Spell Bound's grumpy main character, Sun, goes through a surprisingly similar journey! Sun and Rook have no choice but to work together to get their mentors back…or face losing their magic forever.
The Polar Express
So... this one might be a *bit* of a stretch, but both Last Violent Call and The Polar Express have trains in them so clearly they're a match! Plus, these fluffy, feel-good novellas in set in the Secret Shanghai Universe are fan-faves for a reason, and absolutely deserve a spot on your TBR, just like The Polar Express deserves a spot on your holiday watch list!
The Santa Clause
Scott Calvin life is completely changed becomes a reluctant hero in The Santa Clause when he's forced to take on the magic of Santa Claus. Though Emory's journey isn't quite as festive, she still needs to find answers about her new magic when a treacherous night in the Dovermere sea caves leaves a group of her classmates dead and her as the only survivor.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect movie for those of us who don't want our holiday films to be too over the top and festive, just Christmas-y enough to keep us in the holiday spirit! Bonesmith isn't a holiday book by any stretch of the imagination, but it is absolutely perfect for fans of this classic movie since both are filled with skeletons, delightful characters, and epic journeys.
Any romantic Hallmark movie
The ADORABLE cover of Talk Santa to Me tells you pretty much everything you can expect from this sweet, hilarious YA romcom! This festive read is perfect for fans of Jenna Evans Welch and Hallmark Christmas movies, and will have you feeling the festive spirit in no time.
Elf
There are so many reasons that Elf is a beloved holiday classic, but two of our faves are the holiday magic (of course) and the feel-good cozy goodness that we feel every time we watch this movie! Mysteries of Thorn Manor will give you those same warm, fuzzy feelings, and will even transport you to a magical winter world, too!
We have so many amazing new releases coming out during the final months of 2023! Which of these new reads have claimed a place on your end of the year TBR?
Arlo and her friends must decide how far they’re willing to go to depose a cruel ruler in this third book in the Hollow Star Saga that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones.
A wily young thief must use her wits to survive futuristic, alternate history Beijing in this Les Misérables–inspired young adult cyberpunk that is perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Fullmetal Alchemist.
Suzanne Young’s complete New York Times bestselling Program series—which Booklist called “a fast-paced story that combines an intriguing premise, a sexy romance, and a shifting landscape of truth” in a starred review—is now available in a hardcover boxed set with a reimagined look!
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, this young adult fantasy follows the forbidden romance between a powerful prince and an ordinary girl as they try to survive their kingdom’s grueling laws pitting them against each other.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, this swoon-worthy rom-com in the vein of She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You follows a teen girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of a bet while working at a waterpark.
Taylor Swift’s highly-anticipated Eras Tour movie has officially hit theaters, and whether you’re seeing this iconic show for the first time or reliving the magic of seeing T Swift live, there’s a read for every Swiftie on this list!
What Should You Read Next Based On Your Favorite Taylor Swift Era?
The Best Books to Read While Listening to Fearless (Taylor’s Version) on Repeat
In addition to dancing in a storm in your best dress, and playing both the queen bee AND the girl-next-door in your love story fantasy, read these books to dive back into Taylor Swift’s Fearless Era.
The Best Books to Read While Listening to Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) on Repeat
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is a sometimes whimsical and sometimes raw confessional, and if you have the album on repeat like we do, we have a book recommendation to go with every song on your listen!
Books to Read When You Listen to Red
Taylor’s Red era is ICONIC, and so are all of these books that pair perfectly with some of her most well-known songs!
Books to Read If You Love Taylor Swift’s Lover Album
Whether you’re a diehard “Cruel Summer” stan or a sentimental “Soon You’ll Get Better” admirer (or both, depending on the day)—we’ve got a book for that.
Books to Read If You Absolutely Love Taylor Swift’s folklore
Taylor Swift’s surprise drop of folklore, her folksy, emotional eighth studio album, had us reminiscing about first loves, diving deep into nostalgic self-reflection, and ready to run off into the woods to dwell on the feels of y e a r n i n g.
Books to Read If You Love Taylor Swift’s evermore
If you’re a fan of evermore, we have the perfect recs to go with every evocative dreamy song off folklore’s bop-filled (but SAD) sister.
Books to Read While Listening to Taylor Swift’s Midnights
T-Swift’s latest brand new album is FILLED with instant classics! Grab a blanket, light a candle, play the album, and grab one of these books!
Need more Taylor-related book recs? Choose a T-Swift album aesthetic to find your next read!
There’s a chill in the air, leaves are starting to fall, and we’re ready to grab a blanket, a new book, and a mug of something warm and delicious to celebrate! From a magical, dark academia fantasy to a mysterious, chilling thriller, October’s new releases deserve a top spot on your Fall TBR.
After her mother’s death, a teen pieces together the truth of her family’s past and what her mom was hiding from in this thriller that’s perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Tiffany D. Jackson.
In 1920s England, a working-class girl who can see spirits works with a lord’s son to solve mysterious deaths at the local manor home in this eerie historical mystery perfect for fans of The Haunting of Bly Manor and Downton Abbey.
A down-on-his-luck actor and an English lord reluctantly team up to solve the murder of Christopher Marlowe in this Shakespearean-era young adult romp perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens and Mackenzi Lee.
In this piercing follow up to Barely Missing Everything, JD and Danny, still reeling from the gutting death of their best friend by police gunfire, grapple with life-changing decisions and the kind of people they want to be, for Juan.
Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeous dark academia fantasy following a teen mage who must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates’ deaths.
There are SO MANY AWESOME new characters to meet (and fan faves to be reintroduced to) in Chloe Gong’s latest duology, Foul Lady Fortune and the BRAND NEW Foul Heart Huntsman! We’ve rounded them up with a few fun facts (and gorgeous character art from @imedmi!) so you can (re)meet these characters before you read the finale of the Secret Shanghai Universe. Do you have any predictions about who will be your new fave after you finish Foul Heart Huntsman?
Meet Rosalind Lang
Alias: Janie Mead/Fortune/High Tide
Age: 19
Occupation: Assassin for the Nationalists
Weapon of choice: Poison
Meet Orion Hong
Alias: Mu Liwen/High Tide
Age: 22
Occupation: Intelligence agent
Weapon of choice: Charm
Meet Alisa Montagova
Alias: Liza/Yelizaveta Romanovna Ivanova
Age: 17
Occupation: Communist operative
Weapon of choice: Being sneaky
Meet Celia Lang
Alias: N/A (on assignment elsewhere)
Age: 24
Occupation: Intelligence agent
Weapon of choice: Reason
Meet Oliver Hong
Alias: N/A (on assignment elsewhere)
Age: 25
Occupation: Intelligence agent (but rumored to be an assassins’ handler)
Weapon of choice: pistol
Meet Silas Wu
Alias: Shepherd
Age: 17
Occupation: Spying on the Communists as a pretend defector while remaining a loyal Nationalist
Weapon of choice: Triple-crossing
Meet Phoebe Hong
Alias: “World’s Most Annoying Little Sister” (-Orion)
Age: 17
Occupation: Student
Weapon of choice: N/A
Need a refresher on the events of Foul Lady Fortune to prepare for Foul Heart Huntsman? Check out our (spoliery) recap here!
It’s widely known that the book is typically better than the series or movie, but hear us out! Even if the original book is still your fave, spending more time with our favorite characters is always a win, no matter what format we get them in. Here are a few fan-favorite book-to-screen adaptations you can check out right now!
Want something a little darker and creepier for fall reading (and viewing)? The Midnight Club follows a group of eight terminally ill teens in a hospice that form "the Midnight Club," where they come together to tell scary stories and make a pact to prove that there is life after death. Watch this story come to life on Netflix!
A fan-favorite read and a Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021), Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a friends-to-lovers story that's finally getting it's time in the limelight as a major motion picture. This movie is ABSOLUTELY worth a watch, and it'll make you fall in love with Ari and Dante all over again!
Jenny Han is the QUEEN of YA book-to-screen adaptations, and To All the Boys I've Loved Before is the one that started it all! You can now watch all three To All the Boys movies on Netflix, along with a spin-off series, XO, Kitty!
If you haven't visited Cousins Beach yet, what are you waiting for?! This classic trilogy from superstar Jenny Han will transport you to magical summers at the beach house with Belly and her BFFs/love interest, Jeremiah and Conrad. *Cue "Cruel Summer" in the background*
Wishing for a romantic Italian summer? Follow along with Lina as she takes a road trip across Tuscany in this bestseller filled with romance, mystery, and adventure, and then see Lina's story come to life in the Netflix original movie!
Shadowhunters fans can enjoy TWO different adaptations of Cassandra Clare's beloved Mortal Instruments series! There's the Shadowhunters TV show, streaming now on Hulu. AND there's the Mortal Instruments movie from 2013, which you can watch on Netflix or rent on Prime. I recommend you watch both and compare them to your fave scenes from the books!
Fall is here and we are so excited to kick off the season with a roundup of amazing new releases! September’s books include updated covers and special editions, the companion to a fan favorite romance, and the EPIC finale of Chloe Gong’s Secret Shanghai Universe!
From the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi comes the third installment in a series set an elite boarding school that’s a contemporary spin on fairy tales, this one a thrilling and swoon-worthy twist on Sleeping Beauty.
A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti meets Amber Smith’s The Way I Used to Be in this young adult mystery following a teen searching for the truth behind the deadly car crash that claimed the lives of her twin sister and the high school football coach.
Now in paperback! The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an “emotional roller coaster” (School Library Journal, starred review) sure to captivate fans of Adam Silvera and Mary H.K. Choi.
In this electrifying ninth installment of the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Michael Vey series, the Electroclan must fight a former friend to save their captured ally!
A spirited young prince longing to learn more about the world grows into a man on a quest to find the cause of human suffering in this first-of-its-kind graphic novel retelling of the life of Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the second book in the captivating Foul Lady Fortune duology following an immortal assassin in 1930s Shanghai as she races to save her country and her love.
In this highly anticipated companion to the New York Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club YA Pick A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, Flora Maxwell heads to Miami to find a path for her future…and finds her heart along the way.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me gets a Y2K twist in this coming-of-age young adult graphic novel from acclaimed comic artist Kate Leth about a 2000s goth teen whose favorite part of her new town is the mall.
Now in paperback! From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the “equal parts intoxicating and dazzling” (Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves) first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai.
Red, White, and Royal Blue is a smash hit, both in book and movie form, and for good reason! This amazing read is all about gay joy, and the swoonworthy enemies-to-lovers romance gets us every time! If you love the adorable love story between Alex Claremont-Diaz, a first son of the United States, and Prince Henry, a British prince, you’ll want to add all of these reads to your TBR!
If you love reading about Princes falling in love (and who doesn't?!) then you need to read Arek and Matt's love story! Arek saved the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler and since he's the one who beheaded the old ruler, he's the new king! All great, right? Maybe... until he finds out that he needs to get married to keep the kingdom... and stay alive.
This read is another swoony love story from F.T. Lukens that is a must-read for fans of adorable gay romance! Prince Tal has been waiting FOREVER to head out on his coming-of-age tour, but when he's kidnapped by pirates during his adventure, he must rely on the mysterious, secretive Athlen for help.
In Red, White, and Royal Blue Henry and Alex are both concerned with how the world sees them, just like Sky. Being invisible in his small town is much easier than really being himself, but Sky decides to make a spash his senior year by pulling off the gayest promposal his high school has ever seen. When his plans are leaked, Sky has a decision to make. Will he keep his hard-won visibility? Or will the fallout stop him from being his true self?
This read is a little different from Red, White, and Royal Blue, but this swashbuckling, swoony, enemies-to-lovers graphic novel is too good not to include! This read has something for everyone: queer romance, high-stakes adventure, and fantastical creatures!
Adventure, demons, and a swoony gay romance combine to make The Red Scrolls of Magic a must-read romp! Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood are finally together, but as they embark on a well-deserved trip across Europe, disaster strikes in the form of a demon-worshipping cult.