I LOVE getting book recs from TikTok. After hours of careful curation (aka watching way too many videos), BookTok knows exactly what kind of books I like and will recommend them with videos filled with brilliant reviews. Below you’ll find some of the Simon Teen books that BookTok is recommending you pick up this year!

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Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek
If you're a fan of dark fantasy combined with romantasy, this debut is a must-read! Plus, it's PERFECT for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle, Uprooted, and Margaret Rogerson!
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Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury
There are few things that BookTok loves more than a stunning cover, and Liselle Sambury’s latest has a BRILLIANT one that fans are obsessed with, and an amazing, mind-bending story to match! Tender Beasts has a murder mystery, delicious twists and turns, and plenty of family drama.
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Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens
F.T. Lukens has built themselves a die-hard fanbase on BookTok with In Deeper Waters, So This is Ever After, and Spell Bound which are all swoony, fantasy romances filled with amazing LGBTQIA+ casts! Their latest is Otherworldly, a magical, romantic adventure with an ADORABLE romance and incredible world-building!
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Another First Chance by Robbie Couch
Robbie Couch's latest book, Another First Chance, is BookTok catnip. This queer romance comes with a dash of heartbreaking tragedy, a little sci-fi intrigue, and a STUNNING cover!
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Reckless by Lauren Roberts
Powerless was THE YA BookTok fantasy of 2023, and the highly-anticipated sequel, Reckless, is hitting shelves in Summer 2024! We can't wait to reunite with Paedyn and Kai as they face edge-of-your-seat betrayal... and spicy tension.
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Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon
This year we're getting sequels to fan favorites that we couldn't have even dreamed of, and Past Present Future is one of them! Today Tonight Tomorrow was an instant hit, and this romantic, dual POV sequel follows Rowan and Neil on a new adventure: a long-distance relationship during their first year of college!
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The Ballad of Darcy & Russell by Morgan Matson
Iconic YA romance author Morgan Matson is back and better than ever with her new novel, The Ballad of Darcy & Russell! This book has ALL of the good things you want in a Morgan Matson romance:  swoony romance, an adorable dog, a huge, wild family, and plenty of friendship!
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The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington
Joelle Wellington hooked readers with Their Vicious Games, and her next book, The Blonde Dies First, will give readers even more of those thriller vibes they've been craving! If you love the Scream movies, tropes, and main characters that break ALL the rules, this read is for you!
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Love, Off the Record by Samantha Markum
Fans of Lynn Painter will want to add this smart, hilarious, and chemistry-filled rom-com to their TBR immediately! Wyn and Three are one of our FAVE couples of 2024, and their enemies-to-lovers, competitive, slow-burn relationship is on that will have you giggling and kicking your feet from their first interaction.

The Best of 2023!

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December 26, 2023

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.

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Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

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!

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A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen

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.

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Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens

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.

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If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

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.

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Miles Morales Suspended by Jason Reynolds and Zeke Peña

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.

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See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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.

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Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott

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.

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Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle

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.

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I Have Something to Tell You—For Young Adults by Chasten Buttigieg

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.

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Betting on You by Lynn Painter

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.

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Powerless by Lauren Roberts

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.

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Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong

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.

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Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

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.

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?

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A Grim and Sunken Vow by Ashley Shuttleworth

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.

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Kingdom of Without by Andrea Tang

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.

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The Program Collection (Boxed Set) by Suzanne Young

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!

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Powerless by Lauren Roberts

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.

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Betting on You by Lynn Painter

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. 

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And Don’t Look Back by Rebecca Barrow

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.

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The Voice Upstairs by Laura E. Weymouth

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.

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By Any Other Name by Erin Cotter

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.

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The Broke Hearts by Matt Mendez

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.

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Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle

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!

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The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike

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! 

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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!

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To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

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!

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The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

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*

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Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

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!

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City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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!

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Of Dreams and Destiny by Sandhya Menon

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.

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Running Past Dark by Han Nolan

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.

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Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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.

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Michael Vey 9 by Richard Paul Evans

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!

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Enlightened by Sachi Ediriweera and Sachi Ediriweera

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.

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Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong

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.

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A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak by Laura Taylor Namey

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.

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Mall Goth by Kate Leth and Kate Leth

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.

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Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

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!

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So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

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.

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In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens

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.

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The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch

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?

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The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl by Emily Riesbeck and NJ Barna

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!

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The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare

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.

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