Want more of Alex and Molly? Read Joy to the Girls next!

Clarity Jones has her first kiss with Hannah Fitzpatrick while away at Christian summer camp. Though it wasn’t like her to be so impulsive, realizing she’s gay slid a missing piece of her identity into place and was the most freeing experience of her life. However, Clarity’s self-discovery turns to disaster when she and Hannah are found together—and she gets a glimpse of how the truth can turn her life upside down.

A teen uses her art to protest injustice and galvanize others to resist in this “suspenseful…lyrical” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) near-future dystopian novel about girls finding their voices in the darkest of times, perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and Girls with Sharp Sticks.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the start of a daring new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual reality to flee their deteriorating world, following two young soldiers who must depend on unlikely allies in their fight for survival.

In a world where past lives determine your future, a sharp-witted girl confronts a major twist of destiny, embroiling her in a high-stakes political game in this “clever, thrilling, and impossible to put down” (Kirkus Reviews) young adult speculative romance perfect for fans of Scythe and Matched.

Two teens must learn the “art of killing” in this Printz Honor–winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology.

Already read the entire Arc of the Scythe series? Don't miss MindWorks, Neal's latest short story collection, complete with two all-new tales of gleaning.

From New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman comes a “thought-provoking and grimly enjoyable” (Kirkus Reviews) “epic biological thriller” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) about a world where happiness is contagious but the risks of catching it may be just as dangerous as the cure.

A teen fights to escape the wealthy family who kidnapped her to produce their heirs in this first book in the riveting, New York Times bestselling dystopian young adult trilogy reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale. This special 15th anniversary edition features a brand-new look!

Now a major motion picture streaming on Netflix! A young girl begins to question her picture-perfect world in this first installment of Scott Westerfeld’s New York Times bestselling and award-winning Uglies series—a global phenomenon that started the dystopian trend.

Advent calendars are arguably one of the best and most exciting parts of the holiday season. Who doesn’t want a fun little surprise every day, no matter what you celebrate? That’s why our advent book A Heart for Christmas by Sophie Jomain is not only the perfect gift, but also a joyful story just to read yourself! This innovative advent-style book invites readers to count down to Christmas with one chapter a day (24 in total!), each one tucked behind its own perforated enclosure for you to tear open. It’s an experience that’s both playful and immersive, like unwrapping a tiny present every day! This charming read will have you savoring every page as the anticipation builds alongside the countdown.

Recommended by Remi

'Tis the season for cozying up with a romantasy read to take your mind off the snow and ice outside, and nothing will warm your heart (AND get it racing) like the drama, romance, and action in Lauren Roberts' Powerless Trilogy! Snag a boxed set for yourself (and gift one to a friend) so you can uncover every plot twist of the series and enjoy every line of banter between Kai and Paedyn this holiday season!

Recommended by Amy

This boxed set is perfect for everyone who was obsessed with Conrad, Jeremiah, and Belly this summer. We still have to wait for the Summer I Turned Pretty movie, but a re-read will make sure you're warm on the beach (and stay invested in the drama) at Cousins in the meantime.

Recommended by Trey

This timeless classic is perfect for the holidays: It’s filled with themes of unique friendships, dysfunctional families, and ongoing self-discovery. I’ll never forget grabbing a copy for the first time and having my world shifted! This anniversary edition is a timestamp marking 25 years of “wallflowers” navigating life, love, and loss alongside these complex characters. This is the perfect gift for the laugher, the crier, and the star of the show!

Recommended by Kayah

Recommended by Karina

Recommended by Shannon

As Simon Teen's resident office dog, I get to read a TON of books, but Fake Skating was my one of my favorite treats this year! If you need a gift for someone who loves snow, banter, and fake dating, this read will definitely make their tail wag!

Recommended by Seven

NovemBree may have come to a close, but EVERY month is the perfect time to bring more of your friends into the BreeHive fandom by convincing them to check out the Legendborn Cycle! Without getting into spoilers for Oathbound, it picks up as Bree and her friends are on very different paths after the events of the first two books in the series. And while I have been—and ALWAYS will be—Team Bree, it’s time for me to come clean… Oathbound is the book that swayed me from Team Nick to Team Sel. Read it to find out why.

Recommended by James

Even though the holiday season has JUST begun, I can admit that I've already gifted this book to TWO of my friends. Whether you're a Chloe Gong superfan or you've never heard of her, Coldwire is Chloe at her peak. The book follows Eirale, a soldier who has been framed for murder, and Lia, a military student in the midst of her final exam, as they navigate downcountry (the real world) and upcountry (virtual reality). I think this is the first time I have EVER successfully predicted (part of) the ending, and I can tell you all that NONE of you are ready. Even thinking of it now makes me want to re-read those last few chapters!! Best part: this is just the beginning of a trilogy! So you'll already have your holiday gifts lined up for the next few years :)

Recommended by Julia Ashley

This is the queer holiday romance of my HEART and I’m so glad that we get to catch up with Alex and Molly from She Gets the Girl! The character growth that brought them together in She Gets the Girl is on full display in Joy to the Girls, and it has some of my favorite rom-com tropes as Alex and Molly play matchmaker to two of their friends, while also preparing for what comes next after high school graduation. Plus, the novella itself is just about the right size to be a stocking stuffer—the perfect gift for any holiday rom-com lover in your life!

Recommended by James

You can never go wrong with Neal Shusterman, and Mindworks is the perfect gift for fans both new and old. You’ll lose yourself in this compendium of uncanny stories (including brand new stories from The Arc of a Scythe). Journey to a place where the wind can be captured, time can be crafted into infinite attic space, or a hot tub can house an ancient monster. In this collection, there’s always something new and strange waiting for you on the next page. Make sure to pick up the deluxe editions to bring some shine to any bookshelf!

Recommended by Brian

Part true crime thriller, part historical fiction, If Looks Could Kill is the genre-defying mashup that sees Medusa going toe-to-toe with Jack the Ripper. It’ll take you through the dark underbelly of late 1800s New York City and you won’t be the same after reading it. Get it your friend who refuses to pick a favorite genre—because surprise, it’s several genres in one!

Recommended by James

You got me! I’ve already gifted Taylor Cassidy’s nonfiction debut to my creative friend, my educator friend, and my entrepreneur friend. This collection of twelve true stories combines Black American history with Cassidy's personal anecdotes making it the best fusion of insightful chronicles and lighthearted fun. Aside from the captivating doodles throughout, Cassidy’s inviting tone and uplifting approach makes this the absolute best gift for reluctant readers, young artists, aspiring scientists, and everyone between! 

Recommended by Kayah

Seraphine and Ransom are SO. BACK.

The stakes are high, the enemies are hotter, and the magic is deadly. I must say that no other romantasy has come close to pulling me in in the way that The Dagger and the Flame did when I first read it last year! Since then, I have been desperately waiting for the sequel, and now that it's here, I must shout it from the rooftops! If you haven’t met Seraphine and Ransom yet, this is the perfect time to get (or gift!) the first two books in the trilogy in preparation for next year's conclusion. Also, whether you’re visiting the City of Fantome for the first time or revisiting, I HIGHLY recommend you listen to the audiobook. Freddy Carter is simply *chef's kiss*

Recommended by Julia Ashley

Despite sharing classes and splitting shifts at the same diner, Dawson and Harper are not friends. He thinks she’s stuck-up. She thinks he’s nothing more than a self-centered hockey jock. After a rumor goes around that Harper’s the one who got the beloved hockey couch fired, their mutual dislike is at all-time high. And yet…

Heart Check is a warm and cozy romance with a sprinkle of forced proximity and a dash of enemies to lovers, the perfect combo for any romance reader to curl up with over the holidays! And if you snag a copy of the paperback in the first printing, your copy will have the most adorable hockey-themed sprayed edges.

Recommended by Amelia

Recommended by Shannon

Recommended by Shannon

The Boy in the Black Suit is a poignant story about grief, resilience, and unexpected connections, following Matt as he copes with his mother’s death while working at a funeral home. With tender and authentic writing, it explores loss and healing in a way that’s both deeply moving and relatable.

Long Way Down is a gripping novel-in-verse about a teen grappling with grief and the cycle of gun violence during a pivotal 60-second elevator ride. Poignant and powerful, it masterfully explores the weight of choices and the legacy of loss. It is also now available as a graphic novel!

Twenty-Four Seconds From Now... is a thought-provoking exploration of a single, fleeting moment that could change everything. With powerful prose, a touching love story, and an intense focus on choices, it delves into how the seconds between life-altering decisions can shape our futures. 

Suspended is the sequel to Jason's groundbreaking YA novel, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, and it may be Jason Reynolds' most action-packed book yet! Follow along on Miles' adventures as he takes on the world as an unassuming, everyday kid who just so happens to be Spider-Man.

A stunning visual autobiography of two crazy-talented besties and collaborators, author Jason Reynolds and painter Jason Griffin, who could never be who they are singularly if they weren’t who they were together.

Originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers, this stirring and inspirational poem is a rallying cry to the young dreamers of the world.

Two siblings investigate the murder of a friend only to unearth even more deadly mysteries in their small town in this page-turning young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games.

From Printz Honor–winning and New York Times bestselling author Julie Berry, a true-crime-nail-biter-turned-mythic-odyssey pitting Jack the Ripper against Medusa. A defiant love song to sisterhood, a survivors’ battle cry, and a romantic literary tour de force laced with humor.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace meets A Study in Drowning in this sizzling gothic romantasy that follows the forbidden romance between a young nurse and a mysterious young man imprisoned by a dangerous occultist.

A girl returns to her hometown and the sinister bogland surrounding it in search of her missing sister in this harrowing, atmospheric young adult horror perfect for fans of Shea Ernshaw and The Haunting of Hill House.

A spine-tingling debut thriller about the ultimate game of cat and mouse as a teen struggles to hold onto hope, and her sanity, while attempting to escape a cunning and determined killer.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Frankenstein and Bones and All, this “brutally beautiful” (Cassandra Clare) coming-of-rage horror novel about girl villains and monstrosity follows two sisters…and their growing body count.

A “haunting…addictive” (Publishers Weekly) novel about a teen who must delve into her past if she wants to live long enough to have a future when murders eerily similar to the dark stories her brother used to tell start happening in her hometown—now with updated text and a brand-new look!

Romance, friendship, and bone-chilling fear fill the pages of this “haunting modern-day folktale” (April Genevieve Tucholke, author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea) about a teen whose repressed memories begin to surface when a body is discovered in her small town—now with updated text and a brand-new look!

If you just cannot get enough of the Kingdom of Ilya, then we’ve got great news for you. Lauren Roberts is back with another installment of the fan favorite, #1 New York Times bestselling Powerless trilogy. This time, Mara — also known as literal Death in the flesh — is here to witness the unraveling of Kitt’s mind. But he won’t be the only one to catch her attention... As she watches an unlikely bond form between Blair and her bodyguard, Lenny, Mara will begin to wonder if there is more to life than just death, and you’ll begin to wonder if Roberts is determined to break your heart with every book she writes.

Recommended by Karina

If you loved the glitzy glam of American Royals or if you can’t stop feverishly searching for set photos from The Devil Wears Prada 2 now that it’s started filming, then By Invitation Only needs to be on your TBR! This contemporary novel follows two teens: Piper Woo Collins, who gets pulled from everyday life into high society when she’s invited to an ultra-exclusive debutante ball (in PARIS!), and Chapin Buckingham, a nepo baby and daughter of two Hollywood legends who’s already attending the ball. Piper and Chapin clash, but they might just have to team up in order to take control of their narratives. This is a romance read, too—as Piper and Chapin each have their own separate swoony romances along the way! I’ll always be Team Piper… and I’m not just saying that because she works at the Claire’s in King of Prussia Mall where I got my ears pierced (true story).

Recommended by James

Gilmore Girls fans, this is your time to shine! Falling Like Leaves is the perfect romance read for fall, (I mean look at the cover) it has all the best tropes: small town, second chance, and set during a fall festival; but best part… its set in Connecticut. Ellis is a NYC girl force to move to Bramble Falls, CT with her mom because of her parents’ separation but meets up with her first kiss Cooper again. She can’t help but fall for this quaint town and Cooper and must face some hard choices: stay or head back to the big city.

Recommended by Antonella

Are you in a reading slump and not sure what genre will get you out of it? Maybe historical fiction or true crime, but what about a romance or something with mythology? I think I found your next read for you...  If Looks Could Kill is the genre bending, nail-biting literary mashup that pits Jack the Ripper against Medusa. Set in the late 1800s of New York City, this YA has it all, including the swoony romance with a handsome Irish bartender!

Recommended by Lindsey

Lynn Painter is already the MASTER of teen romances, so when I heard she was coming out with a fake dating hockey one, I was ready! Follow Dani and Alec, childhood best friends turned strangers, as they reunite after 5 long years due to Dani moving out of the country (and coincidentally right after their first kiss which they’ve obviously never spoken about). Little does Dani know that her old BFF is no longer the sweet awkward kid she used to know. Alec now goes by “Zeus” and is the star of the high school hockey team— and of course, the entire town. However, circumstances lead them to start a mutually beneficial fake relationship, forcing them to realize their true feelings that have been hiding ever since they were kids. From the epic highs and lows of small town high school hockey to the chemistry between Dani and Alec, you won’t want to miss this one!

Recommended by Remi

If you're searching for a scorching, slow burn (and we mean SLOW, but in the best way) romance with all of the yearning, banter, and morally gray characters you could ever want, A Match Made in Hell is the perfect read to add to your TBR! When Willow dies and ends up in Asphodel, she makes a deal with Sath, the ruler of the hell-like dimension. Now, she must resist the seven deadly sins and he'll allow her to return to her life, but can she resist Sath himself?

Recommended by Amy

If you're looking for pure holiday JOY wrapped in sapphic romcom shenanigans, Joy to the Girls is the book for you! Featuring the characters from married duo Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick's BookTok fave romcom She Gets the Girl, this sweet followup novella is the perfect read for the end of the year! Featuring ice skating, snowball fights, and matchmaking schemes, Joy to the Girls is a must read this holiday season. 

Recommended by Amy

Nobody brings light, quirkiness, and creativity to Black history like the 2025 TIME100 Creator, Taylor Cassidy. Filled with rich educational gems and humorous personal anecdotes, Black History is Your History is a reminder that the past and present are connected. My favorite moments in this book encapsule Black excellence in innovation, critical thinking, and audacious authenticity! This collection of writing is a snapshot into immersive storytelling that can inspire us all.

Recommended by Kayah

As someone who doesn’t read romantasy that often (I know!), The Prince of Mourning was the perfect romantasy for me. The gothic elements are so captivating, as it’s set in 1873 and follows Molly as she leaves New York City to become the private live-in nurse at a wealthy estate in the Hudson Valley, NY. Something about the mansion isn’t quite right… especially when Molly discovers that her new employer has imprisoned a young man around her age in the mansion’s basement. Sparks begin to fly between Molly and this enigmatic young man—but he’s royalty and from a realm beyond this world, which makes their connection all the more complicated. This is a hauntingly romantic read and a wonderful entry point for readers who are new to romantasy!

Recommended by James

Raise your hand if you’ve cried or seen people crying about Amber Smith’s The Way I Used to Be on TikTok! And raise your other hand if you would absolutely eat up a sapphic 90’s love story written by Amber and her wife! (Both of my hands are raised)

Fade Into You is a love letter to nostalgia and the music scene of the 90s, featuring an allies-to-lovers plot. Bird and Jessa’s best friends have started dating, and it’s threatening to ruin their senior year. Tired of coming second to their friends’ romance, they agree to work together to break them up. But the more time they spend scheming, the more they start focusing on one another instead...

This book grapples with what it meant to be queer in the nineties and how powerful it is to love yourself and to dream of a brighter future. It doesn’t shy away from the reality and the stigma around topics like being queer, mental health disorders, AIDs, and more. And it is ultimately such a hopeful look about how two people can come together and find possibility - both for themselves and each other.  

Recommended by Shannon

Chloe Gong is BACK and she is better than ever! This cyberpunk dystopian novel is everything I could have asked for and more. It is SO timely (almost too much so) and I can confidently say that the dystopian era is back. Coldwire follows Eirale, a soldier who has been framed for murder, and Lia, a military student in the midst of her final exam, as they navigate downcountry (the real world) and upcountry (virtual reality). I think this is the first time I have EVER successfully predicted (part of) the ending, and I can tell you all that NONE of you are ready. BRB I’m going to re-read it now.

Recommended by Julia Ashley

Joelle Wellington is the queen of atmospheric thrillers, and Girls Who Play Dead is the latest in a line-up of page-turning mysteries. If you haven’t read Their Vicious Games and The Blonde Dies First yet, you are missing out! 

Mikky returns to his small, stifling hometown after his sister Kyla's best friend Erin is murdered. He expects to help his sister grieve - but she isn’t the same girl that he left behind years ago. Is it because of her best friend’s death…or something darker? He decides to find the truth about who killed Erin to help his sister. But the more he investigates, the more dark secrets he uncovers about their town, the beauty brand that is its lifeblood, and especially Kyla herself.  

This book has so many things I love: small town murder mystery! Messy sibling relationships! Multiple POVs! Complex mental health representation! A cast filled with queer characters! The mystery will keep you turning the pages - just when you think you’ve figured it out, you’ll find another plot twist revealing something that changes everything. There’s only one way to find out the truth that’s lurking at the center of it all, and that’s to keep reading! 

Recommended by Shannon

From the brilliant mind of master storyteller Neal Shusterman comes a collection of unsettling, unforgettable short stories that is a must-read for fans (and future fans) or Neal's incredible work! This collection features not one but TWO new tales set in the universe of the Arc of a Scythe, and the first edition's deluxe paperback may or may not come with the most amazing sprayed edges we've ever seen. Mindworks is truly a must-read this fall!

Recommended by Brian

I simply CANNOT WAIT for the return of Seraphine and Ransom. The stakes are high, the enemies are hotter, and the magic is deadly. I must say that a romantasy has not pulled me in quite as strongly as The Dagger and the Flame did when I first read it last year! Since then, I have been desperately waiting for the sequel, and now it’s almost here!! If you haven’t met Seraphine and Ransom yet, you have plenty of time before The Rebel and the Rose comes out in December! Also, whether you’re visiting the City of Fantome for the first time or revisiting, I HIGHLY recommend you listen to the audiobook. Freddy Carter is simply *chefs kiss*

Recommended by Julia Ashley

The Powerless series is a fan favorite (and for good reason!) so I had VERY high hopes for the finale of this action-packed romantasy trilogy. Well, let me tell you... Lauren DELIVERED. If you love enemies-to-lovers, angst, yearning, and banter for days combined with a sprinkling of brotherhood, a strong female lead, and a fun system of magical powers, you NEED to add this series to your TBR already. And THAT ENDING?! Goodbye. I'll never, ever recover.

Recommended by Amy

“Highly anticipated” is an understatement when it comes to the third book in the Legendborn Cycle series and the follow-up to the gasp-worthy cliffhanger ending of Bloodmarked. If you haven’t read Oathbound, you need to catch up now, because the plot twists just keep coming in this now multi-POV (!!!) story. Bree Matthews has left her friends behind and is in the “care” (used very loosely) of the Shadow King in order to learn more about her power. We get to check in on (almost) every fan-favorite character, as Bree and her friends all face their own demons, with devastating consequences. The stakes have never been this high, and by the time you get to the end, the Bloodmarked cliffhanger will feel like light work.

Recommended by Bezi

One of my top reads of 2025 must be All Better Now by Neal Shusterman. Set in a world much like ours, this novel takes you through what would happen if a pandemic didn’t just get you sick but people who recover are in fact all “enlightened” and “happier than ever”—whatever that truly means. However, nothing is what it seems when it comes to Neal Shusterman. With 1 in every 25 people dying to Crown Royale, All Better Now’s very contagious “happiness” disease brings a lot of questions about morals and figuring out what is right for the greater good of humanity. Following multiple point of views of compelling characters, this book is a thriller that you won’t want to put down.

Recommended by Remi

I’ve already professed my love for this sapphic fantasy re-imagining of the iconic Swan Lake ballet… and no, I WON’T stop doing so! Because I still haven’t forgotten how I got to the book’s penultimate chapter and it made my heart drop out of my chest. Without spoiling anything, all I’ll say is thank the Mothers (that phrase will make sense if you’ve read the book) that there was an epilogue. So please, step into the unforgettable swoons and darkly captivating magic within these pages, and then come find me so we can squee about how good it is.

Recommended by James

Deja is a bohemian farm girl and cosmetic chemist who’s the first in her family to go to college. Raja is the budding tattoo and mehndi artist whose Nepali parents are expecting to study engineering and settle down in an arranged marriage. For better or for worse, sparks fly the second that Deja steps into Raja’s tattoo shop and the feelings only grow from there.

As love blossoms between them, Deja and Raja will have to decide if it’s enough to survive their families’ expectations.

Recommended by Karina

If you love queer romance, murder mysteries (bonus points for supernatural murder mysteries), every iconic paranormal high school show from the 2010s, or all the above, F.T. Lukens’s latest romantic fantasy is the book for you.

As a completely normal human, Cam is determined to fly under the radar at a high school full of kids with paranormal powers, including his witch best friend and his longtime werewolf crush. Except, Cam may not be so human after all. After he has an unexpected psychic vision about a murder that hasn’t happened yet, only two things are certain: someone he goes to school with is a future murderer, and his entire life is about to change.

Recommended by Amelia

Here are just a few things I love: magic schools, secret societies, unique world-building, going undercover, and - of course - a love triangle. The Art of Exile by Andrea Max has all of this and MORE. It's a fast-paced page-turner, featuring a heroine who is desperate to prove herself to her family by infiltrating a secret school for the descendants of Renaissance masters. But when she goes undercover to steal their long-lost knowledge, things get complicated…she falls in love with the school, and I can't blame her! It's everything I want, too! Will she stay loyal to her family? Or will she betray them to save the school that FEELS like family? You'll have to keep turning the pages to find out.

Recommended by Shannon

To say I’ve read nothing like Till Death would be a complete understatement, but when I saw this was a gay vampire romantic horror, I knew I simply had to pick it up! Howard, a high schooler with an old soul meets George, who is quite literally an old soul trapped in the body of a teenager. While this book is definitely a fun time, it is also layered with queer history and activism as George and Howard both recount their experiences as gay men in different timelines. I can promise that this book will surprise you in ways you could never expect and you are definitely not ready for how this book ends.

Recommended by Julia Ashley