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

She moved away. He glowed up. Now they’re fake dating—and absolutely not getting along. This friends-to-enemies-to-lovers rom-com has small-town charm, a swoony hockey star, and banter that’ll make you scream. Lynn Painter delivers again, and BookTok? You’re going to eat this one up.

She’s given us blood feuds and deadly games—now Chloe Gong takes on cyberpunk! A framed soldier. A student in a high-stakes academic race. Sparks fly as they uncover a dangerous conspiracy. Coldwire is enemies-to-allies, neon-lit tension, and everything BookTok loves about Chloe Gong—just in a whole new world.

Odile has one mission: infiltrate the palace and steal a magical crown to restore her kingdom’s power. But when she transforms her childhood rival into a swan and takes her place at court, a royal murder derails everything. Forced to team up with the girl she cursed—and can’t stop thinking about—Odile navigates a web of magic, betrayal, and forbidden feelings. This Swan Lake–inspired fantasy is dark, romantic, and utterly enchanting.

Fan-favorite sapphic couple Alex and Molly return for a snowy, chaotic, and very romantic holiday novella. Think cozy vibes, messy matchmaking, and major “we’re in love but don’t know it yet” energy. If BookTok had a holiday rom-com shelf, this would be front and center.

What happens when two ex-best friends fake-date their way through twelve festive events? So much holiday chaos, old feelings, and maybe a second chance at something more. Queer Christmas magic, emotional slow burns, and the perfect wintry backdrop—this is a rom-com BookTok has and will continue to obsess over.

Available in paperback this Fall!

She dies. She wakes up in the underworld. Now she’s stuck working with an infuriating (and hot) demon king to win her life back. Think enemies-to-lovers, spicy deals with the devil, and gothic fantasy feels. BookTok, if you love your romance morally gray and steamy, don’t sleep on this.

The stakes are high, the enemies are hotter, and the magic is deadly. This romantasy sequel delivers slow-burn tension, royal rebellion, and a prophecy that could ruin everything. If you’re craving drama, danger, and a ship you’ll scream over, BookTok—it’s time to get obsessed.

Haven’t read The Dagger and the Flame just yet? Don’t worry! You have plenty of time to catch up before Seraphine and Ransom return.

She hates hockey. He is hockey. Forced to work together at a diner, the banter is brutal—and the chemistry is 🔥. With small-town charm, enemies-to-lovers sparks, and emotional depth, this one's perfect for BookTok readers who want their romance sharp, swoony, and full of heart.

A science prodigy. A Hollywood socialite. One glittering debutante ball in Paris—and only one can be crowned. With sabotage, secrets, and all the high-society drama of The Selection, this addictive read is perfect for BookTok fans who live for rivals, twists, and elite teen drama.

Bibi Hossain was supposed to get her first kiss this summer. Instead, she’s grounded and shipped off to Bangladesh for her sister’s extravagant wedding. But when Bibi teams up with the groom’s infuriatingly handsome brother to sabotage the nuptials, sparks fly. Think Clueless meets To All the Boys—this rom-com is a swoony, culture-rich delight.

If you are looking for a thrilling new fantasy series, A Mastery of Monsters is for you! When August's brother goes missing before his sophomore year, she is willing to do anything to find him, including infiltrating a secret society full of monsters. To find information on where her brother is, August is forced to work with Virgil, who has a gene that makes him turn into a monster. A deadly competition, a secret society, and a dark academia background makes this the perfect read for fantasy lovers!

Recommended by Saleena

Swans. Sapphic. SWOONS. This standalone fantasy is a mesmerizing re-imagining of the iconic ballet Swan Lake, and if you’re looking for a dark fantasy with sapphic enemies to lovers, this one will give it to you… and THEN some. Think Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron and The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu. I haven’t been to the ballet myself, but throw in the irrepressible romance here, and it’ll have you clamoring like me to see THIS version of Odile on stage!

Recommended by James

Dystopian novels are BACK, and I am so here for it! Soulmatch is set in a world where past lives are meant to determine your future; for example, if you were a criminal in your past life, you are meant to serve the punishment in your current life. This will either mean success and happiness in life, or failure and tragedy. (You ALSO find out if you have a soulmate!) When Sivon finds out she is a special soul, she is quickly thrown into a high-stakes game of danger, corruption, and heartbreak. Untangling her complicated past with the help of her bodyguard and best friends, Sivon navigates her place in society and a forbidden romance. 

Did I hear that right? Bodyguard, forbidden romance, high-takes fight for your life?? You literally won't be able to put this book down!

Recommended by Lindsey

As a huge Love Radio stan, I'm here to confirm that Ebony LaDelle’s newest rom-com This Could Be Forever should be on everyone’s summer reading list! It follows Deja and Raja who instantly crush hard on each other the summer before college and must deal with familial pressures and their cultural divide. Ebony’s writing is undeniably swoony and you just can’t help but be swept up in Deja’s and Raja’s love story.

Recommended by Antonella

Looking to get your emotions RATTLED? This book will make you cry ugly tears! Winter dreams of escaping her life with her grandmother and works odd jobs and hours to save for this dream. But when her abusive mother steals her money, she’s forced to reconsider meeting with the father that abandoned her as a child, who recently reappeared in her life. As she navigates grief, first love, and forgiveness, Winter begins to forge connections, new and old, that make her question everything: her future, her conviction to disappear, and what it really means to be family. Winter knows that broken things can never be fixed, but can they come back together in a different way?

Recommended by Maryam

What do you get when you blend magic, myth, and science together? You get The Art of Exile by Andrea Max, AKA the perfect book for all of us classics, art history, and mythology nerds. Our protagonist Ada infiltrates a secret school for the descendants of Renaissance masters to steal their long-lost knowledge - which is already more than enough to get me reading. This is one of the most inventive takes on the concept of a “magic school” I’ve read, and I’m obsessed with the different guilds at the Genesis Institute. Plus, there’s a love triangle with two love interests you won’t be able to pick between, filled with all the best tropes. I want to live in this world, but I’ll have to settle for just reading The Art of Exile again and again!

Recommended by Shannon

The Tournament is one of those books that makes you think you’re getting a classic competitive academic thriller, but in the end turns out to be SO MUCH MORE! Told in multiple narration style, you follow as Nora, Max, and Teddy navigate the competitive and highly unique Gardner-Bahnsen School for Girls, each girl more compelling and toxic than the next. When it comes time for the annual Tierney Cup, a tournament of survival, skill, and grit, with only one reigning champion per year, you can only guess the chaos that ensues. Love triangles, backstabbing, and violence litter the novel, and I, for one, could NOT put it down. Yellowjackets meets They Wish They Were Us – you won’t be disappointed!!

Recommended by Remi

This book will have you swooning, and not just from the Goode family's enchanted tulips! Shea Ernshaw is the QUEEN of atmospheric reads, and The Beautiful Maddening follows in the footsteps of her fan's faves with lush writing and fields of flowers, with romance and touch of magic thrown in for good measure! If this gorgeous read perfect for warm weather isn't on your TBR yet, it deserves a spot at the top of your list! 

Recommended by Amy

Frothy and commercial, with wedding hijinks, a fish-out-of-water main character, and a bickering romantic couple – this book has it all to be your perfect summer read! Bibi Hossain is charming, cheerful, a little irresponsible, and doesn't know how to read a room. Things get complicated quick when she spends the summer at her sister’s fiancé’s GIANT estate in Bangladesh. She soon realizes the family her sister is marrying into is uppity, judgmental, and disapproving. Will she let their energy get in the way of what is supposed to be a DHOOM DHAM wedding, or will she be able to pull some BIBI cards to persuade the adults that love is stronger and more important than their traditional behaviors? (BIBI’S BRAVERY IN THIS BOOK HAD ME GASPING!)

Recommended by Maryam

This lyrical novel-in-verse completely stole my heart. Set on a remote Cuban island, Island Creatures follows two teens—one coping with a painful past, the other raised among injured wildlife—who find comfort and connection in the animals they help heal. While also diving into some more difficult topics, Margarita Engle brings her signature poetic touch to a story that’s both tender and hopeful, reminding us that recovery—like friendship—can grow in the most unexpected places.

Recommended by Julia Ashley

An exploration of complex mother-daughter relationships with mystery, romance, and a dual POV across two moments in time? Sign me up! From the author of SLAY, This Book Might Be About Zinnia follows two vastly different girls. In 2024, after noticing similarities between herself and the protagonist in Jodelle Rae West’s latest novel, Zinnia goes on a quest to find out whether this bestselling author is her birth mother. Flashback to 2006, after experiencing a loss that had her on leave for months, Tuesday's search for answers uncovers dangerous secrets about her crush and her family. This exciting read is all-consuming as the two stories intertwine!  

Recommended by Sally