New year means new releases! We are SO excited for all of the books to come in 2026, but here are a few of our recommendations coming out this spring!

From a swoonworthy time travel romance to a suspenseful thriller set in the Everglades, this February is chock-full of riveting new book releases! As you continue making your TBR for 2026, be sure to add these must-reads to your list!

Did someone say new Free Reads? Yes, that’s right, we did! And we are so excited for February’s Free Reads. This month’s Free Reads have been chosen are in celebration of Black History Month! Plus, keep an eye out #ReadYourHeartOut for free romance reads from 2/7 – 2/14 and check out all of February’s new releases with extended excerpts.

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Free Reads are only available to Simon Teen members! Not a Simon Teen member yet? It’s free and easy to sign up! Click here to set up your account now. 

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Full Reads: 2/9 – 2/15

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1. Love, Off the Record by Samantha Markum

The Hating Game meets Alex, Approximately in this smart, chemistry-filled teen rom-com about two rival journalism students competing for the same position on their university newspaper.

Start reading now!

2. 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.

Start reading now!

3. A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighboring restaurants.

Start reading now!

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Full Reads: ALL MONTH

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1. The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Save the Date in this sweet and hijinks-filled rom-com about a teen girl who will do whatever it takes to find a date for her sister’s wedding.

Start reading now!

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2. The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds

A 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book

Just when seventeen-year-old Matt thinks he can’t handle one more piece of terrible news, he meets a girl who’s dealt with a lot more—and who just might be able to clue him in on how to rise up when life keeps knocking him down—in this “vivid, satisfying, and ultimately upbeat tale of grief, redemption, and grace” (Kirkus Reviews) from the Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe Award–winning author of When I Was the Greatest.

Start reading now!

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3. Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

After her private school is rocked by a gruesome murder, a teen tries to find the real killer and clear her brother’s name in this psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Taking of Jake Livingston and Ace of Spades.

Start reading now!

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4. Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

A Black teen desperate to regain her Ivy League acceptance enters an elite competition only to discover the stakes aren’t just high, they’re deadly, in this searing thriller that’s Ace of Spades meets Squid Game with a sprinkling of The Bachelor.

Start reading now!

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Extended Excerpts

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1. Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean

From the New York Times bestselling author of Tokyo Ever After comes a laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving rom-com about a girl who starts receiving letters from the love of her life—writing to her from years in the future.

Start reading now! 

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2. According to Plan by Christen Randall

From USA TODAY bestselling author Christen Randall comes a cozy, feel-good queer romance about self-discovery, finding your person, and carving out a space for yourself in unexpected places—perfect for fans of Heartstopper, Felix Ever After, and Julie Murphy.

Start reading now! 

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3. Lights Out by Jenni Fletcher

For the first printing only! This book features stenciled sprayed edges while the special edition supply lasts.

A college student experiences life in the fast lane in a whirlwind fake dating scheme with a notorious Formula 1 driver in this swoony crossover romance perfect for fans of Chloe Walsh and Lauren Asher.

Start reading now! 

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4. Steam by Shaenon K. Garrity and Emily Holden

A genius humanoid escapes the university lab where she was made and gets a job at a local coffee shop in this quirky, misfit young adult graphic novel perfect for fans of Giant Days and Heartstopper.

Start reading now!

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5. Ungodly Chaos by Selma Soren

An action-packed contemporary fantasy for fans of Rick Riordan and Legendborn following a heartbroken girl who accidentally discovers her ex-boyfriend is the descendant of the Egyptian god of chaos and in danger from a deadly plot.

Start reading now!

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6. Paradise Coast by Suzanne Young

Rival groups of local and wealthy teens in a small Everglades town confront the secrets that rise from the waters in the wake of a hurricane in this sizzling and suspenseful thriller from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young—perfect for fans of Outer Banks and The White Lotus.

Start reading now! 

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7. The Light That Blinds Us by Andy Darcy Theo

A teen discovers there’s more to his childhood visions than he ever imagined in this high-stakes romantasy debut, which masterfully weaves together themes of mental health, found family, and first love—perfect for fans of Legendborn and Lauren Roberts!

Start reading now! 

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8. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Serpent & Dove, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

Start reading now!

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9. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Tracy Deonn’s YA contemporary fantasy reinvents the King Arthur legend and “braids together Southern folk traditions and Black Girl Magic into a searing modern tale of grief, power, and self-discovery” (Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles).

Start reading now! 

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10. 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.

Start reading now! 

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Extras

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1. The Eid Gift by S.K. Ali

The Eid Gift is a companion short story to Love from A to Z. Adam and Zayneb —engaged but continents apart for so long— are finally in the same city!

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Start reading now!

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2. Love at First Fight by Sandhya Menon

Join Dimple and Rishi as they do an escape room in this exclusive short story from Sandhya Menon! You’ll also see how Pinky and Samir met for the first time before you can read about them in 10 Things I Hate About Pinky.

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Start reading now!

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3. As Kismet Would Have It by Sandhya Menon

Will Dimple and Rishi find their happily ever after? Find out in this funny, romantic, endlessly charming e-novella sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi!

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Start reading now!

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4. The Thief by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

A short story prequel to Sky Without Stars about the origins of fan-favorite character, Chatine!

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Start reading now!

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5. These Precious Scars by Emily Suvada

A haunting short story prequel to the Mortal Coil series.

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Start reading now!

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6. Better Than the Prom by Lynn Painter

A swoonworthy short story from Wes’s perspective from Better Than the Movies.

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Start reading now!

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7. Uncharted Dreams by Pascale Lacelle

Romie Brysden is a Dreamer, the best at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. She knows the realm of dreams like a sea captain knows the tides. And she’s gone deeper into this vast sleepscape than any Dreamer ever has. This is a prequest short story to A Curious Tides.

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Start reading now!

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8. The Priest and the Shepherd by Chloe Gong

Set six years before the events of Foul Lady Fortune, The Priest and the Shepherd follows Orion’s sister, Phoebe, and his best friend, Silas!

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Start reading now!

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9. Our First Chance by Robbie Couch

Long before they were best friends, River wasn’t a fan of Dylan—Mavis’ suspiciously perfect new boyfriend who was slowly stealing her away. But in this short story prequel to Another First Chance, Mavis cleverly plans for them both to attend an Astronomy Club meeting, hoping the after-school activity brings the pair closer together. Meanwhile, many states away, the mastermind behind a secretive research group scores a big win that will upend the high schoolers’ lives forever…

Start reading now!

10. Better Than Before by Lynn Painter

Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies collides with Betting on You when, after meeting the annoyingly cute Bailey on his flight, Charlie gets picked at the airport up by his cousin, Wes, who introduces him to his annoyingly cute neighbor, Liz.

Start Reading Now!

11. Second First dATE BY RACHEL LYNN SOLOMON

Graduation has come and gone, and there’s one major milestone Rowan and Neil haven’t yet hit in their relationship: going on a real date. Neil’s planned every detail, determined to give his girlfriend the ultimate romantic evening, although he’s secretly worried their connection may not spark the way it did on the last day of school—which, given how much he adores her, would be absolutely devastating. When the night turns out to be one disaster after another, they realize the date itself hardly matters. They’re still completely starry-eyed over each other, and with a little of Seattle’s natural magic, they have a whole summer to get it right.

Start Reading Now!

12. Werewolves, witches & Wyverns by F.T. Lukens

Claire and Grant are best friends who love to play a fictional and fantastical table-top card game which features a bevy of supernatural beings including werewolves, witches, and wyverns. During a playing session, Claire accidentally opens a portal and she and Grant are promptly sucked into a parallel world that is startlingly familiar to their game and where the card dynamics allow them to cast magic spells. Thus, their adventure begins in the pilot episode of Werewolves, Witches, & Wyverns, the television show beloved and raved about by the characters of Otherworldly.

Start reading now!

13. Nothing Better Than You by Lynn Painter

Experience Wes and Liz’s first kiss from Better Than the Movies from Wes’s point of view!

Start Reading Now!

14. the way we met by amber smith

Eden and Josh are in a good place – finally. But now Eden is facing down a new major milestone: spending the weekend with Josh’s parents. The last time she met them, it didn’t exactly go so well. She needs it to be perfect, for them to like her, and like her with Josh. As the weekend unfolds and she gets to know Josh’s family, the return home also brings back memories of the first time Eden met Josh. The real story, the one Josh doesn’t even know…

Start Reading Now!

We’re committed to using our platforms to lift up Black creators now and always, and in celebration of Black History Month, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite books by Black authors we love. As we continue to listen, learn, and lift up Black voices, we hope you enjoy reading these amazing books!

Did someone say new Free Reads? Yes, that’s right, we did! And we are so excited for January’s Free Reads. This month’s theme for Free Reads is “Start a Series,” and all Free Reads this month are first installments in a series that you will love! Plus, check out all of January’s new releases with extended excerpts!

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Free Reads are only available to Simon Teen members! Not a Simon Teen member yet? It’s free and easy to sign up! Click here to set up your account now. 

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Full Reads

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1. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny han

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is now a major motion picture on Netflix and the inspiration for the spin-off series XO, Kitty—now streaming on Netflix!

Lara Jean’s love life gets complicated in this New York Times bestselling “lovely, lighthearted romance” (School Library Journal) from the bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

Start reading now!

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2. A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen

One of Us is Lying meets A Deadly Education in this fantasy thriller that follows six teenage wizards as they fight to make it home alive after a malfunctioning spell leaves them stranded in the wilderness.

Start reading now!

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3. The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley

An African tightrope walker who can’t die gets embroiled in a secret society’s deadly gladiatorial tournament in this thrilling historical fantasy set in an alternate 1880s London, perfect for fans of The Last Magician and The Gilded Wolves.

Start reading now!

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Extended Excerpts

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1. The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love in this searing young adult fantasy.

Start reading now! 

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2. Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle

Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeously 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.

Start reading now! 

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3. THe Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Westworld meets Warcross in this high-stakes, dizzyingly smart sci-fi about a teen girl navigating an afterlife in which she must defeat an AI entity intent on destroying humanity, from award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman.

Start reading now! 

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4. Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet

Beth March’s sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect each other—in this debut thriller that’s also a bold, contemporary reimagining of the beloved classic Little Women.

Start reading now!

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5. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

This sparkling deluxe paper over board special edition of Lynn Painter’s phenomenal New York Times bestselling rom-com about a hopelessly romantic teen girl’s first love features a new cover, stenciled edges, gorgeously designed endpapers, a ribbon bookmark, a letter from the author, and never-before-published bonus content!

Start reading now!

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6. Love Goes Viral by Camille Stochitch, Alexander Berman, and Estelle Laure

An aspiring pop star crafts a fake relationship with a small-town boy to rehab her image, until her ex and her real feelings get in the way in this sweeping romance perfect for fans of Lynn Painter.

Start reading now! 

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7. The Roommate Arrangement by Samantha Markum

When Blair accidentally becomes college roommates with her brother’s best friend, sparks fly in this hilarious rom-com from bestselling author Samantha Markum, perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Emma Lord.

Start reading now! 

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8. Wither by Lauren DeStefano

For the first printing only! This book features sprayed edges while the special edition supply lasts.

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!

Start reading now! 

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9. Fever by Lauren DeStefano

For the first printing only! This book features sprayed edges while the special edition supply lasts.

Rhine and Gabriel navigate the treacherous outside world in this second 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!

Start reading now! 

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10. Sever by Lauren DeStefano

For the first printing only! This book features sprayed edges while the special edition supply lasts.

Rhine is caught between her unquiet past and her uncertain future in this third 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!

Start reading now! 

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11. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Serpent & Dove, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

Start reading now!

–

12. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Tracy Deonn’s YA contemporary fantasy reinvents the King Arthur legend and “braids together Southern folk traditions and Black Girl Magic into a searing modern tale of grief, power, and self-discovery” (Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles).

Start reading now! 

–

13. 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.

Start reading now! 

---

Extras

---

1. The Eid Gift by S.K. Ali

The Eid Gift is a companion short story to Love from A to Z. Adam and Zayneb —engaged but continents apart for so long— are finally in the same city!

–

Start reading now!

–

2. Love at First Fight by Sandhya Menon

Join Dimple and Rishi as they do an escape room in this exclusive short story from Sandhya Menon! You’ll also see how Pinky and Samir met for the first time before you can read about them in 10 Things I Hate About Pinky.

–

Start reading now!

–

3. As Kismet Would Have It by Sandhya Menon

Will Dimple and Rishi find their happily ever after? Find out in this funny, romantic, endlessly charming e-novella sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi!

–

Start reading now!

–

4. The Thief by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

A short story prequel to Sky Without Stars about the origins of fan-favorite character, Chatine!

–

Start reading now!

–

5. These Precious Scars by Emily Suvada

A haunting short story prequel to the Mortal Coil series.

–

Start reading now!

–

6. Better Than the Prom by Lynn Painter

A swoonworthy short story from Wes’s perspective from Better Than the Movies.

–

Start reading now!

–

7. Uncharted Dreams by Pascale Lacelle

Romie Brysden is a Dreamer, the best at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. She knows the realm of dreams like a sea captain knows the tides. And she’s gone deeper into this vast sleepscape than any Dreamer ever has. This is a prequest short story to A Curious Tides.

–

Start reading now!

–

8. The Priest and the Shepherd by Chloe Gong

Set six years before the events of Foul Lady Fortune, The Priest and the Shepherd follows Orion’s sister, Phoebe, and his best friend, Silas!

–

Start reading now!

–

9. Our First Chance by Robbie Couch

Long before they were best friends, River wasn’t a fan of Dylan—Mavis’ suspiciously perfect new boyfriend who was slowly stealing her away. But in this short story prequel to Another First Chance, Mavis cleverly plans for them both to attend an Astronomy Club meeting, hoping the after-school activity brings the pair closer together. Meanwhile, many states away, the mastermind behind a secretive research group scores a big win that will upend the high schoolers’ lives forever…

Start reading now!

10. Better Than Before by Lynn Painter

Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies collides with Betting on You when, after meeting the annoyingly cute Bailey on his flight, Charlie gets picked at the airport up by his cousin, Wes, who introduces him to his annoyingly cute neighbor, Liz.

Start Reading Now!

11. Second First dATE BY RACHEL LYNN SOLOMON

Graduation has come and gone, and there’s one major milestone Rowan and Neil haven’t yet hit in their relationship: going on a real date. Neil’s planned every detail, determined to give his girlfriend the ultimate romantic evening, although he’s secretly worried their connection may not spark the way it did on the last day of school—which, given how much he adores her, would be absolutely devastating. When the night turns out to be one disaster after another, they realize the date itself hardly matters. They’re still completely starry-eyed over each other, and with a little of Seattle’s natural magic, they have a whole summer to get it right.

Start Reading Now!

12. Werewolves, witches & Wyverns by F.T. Lukens

Claire and Grant are best friends who love to play a fictional and fantastical table-top card game which features a bevy of supernatural beings including werewolves, witches, and wyverns. During a playing session, Claire accidentally opens a portal and she and Grant are promptly sucked into a parallel world that is startlingly familiar to their game and where the card dynamics allow them to cast magic spells. Thus, their adventure begins in the pilot episode of Werewolves, Witches, & Wyverns, the television show beloved and raved about by the characters of Otherworldly.

Start reading now!

13. Nothing Better Than You by Lynn Painter

Experience Wes and Liz’s first kiss from Better Than the Movies from Wes’s point of view!

Start Reading Now!

14. the way we met by amber smith

Eden and Josh are in a good place – finally. But now Eden is facing down a new major milestone: spending the weekend with Josh’s parents. The last time she met them, it didn’t exactly go so well. She needs it to be perfect, for them to like her, and like her with Josh. As the weekend unfolds and she gets to know Josh’s family, the return home also brings back memories of the first time Eden met Josh. The real story, the one Josh doesn’t even know…

Start Reading Now!

We’re kicking off 2026 with a group of AMAZING new releases! From a murder mystery retelling of Little Women, to a STUNNING collector’s edition of a fan-favorite romcom, we’re ready to start crushing our reading goals for this year!

Read on for a special bonus epilogue to Heart Check by Emily Charlotte! (WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Heart Check!)

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HARPER

⛸️ ⛸️ ⛸️

I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to having Luke Dawson’s arm draped around me in one of the booths at the Lakeside Diner.

It’s even busier than usual in the wake of the season’s final game. Lindsey originally gave Dawson a hard time about working tonight, twisting up her mouth skeptically. “I don’t know, I’ve been picking up a lot of shifts for you… We don’t really have the staff to keep the floor full without you and Harper tonight…”

“Lindsey,” Dawson groaned. “I swear I’ll never ask you for another favor. Just one night to celebrate.”

“To celebrate what? Being league champs?” Her brow furrows deepened. “Doesn’t seem like such a big deal to me. Dime a dozen.”

Before Dawson can lay out his own sister, I stepped forward, clasping my hands in a desperate plea. “Lindsey. If you won’t do it for your smelly hockey player brother—which, I mean, fair—do it for me. The best waitress you’ve ever hired.”

She fell silent at that. “Well. Can’t argue with you there. But I will be squeezing you both for all the shifts you’re worth this spring.”

“Done.” Dawson had turned his sunny grin first on her, then on me.

As he is now, taking my breath away right here in the eye of the hurricane that is the diner in the wake of the game. Waiters are flying between tables, delivering onion rings and fries and coffee and hot chocolate. Everyone’s in blue and white—though with the weather starting to warm with the start of spring, attire varies from coats and jackets to very optimistic skirts and shorts—and the diner roars with the enthusiasm of a crowd that’s just seen their team absolutely decimate the reigning champions.

Max and Alex sit in the booth across from us, bubbling with conversation. “I can’t believe how much time you got on the ice today,” Max is saying. A proud grin splits his face. “Is there an award for most improved? Because you for sure would get it.”

“Is that a way of saying I started the season really bad?” Alex asks dryly.

“No!” Max’s face falls. “Just that you’re really, really good now! Trust me, I would never have dated a bad hockey player. There’s no fun in that.”

“That’s what they all say,” Ryan interrupts breezily from his spot on the end. “Good thing there aren’t many bad players around tonight.” He and Alex smack hands in a high five without even looking at each other.

Marissa, standing over him nursing her decaf (she said she was just “dropping by” but “couldn’t stay”), rolls her eyes. “I don’t know… Your stats were down in this game, Thompson.”

“Thompson?” Max’s eyes widen. “What are you, a jock now? I have some really good book recommendations if you—”

She ignores him. “More intercepted passes than usual. Something have you off your game?”

Ryan just raises an eyebrow, arms stretched across the back of the booth. “You been paying attention to me, Lisa Frank?”

“Just trying to diversify my portfolio. Gotta be conversational about athletics in this town.”

“You going to follow baseball next?” He grins. “Gonna be a good season, let me tell you…”

Marissa crinkles her nose. “I was planning on it, but honestly, tonight is kind of hitting my quota for time with you.”

Sabrina pops up, laughing, from her spot beside me. Her cheekbones shimmer with glitter, though she looks a little paler than usual. Like she hasn’t been sleeping enough. I frown. She’s been working awfully hard to publicize the end of the season, but I should probably check in on her. Before I can do anything, she’s flitting toward the jukebox, calling over her shoulder, “She’s got you there, Ryan!”

But peacemaker that she is, she’s soon got a bop-y dance tune playing over the speakers, and Ryan’s sliding out of the booth to join her. She rolls her eyes at him but offers her hand without complaint, and soon half the diner is dancing in the aisles like this is some kind of Disney movie.

Only Sabrina.

The merriment softens even Noah, who catches my eye from across the diner and gives me a begrudging nod.

We’ll never be friends, but after Dawson knocked some sense into him—quite literally—in the Northview game, he realized it was either get on board or face some serious awkwardness on the team. And when I stuck around, cheering Dawson on at every game, and the team’s performance only got better… well, I guess he realized I wasn’t the number one hockey hater he’d always thought I was.

A surprise to you and me both, bud.

I sink deeper into Dawson’s arms, letting out a tiny sigh of contentment. The knit of his sweater is soft against my arms, and when he rests his chin gently atop my head, I feel like I’m cocooned in the safest place in the world. His freshly-showered scent surrounds me, his laugh rumbling through his chest when Max makes another joke about hockey boyfriends, and I pinch myself once again.

The last few weeks have been far more magical than I ever would have imagined. I’ve done my homework and updated my website in the bleachers of the hockey stadium while he finishes practice; he’s willingly offered his hands for packing jewelry orders and his eyes for opinions on graphic design. We’ve studied together—only occasionally getting distracted by capybaras and the other cute animal videos he’s trained his algorithm to deliver—and he’s now leading the pack in math. Even burning the candle at both ends is somehow more doable with his companionship, and I think he feels the same way.

But we’ve made time for fun, too. We’ve closed the diner together dozens of times, and being stuck late with him was no longer the worst fate I could possibly imagine. And with a few more skating lessons, I’m actually getting to the point where I can make it around the rink without falling. (But can you blame a girl if she still has a few “accidental” tumbles?)

I hum to myself as my memory replays the reel, and Dawson’s arms tighten around me in a tiny, subconscious hug.

It’s in this moment that I realize:

Maybe I could get used to this.

Maybe I am getting used to this.

“What’re you going to do with all your free time?” Alex asks, dipping a fry in his chocolate milkshake. “That’s a lot of hours if you’re not on the rink every spare minute.”

“He has to keep his conditioning up still.” Max frowns. “He can’t get out of shape. Honestly, Alex, it’s like you know nothing about this game.”

Dawson grins. “I don’t know. We should make a bucket list or something, huh? What do you want to do before senior year?”

I tilt my head up to look at him. “Ooh. Pull an all-nighter in the library?”

“That’s your idea of romance?”

I ignore him. “Do a beach day at the lake. An 80s movie marathon! Oh, I’ve always wanted to play a massive school-wide game of assassins… think we could pull that off? I bet with Sabrina’s help, we could. That girl’s never met a project she couldn’t organize.”

“And maybe a road trip? There’s lots of cool stuff to see in Chicago…” His voice is light, but my muscles tense up despite my best efforts.

As if on cue, Coach Dan stops by the table just at that moment. Alex and Max clear out, ducking their heads respectfully and heading for the dance party.

Dan’s looked less tired lately—I guess having a winning team will do that to a guy. Fewer circles under his eyes, less five o’clock shadow on his chin. I even catch Shannon Bittle casting him an appreciative glance from the counter.

Dawson straightens up immediately. “Coach.”

Coach Dan extends his hand, and the two shake briskly. They’ve developed a strong bond in the last few months as he trains Dawson to take over team leadership.

Better choice than Noah, that’s for sure.

“I won’t interrupt long, but I thought I’d bring you one last piece of good news tonight.” His grin twitches at the corner of his mouth. “The Steel’s coach confirmed that there’s a spot for you if you want it. They’d love to have you on the team next year.” The grin breaks free. “Congratulations, Dawson.”

Dawson stares at him for a moment, jaw hanging open. When Coach Dan realizes no words are forthcoming for the foreseeable future, he just claps him on the shoulder.

“I’ll leave you to celebrate. That was one helluva season.”

With that, Coach Dan heads to the counter (Shannon Bittle scoots over to leave a very inviting spot beside her) After a long, speechless moment, Dawson finally turns to me, blinking hard. “Did I hear that right?”

“Yes! Come on, you knew it was coming!” A riot of emotions dances in even my gut—a wave of overwhelming pride, and excitement at the path this puts him on, and… yeah, a tiny twinge of grief.

But I immediately shove my own feelings aside. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I can’t imagine everything going on for him. This is what he’s been working toward all year, long before we started dating. He helped me achieve my goals without blinking—there’s no way I won’t be there for him while he does the same.

So I wrap my arms around him and give him the tightest squeeze I can, hoping my voice sounds normal when I say, “Congratulations, Luke. You really did it!”

He leans back to look at me more carefully, biting his lip. “Thanks.”

I frown. Okay, I’m no actor, but I thought I did a pretty good job seeming totally unconflicted. “Aren’t you happy?”

“I guess. I mean, yeah, of course I am.” His gaze is cloudy, and I silently lace my fingers through his, waiting for him to figure out how to tell me what’s going on. “I just… I don’t know, it’s weird. I’ve spent the last few weeks finding a way to be happy even when I’m not achieving things and making people proud and shit. I’ve been really happy just… being with you.”

I tuck myself back under his arm, doing a terrible job of hiding just how much that sentiment makes me blush. In this moment, I’m pretty sure I could ask him to reorganize his priorities. To keep being happy just being with me. To turn down the Steel, and be captain of the Hawks, and keep packing orders and doing math homework by my side.

But the thought brings me no joy. Only a twisted, hollow sense of regret.

These past few months, I’ve seen just how much he puts into this game. How much it matters to him. How much he loves it—even more now that he’s not carrying as much pressure on his shoulders as he used to.

He’s finally finding a way to love the game and take care of himself, too. I can’t ask him to give that up. Right now, I need to be the one who encourages him to follow his dreams.

The same way he’s done for me.

“Come on.” I keep my voice playful. “I’m glad you’ve found a way to be fulfilled even when you’re not top scorer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do both. You love hockey, right?”

He frowns. “Yeah,” he mutters, as if it’s something to be ashamed of.

“That’s what I thought. No one who doesn’t love it plays like you did tonight.”

Dawson’s watching me with an expression I’ve never seen before, and I’ve seen a lot in the last few months. Frustrated desire. Goofy happiness. Unshakeable pride. But this one is something… softer. Something vulnerable. The way you look at someone who you need to be the brave one, the one to help you do what you need to do.

We might not have been together long, but we’ve been through a whole lot more than some couples. And if it hadn’t been for our own prejudices and preconceived ideas, we might have been together even longer than that.

We can do this. As long as we do it together.

“We’ll make it work. After all…” I wave the napkin in the air. “We have a bucket list, don’t we? And I bet we can add all sorts of Chicago stuff to it. See the Bean! Go to some used bookstores—I hear they have great ones! See the Impressionist wing at the Art Institute! Go to a Cubs game!” I scribble notes on the napkin, then look up at him triumphantly. “There. Now you have to go. There’s no way we can do all of that in one road trip.”

He shakes his head slowly, but he’s smiling in something like awe. Then he bends to kiss me, so slow and deep that Ryan whistles at us from across the diner.

When he finally pulls back, he’s grinning.

“Give me that napkin. I think it’s still missing something important.”

Before I can protest, he’s scribbled a final item at the bottom. He passes it across to me, and I frown to decipher it.

“Complete inventory in the…” I look up, biting back a laugh.

He’s grinning too, already grabbing my hand to drag me out of the booth behind him. “Lindsey really seemed to need some help tonight, don’t you think? The least we can do is be sure the walk-in freezer is stocked.”

I interlace my fingers through his, memorizing the warmth of his grip. “We wouldn’t want to be negligent employees.”

“Never. In fact, I think I’d better be sure it’s stocked every week.”

As we fall through the door, propping a can in the gap to ensure we don’t end up locked in here for good once again, his hands are already in my hair, his hips pressing me against the wall. I don’t even feel the cold.

Before his mouth covers mine, I murmur, “A tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.”

⛸️ ⛸️ ⛸️

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2025 has been another truly amazing year for book releases! They all make us proud, but these books have made it onto some notable 2025 “Best-Of” lists. We’re so excited to share them with you! Were these books also your favorites from 2025?

Giveaway alert!!! Check out all of the November and December Simon Teen giveaways running on Goodreads for a chance to win free books!

YALLFest is almost here! Here’s a comprehensive schedule of all our Simon Teen activity this year. Don’t forget to follow us @SimonTeen on X, on TikTok, and in our Instagram Stories for up-to-the minute news, behind the scenes fun, and content from our authors at YALLFest. See y’all soon!

Everything Happening With Simon Teen @ YALLFest 2025

Saturday, November 15

**Note: For all in-booth giveaways, tickets will be available one hour prior to the giveaway at the booth.

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All Day

• Stop by for giveaways all day, and enter our raffle for a chance to win a grand prize of signed books from the Simon Teen authors who will be attending the festival!
• Check the @SimonTeen socials for fun content!
• Pick up a ticket for an upcoming giveaway one hour prior to the listed giveaway time below!

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9:00am

• Grab a ticket for the Crystal Ball Mystery ARC Drop!
• Beth is Dead ARC Drop (no ticket required!)

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10:00am

• Middle Grade Jeopardy Panel with Stuart Gibbs (Charleston Museum)

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11:00am

• Crystal Ball Mystery ARC Drop #1 (Simon Teen Booth) (Remember to grab a ticket at 9:00 am!)
• My Genre-fied Romance Panel with A.B. Poranek (Charleston Music Hall)
• Scott Reintgen Signing (American Theater)
• Joelle Wellington Signing (Big Book Tent)

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12:00pm

• The Aftermyth ARC giveaway + Girl of Lore ARC giveaway (Simon Teen booth)
• Maps are Stories and Stories are Maps Panel with Chloe Gong (Charleston Music Hall)
• The Vibes Are Immaculate Panel with Alexandra Brown Chang (American Theater – Ballroom)
• I Turned Pretty in Autumn Panel with Ebony LaDelle (American Theater – Cinema)
• A.B. Poranek Signing (Lit Alley)

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1:00pm

• Crystal Ball Mystery ARC Drop #2 (Simon Teen Booth) (Remember to grab a ticket at 9:00 am!)
• We Have to Be Realistic (Fiction) About This Panel with Idris Goodwin (American Theater – Cinema)
• Don’t Let the Author Fly the Spaceship Panel with Chloe Gong and Scott Reintgen (American Theater – Ballroom)
• Ebony LaDelle Signing (American Theater)
• Stuart Gibbs Signing (Charleston Museum)

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2:00pm

• Devious Prey ARC giveaway (Simon Teen booth)
• Crushin’ It Panel with Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk (American Theater – Cinema)
• There’s a Demon in My Backpack Panel with Scott Reintgen (American Theater – Ballroom)
• Idris Goodwin Signing (Lit Alley)

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3:00pm

• Crystal Ball Mystery ARC Drop #3 (Simon Teen Booth) (Remember to grab a ticket at 9:00 am!)
• No One Write Way Panel with Ebony LaDelle (Charleston Music Hall)
• Most Likely To: Crafting a Character Panel with Alexandra Brown Chang and Stuart Gibbs (American Theater – Cinema)
• Ashley Woodfolk & Olivia A. Cole Signing (American Theater)
• Chloe Gong Signing (ticketed in advance) (Big Book Tent)

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4:00pm

• Love Me Tomorrow ARC giveaway (Simon Teen booth)
• And I Would Have Gotten Away With It, Too Panel with Joelle Wellington (American Theater – Ballroom)
• Building Off the Blueprints Panel with Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk (Charleston Museum)
• Alexandra Brown Chang Signing (Big Book Tent)

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5:00pm

• Staring at the Blank Page Before You Panel with Idris Goodwin (American Theater – Ballroom)
• Story/Telling Panel with Joelle Wellington (Charleston Museum)

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Don’t forget to come say hi to us at the booth all day!