The Must-Read New Young Adult Books of 2026
by Janssen Bradshaw
2025 was a banner year for great books, and now 2026 is right around the corner with plenty of titles you won’t want to miss.
Get ready for a fantastic new year with these standout releases—spanning memoir, fantasy, romance, thrillers, and more.
-
Room to Breathe
Buy from:Kasie West continues to deliver some of the best clean romance books for teens. Indy and Beau were once inseparable — until something happened that caused Indy to shut everyone out. After months of silence, the two get trapped together in the school bathroom, forcing them to finally confront what drove them apart.
(On sale: 1/6/2026)
Buy from: -
Tidespeaker
Buy from:Corith can command water with her words — an incredible gift with a bleak future. She’s thrilled when she’s hired by a wealthy family, but grows wary when she learns the last person in her position died under mysterious circumstances.
(On sale: 1/6/2026)
Buy from: -
Lovely One (Adapted for Young Adults)
Buy from:This YA adaptation of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s memoir traces her journey from childhood to becoming the first Black woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
(On sale: 1/20/2026)
Buy from: -
I Don't Wish You Well
Buy from:Five years ago, four teen boys were murdered — and the case went cold. As Pryce investigates the unsolved crime for his podcast, he uncovers crucial clues that were overlooked the first time around.
(On sale: 1/20/2026)
Buy from: -
Sundown Girls
Buy from:Spooky, mysterious, and utterly gripping. When Naomi and her family visit Sparksburg, she can’t shake the feeling that something is very wrong — or the awful smell she keeps encountering. As she digs into the town’s past, she discovers a far more twisted history than she imagined.
(On sale: 1/27/2026)
Buy from: -
Carnival Fantástico
Buy from:Esmeralda poses as the carnival’s fortune-teller—using her charm and wit to play the part. But when her former crush Ignacio reappears to warn her that the carnival is more dangerous than it seems, everything she thought she knew is thrown off course.
(On sale: 2/3/2026)
Buy from: -
Sibylline
Buy from:Three friends share a dream: to attend the world’s most prestigious magical university. All three are rejected — so instead, they decide to steal the education they believe they deserve.
(On sale: 2/3/2026)
Buy from: -
Coming Home (Adapted for Young Adults)
Buy from:In this YA adaptation, teens can follow Brittney Griner’s extraordinary journey — from her early athletic success to her harrowing experience in a Russian prison and her resilience along the way.
(On sale: 2/17/2026)
Buy from: -
Limelight
Buy from:Fifteen-year-old Danny is used to staying in the background. But after he auditions for — and is accepted into — a prestigious Manhattan performing arts school, he must find the courage to step into the spotlight.
(On sale: 2/24/2026)
Buy from: -
When I Was Death
Buy from:Roslyn’s world is shattered after the inexplicable death of her younger sister, Adeline. When Adeline’s friends return to town, Roslyn is determined to befriend them and uncover the truth about what really happened.
(On sale: 3/3/2026)
Buy from: -
Her Hidden Fire
Buy from:Perfect for “romantasy” fans. Eadha, a lowly servant girl with forbidden magic, uses her abilities to help Lonain fake magical talent — sending them both to a powerful academy where Eadha must keep her secret at all costs.
(On sale: 3/3/2026)
Buy from: -
Prodigal Tiger
Buy from:Caroline is used to living in exile to protect her family from her dangerous magic. But when she’s suddenly summoned home after her brother’s mysterious disappearance, she must confront the truth about the island she once knew.
(On sale: 3/17/2026)
Buy from: -
The Escape Game
Buy from:After the shocking on-set death of Alicia during Season 4 of the hit TV series The Escape Game, production resumes with a new cast. As contestants tackle the show’s intense escape rooms, Sierra joins with a secret mission: uncovering what really happened to Alicia.
(On sale: 4/7/2026)
Buy from: -
Soundtrack: A Novel
Buy from:Jason Reynolds returns with a powerful new novel. Stuy loves playing drums, just like his mom. As she teaches him more about music, Stuy and his friends start performing in the underground subway scene — quickly becoming an unexpected sensation.
(On sale: 4/14/2026)
Buy from: -
Young World
Buy from:What if eight countries suddenly put teenagers in charge? After Benton’s video announcing his presidential ambitions goes viral — and succeeds — he travels to a global teen summit. But when one delegate fails to wake up, Benton becomes the prime suspect.
Buy from: -
The Secret World of Briar Rose
Buy from:The city of Glydan has slept for a century — its heir included. Elly believes the legend of the sleeping princess is true and sets out to find her. Corin, her skeptical sister, joins the search, plunging into the underground tunnels beneath the city. Hope, suspense, and heartbreak intertwine in this unforgettable tale.
(On sale: 6/2/2026)
Buy from:
