The New Year is filled with new adventures, experiences, and more importantly, new young-adult books. Make sure to add these 2017 YA releases to your to-be-read piles and here’s to a happy reading year!
The Standalones:
Recommended for you
1. History Is All You Left Me, by Adam Silvera.
“History Is All You Left Me” is one of the newest novels of the year, released on January 17. When Griffin’s first love, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, Griffin’s world and his future with Theo comes crashing down. Making the situation even more problematic is the fact that Theo is Griffin’s ex-boyfriend. And the only person who seems to understand Griffin is Jackson, the guy Theo was dating before he died. “History Is All You Left Me” is definitely one of the most diverse novels of 2017, as the novel has LGBTQ themes and deals with mental illness. I absolutely adored Adam Silvera’s first release, “More Happy Than Not”, and his next novel, “They Both Die at the End”, will be released in fall 2017.
2. We Are Okay, by Nina LaCour.
“We Are Okay” follows Marin, who’s left her life behind in California to go to college in New York. While the situation may seem similar to some college students that are far away from home, Marin leaves California with only her phone, wallet, and a picture of her mom. When Marin’s best friend comes to visit her, Marin is forced to deal with the tragedy that she has tried so hard to leave behind and the feelings that come along with it. Nina LaCour’s “We Are Okay” will be released on February 14.
3. A Psalm for Lost Girls, by Katie Bayerl.
Contemporary meets mystery meets spirituality in Katie Bayerl’s first novel, “A Psalm for Lost Girls”. The book surrounds the death of Tess da Costa, whose hometown believes that Tess is a miracle-giving, holy saint. Following her death, the town petitions the Pope to make Tess’s sainthood official. Everyone’s completely ecstatic over the idea, except for one person: Callie, Tess’s sister. Callie wants to show everyone that Tess wasn’t just a saint; she was her sister and her best friend. But when Ana, a girl who’s been missing for six months, shows up in front of Tess’s shrine, Callie gets involved in more than what she’s bargained for. “A Psalm for Lost Girls” is set for release on March 14.
4. Once and For All, by Sarah Dessen.
The queen of contemporary, Sarah Dessen, comes out with her thirteenth novel onJune 6. “Once and For All” takes place in the world of wedding planning. Louna is pretty cynical about happily-ever afters, even after the fact that her mom is a wedding planner. Since weddings make up her entire life, Louna questions how much longer she can avoid love. Sarah Dessen’s novels are absolutely perfect for the contemporary girl at heart and this one’s sure to please.
The Sequels:
5. A Court of Wings and Ruin, by Sarah J. Maas.
Fittingly abbreviated ACOWAR, “A Court of Wings and Ruin” is the third and final book in Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy. The trilogy started out as a Beauty and the Beast re-telling and has evolved into so much more. The series begins with “A Court of Thorns and Roses”, when huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods. She’s then captured by Tamlin, the High Fae of the Spring Court (yes, there are faeries in this book and they are HOT). When Tamlin brings her to the Spring Court, Feyre enters politics, magic, and more than she ever anticipated for. The second book in the series, “A Court of Mist and Fury”, was one of my favorite books of 2016, so I’m extremely excited for ACOWAR to come out on May 2.
6. Always and Forever, Lara Jean, by Jenny Han.
Jenny Han surprised fans of her once “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” duology when she announced in 2016 that the series would turn into a trilogy. Lara Jean and her love letters story will come to a close as she prepares for the end of senior year and the start of college. I love this series so much not only for it’s funny and emotion-filled story, but for the relationship Lara Jean has with her sisters, Margot and Kitty. I’m waiting for this novel to cause me all the feels when it comes out on May 2.
7. Our Dark Duet, by Victoria Schwab.
“Our Dark Duet” is the second novel in Victoria Schwab’s “Monsters of Verity” duology. I read the first book in the series, “This Savage Song”, in the beginning of January, and I’ve been obsessed with this series ever since. The first book takes place in a city divided by monsters and follows Kate Harker, a girl who wants to be just as tough as her father, and August Flynn, a monster who just wants to be human. As Kate and August form an unforeseen friendship, they are forced to take on the monsters that have wrecked havoc on their city for too long. “Our Dark Duet” hits bookstores on June 13.
8. Throne of Glass #6, by Sarah J. Maas
Ah, the novel that will absolutely break me. Maas’s second series finale of 2017, this is the sixth and final book in the “Throne of Glass” fantasy series. Fans of Maas’s beloved series must prepare to say goodbye to Celaena Sardothein, the world’s most kick-butt assassin. As it is the final book and would be extremely hard to avoid spoilers, the best way I can describe this series is that it's filled with twists and turns, magic, love, royalty and more. The book will be released on September 5 and Bloomsbury has not yet released its cover.
