Selecting which books to highlight this week was tough because so many new YA books are hitting shelves. We’re starting the fall deluge, and that’s great news for readers. There’s literally something for everyone this week, and this will continue until at least the end of October.
Among this week’s new YA book releases are a horde of new horror titles, an A+ array of novels set in academia (spirited, dark, and otherwise!), a story about two journalists with a friendship fallout, and more. We’ve got one book releasing simultaneously in hardcover and paperback, and we have a ton of books seeing their series sequels and/or conclusions releasing, too. For readers who live villain origin stories, there’s a novel about how Maleficent became, well, Maleficent.
There are also at least three titles this week that include young journalists–Hawk & Sparrow, Straight to the Source, and Rosa by Any Other Name.
If you’re in the U.S. or Canada and get to enjoy a long weekend coming up, here’s to it, including a new book or two!
New Hardcover YA Releases This Week
The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause
Set in 1942, this story follows 17-year-old Ren Hamada and 17-year-old Violet Aratani. They don’t have a lot in common–Ren’s troubled past seems to follow him everywhere, while Violet worries about keeping her perfect grades. There is one thing, though: they both have family magic.
Ren and Violet, along with their families, are then forced into an internment camp by the government for the crime of being Japanese American. That’s when the two meet, and despite the circumstances, they find themselves pulled toward one another.
There’s a god inside the prison, though, and only Ren and Violet can free him. A massive award awaits them if they do, but with fear, anxiety, and tension swirling around them, can they work together to get the job done?
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Hawk and Sparrow by Ayana Gray
Vesper Evans has never been a fan of Basalton’s high society. They have a sorcery that gives them status most could never dream of–including Vesper herself. She’s a reporter at The Basalton Globe, whose editor rescued her as an orphan.
Now covering a high society event, Vesper is shocked when she finds the murdered body of someone she’d just spoken with. He may not have been someone that members of the elite loved, but enough to want him dead?
There’s one key suspect, and that’s Maximilian Kite. Max makes Vesper an offer: find the real culprit and clear his name, and she’ll be guaranteed a big chunk of money. She’s tempted because that money would save the paper and guarantee her an amazing story.
But there is, of course, a catch. To get to the truth, Vesper has to be able to infiltrate high society. That requires pretending to be in a relationship with Max. Things only get more complicated when she’s taken to some extremely seedy parts of the elite world . . . and as she begins to catch some feelings for her arrogant fake partner.
Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig
This one’s had a lot of buzz well before publication. If you’re itching for a reimagining of The Phantom of the Opera for teen readers, here you go!
Christine Daaé is a rising soprano, hoping to find herself. But that task’s made difficult as two different men vie to help her grow her stardom. There’s Raoul, who has been her lifelong friend. He’s warm, and he’s safe. Then there’s The Phantom, a mysterious masked figure who is brilliant and obsessive–Christine cannot stop thinking about him, and it’s a complicated feeling she’s never had before.
As Christine’s fame grows, she’s being pulled to decide which path to follow. It’s hard to decide who she is and what she wants, especially in the spotlight.
Tell The Ghosts I’m Gone by Kalynn Bayron
Moll, Redd, Agnes, and Ossie have supernatural gifts, but they don’t want other people to fear them for it. They’re trying to figure out what those powers grant them, anyway. So one way the group tries to harness those gifts and keep people from feeling on edge around them is by offering paranormal investigative services.
But when they’re called in to investigate a missing young woman at an old Victorian home–one that’s rumored to be haunted–the four are pushed to their limits. The forces in the home, as well as the secrets they unravel, may end up shedding more light about their own powers than anything else.
That is, if they survive the investigation.
Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist by Justine Pucella Winans
Schuyler is a bloodthirsty, evil spirit who cannot stop crushing on the new girl who has moved into the house she haunts. But there’s a big problem. The girl, Wren, has a boyfriend named Enzo. He’s terrible for Wren.
But then Schuyler accidentally possesses Enzo. Schuyler thinks the best course of action, in the wake of being unable to find his spirit anywhere, is to pretend to remain Enzo. But now she’s feeling more at home in his body–and in his life–than she ever thought possible.
She wonders if this is her new, permanent life. It’s not too bad, and she’s able to be close to Wren, too.
Possession isn’t easy, though, and it’s made worse when there’s another spirit who wants to boot Schuyler from Enzo’s body and take it over. How far will Schulyer go to continue holding on to Enzo’s–her–new life?
This one is being pitched as Jennifer’s Body meets The Weight of Blood. It sounds like a lot of fun and a nice addition to the YA canon of funny horror.
Hardcover YA Series Releases This Week:
More Hardcover YA Releases This Week:
New Paperback YA Releases This Week
Formula He’s The One by Andie J. Christopher
Tessa James always wanted to be the first full-time female Formula One driver. That happens when you’re the daughter of a racing legend. But those dreams changed when her mother was killed in a car accident, and her father ended his own career. Now he runs a machine shop that works with race teams, and Tessa manages the front office for him.
Then Tessa’s friend takes her to Monaco for the Grand Prix. Suddenly, the racing life comes flooding back into Tessa’s heart, and that reminder of what she once dreamed of is further ignited when she encounters Formula One legend Pietro Deveraux.
YA readers looking for a sports romance will do well with this fun one set in the world of racing.
The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar by Sonido Reyes
Cesar Flores broke up with his boyfriend Jamal last school year for a whole host of reasons, and none of those reasons were because hewantedto. He was scared of no longer being inthecloset.
But it’s a new school year, and he’s come out to some ofthemost important people in his life. He wants to talk with Jamal and see if they can work things out. Except Cesar is struggling with racing thoughts. He doesn’t think he’s good enough, either for Jamal or anyone else at all.
Cesar’s been lashing out and manages to keep what’s really going on behind humor. Except that one manic episode pushes what’s going on to a breaking point, and now, Cesar realizes he has to choose between continuing to ignore his mental health or ask for help, even if it means he’ll have to ask for it from some ofthepeople he’s hurtthemost.
This is a companion toTheLesbiana’sGuideto Catholic School,but you don’t need to read that book to pick this one up (though why wouldn’t you want to read ’em both?).
Rosa By Any Other Name by Hailey Alcaraz
Thanks to the decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled in favor of school desegregation,RosaCapistrano is attending North Phoenix High School, which is one extra point in her favor. She dreams of a college education and a journalism career, but it’s been especially difficult to picture, given that she’s Mexican American. But this school will definitely help, so long as she can keep up her white-passing persona, Rosie, while there. This is to ensure she stays safe and under the radar.
It is hard enough to do this solo, but it’s made harder whenRosa’s best friend, Ramon, and classmate Julianne meet and fall in love. Following a tragedy that affects the entire community,Rosa is thrown into the spotlight by the town-wide scandal. Her identity is in question.
Marcos,Rosa’s brother, is passionate about everything he does, and he insists thatRosamake the right choice: keep playing down who she is to protect some idea of safety or do everything she can to help her friends find much-deserved justice.
It’sRomeo & Julietmeets desegregation meets journalism meets activism and more.
We Mostly Come Out at Night edited by Rob Costello
Monster means something slightly (or vastly!) different to everyone. This anthology, which features only trans and queer authors, explores the truth of being confronted by monsters—and of being seen as a monster, too. It includes familiar monsters of legends and lore, as well as new ones. The contributor lineup is excellent, too, and includes Kalynn Bayron, David Bowles, H.E. Edgmon, Michael Thomas Ford, Naomi Kanakia, Claire Kann, Sam J. Miller, Alexandra Villasante, and more.
There are never enough YA horror anthologies, and this one is a worthy addition.
Paperback YA Series Releases This Week:
More Paperback YA Releases This Week:
For more YA book talk, check out this deep dive into the state of YA bestsellers in 2026 and read your way into some of the best YA serial killer books–it’s thematic to this week’s bevy of new horror releases!
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