Empire by Sabaa Tahir (Heir duology book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Heir, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book.

“A crumbling empire.

An ancient evil.

A lost homeland.

A lie that could destroy the world.

In the crumbling Martial Empire, crown prince Quil Farrar and his aunt, Empress Helene, are losing a war against the vicious Kegari horde. Quil’s armies dwindle, his faith falters, and the woman he loves vanished months ago, leaving him brokenhearted. Torn between his duty to his people and his desire to discover Sirsha’s fate, Quil embarks on a dangerous quest for aid—from the most treacherous of allies.

Sirsha Westering finds herself tethered to Div, an ancient evil unleashed by a terrible tragedy. Div delights in tormenting Sirsha, hungering for her magical heart. Even as Sirsha struggles for control of her own fate, she is desperate to shield Quil from Div’s destructive power. But Div won’t release Sirsha without a fight. To earn her freedom, Sirsha must uncover Div’s past—and face horrors in her own.

Cero bet-Dafra, former right hand of the Kegari leader, Aiz, now finds himself pitted against her. As Aiz slips further into violence and delusion, Cero must discover if his people have any hope of a future or if they’re condemned to an unending cycle of violence. His journey will force him to confront hidden truths, ancient secrets, and a lie that could destroy the world.” - taken from Goodreads.

Wow! The conclusion of this duology back in the world of Ember in the Ashes blew me away. I don’t wait to give anything away but readers are treated to a brief recap of Heir in the beginning. It did take me a little bit to get my head wrapped around the story again with the multiple POV. This book did break me before the surprising ending which does leave the door open for more stories from this world.

Visit Sabaa Tahir’s website.

Capsized by Charlotte Lillie Balogh

“For high-achieving Margaret Douglas, rowing is everything—her friends, her family, and her way into college. As a senior and varsity captain, she’s sacrificed everything to get where she is. But after mysteriously disappearing over the summer, rumors Was Margaret at Olympic training? Rehab? House arrest? Whatever happened, it haunts her . . . and when she returns at the beginning of the season, Margaret discovers that the sisterhood she once knew has moved on without her.

Meanwhile, spunky freshman and new girl Jo Bryant is being forced to row by her a former Olympian, a Boston legend, and the person Jo blames for her parents’ divorce. Jo knows nothing about the sport, or why Margaret’s return has everyone at the boathouse whispering, but she does know Margaret is the only person who doesn’t treat her like a joke.

For both girls, the varsity team is a fierce, messy found family; a sisterhood earned in five a.m. wake-ups and blistered hands. But there are secrets and scandals waiting to surface—and with the biggest race of the year on the horizon, Margaret, Jo, and their teammates are about to find out just how deep they go.” - taken from Goodreads.

Jo has been given an incredible opportunity that she doesn't want, a private school education where her father teaches. Her parents have also signed her up to row for the Boston Rowing Club, a sport where former Olympian father is a well-known coach. Jo and her father do not have a close relationship because of her parents divorce. 

Thrown into the girls rowing club as a novice. Jo is immediately accepted because of her father's status. An outsider looking in, she sees the return of Margaret Douglas to the team and the downfall in her status as she loses her captaincy and boat seat as the mystery deepens over where she was during the summer. And Jo has a front row seat to the drama surrounding Margaret in the boat house.

What really happened to Margaret over the summer that she doesn't want to talk about? And will Jo fall in love with rowing or be able to build a relationship with her father?

Visit Charlotte Lillie Balogh’s website.

The River She Became by Emily Varga (River & Salt book 1)

“I’m going across the River. And I’m going to save us all.

Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire—or so they think. By day, she catalogs the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret to restore magic to her dying land.

Until she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world and save her people. But a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin—especially the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. But even he isn’t what he seems—under the guise of upholding a cruel regime, he works to overthrow it from the inside. To succeed, he needs the same lost relic Yaseema seeks: the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.

With magic that is a mystery even to her, Yaseema can help him find the crown and save his family from a fate worse than death. Unless she steals it first to help her own.

To survive, they must work together to outwit ancient curses, battle creatures born of nightmares, and find a power that could resurrect their worlds. But as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, they face the greatest danger of losing their heart to each other.” - taken from Goodreads.

Yaseema and her family are trapped in the Empire, starving as Fae objects are taken from the land and the magic is slowly disappearing. Determined to put a stop to it, she steals artifacts for safekeeping from the Empire during her work as an archivist. When she is discovered stealing a prize piece of jewelry, she must leave her family behind. She is able to escape when she passes through the barrier in the river into the land of Fae.

Kiyan is a prince in hiding. The Court of Water has been taken over by the Court of Salt and the royal family has been trapped inside of a mountain. Working behind the scenes to help the rebel cause, Kiyan has one hope to rescue his trapped family, the lost crown of a fae Queen. Discovering Yaseema by the river, he saves her from a deadly creature and becomes fascinated by the strange human who has entered the land of the fae. 

It turns out both Kiyan and Yaseema are looking for the same relic but for completely different reasons. Can the two of them learn to trust one another in order to work together?

With a heartstopping ending, readers will be awaiting book two, TBD.

Visit Emily Varga’s website.

Stars, Stripes, & Summer Nights by Celeste Dador

“All Abby wants is one normal summer before college. No headlines. No drama. Just a chance to breathe.

But when a run-in at the White House with Gabriel Calabrese—a maddeningly carefree small-town photographer—spirals into a pizza delivery scandal that makes front-page news, Abby’s plans disappear overnight. To escape the fallout, she’s sent to a charming country inn run by Gabriel’s family.

Now she’s stuck with the last person she wants to see.

As Abby and Gabriel team up to save his family’s Fourth of July festival—and tackle Abby’s secret summer bucket list—sparks begin to fly. Especially when he helps her experience all the “real” teen moments she’s missed: parties, picnics… and maybe even a first kiss.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a super sweet romance. Abby is the First Daughter of the United States and she doesn't get to live the life of a normal teenager. Everyone believes she and the Vice President’s son Oliver, are destined to be a couple, even Abby herself. But when she meets her aunt’s godson Gabe at a state dinner, her summer plans are abruptly changed when she causes a minor scandal over a pizza delivery. Abby and her younger sister are sent to Mystic Hollow, Virginia for the month of June to stay with their aunt at an inn owned by Gabe's mother.

The more time Abby and Gabe spend together working on her summer bucket list, the closer the two become. Can any relationship between Abby and Gabe survive her return to DC?

Visit Celeste Dados’s website.

All We Hunger For by Anna Mercier

“In Anespérer, where magic comes alive through artistic skill, Elara Rousseau knows she'll never be selected for the Objet d’Art. The high-stakes baking competition will elect a new Souverain to join the ruling council, and someone from the slums would never be considered. But when a brooding figure from her past sneaks her into the Objet, Elara has the chance to compete for a better future... as long as no one uncovers her traitorous secret.

Nikolas Dupont will do whatever it takes to impress his powerful father, a Souverain who hasn't officially recognized his son―like handpick a contestant to win and become his father's political pawn. But Elara is more than he bargained for, and she ignites his own subdued passions.

Against all odds, Elara excels and becomes a hero to the city's poor, all while Nik’s faith in his father crumbles and the sparks between them burn brighter. As the competition heats up, Elara and Nik must choose: fight to win the competition and secure a future of safety for them both, or use the power of Elara’s art to spark a revolution.” - taken from Goodreads.

I don't watch a lot of cooking shows but I feel like this could be like the Great British bake off or chopped but with higher stakes. Elara, the daughter of an executed revolutionary leader is given the opportunity to compete to become one of the next leaders of the kingdom. There under false pretenses, Elara soon finds herself sponsored by Nikolas who is trying to impress his powerful father. When her magical cooking abilities thrushed her into the spotlight, she and Nik find themselves at the center of a new revolution where their safety is on the line.

With a slow burn romance between Elara and Nik, readers will find themselves rooting for the two to ignite a change.

Visit Anna Mercier’s website.

Black Point by Jacqueline West

“Lucia Sorenson holds on hard to the things she loves. Her tiny hometown clings to the bluffs above the Mississippi River, threatened by weather and time. Unlike most people her age, Lucia plans to stay after graduation and help her grandfather run the Viking Museum of Black Point. Maybe then she can keep everything her ancestors built from washing away.

When the Black Point Hotel, a supposedly haunted local landmark, is bought by an outsider, the town is shaken—and for Lucia, fresh changes arrive in the form of the owner’s nephew, Max. As Lucia gets to know Max, she begins to question her role in the town’s rituals and to see the place, and herself, with new eyes.

But the town is flooding, and old secrets are rising to the surface. Soon Lucia will have to choose between the home she thought she knew and the hideous truths hidden underneath.” - taken from Goodreads.

Lucia Sorensen has lived her entire life in Black point Wisconsin and has no desire to leave after graduation. She is determined to stay and help her grandfather with the Viking museum that he owns. The small town is located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and is threatened by climate change. And in a town where nothing changes, Lucia finds herself drawn to newcomer Max, who's Aunt has just bought the abandoned hotel. As Max helps with demolition, secrets that the town and its citizens want to keep from seeing the light of day begin to surface. Can Lucia see what has been hidden from her before it's too late?

Visit Jacqueline West’s website.

Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

“Finley has always felt most comfortable in someone else’s shadow. Fortunately, she’s got Colin, her magnetic boyfriend, who sweeps her along for activities, friendships, and future plans. Then she goes on a last-minute trip with her distant mom to a family vacation house that Finley didn’t know existed and is now about to be sold.

Her mom was estranged from her own parents and siblings since leaving home for college, and it’s a novelty for Finley to see her aunts and cousins, and to meet the handful of teens who work at the Egg, her aunt’s diner, and make up a found family of their own—including undeniably handsome guitarist Ben.

Then her relationship with Colin goes into freefall, and Finley’s roadmap for life after high school is gone. She has no choice but to live, for the first time, without plans. The longer Finley stays, the closer she gets to the truth about why her mother stayed away—and why she’s brought Finley here now.

And the closer she grows to new friends at the Egg, the more she starts to fall for charmingly awkward, soulful Ben and to realize how much of herself she’s been missing. By the end of the summer, nothing will be the same—for this community or for Finley herself.” - taken from Goodreads. 

Finley has plans for the future. They get turned upside down when her graduation trip with her mother to New York City gets changed to a visit to her mother's. A strange family. Not knowing anyone, things get worse for her when her boyfriend dumps her while he's on a cruise. Cruise. It's not too long before Finley uncovers her mother's secrets and begins to find a place in her new found family. And of course, a new boy is soon in the picture to shake up what she thought she knew.

Visit Sarah Dessen’s website.

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord (Queen of Faces book 1)

“A desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath.

Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis—before her own kills her.

But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor's smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.

With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters—and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book had a very unique premise and that people can swap their physical bodies. The wealthy can afford it while everyone else is at the mercy of their wallets. Anabelle Gage is stuck in a mediocre male body that is dying and she is unable to procure a new one without stealing it. Caught, she soon finds herself at the mercy of Paragon Academy's headmaster. Either she dies or becomes his assassin and does his dirty work.

What happens next is a story full of dark academia and not one character who isn’t flawed, some much more than others. Leading to the ultimate showdown not knowing who will live or die, an ending that no one sees coming will leave readers anticipating book two, King of Masks, is due out February 9, 2027.

Visit Petra Lord’s website.

That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally

“She thought she had her life back. She was wrong. It was a mistake to trust him.

Shivering and bruised, a teen wakes up on the side of a dirt road with no memory of how she got there―or who she is. A passing officer takes her to the police station, and not long after, a frantic man arrives. He's been searching for her for hours. He has her school ID, her birth certificate, and even family photos. He is her father. Her name is Mary. Or so he says.

When Lola slammed the car door and stormed off into the night, Drew thought they just needed some time to cool off. Except Lola disappeared, and the sheriff, his friends, and the whole town are convinced Drew murdered his girlfriend. Forget proving his innocence, he needs to find her before it's too late. The longer Lola is missing, the fewer leads there are to follow…and the more danger they both are in.” - taken from Goodreads.

Found bruised and bloodied on the side of the road, a teen has no idea how she got there, what happened or even who she is. A police officer finds and takes her to the station. It isn't long before a frantic man shows up claiming to be her father. He says that her name is Mary Boone.

Drew was the last person to see his girlfriend alive and now she is missing. Everyone in town believes he has something to do with her disappearance. Convinced he is the only one who still holds out hope that she is still alive, Drew still posts missing person flyers around town.

As Mary recovers and tries to remember, it isn’t too long before things don’t make sense, such as her father buying her the wrong size clothing and forgetting her food allergy. Drew is still diligently searching for Lola and a stolen tip gives him a new location where she might have been spotted. Can Drew find Lola before it’s too late and what is really going on with Mary Boone?

Visit Megan Lally’s website.

Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O’Sullivan (Her Hidden Fire book 1)

“If he has the ability to wield magical powers, everyone will rejoice – especially the girl who loves him.
But what happens when they realize she has the gift?

In a world where dragons stalk the skies and magical abilities are an elite privilege, the ruling family of Ailm’s Keep is on a knife. Can Ionain, the heir apparent, channel magic, or will the family be cast out and replaced by a cruel master from a neighbouring land?

So when Éadha, a servant girl who loves Ionainain, discovers that she can draw power, she finds herself in grave danger. It’s extremely rare for a girl to have this talent, and certainly never outside the great families. At Ionain’s moment of truth, Éadha makes a desperate gamble to save him, Ailm’s Keep, and ultimately herself.

As Éadha and Ionain enter a whirlwind of patriarchy, class, heartache and jealousy, they learn about power’s terrible cost – a price others willingly pay to maintain theirs.

How far would you go to empower the one you love?” - taken from Goodreads.

Éadha as a servant at Ailm’s Keep. Most of her life she has been the friend of her crush, Ionain. Approaching their 17th birthdays. The time has come to determine if Ionain possesses the magic to keep his family from being disgraced and losing the Keep. Unfortunately he doesn't but Éadha does. To keep from being discovered that she possesses magic, she passes some of her power to Ionain to keep from being humiliated. But once she does, Éadha must keep up the farce to save them both.

Traveling to the Lambay Islands to train, Éadha is able to go along because it is discovered what little magic she has allows her to be a Keeper. Thrown into a world she doesn't fit into, Éadha must figure out a way to keep her magic hidden in order to keep herself safe while supplying Ionain enough power unknowingly to keep his lack of magic from being discovered. But soon she needs a cruel classmate who is out to destroy her while another who has more than a casual interest in her.

Can Éadha keep all of her secrets from being found out? And who can she really trust in the cutthroat world she suddenly finds herself in?

With a climatic ending, readers will be eager to read book two, Her Rising Flame, due out November 5, 2026.

Visit Cliodhna O’Sullivan’s website.

Thorn Season by Keira Azar (Thorn Season book 1)

“In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders, in possession of a magical Spectre–a shimmering thread that can extend beyond their visible body to give a loving caress, pick a lock . . . even kill. Feared for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.

Alissa Paine, heiress and daughter of a Hunter family . . . is also a Wielder. At eighteen, Alissa knows she’s escaped execution thus far only due to painful self-control and the efforts of her beloved father.

Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal—and caught between two equally dangerous one a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairy-tale prince, who would destroy her if he knew the truth—and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.

With the threat of discovery lurking around every corner—and romance becoming an increasingly dangerous temptation—Alissa will find that she has more to lose than her secrets. It’s Rose Season at the palace, but to survive she’ll need to become the most vicious of thorns. ..”- taken from Goodreads.

Alissa is hiding a secret, one that carries a death sentence. She is a Wielder with magical thread-like abilities. Her father and his family are Hunters, tasked with eradicating Wielders from the kingdom of Daradon. Determined to stop any more Wielder deaths, she arrives at the Palace of King Erik for the upcoming Rose Season, which is like presenting the coming-of-age ladies of the Kingdom. This year. King Erik is using this time to find a wife and soon sets his sights on Alissa, which is not a good thing 

To make matters worse, there is a visitor to the palace from a neighboring kingdom, ambassador Keil. Keil also takes an interest in Alissa. He also turns out to be a Wielder and is looking for the same thing as Alissa, the magical compass that detects Wielders that the hunters have lost. As the Rose Season progresses, the more danger that Alissa finds herself in without knowing who she can trust. 

With an unresolved ending that sets up the next book in the series, readers will be anxiously awaiting the next book, Sharpest Court, due out Nov. 3, 2026.

Visit Keira Azar’s website.

Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane by Cassie Miller

Release date is October 6, 2026

“Gianna Mancini is a Christmas romantic. She loves everything about the holiday— especially the Mullings Creek Holiday Market that opens every year in the center of town. While Gianna adores her small-town life, she still dreams about traveling the world and getting away from her overbearing family. But on the same day she receives an acceptance to a study abroad program, the town’s beloved market owner unexpectedly passes away, leaving the property to a literal Scrooge from NYC!  The town has just thirty days to convince the new owner not to sell. His flirtatious son, James comes up with a he and Gianna can fake date so she can bring her holiday flair closer to his family. While Gianna is on board with whatever it takes to save their beloved market, Sam—who has been secretly pining after Gianna for years—is not so keen on James snuggling up with his best friend next to the Christmas tree. But as the lines between Gianna and James begin to blur during gingerbread contests and candy cane hunts, so do the lines of friendship between Gianna and Sam under the glow of the town’s holiday twinkle light display. Soon both boys are ready to be under the mistletoe with Gianna. Who will be her first real Christmas kiss? The future of the market and her town just may depend on it.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a cozy Christmas romance that takes place in a small Hallmark-esque town. Gianna Mancini finds out that her dream of a semester abroad in Italy comes true. That same day the town discovers that the owner of the town’s beloved market building died owing back taxes. When Mr. Bailey and his son James arrive in town to sell the building, Gianna is determined to find a way to thaw the Grinchy heart of Mr. Bailey and save the market building from developers. 

Hatching a plan with James to fake date in an attempt to spread some Christmas cheer to his father, Gianna soon finds that her heart is torn between her fake boyfriend and her best friend Sam. With countdowns looming around her, Gianna will need to make some decisions not only about her future but about who will be by her side.

Full of Christmas movie quotes that foreshadow that chapter's action, a lovable dog named Sally, and a fierce family that supports their own, readers will be rooting for Gianna no matter what choices she makes.

Visit Cassie Miller’s website.

Augusta Pine Does Not Exist by Emily Lloyd-Jones

“I was fifteen when I became a murderer.

After a hack gone tragically wrong, a teen girl is given an accept a harsh prison sentence or leave her old life behind, adopt a new identity, and use her talents in the service of a covert government agency.

Three years later, the newly-named Augusta Pine has become a skilled wraith, one of the Identity Security Division’s secret operatives. She has no home, no family. Her only friends are her coolly professional handler and a snarky sentient AI spybot. So when Augusta is sent to Portland for her next assignment, she seizes the chance to glimpse her beloved grandmother and rents the apartment next door.

But what begins as a little nostalgic stalking quickly turns into a fight for survival. With her quick wit, tech savvy—and help from an unexpected ally—Augusta must race against the clock to stay one step ahead of a band of deadly cyberterrorists.

Unfolding through a suspenseful narrative interspersed with case-file excerpts, this is a pulse-pounding novel about identity, connection, and justice.” - taken from Goodreads.

Six deadly criminals against one teenage hacker and her sentient AI spy bot. This book was so unlike any other that I had previously read by this author. I just loved getting to discover what made Augusta Pine tick her past mistakes that led her to the present. In the near future, where technology is an even greater control, Augusta Pine has a rare weekend off from her government job. Before she can get too cozy, Augusta finds herself in the middle of a terrorist takeover of the apartment building where she is staying. With only her wits and her AI spybot Edgar, can Augusta thaw the terrace and get back to her regular scheduled life?

Visit Emily Lloyd-Jones’ website.

Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray (Bitten book 1)

“After a vicious werewolf attack on the night of her seventeenth birthday party, Vanessa Hart loses everything she loves in a split second. Her best friend, her father, and even her home.

Bitten and imprisoned without explanation, Vanessa endures an agonizing transformation into the very beast that maimed her, and her captors make it clear she cannot escape: she will either 

swear her life to the Wolf Queen’s Court, or she will die.

With no other choice, Vanessa joins their enchanted Castle Severi—where flowering vines grow through the walls, gifts are bestowed by the stars, and a claw can break through skin as easily as silk—but she hasn’t forgotten what they stole from her.

Vanessa still seeks vengeance, scheming in the shadows even as she finds herself mesmerized by the golden prince Sinclair Severi, who threatens to steal her heart though he is promised to her nemesis. And by his brooding, disgraced cousin, Calix, whose smoldering gaze hides even darker secrets. Immersed in the magic of their whimsical yet cruel society, Vanessa soon learns not all is as it seems.

The Court is at war, and she may simply be a pawn in its lethal game. - taken from Goodreads.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. One night on the beach for a party changes everything for Vanessa. Her best friend is murdered, she is bitten by an unknown werewolf, and her father turns her over to the Wolf Queen's Court without question. Thrown into a world she previously didn’t know existed, Vanessa soon discovers that the world of werewolves isn’t very forgiving on an unwanted addition. Determined to find out who killed her friend and bit her, Vanessa soon discovers that she isn’t sure who she can trust. With a dramatic reveal at the end, readers will be clamoring for the next book in the series.

The story concludes with book two, Devoured, out on October 6, 2026.

Visit Jordan Stephanie Gray’s website.

Thornbird by E. Kennedy

 “The world is hunting for answers—but what if the truth leads straight to you?

Ten years after her father—the infamous serial killer Gabriel Thorn—was caught, Ryan Shipley is back in Starling, Tennessee, trying to lay low. No one can know who she really is. No one can know the truth about her past.

But as fresh eyes dig deeper into the case, old secrets refuse to stay buried. Cryptic texts, eerie coincidences, and a chilling note leave everyone wondering—does Ryan know more than she’s letting on? As the truth unravels, one thing becomes in a town full of secrets, Ryan might be the biggest mystery of them all.” - taken from Goodreads.

Ryan has arrived back to her hometown after the death of her grandmother to live with the only family she has left, in the hometown where her father killed her mother when she was a child after discovering that he was a serial killer. But trying to keep her true identity and the past a secret is harder and more traumatizing than Ryan ever imagined. As the date leading up her her father’s execution inches nearer, someone out there knows who she is and what really happened.

Just when you think the mystery has been solved, the Earth cracks beneath Ryan to uncover even more secrets that will rock her world (and yours). This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I couldn’t put it down. The audio version was an incredible performance. 

Visit E. Kennedy's website.

First and Forever by Lynn Painter

“Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.

When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.

The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a great meet cute between two young adults who are trying to find their footing now that they are “grown ups”. Duffy and Conner soon find themselves falling for each other even though their relationship starts out as a PR stunt unknown to her. Even though this is an adult title, the story is very appropriate for high school students who love Lynn Painter's previous books.

Visit Lynn Painter’s website. 

Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman

“Do you ever really know the people you love?

For the Gold sisters and Silver brothers, life has been idyllic, growing up in side-by-side waterfront mansions in a town where doors are never locked and the police do little more than issue speeding tickets. The Golds and Silvers have known each other their entire lives, as neighbors, as friends, as family.

But one carefree summer takes a dark turn when a beach party ends in tragedy and their perfect world cracks wide open. Suddenly, the bonds that tie these families together are strained by suspicion and fear. Painful secrets surface, revealing the fragile truths they've all been hiding.

Lucy, the oldest Gold girl, harbors a crushing secret from her boyfriend, one of the Silver boys. Millie, the middle sister, quietly yearns for the one person she can't have. And the youngest, Frankie, uncovers something that could blow their island apart.” - taken from Goodreads.

A summer of secrets between the Silver boys and the Gold girls explodes when the body of Billy Godwin is discovered. The youngest gold sister, Frankie takes it upon herself to play detective to find out what happened to Billy Godwin. Told between the present day and the uncovering of the events that occurred on the night of the party that Billy died, Readers will be kept on the edge of their seats until the very end to discover what really happened and who was to blame.

Visit Jessica Goodman’s website.

Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon

“For Thurgood Marshall Academy's best and brightest--five friends who've been thick as thieves since kindergarten--this spring break is all about forgetting: they want nothing more than to wash away last year's tragedy, and the human-shaped hole it left in their friend group.

It's a hole the new kid, Anthony Brooks, seems to fit right into. So when he invites the Five to join him on a private island for a week at his dad's luxury resort, they agree with zero hesitation. No one's counting on a freak tropical storm swooping in and killing the vibe. And speaking of killing, they're also ill-prepared for the mounting collection of dead bodies... including (another) one of their own.

As their dream trip unravels, everything they tried to leave behind--secrets, lies, betrayals, dead best friends--seems to be washing up on the shore of their lives for everyone to see. Will any of them make it out alive?” - taken from Goodreads.

This book is the third collaboration between this team of six authors. Instead of a set of interconnected love stories like the previous two titles, breakout is a spring break trip that goes horribly wrong. Six teens head to a private island but become stranded when a hurricane hits and soon the dead bodies begin to pile up that have nothing to do with the aftermath of the storm. The trails, lies, and secrets are uncovered leading up to the end of the book. Readers will be guessing at who makes it off the island alive.

Better in Black by Cassandra Clare (Shadowhunter Chronicles book 22)

The Good Storm  Tessa and Will Herondale are on their honeymoon in Paris, after the events of The Infernal Devices. 

The Beautiful Ajatara 

Cordelia and James Herondale as well as Cordelia’s parabatai/James’s sister Lucy are tricked into thinking Lucie’s unfinished story will be published. The demon Ajatara 

Who the Wolves Love 

Luke Garroway writes a love letter to Jocelyn Fray while she is in a coma in The Mortal Instruments series. 

Zachary’s Day Out 

Alistair Carstairs and Thomas Lightwood have been living together for a year now and they are recruited into babysitting Alistair’s 18-month-old brother Zachary. 

The Judgment of King Kieran

It’s been a while since I read The Dark Artifices, so I had forgotten Kieran, Mark, and Cristina’s little love triangle: King Kieran and his two consorts. Mark and Cristina are summoned to the Unseelie Court where Kieran is tasked with choosing the next Lord of All Storms as the previous one was slain

A Surfeit of Annas 

In this story, Anna Lightwood and Ariane (Ari) Bridgestock deal with challenges to their relationship in the aftermath of the events in The Last Hours a year ago. 

Bred in the Bone 

Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn encounter an “Endarkened” version of Emma from the alternate timeline of Thule. 

City of Broken Hearts 

Simon Lewis and Isabelle Lightwood investigate the actions of the jilted greater demon named Ajatara

The Time of Two 

Jace and Clary set out to find Max Trueblood, Jace‘s adoptive mother Maryse Lightwood’s brother. 

Too Wise to Love 

Nene, a faerie who vows to never love anyone, tells us this “faerie tale”. This is Ash Morgansternś origin story.

Visit Cassandra Clare’s website.

Visit Shadowhunters.com

Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson

“When global singing sensation Blair Baker rises on a platform high above the stage for the opening number of her triumphant hometown concert, the crowd erupts in applause. But their joy quickly turns to horror when they realize Blair is dead. The shocking revelation that music's brightest star has been murdered rocks the world. But for her younger sister, Stevie, the tragedy is more than a headline - it's personal.

Determined to uncover the truth, Stevie dives headfirst into the shadows of her sister's glittering life.

What begins as a search for answers turns into a dangerous journey through the toxic underbelly of fame, where betrayal, manipulation, and obsession thrive. Yet, as Stevie peels back the layers of who her sister really was, she begins to uncover dark secrets closer to home - secrets that someone is desperate to keep buried…” - taken from Goodreads.

This book starts off with the murder of Stevie's older sister, Blair Baker, a pop star sensation at her concert in her hometown. It isn't too long before Stevie alongside her new friend Colby, who runs a fan site about Blair dive feet first into their own investigation over her murder. As the duo begin to uncover the clues, they are warned off by someone to mind their own business. But the more Stevie discovers, will she be able to face the truth about the secrets she learns? Because frankly, most everyone is hiding something.

Visit Jennifer Pearson’s website.

Storm Breaker by Nisha J. Tuli (Storm Breaker book 1)

“For nineteen-year-old Poet Graves, New Manhattan has always promised safety―if she obeys. Raised within the ruling Houses and betrothed to a powerful heir, she enters Amery Academy knowing her future has already been decided.

But Amery is nothing like she imagined. Its trials are brutal, its loyalties conditional, and its rules designed to expose weakness. As Poet struggles to survive, she must hide the truth that could get her executed: the storms don’t fear her―they answer back.

When a dangerous outsider from beyond the city walls enters the academy, Poet is drawn to him despite everything she’s been taught to believe. He threatens the life she’s been promised. And choosing him could cost her not just her future, but her freedom.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book has all of the things that I am looking for in a great story and is the perfect mashup of The Hunger Games and Divergent. Poet is hiding a secret that will get her killed if it is discovered. Determined to get out from under her father’s control, she soon discovers that her choices have far reaching consequences that she never imagined. When the mysterious outsider Rook becomes the one person she thinks she can trust, turns out to be hiding secrets of his own, Poet makes the decision that she hopes will save her life. With plenty of romance, mystery, and intrigue, readers will be left waiting on the next book after a true cliffhanger ending.  Definitely one of my favorite reads so far this year!

Book two is expected to be out on Sept. 1, 2026.

Visit Nisha J. Tuli’s website.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before : the graphic novel adapted by Barbara Perez Marquez

“What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed and, suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

Experience Lara Jean’s story all over again in an all-new graphic novel format!” - taken from Goodreads.

Super cute graphic retelling of the story. I hope this series continues in graphic format.