16 Highly Anticipated YA Titles in April

From escapist fantasies to coming-of-age dramas, this spring's YA literature offers a diverse mix of titles that offer both entertainment and enlightenment. We love finding good reads in this genre so that we can pass them on to the young readers in our lives (after enjoying them ourselves, of course). Here are sixteen releases that we're looking forward to in April.

Not Here to Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill (April 4)

Fans of The Bachelor and friends-to-lovers romance will fall for this charming rom-com! Childhood besties Sloan and Liam reunite to spend the summer in L.A. after five years apart—but when they both get involved with a teen reality dating show, their lives take an unexpected turn for the unreal.

Spell Bound by F. T. Lukens (April 4)

Adventurous and magnetic, this romantic adventure conjures a powerful spell. Rook and Sun are apprentices to rival sorcerers. When their mentors get attacked by the Magical Consortium, they have no choice but to work together to save them . . . or face losing their magic forever.

An Appetite for Miracles by Laekan Zea Kemp (April 4)

Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Nicola Yoon, this heart-wrenching novel-in-verse follows two teens who must come together to heal the pain from their pasts. When Danna and Raúl meet, sparks fly immediately and they find themselves on a mission for miracles.

First Year Orientation: An Anthology (April 4)

Need a gift for the high school graduates in your life? Consider this anthology of linked short stories about the first days of college. The collection assembles a colorful array of tales from sixteen acclaimed authors including a National Book Award nominee, a NYT bestselling novelist, and a beloved actress.

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick (April 4)

Stevie and Nora had an epic, once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. But it was also a secret. That's why after graduation, they planned to leave their small, conservative town behind for California and stop hiding that love. But then Stevie had a terrible fall. And now she doesn't remember any of it, not even Nora.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (April 4)  

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. Shadow and Bone meets Lore in this epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

¡Ay, Mija!: My Bilingual Summer in Mexico by Christine Suggs (April 4)

In this heartfelt, bilingual graphic memoir, the author explores their first solo trip to visit relatives in Mexico. Missing home in Texas and struggling to find their place, they embark on an exploration of the impacts of colonialism in both Mexico and themselves.

Throwback by Maurene Goo (April 11)

Sam always butts heads with her mom, a first-generation Korean American. After a huge blowup, she is desperate to get away and somehow finds herself thrown back through time to the 1990s alongside her teenage mother. A complex look at mother-daughter relationships that both will love!

Bianca Torres is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans (April 11)

In this sardonic and campy YA thriller, sixteen-year-old Bianca is an avid birder grappling with a gender identity crisis and an ever-growing list of fears when they find themself investigating a murder with their neighbor and falling for a cute girl from their birding group, all while trying not to get killed next.

The Sharp Edge of Silence by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum (April 11)

Three very different students at an elite New England boarding school navigate repressive and toxic traditions around athletic rivalries, secret societies, and pranks taken too far. Told in alternating perspectives, this gripping, fast-paced story delivers an empowering #MeToo narrative.

Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin (April 18)

After being diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dylan grapples with the voices in her head and the terrible secret from her past that put them there. Her only distraction is a budding new relationship. But as she gets closer to the truth, she begins to wonder: Will it heal her or fracture her further?

I Kick and I Fly by Ruchira Gupta (April 18)

A propulsive social justice adventure by a renowned activist and award-winning documentarian, this is an inspiring, hopeful story of triumph. Heera is a girl in Bihar, India, who escapes being sold into the sex trade when a local hostel owner helps her to understand the value of her body through kung fu.

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robby Couch (April 18)

Shy, reserved Clark is caught in a time loop, reliving the same monotonous Monday 309 times. Until, suddenly on Day 310, his usual math class is interrupted by Beau, an effervescent boy he’s never seen before. Throwing caution to the wind, Clark joins Beau for a day of "errands" across the Windy City.

Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby (April 25)

It's 2199 and deep-space exploration is a reality; teleportation, routine in this pulse-pounding sci-fi novel. Seventeen-year-old Jessica has crashed on a desolate planet far from Earth. Now she must unravel the mystery of what went wrong—and the questionable intentions of a familiar stranger.

Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying (April 25)

Valerie Chu is quiet, studious, and above all, thin. No one, not even her best friend, Jordan, knows that she binges and purges. But when tragedy strikes, Val finds herself reassessing her priorities, her choices, and her body. This heart-wrenching graphic novel charts her journey to self-love.

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams (April 25)

This swashbuckling fantasy debut is perfect for fans of Holly Black and Justina Ireland. Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a gifted craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for Shakespeare’s acting company. Her magical skill with blades pulls her into battle against a Fae uprising.

Pick up one of these compelling reads for the young readers in your life. (Or just for yourself!) And let us know if you have any titles to add to the list.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon