10 Best and Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books of 2022 (So Far)

Told entirely in verse, this novel that circles around news coverage of a sexual assault case is both stirring and poignant. As Mimi undertakes the family tradition of journaling through her difficult relationship with her mother and her attempts to find her place in the world, she uncovers the truth about the women in her family, and how their strength lies within her too.

For teens navigating religion, family and first romances, this one will hit the spot. Dua's a Muslim teen trying to connect with her conservative relatives, say the right thing around the band member she's crushing on and trying not to chew her own arm off during Ramadan. It's a heartfelt, endearing read.

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New-kid-at-school jitters? This book won't help. When misfit Lia scores a free ride to the tony Draycott Academy, she's determined to find her niche. But soon enough, the school starts to seem less than friendly — maybe even deadly.

When Sunny G's brother died, he left him a journal that Sunny vows to fill with rash decisions. First up: Cut his beard and his hair and ditch the turban that denotes his Sikh identity. He debuts his new vibe at prom, where a girl named Mindii makes her own rash decision in stealing his notebook. What follows is a series of hysterical hijinks your teen won't want to miss.

Kat Sanchez's life is pretty normal, if a bit boring. Except for one thing: She has a secret Instagram account where she's Max Monroe, a glamorous and popular influencer. But as Kat and Max's lives increasingly begin to collide, her web of lies begins to tighten around her. It's a fun read, not to mention a lesson in the importance of telling the truth.

In the aftermath of a terrorist attack near her home, Sabriya uses her blog You Truly Assumed to clap back at the rumors and prejudices she's facing as a Black Muslin teen. It starts to take off, and she enlists Zakat and Farah to help as the site goes viral. But with visibility comes trolls and threats that forces them to ask how much they'll risk to make their voices heard. It's a gripping, necessary read for anyone who's very online (and when we're talking teens, that's everyone).

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In this hotly-anticipated fantasy, Olivia has grown up at the Merilance School for Girls with only her mother's journal to remember her past. But when she's invited back to the gothic manor Gallant, she discovers that it has secrets of its own. There's a shadow growing at the seam between two worlds, and Olivia has a choice to make: protect her world from the demons who would overtake it, or fulfill a much darker destiny?

Molly and Alex are like oil and vinegar, but you know what happens when you shake those up together. When Alex develops a new crush, Molly thinks it's the perfect chance to prove she can go the distance with her crush. But as they work together to try and snag the girls of their dreams, their attentions start to turn, well, you'll just have to read it to see where.

First, The Queen's Gambit made chess cool again. Now, it's Scrabble's turn. Najwa's best friend Trina died at a Scrabble competition, and she expects her first game back since the tragedy to avenge her friend. But when Trina's Instagram account suddenly springs to life with cryptic messages, Najwa starts to suspect foul play. How many points for "murder?"

In this magical twist on Groundhog Day, Barrett has to relive her disastrous first day of college over and over again. The worst part? Her nemesis has been stuck there too for months. As they work together to find a way to break the cycle, they slowly fall for each other. But nobody knows what happens when tomorrow finally comes.