My 2021 Spring YA Anticipated Releases

The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman | Releasing April 6th
I don’t read much sci-fi EVER, but this one just sounds like the perfect, thrilling read with a bonus GORGEOUS cover. This book is pitched as Westworld meets Warcross, where Nami becomes murdered on her way to a party and enters the Infinity, a form of the afterlife. There, a virtual assistant, Ophelia (think Siri), has taken over and aims to eradicate human existence. Nami must work with a band of rebels in this high-stakes plot in order to save them all.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland | Releasing April 6th
This book gives me creepy horror-y vibes, but in a good way, you know? This book is about three sisters who disappeared as children, only to return to the same place with no memory of what occurred and odd changes to them. Ten years later, one of the sisters disappears and the other two are forced to confront their supernatural past. It’s a modern written fairytale, and it seems like the perfect atmospheric, haunting read.

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni | Releasing April 13th
This book sorta gives me Throne of Glass/ACOTAR vibes?? It’s about 17-year-old Kiva working at a death prison as the “prison healer.” When the queen is captured, she is tasked with taking care of her before she faces a series of elemental challenges. After realizing that the queen won’t survive them, she takes her place to gain freedom for them both. I really love the concept of the novel, and I’m a big fan of the “challenge/competition” trope (if that even makes sense) in YA fantasies.

What’s Not to Love by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka | Releasing April 20th
I want this book so bad! Like guys, you don’t even know how much I’ve been waiting for this. I read Always Never Yours last year because of a recommendation and really enjoyed it! The entire premise is based off of the Netflix show Never Have I Ever, which is such a good, cheesy, but comforting show. I am here for this hate-to-love romance, I am here for this competitive school setting, and I am here for *hopefully* finding another amazing read from this duo.

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy | Releasing April 20th
I’m always a big fan of retellings, so of course this one is going to be on my list! It is a queer retelling of “The Firebird,” which is a Russian folktale. We always get so many retellings for Beauty and the Beast, so I really like the more unique story! I’ve also been trying to diversify my reads and read more LGBTQ+ books especially, so I’m very looking forward to this one. There’s magic, politics, and a journey with two twin heirs trying to discover who killed their mother.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart | Releasing April 20th
I’ve been a big fan of witchy reads ever since LOVING Kingdom of the Wicked last year, so I thought to throw this one in here as well! This book focuses on two enemy witches who must enter an alliance to take down their common enemy. It’s Jamaican inspired too, which I love for its cultural representation. I have extremely high hopes for this debut read, and just the title itself has me in awe.

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller | Releasing May. 4nd
This sounds like such a fun premise with blacksmiths, magic, adventure, and social anxiety rep! It focuses on our MC, Ziva, who accidentally creates a sword capable of stealing its victims secrets. She must set out on a quest with her sister to protect it from a powerful warlord, set on enslaving the world under her rule. I’m already familiar with Levenseller from Daughter of the Pirate King, and I am very excited to see what she comes up in this one.

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard | Releasing May 4th
I’ll admit it, I wasn’t a fan of Red Queen at all. I barely finished the first book, and never got to the rest of the series. BUT, I am willing to put that aside, and add this onto my TBR because I am obsessed with this synopsis. There’s the “chosen one” trope with a girl who’s the last of her lineage, destined to save the world from destruction. We also get a found family with her teaming up with a band of unlikely allies. Plus, I love any cover with gold on it, so this one is just perfect in my eyes.

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean | Releasing May 4th
I actually got an ARC for this one that I haven’t read yet (procrastination!), but it does sound very good, and I’m hoping to get to it before its release. This one features Izumi, who suddenly realizes that her unknown father is the Crown Prince of Japan, making her its princess. She’s thrown into this unknown world, where she must learn and adapt to her new responsibilities. I’m also really loving its pitch as “The Princess Diaries meets Crazy, Rich Asians,” and of course I’m always a big fan of royalty stories.

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He | Releasing May 4th
This one is marketed as We Were Liars meets Black Mirror, with the sea separating two sisters. One is trapped on an island with no recollection of how she got there and the other lives in a dystopian society heavily impacted by climate change. As they aim to find each other, secrets are slowly uncovered. I really love the mini focus on climate change, being a very real problem in society, and I haven’t actually seen many others with it! It’s also interesting to find another book on sisterhood, compared to the romance-centric books I usually read.

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee | Releasing May 4th
Yes, yet another amazing book is releasing on May 4th! I swear, this date is truly blessing us with so many good books. I’ve been craving rom-coms a lot more lately with the warmer weather, and this sounds absolutely perfect for that! I’m loving the transgender and LGBTQ+ representation in this one, with our MC Noah needing to fake-date Drew in order to prove that his *actually fake* blog with a collection of transgender happily-ever-afters stories isn’t actually fake. It sounds like the cutest book ever, plus I will read anything with fake-dating in it.

Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke | Releasing June 1st
I’m usually not the biggest fan of the historical fiction genre because of how much it reminds me of school, but this one intrigued me! It’s set in an antique bookstore in 1920s Ireland, which sounds like an absolute dream. PLUS, it’s Indiana Jones x The Mummy x National Treasure, which are all amazing movies. There are ciphers, treasure hunts, and curses, and it sounds like an action-packed read. And, for all my fellow romance lovers, we also get childhood friends to lovers.

Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews | Releasing June 8th
I love love love books inspired by mythology (especially Greek mythology), so this one immediately caught my attention! It’s a feminist retelling of Daphne and Apollo, with Daphne needing to retrieve nine mysterious items to save the life of her brother. She must team up with Apollo (romance alert??) to investigate various wonders including the Minotaur’s labyrinth and the Sphinx. There’s also enemies to lovers, aka the best trope in the entire world, which is always a bonus.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury | Releasing June 15th
Okay, so this one features Voya, who must sacrifice her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is that she’s never fallen in love, and she chooses to enter a matchmaking program to quickly find someone. She ends up falling in love with Luc and must find a way to save him and her family’s magic. This one is set in Canada, which I haven’t actually seen many books in (I’m very excited for the new setting)! I also really love the paranormal witchy magic aspect to it.

My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows | Releasing June 22nd
I read My Lady Jane from this author, so I was so excited to see that she wrote another similar one! This one features Mary, the Queen of Scotland, who is secretly a shapeshifter that turns into a mouse. She must navigate “a viper’s nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason” alongside her betrothed, while continuing to maintain her secret. This sounds like a really entertaining, lighthearted read, and I love the historical France setting.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron | Releasing June 29th
I am obsessed with the magic in this one, with our MC Briseis literally being able to make flowers bloom with a single touch. However, this gift leads her to inherit an estate with strangers showing up at her door in search of a rare immortality elixir. She must use her powers to protect herself and her family. I just really love the synopsis and concept of this story! It’s #ownvoices and a retelling of The Secret Garden, which sounds amazing.