Release Date: Out now from Feiwel & Friends
Two of YA’s most talented voices join forces for Four Eids and a Funeral! Having read and adored both Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar, I’m excited to see what masterpiece these two have created together. Said Hossein and Tiwa Olatunji are ex-best friends, and they fully intend to keep it that way. Said is more than content with being far away from home in his boarding school. However, when he hears of his favorite librarian’s passing, he must come home for her funeral and face what he’s been running from: his ruined friendship with Tiwa and telling his Bangladeshi parents that he dreams of being an artist, not a doctor. Tiwa intends on ignoring Said now that he’s back, not only because he ghosted her first, but also because she has a lot going on. She needs to stay strong for her grieving family and help her mother plan the upcoming Eid celebration at the Islamic Center. Disaster strikes when the Center catches fire, and, instead of reconstructing it, the mayor intends to destroy it completely. Said and Tiwa must join forces to save Eid and protect the Center…and perhaps they will rebuild their relationship while they’re at it. What makes Àbíké-Íyímídé and Jaigirdar’s previous works stand out is their ability to tackle themes of racism and oppression with a deft hand, as well as their inclusion of queer characters of color. I can’t wait to see how their storytelling abilities complement each other in Four Eids and a Funeral!
Aruna Sreenivasan, Pine Reads Review Assistant Director, Community Outreach Lead, Lead Website Manager, Podcast Host, Writer, & Editor
Release Date: Out now from Peachtree Teen
I love fantastic, underdog-driven stories and testing the art of a new upcoming author, which makes Lady of Steel and Straw one of my most anticipated reads of the summer. Lady of Steel and Straw is a musketeer-inspired fantasy debut novel by Erica Ivy Rodgers. It follows Lady Charlotte Sand in her attempts to calm the dead while a new religious order comes calling to steal the hearts of all the sleeping guardians, trying to put an end to the Old Gods. Lady Charlotte Sand must stand against one of their followers, Captain Luc de Montaigne, to keep this from happening, but things go awry when the dead begin to rise, and so do their feelings.
Charity Kinsella, Pine Reads Review Editor
Release Date: August 20th, 2024 from Random House Children’s Books
Debut author Ravynn K. Stringfield could not have picked a better title for me—love and chocolate all in one! I am a big sucker for young adult semester-abroad books, especially those that take place in Paris. The Anna and the French Kiss series by Stephanie Perkins is one of my all-time favorites, and I’m hoping that Stringfield’s new Love in Translation series is similar. In the first book, Whitney Curry is ecstatic about her semester abroad in Paris, but, despite all of her planning, she still feels out of place and homesick. However, her grumpy and handsome French tutor, Thierry Magnon, is determined to show her the real Paris. Can a theatre nerd and football player fall in love in the City of Lights? I am excited to find out at the end of this summer!
Emilee Ceuninck, Pine Reads Review Lead Writer & Editor
Release Date: June 18th, 2024 from Penguin Young Readers Group
Amber Chen’s debut novel, Of Jade and Dragons, is coming June 18th, and I could not be more excited. Of Jade and Dragons follows eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying in a Mulan retelling that takes place in a silkpunk fantasy world. Aihui must disguise herself as her brother as she attempts to avenge her father’s death. With only her father’s journal and the assassin’s jade pendant, she infiltrates the mysterious Engineers Guild. She soon comes to realize that everything is not as simple as she thought; with dragons, politics, and romance-galore, she must decide if revenge is worth going against all her father stood for. Not only is Mulan one of my all-time favorite princess stories, but dragons and thrilling cyberpunk fantasies are a staple in my reading list every year. I look forward to Chen’s young adult debut series.
Jenica Delaney, Pine Reads Review Writer & Editor
Release Date: Out now from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Past Present Future, written by Rachel Lynn Solomon, was released on June 4th, 2024. It follows two young students who fell in love in just 24 hours. However, they face a difficult journey ahead as they must continue their relationship long-distance. Between late-night phone calls and weekend visits, will their relationship survive? I’m so excited to read this book this summer! I love that it’ll show each character growing individually while focusing on the growth within their relationship as well. I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic addition to the romance genre.
Danielle Francesconi, Pine Reads Review Social Media & Writer
I’m a huge fan of Rachel Lynn Solomon, especially her YA contemporary romances. Past Present Future is the sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow, which is the book that made me fall in love with Solomon’s writing a few years ago. In this new sequel, Rowan and Neil start their first year of college in a long-distance relationship. Rowan is studying creative writing in Boston, but she’s struggling to find her voice. In New York, Neil is finding new friends and enjoying the city, but he’s struggling with his mental health. Set over the course of a year, Past Present Future follows Rowan and Neil as they have late-night phone calls, weekend visits, and fun new adventures as they adjust to this new chapter of their lives.
Sam Yanis, Pine Reads Review Writer & Podcast Host
Check out our review of Past Present Future here!
Release Date: August 27th, 2024 from Penguin Young Reader Group
Ellen Hopkins’ upcoming novel Sync is about two teen sisters separated in the foster care system, told in dual perspectives entirely through their unsent letters to each other. I read the Crank trilogy in middle school, and, while I found the experience, to put it lightly, harrowing, I also felt like I found something completely new and experimental. Hopkins’ dedication to verse is such an interesting way to tell stories, and I can’t imagine Sync will be anything other than eye-opening. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
Kasey Taylor, Pine Reads Review Writer
Release Date: Out now from Disney Hyperion
The Belles series by Dhonielle Clayton is a series that has always kept me on my toes with fantasy action and politics. I can’t wait to read the final addition to the series! Queen Charlotte, with the rebellious Princess Sophia imprisoned, initiates the ancient tradition of The Beauty Trials to determine the rightful ruler of Orleans. Edel, aspiring for more than her Belle heritage, decides to compete, vowing to restrain her powers. Alongside other contenders, she faces perilous challenges testing strength, composure, and bravery, where some meet their demise. Amidst mysterious attacks, Edel must wield her powers to survive, raising questions of conspiracy and the true cost of victory.
Xena Lundahl, Pine Reads Review Podcast Host
Release Date: July 16th, 2024 from Penguin Publishing Group
When I first heard about best-selling author Lev Grossman’s new retelling of the legend of Camelot and King Arthur, I was incredibly excited about the convergence of history, fantasy, and humor that form the backbone of The Bright Sword. When a young knight named Collum arrives in Camelot hoping to compete for a place at the Round Table, he is shocked to discover that King Arthur has died and only a few of his knights remain. These leftover knights are nothing like what Collum expected; they are a group of outcasts who never fit into the legends told. However, with Camelot in shambles following Arthur’s death, it is the responsibility of Collum and the rest of these knights to save this once glorious place of legend. In order to finally be the heroes of their story, this misfit group of knights must grapple with the systemic issues and dark truth of Camelot, uncovering truths about this place and themselves along the way.
Sam Parker, Pine Reads Review Writer & Social Media Manager
Release Date: Out now from Wednesday Books
I’m looking forward to giving The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood a read! The book is about vampires and romance, so it immediately caught my attention. The plot involves a girl named Jerusalem who fights for the Union in America’s Civil War, craving revenge on the vampire who enslaved her and murdered her family. Unfortunately for Jerusalem, getting revenge means teaming up with another vampire, though she may end up liking him way more than she thought she ever could. In particular, I’m looking forward to the teamwork between the two, but it’ll also be interesting to see a vampire novel in which the human characters are also pieces of history.
Abby Ballas, Pine Reads Review Editor & Writer
Check out our review of The Dangerous Ones here!
Release Date: August 6th, 2024 from Blackstone Publishing
Akana Phenix is a debut writer and current graduate student at Harvard University, and I can’t wait to read her first novel, The Empire Wars! Protagonist Coa lives in a fantasy dystopian world chock full of magic, danger, and risky choices. After being captured by the nationalist regime known as the Allied Force, she is forced to take part in the Great Hunt to ensure the survival of her family. The Allied Force has made it their mission to exterminate the foreigners, like Coa, that they view as feral. Coa will have to make the choice between allying with a privileged princess or the handsome and cunning competitor that might do her more harm than good.
Hannah Goerndt, Pine Reads Review Writer
Release Date: August 6th, 2024 from Random House Worlds
When Ying Yue is chosen as the future bride of the crown prince, she hopes for the magical marriage of her dreams. However, upon arriving at the castle, she rapidly loses faith in the possibility of a love match. The prince is cold and aloof, and Ying feels imprisoned in her quarters of the palace. After Ying begins to see things in the reflective surfaces of her room, she unwittingly opens a gateway into a mirror world. In this new realm, she interacts with sentient reflections. She even begins to fall in love with the Mirror Prince, who is personable and empathetic, unlike the prince she knows. Her joy is only temporary, though, as she soon learns of her intended role in the long and complicated history between the two worlds. Follow Ying in this enchanting YA fantasy romance as she navigates love, responsibility, and truth.
Ashley Amacher, Pine Reads Review Assistant Director, Lead Editor, & Writer
Release Date: Out now from Berkley Books
I’m very excited to pick up Hiro Akikawa’s The Traveling Cat Chronicles this summer! Life can be so busy as a college student juggling internships, work, applications, and more, but sometimes we need a reminder of what really makes life worth living. With the creative decision to tell the story of traveling and adventure from the perspective of owner Satoru’s pet cat, Akikawa crafts a journey of friendship and solitude. Gentle moments, interspersed humor, and Akikawa’s unique writing style combine to teach readers about the significance of love in our everyday lives.
Natalie Hsu, Pine Reads Review Social Media Lead
Release Date: June 25th, 2024 from Penguin Young Readers Group
I love a good murder mystery, so, as soon as I learned about Two Sides to Every Murder, I knew I would have to read it. Olivia, a teen who was born during the infamous Camp Lost Lake Murders, is on the search for answers to family secrets that can only be found back at the scene of the crime. Reagan, the daughter of the woman accused of the murders, is looking to clear her mother’s name by returning to the camp. Camp Lost Lake is opening once again, but what Reagan and Olivia don’t know is that someone is determined to stop them from finding the truth.
Callie Andrews, Pine Reads Review Social Media & Web
Release Date: June 25th, 2024 from Penguin Young Readers
Tara Sim is a new author for me, but I couldn’t be any more excited for her upcoming release, We Shall Be Monsters, a compelling mix of Indian mythology and dark fantasy. After her sister Lasya’s abrupt death, Kajal sets her mind on bringing Lasya back to life—no matter what. Before Kajal can resurrect her, however, her sister’s soul becomes distorted and takes the form of a bhuta: a vengeful spirit bent on taking the lives of those who wronged it. Believing her plans ruined, Kajal rushes to accept the chance for aid presented to her by supposed ‘rebels.’ All she has to do in return is resurrect the crown prince of the kingdom to aid the rebels’ coup. Unfortunately, she revives the wrong boy. In the aftermath of the worst game of Guess Who? ever, Kajal must find the real crown prince before the rebels find out what happened and before the bhuta takes its revenge on its biggest offender—Kajal.
Melia Gemrose, Pine Reads Review Editor
Release Date: August 6th, 2024 from Entangled Publishing, LLC
Bridgerton has been one of my many obsessions since it came out, and I love finding new historical romances that are inspired by the Regency Era, like Witty in Pink! Blythe Rowley is spending her summer in the country, living her best life, when her nemesis shows up to ruin her fun. Full of modern twists on the well-known and loved enemies-to-lovers tropes, this romcom is sure to keep readers at bay while waiting for the next season of their beloved show.
Vanshikha Vij, Pine Reads Review Writer