A Literary-Inspired Competition, Protecting Clean Water, and More New YA Books for July 1, 2026
⚓ Books 📅 2026-07-01 👤 surdeus 👁️ 1This week is one of those rare instances where you may be reading the title of this piece and wondering what happened to the final slate of YA book releases for June. The answer is that they are here–all of the books in this week’s roundup were published on June 30, but you’re learning about them one day later, which also happens to be one month later. Time is fun, flexible, and sometimes a little mind-bending.
As we round out one of the busiest months in YA publishing, we’re going to continue to see books hitting shelves throughout the rest of the summer. The pace won’t be as fast and furious, but unlike what has historically been one of publishing’s quietest seasons, the summer season has seen an uptick in YA releases over the last several years. This isn’t a bad thing; in fact, if the target audience for YA books is teens, publishing books during the season when teens may be most free of obligations makes a lot of sense.
This week’s releases, as you’ll likely see, are less representative in their authorship than in other weeks. Even though it certainly looks like there have been fewer inclusive YA titles in 2026, they’re still showing up, but they’ve been spread out a little more across the year than in years past. We will absolutely see more inclusive YA hitting shelves through the summer, especially as the fall dawns. Still, it’s also worth being conscious of the fact that book bans are having a direct and meaningful impact on the kinds of books being published and promoted in the US right now.
So what do we have to get excited about this week? You’ll find two brand new anthologies, including one that takes its inspiration from a global singing sensation; you’ll find a snarky and banter-fueled romantasy; and you’ll find a teen activist fighting to preserve clean water in his community. There are also dragons, love stories, and more.
New Hardcover YA Releases This Week
13 Little Love Stories: An Anthology Inspired by Taylor Swift SongsIf you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you’ll want this anthology on your to-read list, stat. The collection features an all-star roster of authors, each of whom has written a love story inspired by one of Swift’s songs. Among the contributors are Elise Bryant, Jennifer Dugan, Julie Murphy, Crystal Maldonado, and more. |
Cursed Ever After by Andy C. NaranjoRisa Porto has forever been the person that the town blames for anything bad that happens. She was cursed with bad luck from the time she was born, and all she wants is to escape the town of Barrow. When she turns 17, that wish is granted, but it comes with a million (dangerous, strange, uncertain) strings attached. Risa is indebted to a witch, to whom she owes the favor of escorting Prince Javi, the youngest and least significant prince of the kingdom, through the dark and deadly forest to his wedding. Not only is the trip extremely dangerous, full of tyrants and assassins eager to take down both Risa and Javi. It’s also a trip that’s making Risa fall very, very hard for Javi. |
For the Greatest Good by Blair HansonGavin lives in Pondville, which has been struggling with unsafe water for years. He’s worried that any day now, it will be completely non-potable. Gavin wants to do something, even if it means teaming up with his best friend MacKenzie and getting in touch with his estranged father. That father is a board member of CrispWater, which both offers grants to improve public facilities and purchases failing water systems from local communities, then privatizes them. Gavin’s estranged father agrees to help Gavin and MacKenzie secure grant money for Pondville. But it won’t be done through ethical means–and it might mean that Gavin and MacKenzie need to make some dirty deals through their work in the city government to grant CrispFlow new business. This looks like a book that’d be a good read-alike to Carolina Ixta’s Few Blue Skies. |
These Kindred Hearts edited by Shari B. PennantThe second of two anthologies hitting shelves for YA readers this week is for readers who either cannot get enough romantasy or are curious about the genre and want to dip their toes in. This collection has 17 different authors offering up a wide range of romantasy reads. From cozy tales to high-stakes adventures, there’s something for everyone, and the array of authors is fantastic. There are well-known romantasy writers here, alongside YA authors who are trying it out for the first time. Among the authors are Nia Davenport, Kalynn Bayron, Kwame Mbalia, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, and more. |
Winners and Liars by Aleema OmotoniPitched as Knives Out meets Death at the Morning House, Omotoni’s novel centers a literary-inspired competition, and it sounds like a read for those who like stand alone mysteries, infused with elements of dark academia. Derin got into Cambridge, and when she and her prep group were invited to Professor Darnley’s summer ball, they were ready to celebrate all of their hard work and achievements so far. But what should have been a party turns into the reading of the professor’s will. The professor’s children have been disinherited, and now the students present will compete in a Victorian literary-themed competition to be named the new heir to the Darnley estate. Derin sees this as a chance to finally help her working-class family. But the competition won’t be easy, especially as the Darnley children will do all they can to lay claim to their inheritance. And when Derin receives a mysterious note pointing to her family’s dark secrets, she worries that things are going to be extremely hard. They might be bloody, too. |
Hardcover YA Series Releases This Week:
- The River She Became by Emily Varga
More Hardcover YA Releases This Week:
- Meet Me at Midnight by Brianna Bourne
- Thornbird by E. Kennedy (psst: readers who are obsessed with Off Campus will likely be thrilled to learn this book is by the same author, Elle Kennedy).
- When Dealing With Dragons by Dana Swift
New Paperback YA Releases This Week
Beware The Abbott Boys by Chelsea IchasoHenry, Bram, and Adam are the Abbott triplets, who live in a mansion on the edge of Silver Creek. Their family and the town have never really gotten along, and that was made far worse when last year, Mariana Flores died in an accident on their property. Although the Abbott family’s been cleared of wrongdoing, that hasn’t changed their reputation. Many in Silver Creek think one of the boys actually killed her. Hayden, the girl who lives next door to the Abbotts, also vouches for their innocence. She’s been romantically linked to at least one of the boys, if not two, and she’s also cared deeply about the third brother, Adam, who was hurt in the same accident that killed Mariana. So when the new school year begins with another girl being found dead in the woods, fingers are once again pointing to the Abbotts. Obsessed with clearing their names, Mariana decides to take part in the investigation, too, but now, she’s finding more questions than answers about who may be killing these girls. |
You Jump First by Myah ArielHere’s a title getting a dual release: you can pick it up in paperback or hardcover right now. Andie’s parents got divorced this school year, and even though it’s just her and her mom at the summer lake house now, she’s going to make the best of it. Even though she and her long-time crush Patrick had a bad experience attempting a first kiss last year, Andie’s confident that’s behind them, and they can begin anew. Tommy’s planning the perfect summer with his girlfriend, Chloe, while they’re staying at the lake. He’s eager to finally fit in with the summer crowd, as his brother Patrick has always seemed to do this with the kind of ease Tommy envies. Too bad the summer starts in a way no one could have expected. Patrick’s got a new girlfriend, and Tommy’s been dumped by text. The good news, if it can be called that? Andie and Tommy have discovered they have a lot in common that could help them survive a summer they never anticipated. |
Paperback YA Series Releases This Week:
- Immortal Consequences by I. V. Marie
- Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi
- Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft
More Paperback YA Releases This Week:
- Tell The Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan
- That Kind of Girl by Natalie C. Anderson
- What Happened to Those Girls by Carlyn Greenwald
Want to bulk up your TBR? You’ll want to check out these excellent YA thrillers about friendship, as well as this giant roundup of new queer YA books.
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