Welcome to 2022, fellow bookish nerds! I am so excited to be in this new year, I can’t lie. And part of that excitement stems from the fact that SO STINKING MANY great new books are releasing this year. As someone who positively lives for books—that is the best news. And as someone who especially lives for YA, I thought it’d be fun to collect some YAs I’m stoked for in the first half of the year.
Quick caveat here: since these are unreleased books, I haven’t read (most of) them yet, so I’ll be basing my little descriptions off of GoodReads, but I won’t just be copying and pasting. So hopefully this’ll be fun! Another caveat: dates may change due to supply chain issues. In addition, I’m doing two per month for the sake of not being too unwieldy! There are more, though!
Let’s jump in with the books!
"When You Get The Chance" by Emma Lord (Jan. 4, 2022)
Let’s be real, I was sold as soon as I saw this was an Emma Lord book, but the Mamma Mia! vibes of main character Millie searching for her mother out of three options really sold it for me. This book came out Jan. 4, 2022, so it’s available now for your reading pleasure!
Get When You Get The Chance at Bookshop or Amazon
"The Ivory Key" by Akshaya Raman (Jan. 4, 2022)
I’ve heard this described as a treasure hunt featuring four estranged royal siblings, so—that sold me, let’s be real. Importantly, each of the siblings have secrets and hidden agendas, which means this is going to be a wildly adventurous tale I can’t wait to read! Also published on Jan. 4, 2022!
Get The Ivory Key at Bookshop or Amazon
"Castles in their Bones" by Laura Sebastian (Feb. 1, 2022)
This is the start of a new YA series by the author of Ash Princess. In essence, three princess sisters are each promised to three princes for royal alliances and political stuff…with the secret knowledge being that their mother has trained them each from birth to ASSASSINATE their husband. Um, hi. Sign me up!
Get Castles in their Bones at Bookshop or Amazon
"Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Time and Space" edited by Zoraida Córdova (Feb. 15, 2022)
This one is an anthology of diaspora stories written by established and up-and-coming Latine authors. It’s firmly in the science fiction and fantasy realm, and frankly, I can’t wait. Mix adventures with cultures not my own, and the result is a collection I’m sure to adore. Out Feb. 15, 2022!
Get Reclaim the Stars at Bookshop or Amazon
"Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix" by Aminah Mae Safi (March 1, 2022)
I’ve actually read this one! It’s not out til March 1, but you can and should preorder it. A Robin Hood reimagination set during the time of the Third Crusade featuring a Muslim thief, her sister, and a ragtag band of travelers who live solidly inside my heart, this is a tale you don’t want to miss!
Get Travelers Along the Way at Bookshop or Amazon
"One For All" by Lillie Lainoff (March 8, 2022)
Tell me you’re going to give me a genderbent Three Musketeers with disabled rep and I am absolutely there! This has been a highly anticipated release for me for ages, the cover is absolutely stunning, and the pitch is airtight. It comes out Mar. 8, 2022, and frankly I cannot wait.
Get One for All at Bookshop or Amazon
"Love From Scratch" by Kaitlyn Hill (April 5, 2022)
I’ve been waiting for this one for so long! Kaitlyn Hill used to call it a “nom-com” and frankly, I think that’s perfect. It’s romantic, hilarious, and there’s so much food you’re going to want to have a snack handy while devouring these pages. Out April 5, 2022!
Get Love from Scratch at Bookshop or Amazon
"An Arrow to the Moon" by Emily X.R. Pan (April 12, 2022)
Emily X.R. Pan has been an auto-buy author for me since her 2018 debut swept me away, and the fact that this book is Chinese mythology meets Romeo and Juliet did not hurt. It comes out April 12th, which gives you just enough time to get thrilled and excited!
Get An Arrow to the Moon at Bookshop or Amazon
"Once Upon a K-Prom" by Kat Cho (May 17, 2022)
You tell me that Kat freaking Cho is writing a rom-com and I am there!!! Especially since this is about a K-Pop star showing up to fulfill his childhood promise of taking Elena to prom, and there’s a romance and stardom and oh my God, I can’t. Out May 17th, 2022.
Get Once Upon A K-Prom at Bookshop or Amazon
"The Merciless Ones" by Namina Forna (May 31, 2022)
This is the sequel to an absolutely stunning YA fantasy debut from 2021. I don’t want to share the synopsis for this in case you haven’t read The Gilded Ones, but know that it’s a fierce feminist fantasy about Black girls discovering their magic and taking their power back from the forces who tried to keep them down. It’s out May 31, 2022, so you have time to read (or reread) book 1 before this sequel blows all our minds!
Get The Merciless Ones at Bookshop or Amazon
"Home Field Advantage" by Dahlia Adler (June 7, 2022)
Dahlia Adler writes incredible queer romances, and I’m so looking forward to this one, about a female quarterback and female cheer squad captain who fall in love. That’s all I know about it and, frankly, that’s all I needed to know. Out June 7, 2022!
Get Home Field Advantage at Bookshop or Amazon
"This Vicious Grace" by Emily Thiede (June 28, 2022)
I’m sorry but a YA fantasy inspired by Italy and set in an imaginary Amalfi Coast? I am so there. It also features bodyguard romance, banter, and has been described as a kind of fantasy romantic comedy which is pretty much all my favorite genres smashed into one. I cannot wait until June 28, 2022.
Which of these books are you looking forward to? Are there any I missed? Please share!
About the author
Karis Rogerson is a mid-20s aspiring author who lives in Brooklyn and works at a cafe—so totally that person they warn you about when you declare your English major. In addition to embracing the cliched nature of her life, she spends her days reading, binge-watching cop shows (Olivia Benson is her favorite character) and fangirling about all things literary, New York and selfie-related. You can find her other writing on her website and maybe someday you’ll be able to buy her novels.
