August 2026 list by Angie R.
 
All We Hunger For by Anna Mercier
All We Hunger For
by Anna Mercier

In Anespérer, where magic comes alive through art, Elara Rousseau never expects to compete in the prestigious Objet d'Art, a high-stakes baking competition that chooses the next ruler. But when Nikolas Dupont, the unrecognized son of a powerful leader, gives her a chance to enter, everything changes. As Elara rises from the slums to become a symbol of hope, she and Nik must decide whether to fight for power—or use their talents to spark a revolution.

Ancient History Between Us by Kaitlyn Hill
Ancient History Between Us
by Kaitlyn Hill

Three years after a disastrous first kiss ended their friendship, Cammie Lovett and West Jacobs reunite for an unexpected summer in Italy. While Cammie searches for her biological father, West joins her journey through the Italian coast. As they confront old wounds and shared memories, they begin to wonder if their story is far from over.


Augusta Pine Does Not Exist by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Augusta Pine Does Not Exist
by Emily Lloyd-Jones

A teen criminal hacker turned secret operative must outwit a band of cyberterrorists in this gripping novel from the acclaimed author of The Bone Houses.

A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master
A Beautiful Lie
by Irfan Master

Everybody lies. We all do it. In India, 1947, as the country is torn apart by Partition, thirteen-year-old Bilal is desperate to protect his dying father from the devastating news. With the help of his friends, he creates an elaborate deception—including fake newspaper pages—to shield his father from the unrest. Bilal only wants his father to die in peace, but keeping up the lie gives him a complicated relationship with the truth. This powerful debut novel brings a pivotal moment in history to life while exploring tolerance, love, and family.


Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton
Breakout
by Dhonielle Clayton

Five friends head to a private island resort for spring break, hoping to leave a past tragedy behind. But when a tropical storm traps them and bodies begin turning up—including one of their own—their dream vacation becomes a nightmare. As secrets, lies, and betrayals come to light, they must uncover the truth before it's too late. This gripping thriller blends mystery, suspense, and romance.


Deathless by Julie Kagawa
Deathless
by Julie Kagawa

How do you kill the unkillable? Sparrow and her companions face an impossible task: defeating the immortal Deathless King, whose magic drains the life from the world itself. Their only hope lies in the World Scar, where a fragment of the goddess of Fate’s loom may hold the power to stop him. But as danger closes in and the promise of godlike power awaits, Sparrow must risk everything to save the world.


Every Reason to Stay by Lane Clarke
Every Reason to Stay
by Lane Clarke

A heartbreaking yet hopeful novel about sixteen-year-old Skylar, whose life is shattered after the sudden loss of her rockstar dad. While grieving, she discovers a shocking secret: her mother is still alive. Forced to start over with a family of strangers, Skylar pours herself into a baking competition, forms new friendships, and uncovers long-buried truths about her past. Filled with emotion and hope, this is a powerful story about grief, love, and finding where you belong.


How to Lose Yourself Completely by Peter Bognanni
How to Lose Yourself Completely
by Peter Bognanni

An incredibly poignant story about a teen grappling with grief and anxiety who is sent to wilderness adventure therapy, where he meets a group of friends who will change his life forever. With its captivating voice and dry wit, this novel is perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and John Green.

Meet Me at Midnight by Brianna Bourne
Meet Me at Midnight
by Brianna Bourne

If I Stay meets Taylor Swift's Midnights album in this breathtaking love story about a girl who sees the same boy every night in her dreams. Every night at midnight, time stops and Aria wakes up somewhere she's never been: under a sparkling waterfall in Bali, in the romantic Italian countryside, on a moonlit path between towering sequoias. And every night, she meets the same dreamy boy. As the two are drawn to each other, midnight after midnight, Aria knows in her heart there must be a reason why...and if she gives in, their connection might be more than she could have ever dreamed of.


Oathborne: Year Six by Morgan Rice
Oathborne: Year Six
by Morgan Rice

Having graduated from Stonegarden, Kaela Reign's rule begins under an ominous sky as one realm denies her claim to the throne. Meanwhile, a powerful and hidden sect emerges from their veiled sanctum, threatened by her power. Entrusted with ancestral magic and bearing the weight of an entire kingdom, can Kaela unravel the tapestry of deceit that entangles her lineage without succumbing to war?

The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue by Zoulfa Katouh
The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue
by Zoulfa Katouh

From the celebrated author of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow comes a poignant novel about a Syrian American girl who uses a magical sketchbook to transform her grief into art. After her mother’s sudden death, seventeen-year-old Jihad Dabbagh loses the ability to see color and struggles to find her place at a new school. But as she paints her mother’s story in Syria, magical murals begin appearing across New York. To reclaim her voice and honor her mother’s legacy, Jihad must find the strength to paint a new future for herself.


Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield
Our Wicked Gifts
by Kathryn Foxfield

The daughter of a powerful magical family, Cicely Winter is tasked with finding the killer targeting her relatives one by one. As suspicion falls on Soren—the boy her family banished to the underworld—Cicely is drawn deeper into a web of secrets, vengeance, and forbidden attraction. In this dark fantasy thriller, she must decide how much family loyalty is worth when love and power rarely coexist.

Rainsong by Lila Riesen
Rainsong
by Lila Riesen

In a small town haunted by unsolved disappearances, Zayn Pereira arrives in fog-shrouded Mendocino and finds herself drawn into a deadly mystery. As suspicion surrounds a missing girl's ex-boyfriend, Tiago, Zayn uncovers secrets of her own—including a hidden ability she must reveal to save him. With ties to a generations-old feud, Zayn must unravel the truth before she becomes the next girl on the missing poster.


The Romance Rewind by Sarah Everett
The Romance Rewind
by Sarah Everett

After her boyfriend breaks up with her and a car accident lands them both in the hospital, seventeen-year-old Zadie goes back in time to relive their relationship and see where it went wrong.

Their Will Undone by R. J. Valldeperas
Their Will Undone
by R. J. Valldeperas

In Amaru, it is an honor to be chosen to serve the emperor. When Nina volunteers in her sister’s place, she is destined to become the emperor’s bride. Escorted across dangerous lands by Kasik, the emperor’s loyal friend and soldier, Nina finds herself battling a mysterious magical power—and growing feelings for the one man she cannot have. As dark magic stirs and loyalties are tested, Nina and Kasik must choose between duty and their hearts.


These Kindred Hearts: A YA Romantasy Anthology by Shari B. Pennant
These Kindred Hearts
by Shari B. Pennant

Seventeen authors come together in this sweeping YA romantasy anthology celebrating the power and magic of love. From unwanted betrothals and magical mishaps to daring escapes and confessions amid the apocalypse, these stories blend cozy romance, high-stakes adventure, and unforgettable fantasy. These Kindred Hearts is a vibrant collection of tales about wild hearts, first loves, and second chances.


When Dealing with Dragons by Dana Swift
When Dealing with Dragons
by Dana Swift

Bonding with dragons gave humans the magic to craft metal, but copper-crafter Farren Walsh wants to protect dragons—not exploit them. When her rival, dragon racer James Murphy, joins her family's dragon sanctuary for the summer, old tensions flare. As they uncover each other's secrets and their growing attraction, they must work together to protect a secret that could change their world forever.


Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni
Winners & Liars
by Aleema Omotoni

Knives Out meets Death at Morning House in this thrilling standalone mystery. When Derin and her ultra-competitive friends arrive at a summer ball on the historic Kenfield estate, they expect a celebration—not a will reading. But after the aristocratic Darnley heirs are disinherited, the students are invited to compete in a high-stakes literary contest for the estate itself. As family secrets, scheming relatives, and a mysterious note come to light, Derin uncovers a history soaked in lies—and blood.