New Release Tuesday: YA New Releases June 16th 2026

Young Adult New Releases June 16th 2026

Can you believe we are in mid-June already?! Summer is flying by already! But it is time to wish a Happy Book Birthday to most of today’s YA Books releasing below, and if you are so inclined, please purchase through our affiliates who actually help the local economy instead of ruining the place! Check out our Bookshop link or for audiobooks you’ll want to try Libro.fm – all sales help us out a little bit, and all sales help indie bookstores!

A Prince Among Pirates

by Katie Abdou
Published by: Atheneum
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, Young Adult
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A charming nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain in this swashbuckling queer debut that’s perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens and Our Flag Means Death.

Kit Davenport is in trouble—not that this would surprise anyone who knows him. Headstrong, reckless, and utterly unsuited for the stodgy House of Lords, Kit has spent years dodging his father’s stern disapproval and delighting in clandestine rendezvous. But time is running out. With an arranged marriage looming and the confines of white wigs and stiff decorum closing in, Kit is desperate to escape a life that feels completely wrong for him.

His solution? A wildly impulsive decision that lands him aboard the Deliverance, a galleon captained by the infuriatingly charismatic Reggie Sharpe. With a devil-may-care attitude and a delicious grin, Captain Sharpe commands the waves with his crew of misfits…who all turn out to be pirates. Before Kit can say “wrong ship,” he’s trading ballroom etiquette for rum-soaked camaraderie, explosive gunfights, and, perhaps most excitingly, heart-stopping kisses under the stars.

But life at sea holds just as many secrets as treasures. And when Kit’s past catches up with him, he’ll have to decide who he truly wants to be: a gentleman or a pirate?

Such a Lucky Girl

by Wendy Heard
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
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Perfect for fans of Rory Power and Tiffany D. Jackson, this twisty horror novel follows a magnetic young influencer who gets ensnared in a web of dark, jealousy-fueled magic.

Three years ago, Bella dumped her best friend Kerry to follow her dreams of becoming an influencer. It worked; she is Such a Lucky Girl, famous for her epic manifesting glow-up and dedicated to helping other girls be "lucky," too. She's living the dream—success, sponsorships, and fame. She burned her old life to the ground and never looked back.

Leaving Kerry behind. Alone. Angry.

When Kerry picks up a vintage self-help book on shadow work, she's fascinated by the suggested rituals. Get back at those who have wronged her? Yes, please. She has one person in mind, and that girl is smiling at her millions of followers, having forgotten Kerry long ago. But there's something attached to the book, something dark and ancient, and Kerry and Bella may not be ready for what is about to be unleashed.

Royal Vengeance (Royal Blood #3)

by Aimee Carter
Published by: Random House Children's Books
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Contemporary, Thriller, Young Adult
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The media believes they have uncovered all the royal scandals about the "killer princess," but there is one game-changing secret remaining that will take the crown in the final book of the Royal Blood series, which Jennifer Lynn Barnes calls "a darker Princess Diaries."

Evangeline Bright has only one shot to prove she isn’t a traitor: by finding the real mastermind behind the plot that almost killed her father, the King of England.

With the help of Kit, her steadfast boyfriend, Evan must find a way to outsmart the real threat to the throne no matter the cost, because the deadliest enemy the monarchy has faced in over a century is back with a vicious vengeance. And Evan soon uncovers the reason why.

A scandal so huge that if it ever becomes public, it will tear the monarchy apart.

To protect her loved ones, Evan must silence her enemies for good—because if the truth gets out, it won’t just shatter the monarchy. It’ll shatter Evan’s entire family.

Libertad

by Cassandra James
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In this conclusion to a sweepingly epic seafaring romantasy duology—perfect for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King, Curious Tides, and The Hurricane Wars—Ximena Reale is trying to bring down an empire. But with her loyalties torn, she finds herself grappling with the true price of freedom...and love.
Alongside her sister, Ximena Reale now sails under the banner of the legendary pirate Gasparilla. But, between the bounty on “Gasparilla’s” head and the Empire’s renewed efforts to stomp out piracy, the sisters’ fellow pirates are suddenly wary of swearing allegiance to their cause.
After a betrayal in the one place they were supposed to be safe, Gasparilla’s crew hits the high seas again and Ximena is reunited with Cazador Dante de León. Her longtime rival has been tasked with capturing her, and Ximena doesn’t know if she can trust the information he’s feeding her about the empire’s plans to take over the Northern Archipelago’s silver mines. “Gasparilla” heads north to rob the robbers, but the Empire has a few nasty tricks up their sleeves—including putting a traitor in the pirates’ midst.
With the armada closing in, Ximena finds herself scrambling to protect the people she loves. The price of freedom is higher than it’s ever been—but is Ximena willing to pay, even if it costs her everything?

Together We See

by Ari Tison
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
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This edge-of-your-seat Indigenous murder-mystery set in Costa Rica from Pura Belpré and Walter Dean Myers Award-winning author of
Saints of the Household
is perfect for fans of
Firekeeper's Daughter
and
Patron Saints of Nothing.

How far would you go to protect your land? To protect your family? Told in multiple points of view, Together We See follows Ulá Dominguez, a Bribri-American teenager, searching for the truth behind her land-activist father's mysterious death on their Native territory in Costa Rica. Ulá and her brother, Kabék, uncover secrets and corruption as they face off against illegal loggers, kidnappers, settlers, and the local government in the hunt for clues. Their only allies are a few family friends and relatives still living in Bribri, as well as a young journalist, who may be in danger himself. But as details of their father's death emerge, long-held trust is broken. And in this sinister web of deception, no one is safe.

Inspired by real-world missing, dead, and attacked Indigenous activists, award-winning author Ari Tison writes her first novel in prose and pushes the envelope yet again by pulling together a propulsive story full of grief, environmental justice, and the fight for retribution.

Tell Me My Future: A Novel

by Eileen M. Ruvane
Published by: Amulet Books
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
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"A powerhouse debut. Eileen Ruvane is definitely one to watch." --Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author

Perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland and Courtney Summers, this YA debut follows a girl who pretends to be a psychic to solve a long-ago murder--and starts having real visions of the future.

Kess Turner is used to starting over. Her mom has dragged her all around the country her whole life, never spending longer than a few months in one place.

But nothing is normal about their new home--a dusty psychic shop--or the the way Kess's mom was summoned when a mysterious accident left the psychic Madame Amalia in a coma. When Kess finds coded messages and cash hidden among the crystal balls and Tarot cards, she knows there's a lot more to the story than her mom is telling her.

Desperate for answers, Kess poses as a psychic in order to pump Madame Amalia's clients for information--only to start experiencing strange visions of events that actually come true. The more she investigates, the more she suspects her mom and Madame Amalia were involved in a murder years ago.

When Kess's visions escalate--and seem to predict her own death--it becomes clear that if she wants to save her future, she'll first have to unravel the secrets of the past . . .

Tangled Roots & Wild Dreams

by Angela Velez
Published by: HarperCollins
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
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Never Have I Ever meets Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute in this hilarious and moving YA coming-of-age about a girl juggling way too many lies, one very off-limits crush, and a secret summer internship—all while steering clear of the dreaded f-word: her future.

Ezzie Ramos is a champion secret keeper. Her brilliant-professor mami and nosy abuelita don’t know about her daily ritual (wandering the art museum), her college applications (hopelessly blank), or her summer plans (avoiding the dreaded f-word, a.k.a. her future, at all costs).

Ezzie’s biggest secret? She’s interning at Sprout, the urban garden she’s stunned to discover her father founded weeks before his death. All she knows about Papi begins and ends with his dazzling scientific research legacy—but what if he dreamed of a different path too?

With seven weeks to uncover who Papi really was, Ezzie must chase down every lead, even if it means tangling with Sprout’s star volunteer, Gabe McCalister, who couldn’t be more off-limits—or distractingly cute. But as Ezzie begins to put down roots at Sprout, she learns that secrets, like seeds, have a way of growing toward the light. . . .

Kingdom of Waves (Kingdom of Waves, #1)

by Melissa de la Cruz
Published by: Roaring Brook Press
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
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The Gilded Wolves meets A Magic Steeped in Poison in the first of a new pulse-pounding YA fantasy duology about two thieves who go after the same mythical treasure, from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Once upon a time, there was a shining kingdom floating on the sea . . .

The kingdom of Ophir was one of the most powerful and beautiful places in the world. But after an invasion by the land of Lacon, it was lost to the waves. Now, the Ophir live as second-class citizens beneath Lacon’s golden palaces.

When two bands of Ophir thieves—one led by Eban Sadreal and the other by Gineth Strong—go after the same treasure, a priceless relic, their worlds and hearts suddenly collide. For the relic releases an ancient magic that could restore the legacy of Ophir—a magic that could change the course of Eban and Gin’s lives forever.

With impossibly high stakes and charming will-they-won’t-they romance, this heist fantasy is perfect for fans of Six of Crows and A Tempest of Tea.

The Reel Life of Zara Kegg

by Brad Barkley
Published by: Fitzroy Books
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
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Three years after her mother's death, 16-year-old Zara is still settling into life in Carolina Beach, N.C., where she knows almost no one.

Working as the lone projectionist at the Palace Theatre-- a rundown movie house that shows only vintage ' 50s sci-fi and horror flicks-- Zara spends her nights in a dusty booth, fueled by coffee, pushups, and the occasional existential crisis (with popcorn).

Then she meets Zachary, whose " Z" name feels like fate.

His clothes don't match, his stories don't always add up, and he might be the most interesting person she's ever met.

As their friendship deepens into something more, Zara learns about the struggles Zachary hides beneath his charm-- and wonders if trust is possible.

When her boss tasks her with organizing a Valentine's Day Godzilla marathon-- complete with 150 inflatable Godzillas on the roof-- Zara must confront the chaos in her own life.

Like any good Godzilla movie, the big question remains: who will survive, and who will be crushed?

Finish Lines: A Graphic Novel

by Sarah Broyles, Hanna Schroy
Published by: First Second
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
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Miranda needs something to write about in her college application essays. But what?

Miranda has a plan: ace her junior year, get into an Ivy League school, and skip anything that doesn’t look good on a college application. But the pressure is getting to her, and now her parents have cut her off from every club, competition, and committee she’s a part of.

Desperate to get back on track, Miranda sets her sights on the Texas Water Safari—a 260-mile canoe race her mom was set to do with her granddad. With her mom sidelined by an injury, Miranda joins her grandfather. It’s grueling, messy, and scorching hot.

Can a perfectionist survive the wild long enough to find out who she is outside of a college checklist?

The Soulmate Project (YA Verse)

by Anna Lindwasser
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Sci-Fi, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult
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In the near future, a scientific development is changing the way people have relationships.

People no longer find their own spouses; they're assigned them by the government using an AI program meant to create optimal happiness.

The assignments happen at age 18, and Delphine "Del" Everett doesn't want any part of it.

She's in love with her boyfriend Tobias and wants to stay with him.

But she's legally required to fill out an application explaining what she wants in a partner.

She tries to tailor her application so that she'll get assigned to Tobias, and he does the same with his.

When their plan doesn't work, Delphine is determined to make her relationship with her new partner, Jasper, fail.

But she soon finds her future hangs in the balance between matters of the heart, and the science that claims to have all the answers.