New Release Tuesday: YA New Releases November 18th 2025

Young Adult New Releases November 18th 2025

Happy New Release Tuesday! I cannot believe it is the 3rd week of November already, this month is moving too fast! Today we want to highlight most of the YA books hitting shelves today – so see them below, and if you plan to buy, please consider using our non-billionaire corporate affiliates – Bookshop & Libro.fm!

The Cuffing Game

by Lyla Lee
Published by: Harper
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Romance, Young Adult
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Bestselling author Lyla Lee delivers a deliciously fun YA K-drama remix of Pride and Prejudice—if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet were a college-run reality TV dating show.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that when there is a hot person, there is also someone with a crush on them.

Mia Yoon has a plan for everything. Get a full ride to her dream film school in Los Angeles, behind her mom’s back, and escape her middle-of-nowhere hometown—check. Produce her own dating show starring other people and their crushes—check. But everything goes off the rails when she has to enlist the help of her own secret crush, Noah Jang, a boy she’d rather hate.

Despite being a campus celebrity voted “most eligible student bachelor,” Noah can’t remember the last time he was in a relationship. And he’s perfectly content with that, thank you very much, especially since just the word feelings makes him uncomfortable. But he can’t stop staring at Mia, who keeps glaring at him in class. And when she asks him to be on her dating show—as one of the contestants—he can’t say no.

As Noah goes on more and more romantic dates on The Cuffing Game and Mia watches from behind the camera, something feels off. With the showrunner and contestant slowly falling for one another, can the show still go on?

Heart Check (Varsity #1)

by Emily Charlotte
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
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A star hockey player and his biggest critic must reexamine their assumptions about each other when forced to work together at an after-school job in this feel-good young adult rom-com debut about breaking the ice—featuring stenciled sprayed edges!

Luke Dawson and Harper Braedon could have been friends. They trade shifts at the same diner, share classes at school, and are driven by their greatest passions: hockey for Dawson and jewelry-making for Harper. But some things aren't meant to be. Dawson thinks Harper is stuck-up, too good for anything resembling school spirit. Harper thinks Dawson is a self-centered jock, a perfect fit for a hockey team that seems to absorb all the budget away from the arts departments.

When his beloved hockey coach gets fired for misallocation of funds, Dawson is terrified that all his plans for impressing scouts are vanishing before his eyes. A rumor goes around that Harper was the one who got him fired, and suddenly she’s public enemy number one.

But even with their mutual dislike at an all-time high, Harper and Dawson can’t escape splitting shifts forever. Can forced proximity help them find some common ground, or will long-held grudges finally succeed in bringing them both down?

MindWorks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction

by Neal Shusterman
Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Anthology, Sci-Fi, Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
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From the incomparable mind of award winner Neal Shusterman, New York Times bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe, comes a collection of uncanny and unforgettable short stories.

This collection of unforgettable and uncanny stories could only come from the mind of award winner Neal Shusterman. Compiled for the first time in one epic volume, these stories both classic and brand-new will stretch your imagination from terror to the sublime and back again. Explore a world where bats block out the sun, where soup is a trap for your soul, or where the life-force of a glacier can bring back the dead. Journey to a place where the wind can be captured, time can be crafted into infinite attic space, or a hot tub can house an ancient monster. And revisit the Arc of the Scythe universe for two all-new tales of gleaning.

In this collection, the only thing that is truly certain is nothing is certain.

How Girls Are Made

by Mindy McGinnis
Published by: HarperCollins
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
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Sex Education meets Euphoria in this dark contemporary novel that tackles perfectionism, emotional abuse, and the dark side of social media.

Fallon is a fixer. From planning prom to organizing her college applications, she’s got it all figured out… except for when her younger sister comes to her with very basic questions about sex. Shocked that she knows so little—and her fellow classmates even less—Fallon decides some practical education is in order. And Fallon isn’t above practicing a little civil disobedience by creating a secret, underground, off-campus group.

Shelby is a fighter. Having her nose broken is nothing new in her semi professional career… but this time it’s her boyfriend that threw the punch. Now her phone is blowing up with texts from a new guy, who tells her she’s perfect, she’s special, she’s everything he’s ever wanted… except for a few small details. Shelby’s happy to adjust for him, because isn’t that what a healthy relationship is about?

Jobie is a failure. She doesn’t have enough followers and her posts never go viral, no matter how hard she crushes challenges and applies exactly the right filter. But a friendly DM from a good girl just like her points her in the direction of a whole new audience of admirers. Guys who just want to talk. Guys who give her the attention she’s always wanted.

The lives of all three girls intersect in Fallon’s secret class, rumors of which have parents up in arms. Fallon needs to keep herself anonymous, Shelby needs to keep her new boyfriend happy, and Jobie needs to keep her followers… who keep asking for more. Each girl finds herself trapped in an inescapable situation—that will leave one of them dead.

Leave It on the Track

by Margot Fisher
Published by: Dutton Books for Young Readers
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA+, Young Adult
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From Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow Margot Fisher, a moving debut about healing, self-acceptance, and queer first love set on a roller derby team

Morgan "Moose" Shaker barely survived the fire that killed her fathers in their beloved roller rink in small-town Utah. Now she has to move to Portland to live with her much older half-sister, Eden. Eden's doing her best, but she's hardly ready to be a parent to a sixteen-year-old she hasn't seen in years. Plus barely-out-of-the-closet Moose worries that she's not ready for super-affirming, rainbow-flags-everywhere Portland. Her anxiety and frustration are at peak levels.

Fortunately, Moose finds an outlet for her emotions and a surprising group of friends in roller derby. Her teammates help her grieve her dads and confront her queer imposter syndrome. And even though it's against league rules, she might be falling for a teammate.

Heartfelt, funny, and romantic, this debut will make you want to lace up your skates, pull on your pads, and hit the track.

I'll Find You Where the Timeline Ends

by Kylie Lee Baker
Published by: Feiwel and Friends
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Mythology/Folklore, Sci-Fi, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult
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A teen descendant of a Japanese dragon god must team up with a cute rogue agent to subvert a corrupt time travel organization and find out the truth of what happened to her missing sister in acclaimed author Kylie Lee Baker's magical new YA romance, I'll Find You Where the Timeline Ends.

When you’re ready, come find me. I will keep you safe. -Hana

Descended from a Japanese dragon god, Yang Mina was born with the power to travel through time, and has spent her life training to take her place in the Descendants, a secret organization whose purpose is to protect the timeline. Then Mina’s world is uprooted when she moves to Seoul and finds a note from her sister–a sister who no one remembers, as if she had been erased. The only people who could have made her sister vanish so completely are part of the very agency that she’s been working so hard to join. So now Mina has a new mission, infiltrate the agency as quickly as possible to find her lost sister.

And, as if things weren’t complicated enough, a strikingly handsome rogue agent has determined that Mina is the only person who can help him put an end to the Descendants' corruption. Placed in an impossible situation, Mina must decide how much she’s willing to risk to find the truth.

Wheel of Wrath (The Fifth Realm, #2)

by A.A. Vora
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
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"A stellar follow-up fraught with political turmoil, violence, pain, and grief." - Kirkus (Starred Review)

Wheel of Wrath, set in an intricate world inspired loosely by karma, is the second book in The Fifth Realm YA fantasy trilogy and sequel to Spin of Fate.

Mayana is burning. Following the rupture of the barrier protecting the peaceful upper realm, soldiers from the lower realm of Malin invade and wage war on the Mayani kingdoms. Born into scarcity, the soldiers crave the lives of abundance they’ve been deprived of since birth. Meanwhile, the authorities of the upper realms race to fend off their attacks—and the key to their success may rest in gaining control of the planetary beasts who created the realms.

They attempt to recruit the Mayani princess and nature enthusiast Himalia to bond with a beast, a dangerous task that would earn her control of its powers. Himalia, who prefers the company of animals and books to humans, is unsettled by the idea of using another living being this way. After a life of disappointing her father, she should jump at the chance to bring honor to her family. But Himalia would rather be left in peace to continue her research, as she verges on a discovery that could change the tide of the war.

As Himalia edges closer to her discovery, the former members of the Balancers, a disbanded rebel group bringing aid to the unfortunate, choose their sides in the conflict. A grief-stricken Aina seeks revenge against the leader of the Malini army, who killed her mother. A conflicted Aranel sides with the lowers, intent on fighting for equality even if it means going against his homeland. And Meizan, now returned to his Malini clan, navigates internal politics as he tries to keep his clansmen out of harm’s way. When the three teens cross paths, as the attack on Mayana reaches a boiling point, they must reckon with their old, fractured friendships and their new reality as enemies at war.

Kissing is the Easy Part

by Christine Duann
Published by: Wattpad Books
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
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Perfect for readers who love contemporary YA romance like Tweet Cute and movies with sweet throwback appeal like Clueless.

"We’re not just different. We’re complete opposites.”

Flora Morgan knows what she wants and exactly how to get it. With an endless roster of friends, an enviable Instagram feed, and a flair for debuting every season’s must-have bag, life comes easy to her. But like a fairytale clock striking midnight, Flora’s world tilts when she meets Sean. They couldn’t be any more different, but he is everything she never knew she wanted.

Sean Foster is her polar opposite. Introverted, book smart, and thoughtful, with dreams of attending an exclusive college to study physics. His goals are his sole focus, and with graduation around the corner, the last thing he needs is to be swept up in the beautiful whirlwind of Flora Morgan. But when a drunken confession melts his resolve, he starts to wonder if some risks are worth taking.

As their vastly different worlds collide, they quickly realize that happily ever after doesn’t begin with a kiss. Flora’s picture-perfect life isn’t as flawless as it appears, and Sean’s dream of his future leaves no room for distractions. To keep their fire burning, they must accept each other’s differences and decide if what they’re building is strong enough to survive trials, jealousy, expectations, and the fear of becoming someone they no longer recognize.

Kissing is the Easy Part is a coming-of-age story that blasts you back to the golden age of romantic comedies and will have you cheering for a charming love story about what it means to be truly seen.

Red as Royal Blood

by Elizabeth Hart
Published by: HarperCollins
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
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The Inheritance Games gets the royal treatment in this paperback original thriller that combines courtly intrigue, succession drama, and romance.

Ruby has never found a puzzle she couldn’t solve. Even though she’s destined to spend the rest of her life as a servant to the royal family, her mind itches for a true challenge. But no puzzle could prepare her for the king’s decision to name Ruby as the next heir to the throne just before his death.

Thrown into the viper’s nest of court, Ruby is forced to contend with a kingdom in crisis, the dead king’s angry wife, and the three entitled and annoyingly handsome princes. Then, as if being newly crowned queen wasn’t enough, she discovers a note left by the king that claims he was murdered . . . and that she might be next.

Unsure of who she can trust, Ruby makes uneasy alliances with each of the princes as she tries to solve the king’s murder. But with the clock winding down, she will face her most difficult challenge yet: finding the truth before the killer comes for her.

Abuzz

by Amy Chase, Ellie Wright, Taylor Esposito, Stelladia
Published by: Maverick
on November 18, 2025
Genres: Graphic Novel, LGBTQIA+, Retellings, Young Adult
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Sparks and stingers will fly in this modern queer reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing!

Shakespeare’s beloved romcom Much Ado About Nothing gets a modern update with an LGBTQ cast and the same classic miscommunications! Feuding senior students Ben and Beatriz drag half of Messina High into their never-ending arguments, making things difficult as budding sweethearts Hero and Claudio are asked to pick sides in the battle. All the while, the bad kids, led by outcast DJ, are plotting to capitalize on the chaos and rule the school for themselves. With college letters and prom night on the horizon, will these students find their happy ending or feel the sting of total rejection?