Young Adult New Releases September 22nd 2026
There is nothing like the big fall release season and we are eager for our favs to drop…like Sabaa Tahir’s Empire, the final book in the Heir duology! There is something for everyone today, check out most of the new YA books below. We hope that if you plan to grab any recent titles from our work, that you try one of our independent affiliates: Libro.fm for all your audiobooks and Bookshop.org for all your digital or physical editions!
Empire (Heir Duology, #2)
by Sabaa TahirPublished by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
The gripping conclusion to the action-packed, ruthless, and romantic fantasy duology that began with HEIR, from the #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award–winning author Sabaa Tahir.
A crumbling empire.An ancient evil.A lost homeland.A lie that could destroy the world.
In the crumbling Martial Empire, crown prince Quil Farrar and his aunt, Empress Helene, are losing a war against the vicious Kegari horde. Quil’s armies dwindle, his faith falters, and the woman he loves vanished months ago, leaving him brokenhearted. Torn between his duty to his people and his desire to discover Sirsha’s fate, Quil embarks on a dangerous quest for aid—from the most treacherous of allies.
Sirsha Westering finds herself tethered to Div, an ancient evil unleashed by a terrible tragedy. Div delights in tormenting Sirsha, hungering for her magical heart. Even as Sirsha struggles for control of her own fate, she is desperate to shield Quil from Div’s destructive power. But Div won’t release Sirsha without a fight. To earn her freedom, Sirsha must uncover Div’s past—and face horrors in her own.
Cero bet-Dafra, former right hand of the Kegari leader, Aiz, now finds himself pitted against her. As Aiz slips further into violence and delusion, Cero must discover if his people have any hope of a future or if they’re condemned to an unending cycle of violence. His journey will force him to confront hidden truths, ancient secrets, and a lie that could destroy the world.
In Empire, #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir returns to the expansive world of fury and vengeance of Heir, weaving a story of legacy and rebellion, of loyalty and freedom, and of what it means to confront the monsters that lurk within us all.
Demonology for Overachievers
by Lily AndersonPublished by: Henry Holt & Co. (BYR)
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
Dark academia takes a fresh twist in this YA novel, where a determined high school senior strikes a bargain with a demon to win a coveted scholarship—only to discover her rival has made the same deal.
Merritt Maldonado has done everything right. But for every club she’s founded, tree she’s planted, and sport she’s played, her academic nemesis Linus Lexington has been right there. By her side. Copying her every move.
And now they're neck and neck for a coveted full ride scholarship. Desperate to gain an edge, Merritt finds herself making a deal with a demon. But when other applicants start dying in gruesome ways, Merritt realizes the demon is killing off her competition. And to make matters worse, she finds the demon’s mark on Linus.
Now Merritt and Linus' souls are tied to the same deadly demon. With bodies piling up, they have to work together to break the pact, stop the killings, and maybe admit that the bond they share isn't just supernatural...
A Season for Falling
by Kate O'ShaughnessyPublished by: Storytide
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
A swoony, heartfelt, and evocative standalone paperback original romance about first love, second chances, and finding yourself in the season of change—perfect for fans of Misty Wilson’s FALLING LIKE LEAVES and anyone looking for their next Gilmore Girls-esque fall read.
Some seasons change everything....
Five years ago, Claire was a child star, the goofy punchline of one of America’s favorite sitcoms. Until a series of devastating betrayals by her manager-father left her broke, humiliated, and desperate to disappear.
Now she’s just another high school senior in postcard-perfect Glenridge, Connecticut, determined to leave her past behind. Not even her best friend knows who she used to be—or that she’s scraping together every spare dollar to hopefully attend NYU.
When a movie shoot lands in Glenridge—and with it, her former co-star and ex–best friend, Luke Cordova—it threatens to stir up not only Claire's past, but also the dizzying crush she once had on Luke. He offers Claire a deal: let him shadow her to research his role, and he’ll pay enough to make her college dreams possible.
As the woodsmoke-tinged October air grows colder, and she falls for Luke (again), Claire must confront what really drove her to hide—and whether she can step back into herself without being consumed by everything she’s tried to forget.
A Dangerous Bargain
by Erin CotterPublished by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Historical Fiction, LGBTQIA+, Paranormal, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
A young artist who has bargained away most of his life for divine inspiration pairs up with fellow apprentice Leonardo da Vinci to infiltrate the Medici family and find out the truth about his missing brother in this Renaissance-set young adult mystery perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens.
It’s the height of the Italian Renaissance. In the golden city of Florence, art is equal to holiness—and angels walk among us, bestowing their talents…for a price.
Seventeen-year-old artist Virgil is in trouble. To support his family, he’s bargained most of his life away to an angel—only to discover that his missing brother is in danger, and nothing but magic can rescue him. Now, with just a few months left to live, Virgil is desperate enough to try the one thing he swore he would never, ever do—team up with the infuriating, annoyingly talented, and most notorious playboy in all of Florence, the charming Leonardo da Vinci.
As the two journey through Florence’s gilded streets, luxurious cathedrals, and glorious Medici palaces, they unearth dark truths beneath the city’s facade.
Those in power will do anything to keep their deadly secrets safe, but with his feelings for Leonardo giving him new life, Virgil is determined to expose their lies before he runs out of time.
Even if it might cost him his soul.
Dead Girls
by Beck KubrickPublished by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Graphic Novel, LGBTQIA+, Thriller, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
The teen daughter of an infamous serial killer must prove she isn’t the one behind recent copycat murders in this “tongue-in-cheek” (Booklist, starred review) graphic novel that’s a campy, feminist send-up of slashers that both celebrates and subverts classic tropes.
In the cozy town of Clossdale, a serial killer rampages! Five girls missing in as many weeks! Bodies turning up on the forest floor! And all fingers point to one vile fiend: Ash Hargreeves.
Except Ash didn’t do it. She may be the daughter of the infamous Clossdale Killer, and these copycat killings aren’t exactly convincing proof of her innocence—and okay, she’s kind of a weirdo who has two friends total, but when the murders strike a little too close to home, Ash decides to take a stand.
With the help of her besties, Ash is going to hunt down the killer, clear her mother’s name, and stop there from being any more dead girls—now and forever. After all, WWJLCD: what would Jamie Lee Curtis do?
Don’t Print This
by Monica ChinPublished by: Page Street YA
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Contemporary, Thriller, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU ARE. STOP DIGGING.
Freshman year, Ace Li kissed his best friend, Akash Patel. The next day, Akash moved away without a word—and Ace was so brokenhearted he stopped eating.
It took years for Ace to recover, but he’s finally stable again. Ace drinks his protein shakes, swims every morning, and might even win the debate competition this year. He’s good. He’s forgotten that kiss—at least, that’s what he tells himself. Then Ace hears the news: Akash is back.
Akash has returned because his mother, the world-famous investigative journalist Radhika Malhotra, is missing, and she was last seen in this town. Ace tries to stay away, but the second he sees Akash, the feelings he’s suppressed bubble back to the surface. Then Ace happens upon some notes—notes about what Akash’s mother was investigating. If he retraces her steps, he might be able to find her. And if he does, maybe Akash will give him another chance.
As Ace follows Radhika’s trail, his stable life begins to crumble. He stops eating, and he starts receiving threatening, anonymous messages. If he goes public with what happened to Radhika and why, his entire town will have to pay the consequences. Winning Akash’s heart might cost Ace everything, but maybe that’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make.
Lucy Kline, Necromancer
by Tom O'DonnellPublished by: Wednesday Books
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Paranormal, Thriller, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and highly bingeable thrillers, Lucy Kline, Necromancer, is a Nancy Drew-style murder mystery mixed with the occult.
It’s been two years since Lucy’s twin sister was presumed dead. As the only person who knew about Louisa’s plan to sneak out on the night she was killed, Lucy still feels responsible for her sister’s grim fate—despite the fact that it was Lucy who eventually cracked the case, putting Louisa’s killer in jail.
Or so she thought.
When another girl who looks just like Louisa goes missing under similarly mysterious circumstances, and ghostly dreams begin to plague Lucy, she throws herself back into the investigation. The more clues she uncovers, the more her nightmares bleed into reality. And signs start to point to the necromancy.
With the help of her classmate Howie and a retired medieval history professor, Lucy must find the culprit behind these disappearances and finally come to terms with the grief that’s haunted her for years.
School Bus Graveyard, Volume 2
by RedPublished by: Ink Pop
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Graphic Novel, Horror, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
High school was hard enough before Ashlyn got cursed on a field trip. Now, in this fast-paced graphic novel, she must lead a rag-tag group of classmates to survive murderous phantoms.
"This YA horror is perfect for fans of Stranger Things or the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.”—School Library Journal
After the worst field trip ever, Ashlyn and her friends now spend nights fighting to escape an alternate world where they're hunted by murderous monsters. It's been a desparate fight, but they've managed to stay alive. Just barely. But how much longer can they keep this up? Until something goes horribly wrong? Ashlyn and the others need to unravel the mystery of the curse fast, but that may not be as easy as they hope. Because there's more to what's happening to them than a simple haunting...
This volume collects episodes 33-61 of the hit WEBTOON with over 250 million views, School Bus Graveyard. Featuring additional artwork from the author, this will be a must-have for fans!
The Mirror of Infinite Endings (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #3.5)
by Stephanie Garber, LotusbubblePublished by: Flatiron Books
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
The #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING Once Upon a Broken Heart series continues… Return to the Magnificent North and the BREATHTAKING LOVE STORY that has captivated readers all over the world!
Jacks and Evangeline Fox have finally found their happily ever after.
Everything here in the Hollow is wonderful and perfect.
Nothing is going to go wrong.
No one is keeping a secret . . . except for maybe one.
But don’t worry, it’s not going to rewrite reality or alter history or change the ending of Jacks and Evangeline’s story.
Definitely not.
Featuring cameos from fan-favorite characters and twenty full-page illustrations by Lotusbubble, the newest installment in the Once Upon a Broken Heart universe will immerse readers once again in this beloved, #1 New York Times bestselling series. Because every story has the potential for infinite endings.
Also by Stephanie Garber:
The Caraval Series:- Caraval- Legendary- Finale- Spectacular
Alchemy of Secrets
Death in Verse
by Julie LewPublished by: Union Square Co.
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBTQIA+, Romance, Thriller, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
The first ferry of the new term arrives in six days. Let us hope it finds you alive and well.
When Bronte Cade’s mother vanishes, the only clue she leaves behind is an invitation to a retreat for magical poets. Determined to find answers, Bronte attends in her mother’s place by masquerading as the esteemed Dr. Sappho Cade.
But when Bronte arrives at the Radley School of Poetry, she finds the island abandoned—save for six other confused poets, one line of an unfinished poem, and an anonymous host who issues a chillingultimatum through an enchanted gramophone: complete the spell, and they may return home on the next ferry. Fail, and they die.
There’s another problem: Bronte isn’t magical.
With escape impossible, the body count rising, and her mother still missing, Bronte forms a wary alliance with the infuriating yet brilliant Marlowe Fang. Together, they race to unmask their host before Bronte is exposed—or worse, the next victim.
But beneath the host’s sinister scheme lies an even more insidious plot, one decades in the making. It bleeds beyond the shores of Radley like an ink stain, and no one’s hands are clean. Least of all the people Bronte trusts most.
Insatiable
by Erica RidleyPublished by: Delacorte Press
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
A chilling Gothic horror novel set at a coed boarding school in Scotland, where a teen girl must not only fight against her monstrous male classmates but the monster growing within her after being cursed.
Every wish granted comes with strings attached. That’s how Catriona Cameron gets a scholarship to Floodbane Academy—an elite boarding school in the Scottish Lowlands she never applied to—where she’ll be one of only six girls to enter the castle’s unwelcoming halls.
She’s not looking for trouble, but after a violent attack, mischievous dark fairies grant cruel wishes made against her. Catriona is blessed with devastatingly good looks and unpredictable new powers, but cursed with an insatiable hunger to devour anyone who preys upon women.
As the carnage mounts, Catriona faces the possibility that she is becoming as monstrous as those she hunts. Ultimately, is vengeance worth the loss of her humanity?
Stealing Saint Nick: A Legendary Corpse, a Notorious Theft, and the Stories that Shape the World
by M.T. AndersonPublished by: Dutton Books for Young Readers
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Mythology/Folklore, Non-Fiction, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
From NBA, Printz, and Newbery Honor winner M. T. Anderson, a tour de force of research and storytelling that follows the life of a humble young man named Nicholas who became one of the world’s most influential figures in religion, government, and commerce—whether you believe in him or not.
M. T. Anderson still believes in Santa Claus—just not in the way you think.
Born of the research for Nicked, his acclaimed adult debut, Stealing Saint Nick is the story of the man who became Father Christmas—but only after surviving the Great Persecution, the fall of the Roman Empire, and the theft of his magically oozing bones (twice).Anderson traces Nicholas of Myra, future patron saint of consumption, from his humble origins as a child born into a fringe Jewish cult in a small town on the Mediterranean coast in the third century AD through his rise to one of the preeminent saints in all of Christianity to his transformation into an icon of capitalism and unwitting rival to Jesus Christ. Along the way, Anderson shows how human history can only be known and understood by both examining the objective facts and by studying the fantastical stories that people choose to make into myths.
Anderson's full powers as a storyteller and a scholar are on display in this incredibly readable and hugely informative tale about how the stories we believe in common shape the course of humanity.
To Our Untamed Core
by Sonido Reyes, Sonora ReyesPublished by: Versify
on September 22, 2026
Genres: Dystopian, LGBTQIA+, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
The Hunger Games meets The Sunbearer Trials in bestselling and award-winning author Sonido Reyes’s YA dystopia about a boy who survives by hiding his truth until his boyfriend is sentenced to El Torneo — a brutal, fight-to-the-death game — where he must risk everything to save him.
Centuries after the conquistadors claimed the Afueras for their own, Temo spends his life obeying the Holy Order’s decree, undergoing their sacraments to tame his supposedly violent nature.
The only rule he breaks: hiding that he’s trans. If that fact is discovered, Temo will face El Torneo, a brutal, fight-to-the-death game pitting the untamed against one another. No Afuereño who enters El Torneo ever escapes with their life.
But when Temo’s boyfriend is unexpectedly arrested and thrown into the deadly tournament, he’ll do anything to rescue Ollin from his gruesome fate, even if it means entering El Torneo himself.
Only there's far more to this tournament than meets the eye—survival is just the beginning. When the cost of saving the one he loves the most might be higher than he ever imagined, is Temo willing to pay it?
Leave a Reply