20 Young Adult Books Still on My Spring 2026 Reading List
This spring has been an incredibly rough season. From personal tragedy to unexpected home repairs, I feel like nothing in my life has gone as planned. Reading-wise, I’m way behind. There’s just no other way to say it. It takes me longer to read a book right now, and some things are just too hard to read in the aftermath of losing my dad.
These are the books I agreed to review this spring and just haven’t been able to get to yet. I want to read all of them. (I’m pretty careful about what I accept for review.) As the days go by, it has become clear to me that I simply won’t be able to get to all these books and post the reviews in a timely manner.
I hope you enjoy the list. Please let me know if you’ve read anything listed here, especially if it was amazing! I can always use a good book recommendation.
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20 Young Adult Books Still on My Spring 2026 Reading List
Holloway by Elana K. Arnold
My thoughts: A girl grieving her mother’s death gets lost in a holloway. This looks twisty, emotional, and engaging. I’ve put off reading it as I’m unexpectedly processing the death of a parent myself, but I really want to read this one soon.
Published May 5, 2026 | My Review to Come
The Game of Oaths by S.C. Bandreddi
My thoughts: A trapeze artist in a magical circus tournament – I love all those words. Even better, this book is about a girl who competes in the tournament to avenge her sister’s death. I’m so in.
Published May 5, 2026 | My Review to Come
The Lustrous Dark by Loretta Chefchaouni
My thoughts: a YA fantasy inspired by a Moroccan folktale in which a girl rises up to reclaim power that’s been taken from women. The cover copy claims this is perfect for readers who love political revolution, fighting the patriarchy, female friendships, and cinnamon roll love interests. That’s me!
Published May 19, 2026 | My Review to Come
Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen
My thoughts: A new Sarah Dessen novel! Yes! This one is about a girl whose carefully laid plans collapse, and she has to live (yikes!) without a plan for after high school. Sounds horrifyingly relatable.
Published May 5, 2026 | My Review to Come
Being Aro edited by Madeline Dyer and Rosiee Thor
My thoughts: This collection features twelve stories of characters saving the day and celebrating connection and love sans romance. I loved the other collection edited by Dyer and Thor, so I really want to read this one.
Published May 26, 2026 | My Review to Come
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, Akimaro, Li Lu, and Barbara Perez Marquez
My thoughts: I enjoyed reading this book several years ago, and I am excited to see how this team adapted it to a graphic novel format. Laura Jean’s story is relatable and funny, so this will be a perfect story to revisit this summer.
Published May 5, 2026 | My Review to Come
The Spell for Unraveling (The Buried and the Bound #3) by Rochelle Hassan
My thoughts: Possibly my most-anticipated book release this year! This is the finale of The Buried and the Bound, and I have to know how these characters save the day, find love, and (hopefully) break a curse.
Published April 28, 2026 | My Review to Come
If You Were Here by Abigail Johnson
My thoughts: I can never get enough grumpy/sunshine romance, and this one looks excellent. A tourist and museum worker team up to find the truth about an ancestor and instead discover truths about themselves.
Published April 28, 2026 | My Review to Come
This Thing of Ours by Frederick Joseph
My thoughts: An injury ends the athletic career of a young Black basketball player. Searching for a new way to make his voice heard, he joins a writing program. Sounds thoughtful and timely.
Published May 12, 2026 | My Review to Come
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams by Michelle Kulwicki
My thoughts: Three teens discover a gateway to a mythical labyrinth in the Appalachian mountains. I spent summers in the Appalachian mountains growing up, so I’m super excited to revisit that landscape via this novel.
Published April 21, 2026 | My Review to Come
The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss
My thoughts: A team of contestants must solve escape rooms to advance in a reality show series while faced with an unsolved murder mystery from an earlier season. I love this premise, and I’m sure I’ll find this one unputdownable.
Published April 7, 2026 | My Review to Come
Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson
My thoughts: A younger sister bent on solving the murder of her older sister and pop starlet, even if it takes her through the darker side of global fame. This looks riveting– the kind of story I won’t be able to look away from.
Published May 5, 2026 | My Review to Come
Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai
My thoughts: The back cover copy calls this fantasy inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, which is a favorite book for me. I have to read this one.
Published April 14, 2026 | My Review to Come
Shards of Silence by Brian Lee Young
My thoughts: This novel connects a young Navajo teen’s present-day experience at an elite boarding school with his great-grandmother’s experience at an Indian Boarding School. A timely, important story.
Published May 5, 2026 | My Review to Come
What’s on your spring reading list?
What books are still on your spring reading list? Have you read any of the books I listed here? Leave a comment and let me know what you’re hoping to read soon or which of these titles I should push to the top of my reading list.
