My 2019 Must-Read YA Book List — 38 Of My MOST Anticipated Books For The First Half of 2019

UPDATED: Check out the 2023 list full of all the most anticipated new YA releases to read!

I’m so excited to be sharing this list — my most anticipated books of 2019 list (for the first half of the year)! I shared my must-read adult fiction books for 2019 after Christmas if you didn’t check that out and enjoy adult fiction also! It felt like it took forever to compile all my must read YA books for 2019 but I finally got it done.

I definitely was excited about SO many upcoming YA books for 2019 but, if you follow me on Instagram you’ll know, that I’ve had such a shift in my reading life and compared to years past I didn’t have AS many young adult books to narrow down. Obviously you see the size of this list so it’s still pretty massive but I feel like in years past it was EXCRUCIATING to narrow down my must read young adult books for 2019. I think this time I had a lot easier time picking!

This list is also only the FIRST half of 2019 so be on the lookout for the second half of the year list closer to May/June.

Of note: if you check out the pre-order price of some of the books they tend to be a lot cheaper to pre-order the books rather than wait til the on sale date. And then it’s like a nice little surprise gets sent to you later haha. It helps me stay on a budget to be able to KNOW I want to read it and get a few bucks off of it. Some of them are even $5+ off.

So let’s get to all these exciting new YA book in 2019!! I’d love to hear what you are most excited about and what you’ve already read already. Are there any that you think should be on my must-read list but isn’t?

Must Read YA Books For 2019

(January – first half of June)

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2019 YA Books from some of my all time favorite authors whose books I would read no matter what they are about:

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas  — Out February 5th

I read The Hate U Give early thanks to a review copy that came my way and I  knew as soon as I read it that it was going to be a Big Deal. It was just an incredible story that was so, so relevant and important. Those characters have stayed with me and I don’t think I’ve felt that way about another cast of characters/a book since so I am SUPER hyped to be getting a new book from Angie Thomas — pretty much the very top of my YA must read books of 2019 list…honestly just my top books in general. I will be honest…I don’t know much of what it is about but if Angie Thomas writes it I will read it.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner  — Out February 26

I SUPER loved Jeff Zentner’s The Serpent King & his sophomore novel Goodbye Days so out of all the YA books coming out in 2019 on this list this is one of those reliefs to have a new book out by a favorite author. It’s so nice to settle back into familiar words with an author you trust. It looks like a great book about friendship and that uncertain time during senior year when you are realizing that every thing is going to change soon when there are so many things you don’t want to let go of yet. Plus I think it’s so fun that they have their own campy tv show!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

You may also like: the definitive guide to all the books becoming movies in 2020

There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon  — Out May 14

AHHH Ashish (from my book love When Dimple Met Rishi) gets a book! And I’m so excited to meet Sweetie. Excited for a new romcom from Sandhya in 2019!!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

All the awesome sounding fantasy on my must read YA list:

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi  — Out January 15

I’m just intrigued by the premise of this historical fantasy about a group of “experts” thrown together to find (read: heist) an ancient artifact set in an alternate Paris in 1889. YOU KNOW I LOVE WHEN PEOPLE ARE THROWN TOGETHER AND MUST WORK TOGETHER IN SOME WAY! That and found families of misfits are just THE BEST.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler   — Out January 22

This sounds FANTASTIC. The main character is sent on an impossible mission, after it is found out she has abilities she never declared, to access to steal a legendary ghost ship, a ship from which no one has ever returned from, or else they take her sister’s life.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Dark of The West by Joanna Hathaway — Out February 5

Out of all the new YA books for 2019 that I looked at this one had comp titles that killed me the most — Code Name Verity meets The Winner’s Curse. HOW CAN YOU DO THAT TO ME?? How can you compare this book to a favorite historical fiction of mine and a favorite fantasy series of mine and not expect me to add it to my TBR?? This 2019 release looks like it has it all — espionage, political intrigue and star-crossed lovers. And early reviews lead me to believe it’s going to break my heart so THERE’S THAT.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte  — Out February 26

I have high hopes for this one! The world is divided into 4 parts and each is ruled by one queen….until there is a plot to murder all 4 of them and the main character gets caught up in it. Also hi can I please live in this women ruling world?? Let’s try that out….we’ve given the men a chance lol.

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The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyon  — Out February 5th

I love the premise of this — just like in the storybooks the main character finds out he is a lost prince but, unlike in the storybooks, he realizes it is not at all like in the storybooks and his family actually SUCUUUCKS. Also seems like he’s totally not the hero to save the kingdom in this one but wants to destroy it?? HEREFORIT DOT COM.  This is one of the new YA books for 2019 that I am like super hyped by the summary and I’m praying to every book god there is that it would live up to how awesome it sounds.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan  — Out April 2

I fully blame DJ for making this one of my most anticipated YA book for 2019. I feel like he has been raving about it for FOREVER and it’s made me very excited for it! I’ll be honest I barely even know what it is about except that it is a kicka$$ fantasy with a gorgeous cover. There’s a plot to assassinate the king, centuries long war, a prince in a danger, a girl who can talk to gods. I MEAN…just add it to your must read YA list for 2019 already!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He  — Out April 2

It’s being billed as a Chinese Game of Thrones and some reviewers I trust have confirmed that hype-y comparison SO yeaaaaah definitely an upcoming YA release for 2019 to keep your eye on if you love fantasy! The princess becomes the queen of an unstable kingdom when her father is murdered and, because women get things done, she hires a soothsayer — super illegal since magic was banned — to figure out who killed her dad.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

The Devouring Grey by Christine Lynn Herman  — Out April 2

This book is said to be Stranger Things (YESSS) meets The Raven Cycle (okay I’ve only read the first book but I loved it) and I’m here for these dark vibes. After a tragedy, the main character moves to a small town and finds out her family was really one of the founding families there and that they were part of a pact made with a monster in the woods.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal  — Out May 14

I’ve known Hafsah for something like 8 years?? This is not a must read YA book for 2019 just because of that….I genuinely am excited for this book because Hafsah is such a fantastic writer from what I’ve witnessed and listening to her talk about this book and NOT BE ABLE TO READ IT RIGHT THEN has been agonizing. I’m so proud of her and I cannot wait for this book to release — it’s an epic fantasy inspired by Ancient Arabia that follows a girl named Zafira who disguises herself as a man to find a lost artifact that will restore magic to her suffering world. But she is pursued by a Prince who has also been charged to find this artifact AND kill her.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson  — Out June 4

I have heard amazing things about An Enchantment of Ravens but have yet to read it. HOWEVER, I’m so excited for this one! It’s an imaginative fantasy about an apprentice at a magical library who must battle a powerful sorcerer to save her kingdom. It sounds amazing!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao  — Out June 4

A DARK ANASTASIA RETELLING. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. This book sounds absolutely incredible and I’m so mad that it doesn’t come out until June. It’s one of my absolute top YA debut books for 2019 on my must read list!! Ahhh I spent so much time as a kid being obsessed with the story of Anastasia and I’m SO excited.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

The exciting sequels I’m DYING for in 2019

These two books are probably my MOST anticipated YA books for 2019!! If you haven’t read the previous books in each series I HIGHLY recommend checking out The Cruel Prince and Truthwitch which are the first in the respective series.

The Wicked King by Holly Black  — Out January 8th

The Cruel Prince was one of the BEST books I read in 2018 and I cannot wait for the sequel to this brutal and dark fantasy series!! I highly recommend checking out the first book.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard  — Out February 12th

This series is one of my all time favorite fantasy series EVER! I’m just dying to get back into this world and what these characters are going through. Check out Truthwitch and catch yourself up!!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

All the awesome sounding contemporary books that are must read for 2019:

Even If I Fall by Abigail Johnson  — Out January 8th

This whole premise just sounds fascinating and unique making it a must read YA for 2019 for me! An unlikely (and secret) relationship between a boy whose brother was murdered and the sister of the one who did it? YES PLEASE. I can’t imagine all the pain combined in between these two between losing a brother and being a social pariah after your brother commits a horrendous act.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan  — Out January 29th

Reading the summary of this one reminds me a little of Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed ( an amazing book!!) with the whole parents catching the teen with an unapproved choice and whisking them away to their home country to “help” them be more traditional and whip up an arranged marriage. I’m loving YA books set outside the US so I’m thrilled to read a book set in Bangladesh and see what happens with the main character!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon — Out January 15

This looks like an emotional one!! I mean, donating a kidney to your best friend who you secretly have feelings for is an interesting relationship dynamic anyways but the crush and the unrequited feelings and the distancing of the friendship because suddenly things become a bit toxic! SO MUCH EMOTING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

The Art of Losing by Lizzy Mason  — Out February 19th

I have been WAITING for us to be in the year that Lizzy’s book would be published. I’ve known Lizzy for a couple years thanks to the internet/blogging and I’m so, so excited to read her book and it is one of my most anticipated YA books for 2019 because of that. And also because I’ve heard it’s ridiculously good from people who have already read it. It sounds like a messy contemporary story about sisters, mistakes and forgiving ourselves and I AM HERE FOR IT.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson  — Out February 12

If being involved in more intersectional feminist effort this year is at the top of your priorities, this looks like a good one about two teens who start a Women’s Rights Club at their high school, end up going viral with what they’ve posted online sharing their experiences and end up being told they have to shut down the club once trolls start in on them and things escalate — something that would take away theirs and many other women’s voice! Everyone keeps saying The Hate U Give meets Moxie so this looks fantastic and timely.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Unleaving by Marissa Ostrom  — Out March 26

The last book I read that dealt with victim blaming amazingly was All The Rage by Courtney Summers so I’m excited to read another book tackling it. This one tackles it after an assault happens at an off campus party that has the main character fleeing her college town  — a college town that is NOT happy that some of its players have been expelled because of this incident — and going to her aunt’s remote home and heal from the trauma. It sounds heart-wrenching but you know that’s always my cup of tea. These stories are SO important.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

The Meaning of Birds by Jaye Robin Brown  — Out April 16

This book looks like a heartbreaking one about a young teen girl who loses the girlfriend who has helped her come out of her anger and embrace her talent as an artist…but then her girlfriend dies and she’s left not wanting anything to do with art and her future plans. I’ve read another book by this author and liked it a lot so it’s definitely an upcoming YA book I want to check out in 2019.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

How To Make Friends With The Dark by Kathleen Glasglow  — Out April 9

I’ve talked about before how I LOVE books about grief — especially ones about losing a parent — because of my own experience. The people I know who have read this one have raved and I think it’s going to be just one of those raw grief stories I will love about a young girl losing her mom.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegmund-Broka  — Out April 23

A Taming of the Shrew retelling! My fave is obviously 10 Things I Hate About You but I’m so ready for a new one to love and this 2019 YA release looks FANTASTIC and one of the few contemporaries catching my eyes these days.  The brutally honest queen bee tries to tame herself after an incident with her crush and, in making amends with those she hurt, she becomes close with a guy who seems to appreciate her thorns and all.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio   — Out May 7

Booktuber Christine Riccio’s debut novel is going to be a must read YA book in 2019.  The premise sounds totally fun and has so many things I love — set in college, a semester abroad in search of an adventure! I don’t watch much booktube but I do follow Christine and I’m really pumped for her to see her dream become a reality!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo  — Out May 7

If you are looking for something romantic and swoony, Maurene Goo’s latest is MOST DEF going to need to be on your must read YA books list! It’s about a KPop star who falls for the boys she runs into at her hotel she’s saying at who just happens to be a tabloid reporter. I’m so excited for this new cute YA romance!

P.S. if you crave more books like that (cute & swoony) check out my list about books to read if you loved To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno  — Out May 14

My friend Laura raved about this book and put it on my radar saying it was Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic….and yes, yes I do want that in my life so on to my most anticipated YA book list for 2019 immediately!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Genre? What’s a genre?

Internment by Samira Ahmed  — Out March 19

It feels weird to call this a dystopian, but it’s not yet contemporary. That’s a scary feeling. A book that FEELS like it could be real at any time? This one is definitely going to be the must read YA book of 2019 and a very important one at that. I can tell. It’s already got big buzz around it and from everyone I know the verdict has been that it’s amazing. It’s about a young teen, in America’s near future, who gets thrown into a Muslim American internment camp with her family and ends up being involved in the revolution against the camp.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young  — Out March 19

I LOVED Suzanne Young’s books The Program (still need to catch up on that series, to be honest) and this premise sounds fascinating — an all-girls boarding school where the (very obedient) girls are taught how to be the best in interior design or growing a garden but absent is any sort of math or science or current event. The main character realizes how controlled they are and dark secrets about the school (and themselves) become uncovered. Another note: I have zero idea what genre this would be. Is it dystopian? Is it sci-fi (still don’t know what those secrets are??). No idea.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Still here for all the dystopian YA books in 2019

We Set The Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia  — Out February 26

I am so into this dystopian (is it dystopian? Idk it seems very Handmaid Tale-like) but WHATEVER the genre this is one of my most anticipated YA books for 2019 because it sounds feministy and there’s a resistance to bring equality to the women of this society that the book takes place in.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Some sci-fi goodness for good measure on my must read YA list for 2019:

When The Sky Fell On Splendor by Emily Henry  — Out March 12th

Pitched as The Serpent King (just talked about my love for that) meets Stranger Things (total fangirl) and is about a group of friends in a small town who find themselves dealing with unexpected powers after a cosmic event. I am all about this. Love small town stories and sci-fi goodness so this is definitely a must read YA in 2019 for me.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Always love a good mystery or thriller on my reading list for 2019:

Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen McManus  — Out January 8th

This one looks like a good twisty mystery set in a small town that looks like a picture perfect place to move to but has deadly secrets — like the main character’s aunt who went missing there and a homecoming queen who was killed. WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AT HOMECOMING? I need to find out!

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok   — Out February 12

A historical murder mystery with some supernatural goodness? YES YES YES. PLEASE AND THANK YOU. Obviously this one is going on my most anticipated books of 2019 list!  Plus it’s set in Paris in the 1880’s. The supernatural premise of this, where the young reporter has to use her supernatural visions to find a killer, give me some vibes of a supernatural series I love called The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

You May Also Like: Check out my favorite historical young adult fiction!

 Last Girl Lied To by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn — Out April 16

If you are looking for new books in 2019 that are of the YA thriller variety — check this one out! It’s about a girl whose best friend allegedly commits suicide but slowly she begins to believe she’s not even dead at all and she tries to figure out where she might be.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

A Little Taste Of The Past On My List Of Must Read YA Books For 2019:

A Place For Wolves by Kosoko Jackson  — Out April 2

This one is a historical thriller (and love story) set during the Kosovo War and I am so here for a historical setting I’ve never read before. I was like 13 when this war started and I vaguely remember hearing about it and learning a little about it but it’s not something that’s so engrained in my memory…because I just didn’t seem to care as a kid? I guess maybe it’s because I didn’t watch the news or have social media to tell me what was going on? I don’t know. Either way I’ve never read a book with this setting and this sounds FANTASTIC. Also anyone else my age start to panic when you realize the 90’s are considered historical. SOMEBODY HOLD ME.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

The Raven’s Tale by Cat Winters  — Out April 16

This is an Edgar Allen Poe retelling. WHAT. I KNOW. I went through a phase where I was super obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe in high school. This is definitely an upcoming 2019 YA book to watch for if you like historical fiction + retellings and/or Edgar Allan Poe.

PURCHASE: AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // YOUR LOCAL INDIE

So, there you have it — those are my most anticipated YA books for 2019! What books are your must read YA books for 2019? I’d love to hear what books you are excited about reading this year! There’s so many new YA releases for 2019 and I’m sure I overlooked some or will be thinking later MAAAAN that summary didn’t do it for me but all these reviews are.

P.S.  check out all these book club ideas to create your best book club ever.

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