Erica highlights some new YA genre-bending thrillers and Kelly talks with YA author Candace Fleming about her latest book, Death in the Jungle, as well as cults and YA nonfiction.

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Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

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Show Notes:

The Devil's in the Dancers by Catherine Yu

Roar of the Lambs by Jamison Shea

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur

Empty Heaven by Freddie Kölsch

Predatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith

Death in the Jungle by Candace Fleming

The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

The Great and Only Barnum by Candace Fleming

"What Makes for Good YA Nonfiction" from School Library Journal

Wake the Wild Creatures by Nova Ren Suma

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

Cultish by Amanda Montell

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Underground by Haruki Murakami

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson

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Kelly and Erica discuss the latest media they've been consuming and the YA books coming out in August that they're most excited about.

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Book Riot is hiring a digital content specialist! If you love books and know the ins and outs of social media strategy, and especially social video, consider joining the team. Find details and apply by August 22, 2025, at riotnewmedia.com/careers.

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Books Discussed:

Tin House Workshop

Legendary Fry Bread Drive-In edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith

A Beautiful and Terrible Murder by Claire M. Andrews

Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai

The L.O.V.E. Club by Lio Min

White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History by Ann Bausum

The Next Generation United Daughters of the Confederacy: Book Censorship News, April 28, 2023

Tall Water by SJ Sindu, Dion MBD

Rosa By Any Other Name by Hailey Alcaraz

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez

This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Nicole Goux

What Hunger by Catherine Dang

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku

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Erica talks queer YA graphic novels you should read and Kelly speaks with author and activist Frederick Joseph.

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Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! TBR delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. You can get your recommendations via email, or receive hardcovers or paperbacks in the mail. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Plans start at just $18!

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Books Discussed:

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag

Daybreak Volume One by Moosopp

The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1 by Mokumokuren, Ajani Oloye (Translator)

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

Brooms By Jasmine Walls, Teo Duvall (Illustrator)

This Thing of Ours by Frederick Joseph

The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph

Ruin Road by Lamar Giles

Hey YA interview with Lamar Giles

Dwyane Wade

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

24 Seconds From Now . . . by Jason Reynolds

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Nic Stone

Gayle Forman

Ibi Zoboi

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Danika joins Kelly this week to talk about exciting new YA books that hit shelves in June and July, as well as to talk the best YA books of 2025 so far.

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Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! TBR delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. You can get your recommendations via email, or receive hardcovers or paperbacks in the mail. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Plans start at just $18!

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News:

Books Discussed:

On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia

Death in the Jungle by Candace Fleming

Messy Perfect by Tanya Boteju

Love Points to You by Alice Lin

"The Complicated World of YA Books for Younger Teens"

"Do Teens Get Pushed Out of YA Books When It’s Called A Genre?"

(S)Kin by Ibi Zoboi

Hear Us Out by Nancy Garden

The Year They Burned the Books by Nancy Garden

Wednesday

The Haunting of Hill House

Call Your Boyfriend by Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk

Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by CB Lee

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

Dan in Green Gables by Rey Terciero, illustrated by Claudia Aguirre

Ana of California by Andi Teran

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Hit Me with Your Best Charm by Lillie Vale

The Tournament by Rebecca Barrow

This Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow

Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales

Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

Not So Shoujo Love Story, Volume 1 by Curryuku

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Kelly talks with YA author L.M. Elliott about historical fiction, Watergate, and contemporary politics for teens.

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Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! TBR delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. You can get your recommendations via email, or receive hardcovers or paperbacks in the mail. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Plans start at just $18!

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Books Discussed:

Truth, Lies, and The Questions In Between by L.M. Elliott

Walls by L.M. Elliott

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The West Wing

Hamilton

Suspect Red by L.M. Elliott

Truth, Lies, and The Questions In Between Playlist

L.M. Elliott's blog

Mrs. America

Countdown by Deborah Wiles (series)

This Promise of Change by Debbie Levy

Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World edited by Kelly Jensen

(Don't) Call Me Crazy edited by Kelly JEnsen

A Dangerous Idea by Debbie Levy

Bluebird by Sharon Cameron

The Silent Unseen by Amanda McCrina

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson

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We're revisiting a fantastic interview from earlier this year! Kelly talks with YA author and children’s literature champion Jason Reynolds about his career, writing the inner lives of teen boys, his favorite middle grade and YA books, and more.

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News:

Jason Reynolds wins a MacArther Genius Grant

Books Discussed:

When I Was The Greatest by Jason Reynolds

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Judy Blume Forever documentary

Forever . . . by Judy Blume

George M. Johnson

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

Eugene Yelchin

"Coca Cola Classic 'Polar Bears' TV commercial 1993"

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley

The Fire Next Time: A Letter to My Nephew by James Baldwin

Erin Entrada Kelly

A.S. King

Randy Ribay

King and the Dragonfly by Kacen Callender

Love That Dog and Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr.

Jason's recommended reading order of his books if . . .

You're a teacher or librarian planning to teach the books:

If you're an adult wanting to read them for yourself:

For Teens 14+:

For Tweens:

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It's a YA blast-from-the-past meets popular-still-for-a-reason this week. Kelly talks with E. Lockhart about the We Were Liars adaptation, and Erica talks with Rioter Danika Ellis about the 10th anniversary of Nimona.

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Show Notes:

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart

Hey YA Interview with Gayle Forman

We Were Liars on Prime Instagram

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Again, Again by E. Lockhart

Nimona by N.D. Stevenson

Nimona on Netflix

10 Years Later, We Need Nimona More Than Ever by Danika Ellis

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Erica goes over a nice mix of new YA books by AAPI authors, while Kelly has a great convo with Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia, authors of the new rom-com On Again, Awkward Again.

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Ready to level up your reading life? Become a Book Riot All Access member and explore our full library of members-only content, including must-reads, deep dives, and reading challenge recommendations. For a limited time, the first 50 new All Access annual members get a FREE copy of Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz courtesy of Tor Publishing! Join Book Riot All Access to level up your reading life and claim your free copy of Automatic Noodle.

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Books Discussed:

Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee

Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand, illustrated by Tara Anand

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur

The Summer I Remembered Everything by Catherine Con Morse

On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly, Kwame Mbalia

A Universe of Wishes edited by Dhonielle Clayton

Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia

The White Guy Dies First edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker

The Black Girl Survives in This One edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig

Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

Shine by Candy Gourlay

Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender

Hello Universe and Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly

Kaya Morgan's Crowning Achievement by Jill Tew

Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos by Tracey Baptiste

Kwame Mbalia's Freedom Fire imprint (more info)

You can follow both Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia on Bluesky.

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Erica shares a few new books to start the month off with. Then, we revisit a great past episode where Kelly and Erica discuss the first book of the super-popular 1980s/1990s series Sweet Valley High. We also find out who is more of a Jessica/Elizabeth.

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To get even more YA news and recommendations, sign up for our What’s Up in YA newsletter!

Ready to level up your reading life? Become a Book Riot All Access member and explore our full library of members-only content, including must-reads, deep dives, and reading challenge recommendations. For a limited time, the first 50 new All Access annual members get a FREE copy of Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz courtesy of Tor Publishing! Join Book Riot All Access to level up your reading life and claim your free copy of Automatic Noodle.

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News:

Graphic novels are booming in popularity. It’s changing children’s relationship with books

LA Book Prize finalists announced

Books Discussed:

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams

The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala

Salvación by Sandra Proudman

Double Love (Sweet Valley High No. 1) by Francine Pascal

From the ghostwriter

On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 11 by Natsu Hyuuga, illustrated by Nekokurage, translated by Julie Goniwich

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Erica gets into some cutesy/cozy YA books, and Kelly speaks to Huda Fahmy about her fictionalized memoir series.

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Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you’ll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co!

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If You’ll Have Me by Eunnie

I Shall Never Fall in Love: A Graphic Novel by Hari Conner

If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal

Off Menu: A Graphic Novel by Oliver Gerlach, illustrated by Kelsi Jo Silva

Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui

If You're Not the One by Farah Naz Rishi

Huda F Wants to Know by Huda Fahmy

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