2023 YA Starred Reviews Round-Up

These YA reads are all pretty stellar, but don’t just take our word for it check out what School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly have to say in their starred reviews!

ALWAYS THE ALMOST by Edward Underhill
9781250835208 | Available Now (2/14/23)

“A trans teen pianist grapples with coming out, competition, and romance in Underhill’s exuberant debut . . . A beginning note promising a book “full of joy” lives up to that assurance; building nuanced characters with relatable problems, high emotional stakes, and earnest first love, Underhill delivers a delightful triumph.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

IMMORTALITY: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
9781250861016 | Available Now (2/28/23)

“An excellent follow up to the first book. Fans of Schwartz will not be disappointed. Recommend to readers of the first installment or fans of Gothic romance.”
School Library Journal, starred review

INTO THE LIGHT by Mark Oshiro
9781250812254 | Available Now (3/28/23)

“An important and searing read on the value of family, agency, and belief.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“A realistic, sometimes horrifying depiction of religious trauma. Recommended for readers who enjoy the works of Courtney Summers and Tiffany D. ­Jackson.”
School Library Journal, starred review

“While retaining space for authentic representations of faith and spirituality, this breathtaking indictment of corrupted religion’s consequences presents a standout, deeply felt portrait of a teenager’s longing for connection.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Into the Light is a thoughtful, beautiful, riveting thriller that fans of dynamic character building, gritty mystery, and searing social commentary will devour in a heartbeat.”
Booklist, starred review

BLOOD DEBTS by Terry J. Benton-Walker
9781250825926 | Available Now (4/4/23)

“Twins with a lineage of magic and a family history stained by violent betrayal pursue blood and justice in this bewitching contemporary fantasy . . . This page-turning debut demands a sequel. Riveting and relevant.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Steeped in spiritual lore that takes cues from the rich cultural history of the Black diaspora, Walker paints an evocative picture of an enchanted New Orleans as earthly as it is divine. Walker effectively parallels contemporary politics with heady alternate magical history to create a layered world that is more than the sum of its mercurial characters and its many moving parts.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE by Jonny Garza Villa
9781250843999 | Available Now (5/2/23)

“In Santi, Garza Villa has done a superb job of verisimilitude, taking their readers into the precarious life and circumstances of an undocumented teen. The love between the two teens is beautifully realized without a false note, proving that Garza Villa is as much an artist as Ander.” Booklist, starred review

DARKHEARTS by James L. Sutter
9781250869746 | Available Now (6/6/23)

“Sutter does an excellent job of building both character and compelling plot, turning his novel into more than a simple summer romance as he brings David and Chance to vivid life on the page. Their relationship is realistically flawed, and readers will wonder anxiously if it can survive.”
Booklist, starred review

GOING BICOASTAL by Dahlia Adler
9781250871640 | Available Now (6/13/23)

“Dual time lines depict Natalya’s summers in New York (as she falls for redheaded Ellie) and in L.A., where, after a rocky start, she connects with fellow intern Adam. Each narrative is propelled not by fate but by Natalya’s choices, and Adler manages to make a tricky, high-concept premise look easy, grounding the stories in character and culture.” Booklist, starred review

WHERE ECHOES DIE by Courtney Gould
9781250825797 | Available Now (6/20/23)

“Gould, via a close third-person perspective, carefully weaves together a powerful portrait of grief and healing that’s equal parts unnerving and heartbreaking.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

GUARDIANS OF DAWN: ZHARA by S. Jae-Jones
9781250191427 | Available Now (8/1/23)

“Perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer’s “The Lunar Chronicles,” this heartwarming, heartbreaking start to a series will leave readers aching for more.” School Library Journal, starred review

UNNECESSARY DRAMA by Nina Kenwood
9781250894441 | Available Now (8/8/23)

“A fun, breezy read that feels lighthearted but is multilayered, this one will appeal to YA and new adult readers, especially those ready to begin college. Enthusiastically recommended.”
School Library Journal, starred review

“Following numerous comedic missteps and beloved rom-com tropes, including “enemies to lovers” and “boy next door,” the story culminates in a satisfyingly romantic ending . . . Sidesplitting comic writing and an appealingly messy protagonist to root for.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

TILLY IN TECHNICOLOR by Mazey Eddings
9781250847065 | Available Now (8/15/23)

“A sweet neurodivergent love story . . . Hand to readers who could write an essay about how Mr. Darcy could be autistic, or any fan of well-written love ­stories.” School Library Journal, starred review

NIGHT OF THE LIVING QUEERS: 13 Tales of Terror & Delight by Shelly Page and Alex Brown
9781250892966 | Available Now (8/29/23)

“Thirteen authors, including Kalynn Bayron, Vanessa Montalban, and editors Brown and Page, center queer teens navigating harrowing experiences in this Halloween-set horror anthology . . . Via a wide range of intersecting identities and tones, the creators cultivate a fun and refreshing read brimming with a variety of chilling scenarios perfect for an All Hallows’ Eve offering.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

SONGS OF IRIE by Asha Ashanti Bromfield
9781250846808 | Available Now (10/10/23)

“Bromfield depicts a harsh reality around predation of young women in Jamaica to craft a devastating and nuanced look at two teens’ battle for freedom, hope, independence, and love.”
Publishers Weekly, starred review

FOWER AND THORN by Rati Mehrotra
9781250823700 | Available Now (10/17/23)

“[Mehrotra’s] commanding voice brings fluidity to every page, complementing the ever-ominous tone. Irinya’s perilous journey is studded with unpredictable characters and heartbreaks, sparingly honeyed by fortitude and a slow-burning romance. An excellent recommendation for fans of Hafsah Faizal’s WE HUNT THE FLAME (2019).” Booklist, starred review

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS by Isabel Ibañez
9781250803375 | Available Now (10/31/23)

“With an adventurous treasure hunt, a perilous mystery, and a character-driven romance set in a unique historical moment, this is Ibañez’s best work yet. Make space in all YA collections.” School Library Journal, starred review

“Inez is as creative as she is hopeful, and in the end, the story will sweep readers away with its cinematic details, its touches of magic, and a dash of romance. Ibañez’s descriptions of the cities that Inez visits especially Buenos Aires, with its magical elements are so charming that the cities become characters themselves. Romance, adventure, and lessons of hope are the heart of this duology opener from an author unafraid to immerse the reader into different worlds.” Booklist, starred review

GODLY HEATHENS by H.E. Edgmon
9781250853615 | 11/28/23

“A monstrously thrilling, deeply emotional, and mythologically rich fantasy about seizing your own power.”
School Library Journal, starred review

“Edgmon thoughtfully explores issues of agency, identity, and mental illness via an inventive mythology; a high-stakes, action-packed plot; and a vibrantly drawn, intersectionally diverse cast embroiled in realistically thorny relationships.”
Publishers Weekly, starred review

GWEN & ART ARE NOT IN LOVE by Lex Croucher
9781250847218 | 11/28/23

“Croucher’s simultaneously sharp and subtle prose boasts delicious banter and a propulsive story populated by intersectionally diverse characters whose interactions feel fresh and vital through the novel’s climactic conclusion.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

THIS CURSED LIGHT by Emily Thiede
9781250794079 | 12/5/23

“Readers will fall deeper in love with Dante and Alessa, whose individual explorations of identity and self-love amid impending chaos are heart-wrenchingly honest . . . A rewarding, passionate, and beautifully characterized duology closer.”
Kirkus Reviews, starred review

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For more YA and YA-OK titles, check out our 2023 Books for Teens and 2023 Adult Books for Teens.