67 Very Exciting 2020 YA Releases

Hi everyone! Like probably every other book blogger out there at this time of year I’m here to present you my most anticipated young adult releases of 2020! When I first started making this list it was my plan to keep this list short and sweet because with CW’s #StartOnYourShelfathon I really wanted to mostly focus on books that are already on my TBR this year, and maybe a handful of new releases. So I made a list of the 10 books I remembered from the top of my head that I was incredibly excited about, and thought that’d be it.

But then I started thinking about how there might be lots of books I was forgetting about or just didn’t know about and I didn’t want to miss any books in my post, so I started looking at Goodreads lists and publisher catalogues and, turns out, there are a lot more books I’m excited about than I initially thought. Help.

Anyway, here’s a list of 67 young adult books that are coming out in 2020 that I’m incredibly excited about + the reasons why. I also bolded the titles of the one’s I’m most excited about, in case anyone wanted to know!

Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim (January 7th) – I loved the Timekeeper series and I’m very excited that Tara Sim is publishing a new series that sounds absolutely fantastic.
We Used To Be Friends by Amy Spalding (January 7th) – A friendship breakup book? PLEASE. I’m so much more interested in this than in romantic breakup books. Wow.
Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen (January 7th) – This book is described as being “for fans of Crazy Rich Asians or Jane Austen Comedy of Manners, with a hint of La La Land” and it sounds perfect.
Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire (January 7th) – I loved the first 3 installments in this series but lost interest once the 4th was published but maybe I should pick them up again, especially because, in this installment, we’re returning to a world and characters I loved a lot.

Lucky Caller by Emma Mills (January 14th) – I’ve read two Emma Mills books so far and I adored one and DNF’d the other so… we’ll see how this one goes. The synopsis sounds really good, so I have high hopes.
The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson (January 21st) – I marathon read the first two books in this series at the beginning of the year and the cliffhanger the second book ended on… Let’s just say I need answers. Right now.
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (January 21st) – I wasn’t super interested in this one when I first heard about it, but I’ve seen so many people talk about it and love it since and it sounds so good and cute so… maybe I should actually pick it up?
Spellhacker by M.K. England (January 21st) – I adored The Disasters by this author and this book sounds like it’s going to be queer and fun and I’m excited.
Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith (January 28th) – I’ve been following Eric Smith on Twitter for quite a long time now and I always like his tweets so I should like his book? Right? Let’s hope so.

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper (February 4th) – This is about queer boys and space and there’s something about this cover that gives me the feeling that I’m definitely going to cry while reading this and I can’t wait.
Malice by Pintip Dunn (February 4th) – I haven’t read a book by Pintip Dunn before but she’s been on my radar for a while, and this book sounds so exciting and interesting. I mean, a student with a virus that can wipe out two-thirds of the population? A race against the clock? YES.
The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne (February 4th) – I always love a good sci-fi book, and I feel like we definitely don’t get enough of them in YA. Plus, with this one being queer, of course I had to add it to my TBR.
Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin (February 4th) – A few of my friends have been hyping this book and I understand why because it sounds incredible, and like just the kind of Shakespearean revenge book the world needs.

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (February 4th) – I have to admit that I’m a little on the fence about this one since I didn’t love Becky’s other co-written book, but I’ve enjoyed books by both of these authors before so I’m definitely going to give this one a chance.
Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon (February 18th) – Now let’s start off by saying that I’m not a fan of beauty and the beast retellings and I can’t really name one that I read and liked, but it’s Sandhya Menon. And for her I’m definitely willing to give this a try.
Rebelwing by Andrea Tang (February 25th) – According to Twitter this is “cold war via robot dragons” and “battling dystopian evil for school credits” and it sounds so freaking good!
The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow (February 25th) – This is definitely one of my most anticipated releases of the year. It has a demisexual main character, a road trip and aliens, and I’m so ridiculously excited.
We Unleash the Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Mejia (February 25th) – I really, really liked the first book in this series and I’m so excited for the second book! I can’t wait to see what happens next.

A Phoenix First Must Burn by Patrice Caldwell (March 10th) – This is an anthology with some authors I adore (Elizabeth Acevedo, Somaiya Daud, amongst others) and it sounds incredibly good.
Super Adjacent by Crystal Cestari (March 17th) – Queer! Superheroes!
We Are Totally Normal by Rahul Kanakia (March 31st) – I have to admit this is on my list because of two things; 1) queer south-Asian MCs and 2) that incredibly gorgeous cover.

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed (April 7th) – The synopsis of this one sounds absolutely incredible, a contemporary with a historical twist and a bit of a mystery element? And it’s Samira Ahmed? I need it right now.
Loveless by Alice Oseman (April 30th) – I love (no pun intended) (or maybe a little bit) Alice Oseman’s books and the fact that this is going to have an aro-ace main character!!! I can’t wait, I’m so excited.
Heavy Vinyl: Y2K-O! by Carly Usdin and Nina Vakueva (April 30th) – Okay so I’m not sure if this counts as young adult but I really wanted to include this anyway because I’m so excited about this one! I read the first issues of this comic in August 2017 and have read the first volume about 3 times since, and it really feels like I’ve been waiting for forever for a new volume and now it’s finally here and I’m so excited! It’s queer, set in the 90’s, has music, and a secret fight club. It’s incredible.

Running by Natalia Sylvester (May 5th) – I always find books that have political elements very interesting, and this book sounds like it’s going to tackle politics in a great way and I’m excited.
Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud (May 5th) – I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Mirage, and I’m excited to get to the sequel.
Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett (May 5th) – Look, I’ve only read one Jenn Bennett book before and I didn’t really like it, but her books are so beloved and hyped up that I definitely want to get to this one. But maybe I should read the other Jenn Bennett books on my shelves first.
When You Get the Chance by Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson (May 5th) – this book is described as “super queer, super Canadian, road-trip-to-Toronto-Pride YA novel” and that’s all I need to know.

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune (May 5th) – It’s queer and it’s superheroes, two of my favorite things in books. I love it.
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (May 12th) – I’ve been following this author on Twitter for quite a while and I think she’s great, and everything I’ve heard about this book sounds incredible so I truly can’t wait to finally read it.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (May 12th) – I have read a book by this author before and wasn’t blown away by it, but I did like the writing and I’m excited to see how his writing might have grown. Plus, the synopsis sounds great and this cover! The visible scars! YES!
More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn (May 12th) – I’ve heard amazing things about Erin Hahn’s debut and this book has a punk-rock element and as a former emo kid I’m 100% here for it.  

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (May 12th) – Okay so I don’t think I’ll personally read this since it deals with things that are triggering to me, but I think Melissa Bashardoust is incredible and I haven’t seen many people talk about this one so I still wanted to put this one on the list. Read it! Please!
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (May 14th) – This is an Elizabeth Acevedo book and since everything I’ve read of hers so far has become a favorite, I have a feeling this one will be too.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (May 19th) – I know it might be a bit cliché to be super excited about this release but I’m super excited about this! I used to love the Hunger Games and I can’t wait to return to this world.
I Kissed Alice by Anna Birch (May 26th) – It’s sapphic and it sounds very cute so of course I want to read it.
Parachutes by Kelly Yang (May 26th) – I read this author’s middle grade, Front Desk, and I absolutely loved it so I’m very curious to see what a YA by her will be like!

Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest (June 2nd) – I have to admit I don’t know anything about this book besides the fact that I’m super excited to read the author’s 2019 release, I Wanna Be Where You Are. I haven’t even read anything by her yet but somehow I still trust her… I just have a feeling I’ll really enjoy her books when I get to them.
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Marrow (June 2nd) – I’m always a sucker for mermaid books and this one sounds so incredibly good. Plus, look at that cover!!
You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson (June 2nd) – The cover of this book makes me so happy, and I feel like I’m going to have the best time reading this book.
The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smynth (June 9th) – I’m asbolutely in love with the cover of this book and it’s sapphic and I’m so ridiculously excited aaaah.

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee (June 9th) – It’s a new Traci Chee, and because Traci Chee wrote my favorite series The Sea of Ink and Gold that’s basically all I need to know. But the synopsis sounds incredible, too.
I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee (June 16th) – Kpop? A fat main character? I want to have this book in my hands right now! Plus, that cover is so so joyful and I can’t stop staring at it, I love it.
Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon (June 16th) – I haven’t read a book of this author before (but I do have one on my physical TBR) but this one, just like all of her  other books, just sounds incredible and I’ve heard nothing but great things about her writing so I hope I’ll get to experience it for myself soon.
10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon (June 30th) – I’ve never disliked a Sandhya Menon book before and this has fake dating?? Sign me up.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (July 7th) – I read “queer Black girls team up to overthrow the patriarchy in the former kingdom of Cinderella” and I immediately started vibrating with excitement. I’m. I have no words, this sounds so, so amazing.
The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert (July 7th) – I think Brandy Colbert writes very lovely contemporaries, and this one sounds like it’s going to be another good one.

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland (August 4th) – This story sounds like it’s going to be very poignant and sensitive and beautiful, and I’m ready but also very much not ready.
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar (August 11th) – I don’t tend to reach for fantasy a lot myself but this book sounds too good to pass up, just, wow. And also, that cover??
Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram (August 25th) – I’m so excited that Darius is getting a sequel! I miss my boy and I hope he’s doing well.

Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Anna-Marie McLemore (September 22nd) – Two authors I love are writing a book together? And the book sounds absolutely magical? I’m so excited!

Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan (November 10th) – I am but a simple human. I see a new Sabina Khan book, and I click on to-be-read on Goodreads.
Ruinsong by Julia Ember (November 24th) – It’s another sapphic fantasy by Julia Ember and since I’ve loved all of the previous one’s she’s written, I’m sure I’ll like this one too.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong – Again, I’m not much for fantasy but this book?? Incredible. Plus, I follow the author on Twitter and she’s a delight (hehe), so I’d pick up her book solely based on that.
Rumor Game by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton – I already had this one on my most anticipated releases of 2019 list but it got pushed back so, here we go again. It still sounds really good so I hope we’ll get some news about it soon.
The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan – This is going to be the final book in this series and I’m so not ready for it to end.
Horrid by Katrine Leno – Synopsis: Agatha Christie. Me: GIVE THIS BOOK TO ME.
Until You Came Back by Jay Coles – I enjoyed Jay Coles his previous book, Tyler Johnson Was Here, and this one sounds like it’s going to be another poignant and difficult read, but also very good.
Recommended for You by Laura Silverman – It’s Laura Silverman, someone who has written some of my favorite books, of course I’m going to read it.
Untitled by Joy McCullough – I recently read Joy McCullough’s Blood Water Paint and I loved it so much, and I know there isn’t much known about this new book and we don’t even have a title but I’m definitely going to read it.
The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver – It’s another Mason Deaver! More non-binary rep! Probably lots of crying! Yay!
Not Your Hero by C.B. Lee – This is the fourth book in the Sidekick Squad series and it’s going to be from Abby’s perspective and I’m super excited since she’s been one of my favorite characters in this series.
Once Upon a Con #3 by Ashley Poston – Now this is another B&B retelling and I know I’ve said I don’t like them but I adore the Once Upon a Con series so of course I’m going to pick this up.
Untitled by Brittney Morris – I might not know a single thing about this book other than he fact that the author describes it as “I think it’s lovely. And heartbreaking. But mostly, (hopefully) lovely.” but I loved her Slay so much that I’m highly anticipating her next book.
Come On In edited by Adi Alsaid – I’ve been really liking anthologies lately and this one all about immigration and immigrants featuring some fantastic authors (Maurene Goo and Samira Ahmed, amongst others) sounds amazing.
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Sweaters and Stars by Laura Taylor Namey – I might’ve fallen in love with this book by the title alone, but the synopsis made me fall even more. This book sounds so lovely and wonderful.
A Miracle of Roses by Diana Pinguicha – “pitched as an f/f #ownvoices retelling of the Portugese miracle of the same name”?? Yes please??

And that was my list of 2020 YA releases I’m most excited about! Now tell me, do you think I missed any? And what 2020 YA releases are you most excited about? Please let me know! And please look out for my list of 2020 middle grade releases that’s coming soon!

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