10 YA books we can’t wait to dive into this July

Truly Madly Royally – Debbie Rigaud

July is a bit short on young adult contemporary releases, but the few that are hitting shelves this month sound more compelling than ever. That includes Debbie Rigaud’s Truly Madly Royally, a rom-com that claims to be the next Princess Diaries — which is quite a hook for any ’90s kids (adults?) searching for something fun to read.

Truly Madly Royally tells the story of Zora Emerson, who’s thrilled to be attending a prestigious summer program that might just allow her to fulfill her dream of changing the world. Unfortunately, she does feel a bit out of place among her privileged, white classmates, but she doesn’t need them to succeed.

When she meets Owen, the prince of an island off the coast of England, however, she’s surprised by how comfortable she feels with him. The two of them hit it off, and she accompanies him to his brother’s wedding — shoving her into the limelight and forcing her to question whether their relationship can really work out. Owen may be used to being at the mercy of the press, but Zora’s not sure that’s something she’ll ever be content with.

Truly Madly Royally offers readers a light and humorous story that touches on more serious themes like racism, privilege, and privacy. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants a lighthearted summer read that still has a good amount of substance, and it’s available on July 30.