14 must-read new YA releases to beat the August heat

August is a strange month in the world of publishing. Maybe it’s because everyone’s on vacation in August – readers and publicists alike! – or because we’re all just holding our collective breath until the positive deluge of new titles that will arrive with the first hints of Fall in September.

Maybe the real answer is a bit of both. But whatever the reason, though there are several great books hitting shelves this month, many of the biggest and buzziest titles won’t arrive until next the leaves start to turn. This isn’t the end of the world though – in fact, it means that now is the perfect time for readers to give something new a try.

Whether that means picking up critically acclaimed author Nafiza Azad’s latest novel The Wild Ones, trying Malia Nunn’s intriguing debut Sugar Town Queens or getting yourself in the mood for spooky season a little bit early with Victoria Lee’s A Lesson in Vengeance or Ginny Myers Sain’s Dark and Shallow Lies, there’s plenty of underrated gems on our list this month.

What August YA new releases are worth your time this month?

Here are thirteen of our picks for new August YA titles we think you should make time to check out as summer winds down.