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

August 2021 release: I Kissed a Girl  – Jennet Alexander

Can an up-and-coming horror actress and the makeup artist for her newest “creature feature”
turn on-set chemistry into the romance of a lifetime? That’s the central question in Jennet Alexanders’ I Kissed a Girl, a story that’s touted as the perfect summer read for fans of Boyfriend Material and Something to Talk About. 

This queer rom-com explores the different stages of the coming out process through the story of Lilah, an up-and-coming actress who longs to break out from the B-rate horror flicks she’s known for, who meets make-up artist and special effects whiz Noa. They clash, they have misunderstandings, but they’re still drawn to one another anyway – just like any couple in good romantic comedy might be.

But will their relationship last in the painful light of real life?

The official synopsis describes the story as follows.

"Lilah Silver’s a young actress who dreams of climbing out of B-list stardom. She’s been cast as the lead in what could be her breakout performance…but if she wants to prove herself to everyone who ever doubted her, she’s going to need major help along the way. Noa Birnbaum may be a brilliant makeup artist and special effects whiz-kid, but cracking into the union is more difficult than she imagined. Keeping everyone happy is a full-time job, and she’s already run ragged. And yet when the beautiful star she’s been secretly crushing on admits to fears of her own, Noa vows to do everything in her power to help Lilah shine like never before. Long hours? Exhausting work? No problem. Together they can take the world by storm…but can the connection forged over long hours in the makeup chair ever hope to survive the glare of the spotlight?"

I Kissed a Girl is available on August 3.