You all know that I’ve been reading a lot recently, and there are many, many new favorites I’ve accumulated over the last few months. Here are some the best books I’ve ever read, and ones that I’ll never stop recommending to people!
Reminder: ALWAYS check trigger warnings before reading! I have many listed in each book’s individual section, but you can look here to find a more comprehensive list.
All summaries are shortened from the synopses on Goodreads.
DYSTOPIAN
Legend by Marie Lu (12+)
Synopsis
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
Info
Slow-burn enemies to lovers
Quartet
The first three books take place when Day and June are teenagers, and the last one takes place ten years later when they’re in their mid-late twenties
Representation: main character and side characters with Asian heritage, LGBTQ+ and POC side characters
My Thoughts
My favorite series of all time, and the series that first got me into reading
Day and June taught me to always see the light
CW: death
FANTASY
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (14+)
Synopsis
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
Info
Slow-burn enemies to lovers
Slight love triangle/love square
Quartet
Representation: POC main character and side characters; queer (mlm) side couple
My Thoughts
A series that truly saved me, and I cannot recommend it enough
The series gets better and better as it goes on
Laia taught me that being strong doesn’t mean you're fearless, and Elias taught me to always strive to be good and do the right thing
CW: attempted rape/sexual assault, death, physical abuse
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal (14+)
Synopsis
Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those who defy his autocratic father, the sultan. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her world, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs, and and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.
Info
Slow-burn enemies to lovers and found family
Duology
Here’s a glossary/pronunciation guide if you’d like
Representation: world inspired by ancient Arabia; POC main characters
My Thoughts
The angst. The lovely writing. The tension. The culture. The lovable side characters. The knife to the throat scene. The laughs. The adrenaline. I love it all.
Absolutely stunning writing style
CW: death, violence, parental abuse, PTSD/trauma
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (14+)
Synopsis
A reimagining of Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai
Eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal. But when gangsters on both sides start to go mad, the people start to whisper. Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.
Info
Enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers (...it’s complicated)
Duology (with a spin-off duology coming soon)
Representation: Chinese MC and side characters; Korean side character; LGBTQ+ (namely trans and gay) side characters
My Thoughts
Chloe Gong is only 22, but her writing is absolutely beautiful
I was speechless for the entire end of the book I love the characters and the story (and the plot twists) so much
CW: alcohol, death, drugs, gore, parental abuse, racism
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (13+)
Synopsis
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.
Info
Standalone
Representation: Latinx, queer, transgender MC; majority Latinx side characters; transgender side character
My Thoughts
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I laughed out loud, I screamed, I cried, and I fell in love with the characters and the story.
Aiden Thomas told Yadriel’s story in such an endearing way, and this has been the most connected I’ve felt to characters in a long time. My heart is warmed by each and every one of them.
CW: death of a loved one, talk of loss of a parent, misgendering, mention of parental abuse, mention of transphobic parents and deportation
Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody (14+)
Synopsis
Enne Salta was raised as a proper lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave everything behind to follow her mother’s trail in the city where no one survives uncorrupted. She has only one lead: the name Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—he’s a street lord and a con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up an investment scam. Enne's offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi's enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose.
Info
Six of Crows x Caraval with the magic system of Red Queen
The “we’re forced to work together” trope
Slowburn
Trilogy
Representation: black, bisexual main character; numerous POC and LGBTQ+ main characters; multiple mlm and wlw romances between side characters; gender-fluid side character
My Thoughts
This one had me on the edge of my seat. The ending had me completely speechless
Levi Glaisyer is my king. That’s all. I love that man.
CONTEMPORARY
Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon (16+)
Synopsis
It’s the last day of senior year, and Rowan Roth and Neil McNair have been bitter rivals for all of high school. While Rowan, who secretly wants to write romance novels, is anxious about the future, she’d love to beat her infuriating nemesis one last time. When Neil is named valedictorian, Rowan has only one chance at victory: Howl, a senior class game that takes them all over Seattle. But after learning a group of seniors is out to get them, she and Neil reluctantly decide to team up until they’re the last players left—and then they’ll destroy each other. As Rowan spends more time with Neil, she realizes he’s much more than the awkward linguistics nerd she’s sparred with for the past four years. And, perhaps, this boy she claims to despise might actually be the boy of her dreams.
Info
Enemies to lovers
Standalone
Representation: Jewish main characters; Korean side character; LGBTQ+ (namely bi and lesbian) side characters
My Thoughts
Both the main and the love interest are Jewish, and they had some really interesting conversations about being Jewish and their experiences with anti-Semitism, which I learned a lot from
Rachel Lynn Solomon has my heart for the natural diversity she incorporated into this book. The book is set in Seattle, which is such a diverse area, so I loved the incredibly diverse set of characters
CW: anti-Semitism, drug use
I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver (14+)
Synopsis
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're kicked out and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas. Struggling with an anxiety disorder, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school. But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.
Info
Friends to lovers
Standalone
Representation: nonbinary main character; POC side characters; nonbinary side character who is a Muslim immigrant and hijabi
My Thoughts
I knew probably two chapters in that this was going to be a 5-star read. I know I said I hate instalove, but me and this book? Instalove. Me and these characters? Instalove. This is more like a 100 out of 5 star read.
I spent the last 45 minutes reading this book sobbing. It was marvelous.
CW: anxiety, depression, parental abuse, misgendering, homophobia
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (14+)
Synopsis
Felix Love desperately wants to know what love is like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages, Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: landing in a quasi–love triangle. But as he navigates his feelings, Felix begins a journey of self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.
Info
Online relationship, love triangle, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers
Standalone
Representation: Black, queer, transgender MC who identifies as a demiboy; numerous LGBTQ+/POC side characters
My Thoughts
I absolutely adore Felix, and Kacen Callender blew this story out of the water. Spectacular.
I knew I was going to love this book before I even started, but I actually related to Felix so much, especially with his mindset about the future and taking risks. Felix is honestly just such a deeply relatable character.
CW: homophobia, transphobia, misgendering, deadnaming, racism, cyber-bullying, parental abuse and neglect, drug and alcohol use
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