Meet the Young Adults, the B&N Teen Blog’s swat team of awesome teenaged bloggers. YA literature is a strange and wonderful landscape of books that should be read by everybody, but each month we highlight the perspective of teens reading the best of the best books written for and about them. Check back monthly to see what they’re recommending next, and read previous installments here.

Because You Love To Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy, edited by Ameriie

In these thirteen short stories, authors and booktubers join forces to challenge your concept of what constitutes a villain, and debate whether or not anyone really is. Each short story is unique and fascinating in its own way, some offering a new spin on a classic character, others inventing entirely new characters to play with. Accompanying these short stories are sections written by beloved booktubers who further discuss the characters and themes of the stories, making them that much more compelling. With great authors, thrilling tales, and nuanced perspectives on villainy and evil, this book is not one to miss.

–Katelyn L., 15, loves all genres of books, has too many unread ones on her shelf, and desperately wishes for more time to read.

I’ll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson

Noah is a quiet, imaginative boy who thinks in paintings and uses the world as his canvas. Jude is a risk taker with long blonde hair and a taste for rebellion. Together they form NoahandJude, inseparable twins who see the world differently but care about each other equally. Author Jandy Nelson explores their relationship before and after something unthinkable happens that breaks them apart. I’ll Give You the Sun is itself a masterpiece, like a burst of color: jealous greens, maddening reds, giddy yellows, guilty blues. The novel’s most successful aspect by far is the way Nelson’s articulate and specific writing makes you feel like you’re peering inside Noah and Jude’s brains. The other great success of the book is the lack of a perfect character. We can all relate to the twins’ jealousy, guilt, and frustration, making them true mirrors of human existence. Ultimately, I’ll Give You the Sun is a book about love: about the lengths we’ll go for those we love, how love can break us and make us do shameful things, and how love can heal. I can’t imagine a better way to spend a summer day than basking in the brilliant light of I’ll Give You The Sun.

–Maddie M., 18, is a big fan of brunch. She loves the new Wonder Woman movie, thrifting, and large goofy dogs.

One of Us is Lying, by Karen McManus

Five students—the Yale bound perfectionist, half of Bayview High’s perfect couple, the all-American baseball player, the drug dealer, and the gossip blogger—walk into detention. Only four students walk out alive. One of Us Is Lying follows the thrilling story of the murder of a somewhat feared but mostly hated gossip blogger, Simon, that took place during that mysterious detention. The police suspect one of the other four students is the killer; after all, they all have secrets Simon was about to post for the whole school to see, thus giving them motive and opportunity. Told through alternating perspectives between the four murder suspects, secrets are revealed and relationships are broken and formed because of the investigation surrounding Simon’s demise. This book had me hooked by page one, and I was on the edge of my seat until the very last. Shocking twists and turns developed the characters and plot into a realistic news investigation I couldn’t wait to solve. The way Karen McManus portrayed the media’s ability to twist facts and jump to conclusions and the way she formed characters who were so lifelike it astounded me.

–Ellie T., 17, spends the majority of her time doing homework, or reading and buying YA books. When she’s not doing that you can find her binge-watching Netflix or singing off-key to Hamilton.

Paper Hearts, by Ali Novak

On a scale of fancy red velvet cupcakes to Hedley this book made me feel the euphoria of a Ferrari F12. After loving The Heartbreakers I was looking forward to this book. And wow, it has a lot of things going for it: a lovely cast of complex characters, a kickass plot, and an awesome playlist of music. I totally loved Felicity’s drive, her artsy abilities, and her self motivation, not to mention her ability to stick to her strong moral compass. I thought perfect ended with Oliver Perry, but Alec is boyfriend goals. An amazing gentlemen with a fabulously diverse taste in music and the ability to play an instrument? It surely can’t get any better than that. Ali Novak keeps me hooked with gorgeous novels filled with relatable characters in extraordinary situations that I would give my left arm to be in. And to make it even better, her writing is simply fantastic. I read this book in a night simply because I could not put it down. I would recommend it to the fangirls, the musicians, and the romantics. I love it, and it isn’t one I’ll soon forget.

–Kaitlin D., 15, professional procrastinator and self-proclaimed bibliophile. Lives in the pantry. May have taken a bite out of the moon.

A Crown of Wishes, by Roshani Chokshi

Infused with the same rich descriptions as its predecessor, A Crown of Wishes tells the tale of a prince and princess of two warring kingdoms playing a game to win a wish. This is a novel of self-discovery; both players start the game convinced they know what they want in life, yet as peril after peril is tossed in their path and they meet people and get to know each other, both Guari and Vikram realize their world isn’t as simple as they wanted it to be. As much as I loved those two and their banter and extremely subtle romance, there was a third narrator, a third story, that I perhaps loved even more. Aasha’s tale is the classic “monster who wants to be human” story, and she’s so timid and lonely at times because she doesn’t want to cause harm. She becomes good friends with Guari and Vikram, and I would totally read a book entirely devoted to her life before and after the game. Over much more quickly than I wanted it to be, A Crown of Wishes was a quality story with beautiful writing. It’s fluid and captivating and especially if you enjoyed The Star Touched Queen, you’re bound to enjoy this one, too.

–Kelvin L., 17, is a figure skater and audiobook lover and thinks teleportation is the most useful superpower. He is definitively a Ravenclaw, a water type Moroi (who secretly wants to be fire type), and an Erudite; he cannot see Hollowgasts and would 100% not survive the Hunger Games.

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

When sixteen-year-old Starr Carter witnesses a police officer shoot her best friend in the back, she finds herself caught in the middle of a murder investigation. Suddenly, the neighborhood Starr grew up in seems a lot more dangerous. The Hate U Give is an inspiring story about friendship, family, and finding your place in life. It’s an incredibly powerful read I think people can really benefit from. It made me laugh and cry and I’ve been bugging my friends and family to read it all month. Though our backgrounds couldn’t be more different, I truly related to Starr’s character. I’ve never seen anyone get shot, but, like Starr, I’ve struggled with my sense of self, my family is incredibly important to me, I love Harry Potter, and I prefer golden Oreos over the regular kind.

We put so much emphasis on race, but in the end we’re all just people. The only thing that really separates us is our own preconceptions.

–Evalyn H., 16, loves scented candles, Broadway musicals, and strong female characters. She can usually be found hoarding books, struggling with character development, or daydreaming about having a pet dragon.

The Memory of Light, by Francisco X. Stork

The Memory of Light was not a book I could binge-read. Though I was fully engrossed in the plot, I took my time reading it in order to fully appreciate the carefully chosen poems and thoughtfully crafted sentences that make the story so powerful. Our protagonist, Vicky, embodies hope, fear, and regret in a captivating narrative about her battle with depression. Meanwhile, the author creates a hauntingly realistic portrayal of ignorance while also emphasizing the importance of support. Vicky’s story is about reliance as much as it is about courage and recovery. While staying at Lakeview Hospital, she befriends Mona, E.M., and Gabriel. Though they have vastly different personalities, they are united by their loyalty to each other. Through therapy sessions and playful banter, Vicky comes to realize she depends on them as much as they depend on her. With thoughtful characterization and a lyrical prose, Francisco X. Stork captures the complexity of mental health in this must-read novel.

–Nicole S., 16, loves books, biology, and Italian food. Her life goal is to reach five feet in height.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, by F.C. Yee

This is by far the best book I read in July, and even one of the best books I’ve ever read. It follows the story of Chinese American protagonist Genie Lo and how her life changes when she meets a boy named Quentin Sun. Genie discovers she now has to balance school and her dreams for her future—as well as demon hunting, because demons straight out of Chinese folklore are attacking her town, and she and Quentin are the only ones who can stop them. Genie is a spunky, hilarious character, and you’ll come to adore her and her odd relationship with Quentin. The humor in this book is fantastic, and I laughed out constantly as I was reading. It’s a fast-paced story you can’t put down, and a thrilling journey fighting demons with Genie Lo. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is a story about family and friendships and discovering who you truly are, and it is going to change lives.

–Ava M. is a teenaged book blogger, reader, and writer of YA. She is an intersectional feminist and advocate for diversity, and drinks a lot of tea. She likes organized bookshelves and reads too many fantasy novels.

I’ll Give You the Sun, by Jandy Nelson

I first read this book about a year and a half ago, and it is still the first thing I think of when someone asks for book recommendations. It is without a doubt the best book I have ever read. Still, it had been a while since I’d read it, so this summer I decided to pick it up again. Let me tell you, it is just as good the second time as it was the first. I’ll Give You the Sun is about twins Noah and Jude. The book alternates between their perspectives, with Noah narrating from the past, when they were 13 years old and virtually inseparable, and Jude narrating from the present, when they’re 16 and barely speak at all. As the story progresses, more and more is revealed about the years that passed between then and now, and the pieces begin to fall into place as you see what went wrong between the siblings. It is a masterclass in figurative language; Nelson makes the reader feel every pain and joy that Noah and Jude experience. This book shows the process it takes to accept yourself, to be honest with others, to grieve, and to let go of old grudges and jealousies. There is no true way to describe the way this book changes you, but I can promise you will not look at the world the same way after reading it. I could not recommend it more.

–Eileen M., 18, is passionate about Hamilton, playing the clarinet, and iced coffee. She can usually be found either reading high school romance novels or binge-watching her latest Netflix obsession.

Been Here All Along, by Sandy Hall

Been Here All Along is the next-door-neighbor romance I didn’t know I was looking for. Gideon is the one with a plan, which includes being class president, yearbook editor, and having his choice of colleges. What it doesn’t include is falling for his best friend. Kyle thinks he has a handle on life. He’s got a wonderful girlfriend, a best friend who shares his Lord of the Rings obsession, and a spot on the basketball teams. But then Ruby and Gideon both start acting weird, and he has no idea what he did wrong.

As someone used to high-tension dramas, this book is a breath of fresh air. The plot is carried and strengthened by emotional openness and honesty. Characters talk to their friends, they ask for help, and they own up to their (perfectly understandable) mistakes. Gideon’s need for order and Kyle’s inclination toward impulse are both endearing and relatable. They truly act like teenagers; smart, curious, and grappling with their own developing identities. Been Here All Along is a delight from start to finish, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

–Assaf T., 17, likes his books very interesting and very heavy, because exercise isn’t as fun but is still important.

Noteworthy, by Riley Redgate

Picture this. You go to school at an elite performing arts academy in New York—on scholarship. You’re part of the theatre program, but your voice—a perfectly lovely contralto—has been deemed too low for female roles in shows, and you never get cast. The future looks bleak, until auditions for the school’s most renowned a cappella group open up. Just one problem: it’s all male.

What’s a girl to do? If you’re Jordan Sun, you go for it. With a handy wig, some “borrowed” clothes from the campus costume shop, and a name stolen from your cousin, you audition for the part in the Sharpshooters. Things go well, but it’s all downhill from there when you find out that, surprise! You’re actually in. Going undercover is never easy, but in your own school it’s even worse. Learning to trust others, learning who to let in and how much to share, is difficult when one wrong move could send your whole facade crashing down. But when Jordan gets herself into these situations, she can only do one thing: lie her way out.

This book was absolutely wonderful. The characters were clever and vibrant, each of them just a little different from anyone else I’ve met on the page before. I felt for them, loved them, hated them, and wanted to meet them in real life. While Jordan is not transgender, the author handles the issue, mentioning that you are valid no matter who you are.

I firmly agree.

–Jamie R., 14, is a book lover and avid writer with a passion for theatre. You can always find her either reading or singing, sometimes both at the same time!