New YA Book Releases This Week, March 12, 2025
One of my favorite things about Groundhog Lore—that is, the part about whether or not the marmot sees his shadow on February 2—is that there’s no actual set date on what “early spring” means. We know that seeing its shadow means six more weeks of winter, but not seeing its shadow? It’s the cagey “early” with no set timeline.
If you’re wondering why an introduction about the groundhog in an almost-mid-March newsletter, that’s because we’re in the midst of the ups and downs of winter and spring duking it out here in the upper midwest. We’ve had some gorgeous late winter warmth, only to then see some of those real cold days pop back in.
I love the Groundhog. I love Groundhog Day. But let’s be real: every year spring will be here on March 21. That’s regardless of whether it’s 60 and sunny or -10 and frozen tundra outside.
Ahem. Anyway.
Here’s your roundup of new books hitting shelves this week. Whatever you’re experiencing right now, be it cold or warm, rainy or snowy or sunny or foggy, you’re in for a good time with some new YA books. Find below an array of fiction across genres. I’ve pulled out series books into a separate section under each format to avoid spoilers without overlooking these excellent reads altogether.
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Hardcover YA Releases
A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe by Mahogany L. Browne
This is an interconnected collection of poems and stories from a variety of voices all living through and experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. One teen is working on a story about armageddon, while another wrestles with depression following the loss of her parents to the virus. There are adult voices included, but this is a story focused on the teens and what they did during one of the most confusing and scary moments of their lives.
How to Survive a Slasher by Justine Pucella Winans
CJ Smith survived the Satterville Wolf Man. She doesn’t revel in living through hell, though. It’s impossible, since her story and the stories of those who weren’t so lucky were the inspiration for a bestselling book series. CJ hates the books, hates the fandom, and hates that she cannot live a normal life ever.
But she has been comforted in the fact that this happened one time, and things have been normal in Satterville since.
So when an unpublished addition to the book series shows up at her door, CJ is a little annoyed. That annoyance turns to fear, though, as things in the book start to happen around her, as if predicting the future. When CJ breaks her rule of trying to blend in and not draw attention to her experiences, the person who was supposed to survive the latest Wolf Man attacks ends up dead.
It’s now up to CJ to figure out how to survive the latest round of attacks and help save as many people as possible.
What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch
Vaiwyn was built by saints and it’s a city full of life. Mina is a Keeper, which means she cares for the city’s bells and is deeply aware that it’s vital to keep the Vespers from ringing. If she doesn’t, it might unleash evil. What that evil is, however, isn’t exactly clear—much of the city’s history and loss has been lost.
But when Mina accidentally lets the bells ring 13 times, the city begins to attack its residents. Gargoyles and statues are rising up against people, and the power-hungry Saint who lived inside Mina’s bell has escaped.
It’s now up to Mina to end the chaos in the streets. Doing so will require her to figure out the Saint’s host, and at this point, without a map or legacy to follow, everyone is a suspect.
New series releases in hardcover this week:
- A Single Brutal Fate by Lee Paige O’Brien
- Igniting Fate by Jean Louise
- She Waits for You Beyond the Dark by Kristen Simmons (psst: the first book in this series, Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, is one of this year’s Summer Scares Selections).
Paperback YA Releases
Chronically Dolores by Maya Van Wagenen
Dolores Mendoza is struggling with interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder disease that has been ruining her life. Well. Physically, of course, it’s destructive. Socially, even more so.
But things begin to look up, thanks to Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones. Terpsichore is autistic and she’s homeschooled against her will. Her mom is the epitome of overprotective and doesn’t believe Terpsichore could handle public school.
When the girls meet, things are initially not great. But then they realize they could be deeply helpful to each other. Terpsichore can help Dolores win back her best friend and Dolores can help convince Terpsichore’s mom that she can handle public school.
Things seem like they’ll go smoothly. That’s only because Dolores isn’t always reliable, and she might need to make choices that cause far more harm to both girls than either can imagine.
Maya in Multicolor by Swati Teerdhala
Readers who are itching for college-set YA and who like their books in paperback first, dive into this one.
Maya had a freshman romance but it wasn’t exactly what she’d hoped for, even as someone who loves love in all its forms. She’s ready for a new start, and she’ll get it by planning a spectacular Holi on her college campus.
Nishant Rai is an upperclassman on campus, and he’s a fantastic DJ. When he’s made the Holi co-planner with Maya by the student council, they’re going to be spending a lot of time together. Maya’s excited but nervous. Nishant is definitely off-limits and his reputation as a playboy precedes him.
As the two of them begin to plan a Holi festival that blends tradition with modern EDM elements, perhaps there’s more going on between the party planners than either of them could ever imagine.
These Bodies Between Us by Sarah Van Name
Callie, Talia, and Cleo spend every summer in their North Carolina beach town together. It’s steady, it’s reliable, and it’s enjoyable. But things are shifting this year as Cleo asks a new girl, Polly, to join in on their summer fun. It’s fun for Cleo but less so for Talia and Callie.
That is, until Polly suggests they all learn how to make themselves invisible. Talia and Chloe are on board and excited about the possibilities. Callie, on the other hand, is not. She thinks it’s ridiculous…but the girls are successful and can now disappear from people and places they don’t want to be.
The problem? The longer they disappear, the harder it is for them to come back to their lives. The freedom is too intoxicating.
New series releases in paperback this week:
- Royal Scandal by Aimée Carter
- The Wild Dark by Katherine Harbour
