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New September 2021 YA Releases For Your TBR

Tirzah Price

Senior Contributing Editor

Most of Tirzah Price's life decisions have been motivated by a desire to read as many books as humanly possible. Tirzah holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and has worked as an independent bookseller and librarian. She’s also the author of the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries, published by HarperTeen, and Bibliologist at TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations. Follow her on Twitter @TirzahPrice.

James Patterson’s MAXIMUM RIDE: HAWK series

The 30 million fans of the blockbuster YA series have been asking: Where is Maximum Ride? Ten years ago a girl with wings fought to save the world. But then she disappeared. Now she’s just a fading legend, remembered only in stories. Hawk doesn’t know her real name. She doesn't know who her family was, or where they went. But destiny is coming for her—a destiny that forces her to take flight. But it’s not a rescue mission. It’s an execution.



Fly—and fight—in Hawk and the sequel, coming this November, City of the Dead.

Ah, I love September! The start of my favorite season, the back-to-school vibes, and of course, the beginning of a packed season of new releases! I couldn’t even begin to cover all of the great new books hitting shelves this month. We’ve got some big releases including much anticipated sequels such as The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi, The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Hollow Heart by Marie Rutkoski, and Steelstriker by Marie Lu, and new series starters like Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer! But beyond those books, here are some more great releases that should definitely be on your radar and your wishlists for September!

all these bodies book cover

All These Bodies by Kendare Blake

Michael is an aspiring journalist living in a sleepy town in 1958 Minnesota when a series of murders strikes the midwest and changes his life forever. The killer stops in his hometown, killing a local family and leaving behind a girl named Marie, covered in blood. While many people think that she must be the killer’s accomplice, Michael begins to think differently when Marie agrees to only confess to him…and her story stretches the bounds of Michael’s imagination, leaving him to wonder what really happened to Marie, and to all those people. This is a chilling and thought-provoking mystery.

White Smoke

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

Mari has a past that she’d rather forget, which makes her new start with a new blended family in the midwest seem ideal. Her mom even has a great new job, which comes with free housing. But then there are the drawbacks: a new little stepsister, and weird things that happen in their new house that only Mari seems to notice. Then when her stepsister starts talking about a new friend that wants Mari gone, Mari knows that she’s in grave danger.

the girls are never gone book cover

The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Dare Chase is a supernatural skeptic who also happens to host a podcast about supernatural goings on — so best to keep her suspicions to herself. The focus of her new season is all about the drowning of a young woman 30 years earlier, but Dare is convinced that this is a true crime cold case, not a supernatural mystery. At least, that’s what she believes until her investigation begins to hint at something lurking in the lake on the estate.

dark and shallow lies book cover

Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

Set in La Cachette, Louisiana, also known as the psychic capital of the world, Grey is still reeling from the disappearance of her best friend Elora. It seems odd that no one has any idea where she went, but when Grey begins pressing matters, she discovers that everyone is keeping secrets about Elora’s disappearance, even those closest to her. Then a mysterious stranger appears from the bayou, and Grey realizes she’s in more danger than she ever realized.

Not Here to Be Liked cover

Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach

Eliza Quan has worked her butt off to become the school’s editor-in-chief her senior year, so when an ex-jock named Len decides he wants to run against her for the gig, she’s dismissive…until he proves to be the more “likable” candidate and people actually take his bid seriously. Eliza writes an impassioned op-ed that goes viral, and suddenly she’s the face of a feminist movement that she didn’t mean to start. Eager to save face, the administration tells Eliza and Len to work together…and Eliza grudgingly agrees, all the while hiding the horrifying fact that she’s falling for Len.

For All Time cover

For All Time by Shanna Miles

Tamar and Fayard are two teens who have lived across countless time periods and generations, but one thing is always the same: They fall in love, only to be tragically torn apart. Each time they find each other, they wonder what it must be like to actually get to live out a happily ever after, and what they need to do differently in order to avoid their tragic fate. And this time…they might just get the chance.

Cover of So Many Beginnings

So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow

In this reimagining of Little Women, four sisters living on the Freedpeople’s Colony of Roanoke Island come of age in the years immediately following the Civil War. Meg is an aspiring teacher, Jo is a writer, Beth is a skilled seamstress, and Amy is a dancer. All four of them reach for their dreams and face heartbreak and challenge along the way, as well as many exciting new beginnings.

cover image of Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

In the land of Huaxia, boys seek out girls to partner up with in order to pilot transforming robots against an invading alien species. Most girls die as a result. Zetian volunteers to be one such concubine-pilot in order to exact vengeance against the pilot responsible for taking her sister’s life, but everyone is shocked when it’s revealed that her mental strength is beyond anything anyone has ever seen before, and she can sacrifice male pilots in order to fly on her own. She must work with a controversial male pilot in order to understand her power — and save other girls from being sacrificed like her sister.

cover of Never Saw You Coming

Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn

Meg Hennessey grew up in a conservative household, but when she discovers a huge lie at the center of her world, she takes off and sets out to meet the extended family she never knew. Micah is a former pastor’s kid who faced a huge betrayal and hasn’t quite managed to forgive those involved. When their paths collide and they begin to fall for each other, they have to face the baggage of their past in order to imagine a better future for themselves.

cover of Lakesedge

Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone

Violeta Graceling has heard the rumors about Rowan, who resides at the haunted estate called Lakesedge. He is a monster, a killer, and she should avoid him at all costs. But when Leta arrives, she learns that there is much more to Rowan than the stories, including his bond with the death god who lurks in the murky water of the lake on the estate. As Leta and Rowan fall for each other, Leta must come face to face with this dark entity, or risk losing herself to Lakesedge.


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