10 Great New YA Books to Read in June 2023

Shireen has just learned she’s a contestant on the first ever Junior Irish Baking Show, which is something she should be over the moon about. Not only could she really use the cash prize if she wins, but she’s hoping that her time on TV will help out her family’s struggling donut shop. But the only problem? Her ex-girlfriend Chris is also a contestant. And if that wasn’t complicated enough, she’s now crushing on fellow contestant Niamh. The drama is about to get real.

Sitlali lives in modern day Mexico, and she’s without any family or friends. In order to escape a gang leader, she must make the dangerous trek to the U.S., but she stumbles upon a conch with mysterious markings before setting out. Calizto is an Aztec warrior in 1521 fighting against the Spanish colonizers when he discovers asks a sacred conch for direction, and hears Sitlali through the conch. They can communicate through the conch, but soon they’re falling for each other across centuries.

Natalya has only 24 hours to make a decision that could change the course of her summer: Stay in NYC with her dad or go to L.A. to reconnect with her estranged mom. The book follows both paths as Natalya gets up the courage to talk to the girl she’s been crushing on in NYC, and tentatively gets to know her mom again and meets a boy in L.A.

Fatima loves hanging out with her friends, baking, and spending time with her family. When she meets older guy Raheem, she falls for his charm. Her parents definitely won’t approve of them dating, so she keeps it secret…but when she discovers that her parents want to arrange their marriage, it feels like fate. But once officially engaged, Raheem turns manipulative and cruel, and threatens to ruin her reputation if Fatima breaks it off. Somehow she has to find the strength to do what’s right, even if it means opening herself up to an uncertain future.

Naomi and Kylie grew up together, practically sisters. Naomi’s mom was Kylie’s nanny, and despite the differences between the girls across class and race, they’re best friends. But when Kylie calls the police on a group of Black teens in a parking lot and a video of the incident goes viral, Naomi is left questioning their relationship and wondering if she really knows Kylie at all.

Beck has been struggling since her mom, an investigative reporter, died. When she receives a mysterious letter points her to the town her mom was investigating before her death, Beck and her sister Riley head there to see if they uncover answers. What they find are more questions, especially surrounding a mysterious town leader and his daughter Avery, who are definitely hiding something. Beck is drawn to Avery, but as she digs deeper, she risks losing herself to this dangerous place.

Charity works at Camp Mirror Lake, an immersive horror experience. She plays the camp’s “final girl” and enjoys acting out horror scenarios to scare and thrill their guests. But during the last weekend of the job, Charity’s co-workers begin to disappear and one ends up dead. Now Charity and her girlfriend will have to track down a real killer to avoid a grim fate.