I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

⭐️🧠

CW: racism, grief, death of a parent, bullying, anxiety

This was a wonderful YA contemporary fantasy about the myth of success and the endless expectations we heap upon ourselves. It was full of Liang’s wonderful characterisation and heart with a dash of romance.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, suicide, self-harm, transphobia, abusive relationship, violence, manipulation, gaslighting

As I’d expect from Picoult, this was bold and thought-provoking with complex characterisation and thorny issues to grapple over. I loved the collaboration between Picoult and Finney Boylan.

Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

CW: death, grief, violence, manipulation, infidelity, accident, natural disaster, suicidal ideation

This is another smash hit from a powerhouse in the genre. It lives up to its pitch of Succession with magic with complex familial relationships and an examination of legacy, power and privilege with some majorly flawed people.

Full review here.

The Other People by C. B. Everett

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, violence, murder, gore, suicide, rape, child abuse

This had such a fantastic premise and offers a new spin on the locked-room mystery set-up. It is compulsive reading with an explosive final third.

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose

CW: harassment, sexual violence, abuse, murder, death, grief, sexual assault, classism

I have really enjoyed reading this cosy mystery series and Molly’s voice is still the most arresting part for me. You can’t help but love her. We discover more about her background here but also look to the future, though this wasn’t my favourite offering.

Under a Fire-Red Sky by Geraldine McCaughrean

🧠💙

CW: death, grief, bombing, violence, fire, injury

This was an enjoyable read exploring the realities of WW2 from the perspective of four friends caught up in the bombing around England. It was interesting and had a strong sense of voice, with a poignancy and flash of reality of the experience of living at war.

Aphrodite by Bryony Pearce

CW: sexism, misogyny, sexual assault, harassment, death, violence, grief, injury

This was a fun and interesting retelling with a focus on reclaiming your own power. It’s a solid read but not my favourite reimagining ever.

The Deadly Spark by Roxie Key

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, arson, fire, PTSD, domestic violence, stalking, manipulation, violence, injury, neglect, child death, alcoholism, suicide, drug use, homophobia

This was a fantastic adult thriller, suspenseful and twisty in all the best ways. Focusing on a horrific crime, it works to unpick the layers surrounding it and the people involved.

¡Ay, Mija! by Christine Suggs

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: fatphobia, colonialism

This was a gorgeously illustrated YA graphic memoir about identity, particularly in terms of race, heritage, queerness and family. It was heartfelt and wonderful.

Watch Your Back by Sue Wallman

🧠

CW: violence, injury, blackmail, animal death, gaslighting, manipulation, stalking

Sue Wallman is a stalwart cornerstone of UKYA mysteries and thrillers. Every time, she delivers and this is no exception. Right from the opening page, I was hooked into Kara’s story. This is a riveting story of obsession and secrets, with escalating stakes. You think you know where it might end, but Wallman has a habit of tripping you up just when you least expect it. 

Full review here.

Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, grief, violence, emotional abuse, manipulation, loss of autonomy (mind/body control), parental abandonment, physical abuse, classism

This concluded one of my favourite YA trilogies with just as much heart and humour as the first book. Watching Vanja’s trajectory over the course of this series has been nothing short of transformative.

Full review to come.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

⭐️🧠

CW: gore, violence, murder, death, colonialism, mass murder, massacre, racism, white supremacy, genocide, rape, graphic violence

Stephen Graham Jones delivers his unique spin on the vampire genre in this often raw and bloody epistolary novel that is infued with the monstrosity humanity is often capable of.

Full review here.

The Other Girl by Emily Barr

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: infidelity, manipulation, scamming, stalking, blackmail, addiction, death, hit and run, grief

I fancied a bit of a double feature here! This was a compelling YA thriller with a great concept and plenty of tricks up its sleeve. It was reminiscent of a YA The Talented Mr Ripley in all the best ways.

Full review here.

A Girl Can Dream by Emily Barr

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: abusive relationship, domestic violence, grooming, sexism, harassment, stalking, hit and run, eating disorder

Part two of the double feature and this also delivered. It was a heartbreakingly honest look at abusive relationships, control and manipulation with a genre-bending twist. It was unflinching and heartfelt.

The Club by Ellery Lloyd

CW: death, murder, violence, sexual assault, sexism, rape, hit and run, blackmail

This was a delectably dark look at extreme wealth and privilege in an isolated that goes very wrong, especially when secrets come to light and explosive showdown is set in motion.

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, manipulation, grief, racism, sexism

This floored me. The Legendborn Cycle continues to be one of the best YA fantasy series out there with a phenomenal protagonist in Bree. This is a powerhouse of a book and I am so excited to see what comes next.

Full review here.

This is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen

CW: murder, death, violence, injury, blood, cheating, manipulation, gaslighting

This was a full throttle locked-room mystery with a really interesting gaming angle that intersected perfectly with the plot. Add into the mix two engaging protagonists and plenty of secrets and you have yourself a recipe for success.

Full review here.