Buzz Books 2019: Fall/Winter Young Adult Book Previews

Nothing to Disclose

Hi!

So, yesterday I ran through the 45 books featured in the adult Buzz Books Fall/Winter 2019 compilation. Today, it's the turn of upcoming YA books - there are considerably less to look at, but there are some absolute crackers in here!

Once again I need to say that this is just my first impression, not a review, an endorsement or objection - and just because I don't have any interest in reading a certain book right now doesn't mean I have anything against the author. Ergo, don't come for me. 

You can get your own copy of the YA Fall/Winter preview here:

All details are correct at time of writing, titles and publication dates are subject to change.

LEGACY AND THE QUEEN by Annie Matthew & Kobe Bryant

available now, published in the US September 3rd

A Tennis fantasy!! Not only that, but a tennis fantasy co-written by one of the most successful and well-known sportspeople of my generation. This is the story of twelve-year-old Nova, her desire to compete in a prestigious tennis tournament and capture the attention of the Queen. I really enjoyed this extract, I didn't think I'd like it at all but I was hooked by a likeable main character and a good story.

THE LAST TRUE POETS OF THE SEA by Julia Drake

published October 1st 

Inspired by Twelfth Night, this is a tale about a young woman trying to locate the shipwreck that brought her and her brother to the town their great-great-great-grandmother founded. I really, really loved this excerpt, I would definitely read this in its entirety. 

CORAL by Sara Ella

published November 12th 

Coral is a sixteen-year-old mermaid. She fears that she has been afflicted by the human-spread "Disease" - causing her to feel emotions, unlike her merfolk. When her world collides with seventeen-year-old Brooke, who lives on the surface, everything changes. I loved the writing in this one and really connected with Coral from the start. I would read this one in full.

I'M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal 

published August 6th

Lena and Campbell are from different backgrounds. When they are thrown together one night after chaos erupts at a football game, they need to figure out how to help each other. This excerpt was sharp, witty and engaging - another one to add to my ever-growing TBR pile. 

DEAR HAITI, LOVE ALAINE by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite

published September 3rd

Following "the incident", seventeen-year-old Alaine finds herself shipped off to Haiti to participate in a Summer project. While she's there, she gets to explore her family's history for the first time. I had heard about this book before, and was granted access to an ARC, so I'm really looking forward to it - it's an epistolary novel (told through letters/e-mails and other forms of communication) which I love. 

HARVEY COMES HOME by Colleen Nelson, Illustrations by Tara Anderson

published September 19th

A runaway West Highland Terrier named Harvey inspires many different people, including a young volunteer at a retirement home and a bitter resident struggling to cope with memory loss. I always feel like someone will slap me if I say I'm not keen on books featuring inspirational animals, but they're just not something I enjoy - clearly I have no soul because this sounds lovely, and people seem to be very excited about it going by Goodreads, it's just not for me. 

SCARS LIKE WINGS by Erin Stewart

published October 1st

When Ava Lee survived a fire, she lost her family and home, and suffered horrific facial injuries. Now it's time to get back into some kind of normal routine, but she needs to figure out where she belongs in the world and how to cope with her losses. This is recommended for fans of Girl in Pieces which unfortunately I didn't enjoy. However, the writing style in this is exactly the kind of stuff that appeals to me - Ava is witty, snappy and she's really likeable from the get go. I care about her story and I would like to read it in full. 

HOME GIRL by Alex Wheatle

available now, published in the US September 3rd

From a Children's Book Award winner comes the story of Naomi, a child who has grown up fast in the UK foster care system. Straight away I'm reminded of My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal, which almost broke me (totally worth it). I immediately loved Naomi and her spirited personality, and I want to read more, so I've just requested this from my local library.

There we go - eight fantastic upcoming YA novels for you to add to your reading list! The ones I'm most excited to read are: 

Home Girl by Alex Wheatle

Coral by Sara Ella

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maike & Maritza Moulite

Has anything caught your eye?