Recs if you like Carnival Fantástico...

Fantasy with fortunes read, omens feared, and futures grasped.

I've been a fan of card magic for quite some time and tarot is so in!

Romance featuring a circus/carnival

Recs are very much welcome 🎡🤗

there is something about the sub-genre of (typically young adult) whimsical fantasy that i cannot live without. the fanciful ways to play with fantastic elements and a sweeping romance, unmatched!

I love whimsy and books around a circus (or circus adjacent vibes like whimsical carnivals, festivals, etc)

Because the melanated side of this genre needs to get centered expeditiously⚡

The world is their stage. I'd say break a leg, but these characters are already going through it

A list of the YA books published in 2026. Please comment if any are missing.

mostly fantasy and young adult books - updated nov. 1st 2025