Recs if you like Midnight on the Celestial...

fantasy murder mysteries yayy

Books that take place mostly if not entirely on public/private transportation

the sea cares not for those who sail it, yet sail they do

No just pirate books! This list includes any tale that takes place (mostly) on a ship at sea.

Be the trend setter of your book club or bookish friend group by getting to know the authors of next year’s publication cycle. These books are all by new talent in the publishing world from both the Big 5 and small, traditional publishers.

Be sure to also check out these authors on social media for ARC opportunities, and show these authors some love by requesting a purchase with your local library, or pre-ordering a copy yourself!

Fantasy books where the elements are not the primary source for their magic/superpowers.

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)

Books with sun, moon, stars, or a time of day in the title.

This is a subsection of the 2026 Debut Author list for young adult novels.

Journey across our seas and beyond with books that take place near, on, and even within oceans.

I love YA. It can suck pretty bad when the books try to copy each other. But when some of those gems pop up...wowza! Who knew you could tell such a hard-hitting story without having to resort to 1,000 pages & sex?

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

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

Must read books to start reading when starting your reading journey!