Given how busy everything else about the month of December is—full of commitments that range from holiday parties and work gatherings to family outings and last minute trips to the mall—it’s honestly weird how quiet the publishing industry is. There are not just fewer YA books hitting shelves this month, there are fewer titles of any stripe, given that most publishers dropped their biggest pre-holiday releases in November, hoping for that all-important Black Friday bump. (Or to catch the attention of those organized folks who have their Christmas shopping all wrapped up before Advent even starts.)
That’s not to say that there aren’t books arriving this December—and excellent—books at that. Just, the overall volume of releases (especially after the deluge of the last few months) is considerably smaller and, dare I say it, almost manageable for the first time in what feels like forever.
Here are our picks for the best YA books hitting shelves this month.
The Ruined by Renee Adieh
Release Date: December 5 from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Why You’ll Love It: The ambitious conclusion to Renee Adieh’s The Beautiful quartet of novels, a series that started as a YA vampire romance and has grown to encompass a much more complex and complicated fantasy world, features bold choices and big consequences.
Publisher’s Description: The Sylvan Vale and the Sylvan Wyld are at war. Now that the unsteady truce between them has been broken, lines must be drawn. In an effort to protect the weakened Winter Court, Bastien rallies powerful allies and friends in New Orleans to come to their aid.
Meanwhile, under protection alongside her injured mother in the Summer Court, Celine is uncertain whom to trust. She cannot get word to Bastien, and does not understand why he has not returned. When she realizes war between the fey courts is imminent, she journeys with Ali in an effort to find the time traveling mirror and change their fate.
But when Celine’s rivals realize Bastien has rallied his allies in the mortal world, they decide to take the fight to him.
Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose
Release Date: December 5 from Joy Revolution
Why You’ll Love It: If the Lady Gaga riff in the title isn’t enough to convince you to give this story on its own, its charming premise might be. It is the story of a Latino college freshman who returns home to Florida for winter break for the first time since his mother’s death and ends up fake dating the son of one of his family’s longtime rivals in the hopes of getting inside intel on their business, it’s a rom-com with a surprisingly complicated heart.
Publisher’s Description: Devin Baez is ready for a relaxing winter break at Lake Andreas. That is, until he runs into his obnoxious next-door neighbors the Seo-Cookes, undefeated champions of the lake’s annual Winter Games. In the hope of finally taking down these long-time rivals, the Baezes offer up their beloved cabin in a bet. Reckless? Definitely.
So when annoyingly handsome Julian Seo-Cooke finds himself in need of a fake boyfriend, Devin sees an opportunity to get behind enemy lines and prove the family plays dirty.
As long as Devin and Julian’s families are at war, there’s only room for loathing between them. Which is a problem because, for Devin, this faux game of love is feeling very real.
This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede
Release Date: December 5 from Wednesday Books
Why You’ll Love It: The sequel to This Vicious Grace, This Cursed Light brings Emily Thiede’s Last Finestra duology to a close by doing what its predecessor did best, focusing on the rich and complexly drawn romance at its center. Dante and Alessa, of course, face their share of high-stakes problems, including the loss of his powers and the looming threat of a war with the gods. But the book stands out in the YA fantasy space for the complex, genuine way it renders their growth together, and you’ll love every step they take together.
Publisher’s Description: Six months after saving their island from destruction and almost losing Dante, Alessa is ready to live happily ever after with her former bodyguard. But Dante can’t rest, haunted by a conviction that the gods aren’t finished with them yet. And without his powers, the next kiss from Alessa could kill him.
Desperate for answers, Dante enlists Alessa and their friends to find the exiled ghiotte in hopes of restoring his powers and combining forces with them to create the only army powerful enough to save them all. But Alessa is hiding a deadly consequence of their last fight–a growing darkness that’s consuming her mind–and their destination holds more dangers than anyone bargained for. In the mysterious city of the banished, Dante will uncover secrets, lies, and ghosts from his past that force him to ask himself: Which side is he on?
When the gods reveal their final test, Dante and Alessa will be the world’s last defense. But if they are the keys to saving the world, will their love be the price of victory?
Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe
Release Date: December 12 from Wednesday Books
Why You’ll Love It: One part cozy YA romance and one part love letter to Tokyo, Julie Abe’s Our Cursed Love is a painfully sweet friends-to-lovers story with a dash of magic on top.
Publisher’s Description: Remy Kobata has always wished she was destined to be with her best friend, Cam Yasuda. All the way from being neighbors from birth to mixing up magical prank potions together to their “just friends” homecoming date during their senior year in high school, nothing’s a secret between Remy and Cam―except for how much she is in love with him.
Remy is trying to work up the courage to confess her feelings during their winter break trip to Japan, when she gets selected for a mystical tea leaves reading and it reveals that they’re not meant to be together. After they stumble upon a secret magical apothecary in the back alleys of Tokyo, Remy and Cam are offered an ancient soulmate elixir, created before all love potions were banned by the magical government. They each have their reasons for wanting to take it, but what could go wrong with finding your soulmate a little earlier?
Except, after they drink up, their senior year trip flips into the worst vacation Cam has forgotten who Remy is. If she can’t help Cam remember her by midnight New Year’s Eve, they’ll both be cursed to forget each other. To unravel their past and rewrite the future, Remy and Cam must travel through Tokyo to rediscover Cam’s memories and make new ones―and maybe even fall in love all over again.
Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury
Release Date: December 12 from Delacorte Press
Why You’ll Love It: A YA Persephone retelling with a decidedly contemporary flair, Her Dark Wings is, at its heart, story about friendship, betrayal, grief, and guilt. Corey is devastated when her boyfriend breaks up with her, only to immediately start dating Bree, the best friend she once thought she could trust with anything. But after Bree dies under mysterious circumstances during a community festival, Corey accidentally finds herself face to face with the god of the Underworld himself and must reckon with her ideas of justice and punishment.
Publisher’s Description: For all of Corey’s life, it’s been Bree and Corey, Corey and Bree. Best friends, the girls are inseparable—until a devastating betrayal leaves Corey shattered and alone. Corey is sure nothing could hurt more, until Bree suddenly dies. Now Corey is heartbroken and furious. How can she mourn her one-time friend when she is still so angry at her?
Yet Corey and Bree’s tale is far from finished. When Corey accidentally catches a glimpse of Bree’s spirit passing into the afterlife, she finds herself face to face with a god pulled from the darkest myths of her Hades, lord of the dead.
Turns out, the legends are real. But Hades is different from what Corey imagined—and so are the Furies, terrifying and beautiful creatures who encourage Corey to embrace her rage. The more Corey discovers about the Underworld, the more her own power stirs. But can she resist the lure of the darkness within?
Lacy Baugher Milas is the Books Editor at Paste Magazine, but loves nerding out about all sorts of pop culture. You can find her on Twitter @LacyMB