A Guide To The Dark by Meriam Metoui
Best friends Mira and Layla’s college tour road trip hits an unexpected detour when a mysterious car accident strands them at a strange motel where a dark force could tear the best friends apart forever. Layla and Mira team up with some locals to destroy the dark force and gather the courage to admit their growing romantic feelings for each other. This book is probably not frightening enough for true horror fans but could be ideal for younger YA readers looking for something with a paranormal twist. It has a tragic but hopeful ending and focuses on the ways grief and guilt manifest. – Jess
The Illuminations by T. Kingfisher
I’ve been sleeping on T. Kingfisher. This buoyant and imaginative story takes place in a world where art is a utility. Magical artwork or illuminations are essential to daily life as they are used to keep the city in working order. The Illuminators who create these pieces of art are revered. Rosa is the youngest member of the family and their status is threatened when Rosa accidentally unleashes a vengeful little monster that could destroy the city. She has to catch it before it’s too late! Rosa is very close to her family and I liked that the adults are given individual personality and full characterizations. This book is equal parts silly, adventurous and heartwarming. I think this is a book that will appeal to all ages. I actually didn’t know this was middle grade when I read it. This book gave me Encanto vibes so it’s worth checking out if you want to read about a magical family trying to save their storied family home. – Jess
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
TikTok star Celine and star football player (This is British so soccer to Americans) Bradley hate each other. But when they enter a wilderness camp scholarship program for high schoolers they begin to see each other’s annoying habits in a new light and connect. This is my third Hibbert and she is just not the author for me. I find her stories meh and she does too much telling and not showing. The way the characters perceive each other doesn’t work for me. I’m always like “you got that out of that?” That said, I think this is the perfect YA book for teens (or anyone) who wants to read a popular adult romance author but doesn’t want explicit sex. Talia has taken her romance writing formula that many readers love and molded it into an easy rec for a younger audience looking for the “TikTok Romance” experience. – Kat
