Monday Musings: June YA Releases to Watch Out For

What's everyone else looking forward to in June? Here's a mix of ones I've been lucky enough to review for The Bookbag and others I'm desperate to get my hands on!

4th


Pop! by Catherine Bruton - Kitchen sink drama meets community-paralysing politics underneath a fabulous reality TV narrative, according to Jill Murphy at the Bookbag. A review like that from one of the best reviewers around would have me interested whoever the author - but given Bruton's We Can Be Heroes was one of my favourites of last year, this is a definite must-read for me.


5th


All These Lives by Sarah Wylie - This one, about a girl who survives two accidents and grows to feel she has nine lives, then tries to release one to help her twin sister who's dying of cancer, sounds strange but compelling.

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger - I love Keplinger's blog posts but have somehow never got round to reading either The DUFF or Shut Out despite the great reviews I've seen of both. This tale of a girl having to deal with a new stepmother-to-be - whose son just happens to be Whitley's recent one night stand - sounds intriguing and I'm really looking forward to it.


7th

Life According To... Alice B Lovely by Karen McCombie - McCombie is ultra-reliable and I don't think she's ever written a bad book, so my expectations of this one were high. However, it was even more amazing than I was hoping for - perhaps her warmest and sweetest book yet. She also gave me a great interview about it!


My Family and Other Freaks - DO read this, even if you're significantly older than 12-year-old narrator Danni. DON'T read it on public transport - I'm still getting dirty looks from people who get the same bus as me in the mornings three weeks after I practically fell off my seat laughing. Sensational debut.


What Boys Really Want - A complete joy, simply because virtually everyone in it is so likeable. Two great narrators and a fun plot with some neat twists make this a massive recommendation.


Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton - The best character in Stainton's Jessie Hearts NY gets her own book. It's just as good as you'd expect - a quick, engaging read with a fab writing style and a love triangle which actually has three good characters in.


The Selection by Kiera Cass - The one dystopian of recent months which has caught my eye, with an intriguing twist as a girl is selected to compete in a contest to win the heart of the prince, despite having a secret lover back at home.


12th


For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund - Part of me is thinking a sci-fi retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion doesn't sound all that great of an idea - but if anyone can pull it off, I'd bet on the supremely talented Diana Peterfreund being able to do so. Here's hoping!

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson - Looks like a fun light romance, and I'm really in the mood for contemporary at the moment.