Are you planning out your 2022 TBR? If so, you’re not going to want to miss some of the biggest YA book releases of the year.

We’ve compiled an extensive list of some of the most-anticipated YA reads of 2022. There’s a lot to explore here — from books that dive into social justice issues to bubbly romances and dark mysteries. You’re bound to find something exciting to add to your bookshelf.

Here are the most anticipated 2022 YA Book Releases.

Books are ordered by release date.

The Chosen One by Echo Brown

Release: Jan. 4

Echo Brown details the experience of a Black first-generation college student through personal narrative and magical realism in The Chosen One. This coming-of-age story promises to tackle topics like racism, mental illness and self-worth, likely making it a powerful book to start off the year.

The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman

Release: Jan. 4

Get ready for a fantasy duology, inspired by this debut author’s Indian heritage. Set in the world of Ashoka, The Ivory Key follows four royal siblings on a search for a magical relic that will help replenish the world’s dwindling magic. Adventure and ancient secrets? This should be on your TBR if you’re searching for fantasy reads in 2022.

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

Release: Jan. 11

A treasure hunter, a warrior and a prince cursed á la Sleeping Beauty. When Fi encounters a bone spindle, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a century-old curse that only she can break. This debut from queer ace author Leslie Vedder is already making buzz with its gender-flipped take on a classic fairytale.

Ashes of Gold by J. Elle

Release: Jan. 11

Readers will return to the story of Rue in this follow-up to J. Elle’s romantic fantasy, Wings of Ebony. This book concludes the story for Rue, who vows to regain the magic that was stolen from her and her people.

GAME ON: 15 Stories of Wins, Losses, and Everything in Between edited by Laura Silverman

Release: Jan. 18

Laura Silverman leads this champion-level anthology as editor. This collection of stories highlights the spirit of competition — from sports to video games and puzzles. With fifteen stories, this is an anthology that encompasses many genres, including romance and even bits of horror. Contributors include Gloria Chao, Sona Charaipotra, Kika Hatzopoulou, Katie Cotugno, Isaac Fitzsimons, Kathleen Glasgow, Shaun David Hutchinson, Kim Jones & Gilly Segal, Amanda Joy, Yamile Saied Méndez, Anna Meriano, Nina Moreno, Laura Silverman, Kayla Whaley and Francesca Zappia.

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado

Release: Feb. 8

There’s nothing too special about 17-year-old Kat Sanchez. As for her online alter-ego, “Max Monroe”? Well, that’s a different story. As Max, Kat’s an influencer who has the Instagram-perfect life. But when one of her posts goes viral, the person from who she’s been stealing photos discovers her account. Crystal Maldonado returns for her second outing in this book about first loves and complex friendships. Definitely a must-read!

Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli

Release: Feb. 8

If you’re psyched for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, this is a book you’re not going to want to miss! Figure skating is part of Adriana Russo’s DNA. Her parents are gold-medalists and her sister is set for the Olympics. The pressure’s on for Adriana to perform well at the biggest competition of her life. When her skating partner Brayden suggests they make their relationship out to be more than it is, the buzz around their charade threatens to knock Adriana off balance. A read perfect for anyone who’s looking for a bit of romance and sports in their life.

Sisters of the Forsaken by Lina Rather

Release: Feb. 15

The sci-fi novel Sisters of the Vast Black introduced readers to The Order of Saint Rita — a charitable organization that defied the Central Governance of Old Earth. The sisters of the order will stand up to the exploitive colonial empire once again in this sequel from Lina Rather.

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte

Release: Feb. 22

Finally — a YA fantasy standalone! (Shout out to anyone who struggles to keep up with extra-long fantasy series 😭.) Astrid Scholte’s upcoming novel isn’t just filled with a wide cast of characters, but it’s also filled to the brim with intrigue and magic. When Cayder Broduck begins his apprenticeship as a public defender, he plans to go toe-to-toe with illegal magic users. His world flips upside down when he meets the three young criminals he’s been tasked with defending.

Extasia by Claire Legrand

Release: Feb. 22

Horror and fantasy come together in Extasia, a bone-chilling and emotionally searing tale about a girl who joins a coven to root out a vicious evil that’s stalking her village. Fans of Sawkill Girls will adore Claire Legrand’s latest. With lesbian representation and queer themes, add this one to your list of LGBTQ reads. 

A Thousand Steps Into Night by Traci Chee

Release: March 1

A Thousand Steps into Night is a Japanese-influenced fantasy that delves deep into the realm of Awara, where gods and monsters run amuck. An ordinary girl is cursed and embarks on a quest to reverse her demonic transformation. If you’re interested in a YA story with manga and anime vibes, this is the one!

The Book Of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux

Release: March 1

If given the chance, would you enter the world of your favorite novel? What if your favorite book a was horror story? Best friends Adelle and Connie get the chance in The Book of Living Secrets, the latest from Madeleine Roux. This genre-bending horror is perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

Release: March 1

“I tore this book from my heart,” says Sabaa Tahir. Reflective of her own experiences, one of our favorite authors tells a sweeping story of love, regret and forgiveness that begins in Pakistan and continues in a family-run motel in the desert. All My Rage is told through the eyes of two best friends growing up as outcasts and trying to find a way out of a world set on destroying them. This incredible book from a star author makes it one of the most anticipated YA books releases of 2022.

Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh

Release: March 8

Authors Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas are two rising talents whose previous projects include creating for Star Wars, Marvel and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Now they’ve come together to create an original Middle-Eastern inspired fantasy world. Squire is the story of Aiza, a knight in training in a world on the brink of war. 

The Truth About White Lies by Olivia A. Cole

Release: March 8

For fans of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight, this contemporary YA novel is a poignant examination of race and privilege. Shania never thinks much about being white, until she is thrust into attending the city’s wealthiest private school. Soon she makes some important realizations about the people around her and herself. 

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen

Release: March 8

Looking for a rom-com that has it all? Then this book should be among your top YA book releases of 2022. Love, Decoded is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, following the unexpected consequences of one teen’s quest to help her friends find love. From the author of A Taste for Love, this book is being recommended for fans of Jenny Han and Jane Austen.

Live, Laugh, Kidnap by Gabby Noone

Release: March 29

Teen girls standing up for what they believe in? Sign me up! From the author of Layoverland comes another bitingly clever, laugh-out-loud funny novel, about a group of teen girls going up against an exploitative megachurch in their small Montana town.

With and Without You by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Release: April 19

Pulling from their own romantic history, Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka have crafted a highly bingeable read with heated scenes and characters with undeniable chemistry. With and Without You perfectly captures that end of high school feeling where the world is open to whatever you want to do — which is both exhilarating and absolutely terrifying. It’s the story of finding who you are and deciding who you want to take with you in becoming that person.

Flirting with Fate by J.C. Cervantes

Release: April 19

A flash flood that leads to a ghostly quest and eventually a romance sounds like the coziest early spring book. Jane the Virgin meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in New York Times bestselling author J. C. Cervantes’s charming, romantic YA novel about fateful encounters and the lengths we’ll go for family … and love.

Spear by Nicola Griffith

Release: April 19

Reimagining the Arthurian character Peretur/Percival as a woman, we follow our hero as she becomes a knight. We also dive into her romances with the beautiful Angharad and the sorceress Nimue. As always, Griffith’s ferocious research on the mythology and history surrounding the story shines through. Filled with dazzling magic and intoxicating adventures, Griffith has penned a tale that Alix Harrow (A Spindle Splintered) praised, “If Le Guin wrote a Camelot Story, I imagine it would feel like Spear: humane, intelligent, and deeply beautiful.” 

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Release: Aug. 9

In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge. The gang must assemble an army to face Queen Erida and Taristan’s wicked forces. But something deadly waits in the shadows, something that might consume the world before there’s any hope for victory.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Release: Aug. 23

When Signa Farrown finds herself with yet another new guardian, she doesn’t expect a ghostly mystery in her newest home and the ticking clock of a killer waiting to claim a new victim. In this gothic-infused murder mystery, Signa must confront death — and her own deathly powers — to save the family.

Bloodmarked Title by Tracy Deonn

Release: Nov. 8

All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur’s knights — only to discover her own ancestral power. Now on the run, if Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first — without losing herself in the process. This is definitely among the top picks of YA book releases in 2022.

What are your most anticipated 2022 YA book releases? Did they make the list? Sound off in the comments! And check out our podcast, Bookmarked, to keep up with the latest in YA.