1. The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Release Date: September 7, 2021

YA horror called – “The Conjuring meets Sadie“

This follows the host of a paranormal investigation podcast who investigates Arrington Estate and the suspicious drowning that occurred there 30 years ago.

But “..something is lurking in the lake…it might not be willing to let her go.”

Selling Points: Horror/Paranormal, Haunted House, Podcast, LGBTQ+ (sapphic romance), Chronic Illness representation (Type 1 diabetes & own voices)

2. Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Said

Release Date: August 31, 2021

“A teen girl disappears from her small town deep in the bayou, where magic festers beneath the surface of the swamp like water rot, in this chilling debut supernatural thriller”

17 year old Grey spends her summers in Psychic capital of the world. Yet somehow her best friends simply vanishes into thin air. As Grey dig into her disappearance she discovers everyone in town has something to hide.

Selling Points: Debut novel, Supernatural suspense, Atmospheric setting

3. That Dark Infinity by Kate Pentecost

Release Date: October 19, 2021

“An immortal monster hunter and a royal handmaiden embark on an epic journey to change their fates in this soul-stirring young adult fantasy novel”

When the royal kingdom is sacked, Flora, the princess’s handmaiden desperately tries to reunite herself with the royal family. So she joins with Ankuo, a legendary mercenary who is cursed to become bones every time the sun rises.

Selling Points: Bisexual main character, Slow burn romance, Traveling high fantasy, Curses

4. The Library of the Dead (Edinburgh Nights #1) by T.L. Huchu

Release Date: June 1, 2021

“Sixth Sense meets Stranger Things“

A contemporary fantasy following a teen, Ropa, who dropped out of school to become a ghostalker. Now she travels Edinburgh speaking to the dead and carrying messages to those they left behind. When she learns that someone is bewitching children, she is dragged down a dark and sinister path.

Selling Points: Zimbabwean magic (own voices), First in new series, Paranormal, Low fantasy

5. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

Release Date: September 28, 2021

A rom-com following a chronically-ill Jewish heroine who has a secret career as a bestselling Christmas romance novelist. When she’s asked to write the first Jewish romance, she finds herself attending the Matzah Ball, a high-end Jewish music celebration run by her arch enemy, for inspiration.

Selling Points: Hanukkah romance, Chronic Illness representation (own voices), Jewish MCs (own voices), Debut novel, Funny