June is the star pitcher of her elite club baseball team—with an ego to match—and she’s a shoo-in to be recruited at the college level. That is, if she can play through an overuse injury that has recently gone from bad to worse. Ivy isn’t just reffing to pay off her athletic fees or make some extra cash on the side. She wants to someday officiate at the professional level, even if her parents would rather she go to college instead. The first time they cross paths, Ivy throws June out of a game for grandstanding. Still, they quickly grow from enemies to begrudging friends . . . and then something more.
2025 is shaping up to be a really great year for YA fiction, particularly queer fiction. In years past, finding queer YA was a challenge, but today queer YA dominates the bookshelves. It’s not just romance either. There’s queer mystery/thrillers, queer rom-coms, queer sci-fi, queer horror, queer fantasy—all under the YA umbrella. With so many topics and themes to cover, it’s no wonder that YA continues to be one of the fastest growing categories in literature! YA, particularly queer YA, is for everyone to read, of all ages and genders.
Like its readers, YA tends to be quick to adapt to trends. This year, boarding schools, vampires, and sequels are going to be BIG. Another trend in queer YA? Pop culture referential titles like Vine references, famous song titles and lyrics, and even titles that reference pop culture moments. If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal is a clear nod to the song by the same name from Hannah Montana that Gen Z readers will definitely recognize. That title instantly puts readers in a particular yearning mindset. What other trends would you like to see for 2025?
These eight titles are just a sampling of the books that have come out or will be published sometime in 2025. Mark your calendars because you won’t want to miss a single one!
Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales (June 3)
After a major scandal, Princess Rosemary must repair her fragile reputation. When new student, Danni, enrolls at Rose’s boarding school, Rose finds herself more distracted than ever. The rumor mill starts to churn and Rose and Danni will either have to break up or find a way to distract the public from their forbidden love.
We Are Villains by Kacen Callender
Trans guy Milo returns to Yates Academy to investigate his best friend Ari’s suspicious death. When the “king of Yates, Liam, begins to receive threatening letters, he enlists Milo’s help to clear his name. As Milo dives deeper into the investigation, the more certain he is that Liam isn’t the only one hiding something. This dark academia mystery is packed full of twists and morally gray characters.
And They Were Roommates by Page Powars (May 27)
Charlie has a foolproof plan to hide his identity as the only trans student at his new boarding school, but then he’s assigned Jasper as his roommate. Jasper may have broken Charlie’s heart the year before, but he doesn’t recognize Charlie’s new look. In an effort to win his own dorm room, Charlie agrees to help Jasper write love letters for other students. Things will definitely go to plan now, right?
Where There’s Room for Us by Hayley Kiyoko (November 4)
In an alternate version of Victorian England where expectations rule over love but anyone is free to marry any gender, outspoken poet Ivy is thrust into the world of high society. The most sought-after socialite of the season is Freya Tallon, who has her entire life mapped out for her. When Freya unexpectedly takes her sister’s place on an outing with Ivy, she feels an instant connection. As both Ivy and Freya grapple with duty and passion, they work to find their place in a society full of expectations.
The Cuffing Game by Lyla Lee (November 18)
Bisexual film student Mia Yoon won’t let anything stand in the way of her dream of creating an inclusive and diverse dating show. When the opportunity comes up to finally produce her show, she needs the help of her rival and crush Noah Cho. The Cuffing Game is a dash of Pride and Prejudice meets K-dramas and Love Island for a delightfully fun read.
Boys With Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell
Marin is certain that a group of elite students at Huntsworth Academy murdered her cousin, and the only way to prove it is to infiltrate the school. Soon, Marin finds herself wrapped up in the secret and toxic world of Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu. As the lines between right and wrong become more blurred, will Marin remember her original quest, or is it too late? This obsessive dark academia novel is full of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris
After being humiliated out of church, Riley is sent to church camp as a punishment for slapping another student for bad-mouthing her sister. Riley decides to really commit to the bit by committing all seven deadly sins at camp. Riley’s plan is foolproof, except that the camp pastor is her best friend Julia’s dad and Riley is falling hard for Julia. Emotional and realistic, this book explores the struggles many religious queer teens face.
You’ve Found Oliver by Dustin Thao (September 30)
In this companion novel to You’ve Reached Sam, Oliver is texting his best friend Sam’s number even a year after his death. One day, Oliver accidentally hits the call button and someone picks up. Ben, a college student, has Sam’s old number and has been receiving Oliver’s messages for months. As they keep messaging back and forth, Ben and Oliver realize maybe they were meant to find each other.
It’s only springtime, so there’s so much more YA to come this year. For more YA romance, try these queer YA rom-coms for your spring bookshelf and to mix things up, keep an eye out for these adult debut novels from your favorite YA authors.