I’ll be honest with you all: I’ve been reading a LOT of new releases, especially lately and the backlist is slowly, but surely, put on the back burner. I know it’s both because book blogging and being in the bookish community is, like, getting thrown new releases in your face every two seconds and starting to anticipate books that haven’t had a book deal, just yet…. and because of me, as well. I’m getting blindsided by the shiny new releases and forgetting the backlist ya books I wanted to read.
Today, I thought I’d take a deep dive into my goodreads shelves and check out these older titles to compile this list of backlist YA books I want to read in 2022. I’m not trying to hold myself accountable with this post, because I know I might not read all of these, but… well, I hope I can, at the very least, read a couple of them. I remember when I was so excited to read them and, now, well.
To make this list, I chose books that were published in 2020, or before then. Wow. 2020 seems like yesterday, doesn’t it.
Please let me know if you have any recommendations in comments, I’d LOVE to hear them!!
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10 Backlist YA Books I Want To Read in 2022
Raybearer, Jordan Ifueko
You all know YA contemporary is my thing, but I’ve been getting a bit more outside of my comfort zone lately and Raybearer has had SUCH incredible ratings from my friends, I’m so curious to read it. It’s about a girl, sent by her secretive mother to become one of the prince’s advisors… and to kill him. Apparently, it has a phenomenal world-building, found family, revenge and love and I’m excited (and hope I won’t be disappointed!)
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Goddess in the Machine, Lora Beth Johnson
Shout out to Kal : thank you for screaming about this book, it’s on my TBR because of you. This book’s synopsis reminds me of the books I used to fall for years ago and… I’m hoping to, now, as well. It’s about Andra, waking up from a cryogenic sleep 1,000 years later… and realizing her entire family is dead and everyone is calling her a goddess. It sounds like such a unique story and I’m excited to read it!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone, Rachel Lynn Solomon
Okay, hear me out: Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of my favorite writers of all times and…the only book I haven’t read by her, yet, is this one. Why, you ask? It’s about two sisters (love that!)…and one of them is diagnosted positive for the Huntington’s disease. See where I’m going with this? I know this book will shatter my heart into a thousand, million pieces and I’m not quite ready for it. But I know I’m going to love this book.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls, Jessica Spotswood
This book follows four sisters as they navigate their very last summer together in their small, coastal town. It sounds exactly like the kind of YA contemporary book that I’d fall for, filled with summer adventures, love and all the fun small town vibes. I don’t know why I haven’t read this one just yet, honestly, I don’t.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
We Hunt The Flame, Hafsah Faizal
Another YA fantasy and one that’s been really popular before and when it released in the book community. I’ve been on the fence for a long, long time about reading this book, but… if I’m still thinking about it, it’s that I need to! It’s a quest to bring back magic into the world, I heard it has absolutely stunning writing and lovely world-building and, well, I’m curious to see how I enjoy it!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Not Your #LoveStory, Sonia Hartl
When Macy, a small YouTuber, has a disastrous meet-cute with Eric, her followers are suddenly all over their inexistant relationship… how far will Macy go for the likes? This sounds like an EXCELLENT contemporary and, honestly, I live for these stories dealing with internet fame and social media, so I can’t wait to read this one!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Late To The Party, Kelly Quindlen
I feel like Late To The Party was a book made for teenage-me, so I’m really curious to see if that’s actually true. It’s a coming of age story about Codi, the quiet girl, forming a unexpected friendship with a popular boy. It’s queer, it’s about friendship, it’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and it sounds really lovely.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Frankly in Love, David Yoon
Frank Li’s parents only want him to date Korean girls… so, when he falls for a white girl, he decides to ask a family friend to fake-date him in order to be “in the clear” with his parents. Can you see this coming? The fake-dating trope is one of my favorites, yet it’s also a coming-of-age story about identity and it sounds super lovely okay.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Weight of Feathers, Anna-Marie McLemore
Okay, I’m kind of attacking myself here, but I need to read more of Anna-Marie McLemore’s books this year. The Weight of Feathers is about two competing families, and two of their children falling in love. Very Romeo and Juliet, with the author’s signature beautiful, whimsical writing I’ve heard so much about and I hope to fall in love with this.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
You Must Not Miss, Katrina Leno
I recently remembered this book existed and, uh, I really want to read it right now?? After her sister’s disappearance and her family’s self-destruction, Magpie turns to her notebook, dreaming up a place where her family’s still alright… and suddenly, it becomes a reality. This sounds like a really weird, yet really unique story and I’m so intrigued right now!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Enjoyed this list? See a book you’d like to read? Order them through these retailers below!
For more YA book recommendations, check out these blog posts:
- 10 Promising Books I Want To Read in 2022
- My Most Anticipated YA Books Of 2022
- 14 Awesome YA Books To Read Based On TV Shows You Like
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What are some of your favorite backlist books? Give me your recommendations so I can add them to my TBR please?
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I just got so excited to see Raybearer on your list!
Ahh yay! I hope I will love it 🙂
Raybearer is the only one I’ve read from your list and I loved it! Hope you enjoy them all!
Oh I’m so glad to hear this, I hope I’ll love it as muchas you did! 🙂
I think I would be putting off that Rachel Lynn Soloman book, too. BUT you know it’s going to be worth it. Also, I loved Frankly in Love.
YES! It’s going to be so worth it, but all the tears, ahah, I’m not quite ready just yet. So happy you loved Frankly in Love, I can’t wait to read it! 🙂
I can definitely recommend The Weight of Feathers! It’s my favorite McLemore novel.
Ahh that’s so good to hear, I hope I’ll love it as much as you did! 🙂
ah, what a good tbr! I definitely want to read Raybearer this year 🙂 I hope you’ll love We Hunt the Flame, it’s one of my favourite books and I love it so much!! <3
Ohh that’s so, so good to hear. I hope to love it as much as you! <3 And let's hope we can get to Raybearer this year, fingers crossed! :)
i am a permanent katrina leno stan! you must not miss is not my favorite by her but still worth the read i think. love this post, also – i forget about the poor backlist way too often!
Oooooh that’s so good to hear! Which Katrina Leno book is your favorite, then? I kind of want to read them all 😂
everything all at once and summer of salt are chef’s kiss!
ahhh I loved summer of salt, I need everything all at once now! 🙂
Great list, Marie! 😊
Raybearer is on my list too! I have it on my shelf just waiting for me to read it, but I think I’ll be getting to it soon because I’ve heard soooo many good things about it.
Thank you so much! I hope you’ll love Raybearer, I can’t wait to hear what you think of it! 🙂
Thank you! 😄
Good luck! I hope you get through all of them!
Thank you so much!!
yes yes yes!!! i cannot wait for you to read raybearer, it’s truly so good and i think you’ll absolutely love it <3 i also really want to read you must not miss and katrina leno's other books—i feel like all her premises are so unique! good luck on reading all of these in 2022 and i hope you enjoy them all <3
Ahh I’m so excited, Raybearer is on this list mainly because of you and your praise about it. I hope I’ll love it! Thank you so much <3
I was so excited for late to the party too!! Somehow didn’t get it either 😅 not your #love mstory looks so good too- and you’ll miss me when i’m gone is also one of my unread of her, with the ex talk..
Ahah as always, there are soo many books and way too little time to read them all ahah 🙂
I’m also going to read Raybearer this year. i hope we both enjoy it.
Ahh yay! Let’s hope we’ll love it! 🙂
I’m hoping to read even more backlist books this year, especially as I try to cut down my physical tbr. I’m really looking forward to reading the weight of feathers too because its one of the only Anna-Marie books I haven’t read yet! Happy reading Marie <3
Ohh I hope we’ll both love this book! Thank you so, so much, happy reading to you too 🙂
I read half of these. RLS’ book was heartbreaking, but I loved that she gave one of the characters a cameo in Our Year of Maybe. The Garret Girls was a standout for me too.
Ahh I’m so glad you loved these books. I know we often end up falling for the same books, so I’m excited to read them! 🙂
I have so many backlist books I want to get to as well! 😅 Raybearer, Goddess in the Machine (Kal’s recommendation made me so excited for this!) and We Hunt the Flame are on my TBR as well 😊
Ahh yay! I hope we’ll love these, Caro! <3
I hope you get the chance to read these! Frankly in Love was great, I really enjoyed that one. 🖤
Ahh I’m so glad to hear this, I hope I’ll love it as much as you did <3
My TBR is almost entirely backlist books since I’m not very good at keeping up with new releases 😂 I loved Horrid by Katrina Leno, so I’m really interested in You Must Not Miss!
Oooh that’s good to know, I need to check out Horrid! 🙂
the weight of feathers was my first anna marie mclemore novel and it still leaves me breathless every time i think about it so i can’t wait to hear your thoughts! i also need to take a quick look at my backlist because there are way too many titles that i’ve forgotten about 😅
Ohhh that’s so good to know, I’m even more curious to read it, now. I can only hope I’ll feel the same way about it! <3
Highly recommend Late to the Party! I so badly wish Netflix would adapt it for a summer blockbuster, and I’m definitely going to be rereading it this year!
Oooh that’s so good to know! It sounds exactly like the kind of book I’d love, fingers crossed that I will! Thank you, Mary 🙂
I actually own unread copies of four of these 🙈 but in my defence I only got one of them new. And I will get to them soon!!
I really hope you get to read & love all of these ❤ I look forward to finding out what you think of them too.
I want to read so many blacklist books still. The Reader I definitely need to get to this year though!!
Ahhh yay, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of these, as well! <3 AND THE READER! Please keep me updated whenever you can read this one. I adore it! <3
Thank you. And will do, definitely want it to be this year, hopefully fairly soonish although I have a few preorders & series with spin offs to catch up on first. ❤