I love that time of the year. Okay, to be completely honest with you, I actually hate that time of the year, with that very exception right here: it’s time to share my most anticipated contemporary ya books for 2020!
These kind of blog posts are some of my favorite to write, ever and today I am FILLED WITH EXCITMENT about 2020 and all of the incredible reads that will come with this new year, too, I can barely wait.
Every year ever since I started book blogging (so… well, it’s been five years now), I have come to realize that I became more and more aware of new releases and…. more and more excited about them all, too. I don’t know if it’s because I now realize ARCs are a thing and people get excited about them, or because I’m just not that blind anymore to upcoming reads, but… every year, I come to the same conclusion:
There are way too many books I am anticipating and oops. My 2020 releases shelf is, as of right now, filled with 74 books and, for me, that is quite a lot.
Worst of it all….MOST of these books are young adult contemporaries, because you know me, I’m a marshmallow.
So beware. This list will be LONG (and… I already kind of didn’t talk about ALL the books either, because there are too many.) This list is filled with so many exciting reads so I hope you’ll bear with me and get excited about these with me, too!
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✨ My Most Anticipated Contemporary YA Books for 2020
Time of Our Lives, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
Publishing April 21st, 2020 by Penguin Books.
Why I want it ? Hello, my name is Marie and I am a teensy tiny bit obsessed with Austin & Emily’s books. Okay thanks bye. Time of Our Lives is easily my most anticipated read of the entire year and the book I’m just obsessing about already okay. I mean: it explores life at college, it’s going to be emotional and powerful and wonderful and with Emily & Austin’s incredible characters… I’m here for it.
Find on: Amazon
When You Were Everything, Ashley Woodfolk
Publishing March 10th, 2020 by Delacorte.
Why I want it ? I loved Ashley Woodfolk’s debut, The Beauty That Remains, so much that I sobbed in the FIRST PAGE. Her upcoming book is about friendship breakups and let me tell you, we need more of these kind of reads. I can’t wait to read that one.
Find on: Amazon
Reconnected, Catherine Tinker
Publishing June 1st, 2020 by Swoon Reads.
Why I want it ? Virtual friendship falling apart, turns into awkward meet years later? HELLO. This is a book I was meant to read okay.
Find on: Amazon
What I Like About You, Marissa Kanter
Publishing on April 7th, 2020 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Why I want it ? Internet friendships, IRL crushes, a main character owning a young adult book blog ? I think I might be deceased here because I need this. What I Like About You sounds adorable and awkward and everything I need.
Find on: Amazon
More Than Maybe, Erin Hahn
Publishing May 12th 2020 by Wednesday Books.
Why I want it ? Erin Hahn’s debut, You’d Be Mine, was one of my favorite reads this year. A wonderful contemporary that made me happy and swoon and I just can’t wait to read this one now. It has a music blogger and a love song going viral and most likely tons of swoon and incredible characters and I can’t wait.
Find on: Amazon
Today Tonight Tomorrow, Rachel Lynn Solomon
Publishing June 16th, 2020 by Simon Pulse.
Why I want it ? I fell in love with Rachel Lynn Solomon’s stories with Our Year Of Maybe and am now determined to read everything she will write. I mean, her upcoming book Today Tonight Tomorrow is about rivals OVERACHIEVERS (hello, me) and takes place over the span of 24 hours and here for it ahhhhhhhhhhh.
Find on: Amazon
It Sounded Better in my Head, Nina Kenwood
Publishing April 7th, 2020 by Flatiron Books.
Why I want it ? Okay so first, this title just makes me feel like this book was made for me. Second, this is all the awkwardness of teenage romances and I’m here for it, too okay.
Find on: Amazon
Tweet Cute, Emma Lord
Publishing January 21th, 2020 by Wednesday Books.
Why I want it ? A perfectionist and a class clown, a twitter war and apparently a whole lot of cheese (both metaphorically, and really) and here I come running because this book sounds like the absolute cutest ever and here I am running ah heello I need you.
Find on: Amazon
Only Mostly Devastated, Sophie Gonzales
Publishing March 3rd, 2020 by Wednesday Books.
Why I want it ? So apparently this is like Simon vs. and Grease and I’m just like, here for the romance and soft for these boys already okay.
Find on: Amazon
Loveless, Alice Oseman
Publishing April 30th, 2020 by Harper Collins Children’s Books
Why I want it ? I want it because I’m trash for everything Alice Oseman writes, is that a good enough reason??? Apparently, this is an #ownvoices book with an aro-ace main character and we need more of these stories, too, so I really can’t wait.
Find on: Amazon
We Used To Be Friends, Amy Spalding
Publishing on January 7th, by Amulet.
Why I want it ? This is about two best friends growing up and growing apart and why don’t we have more friendship break-up stories in YA BOOKS WE NEED THEM???????? I’m so happy we’re getting this one and I really can’t wait to read it.
Find on: Amazon
Keep My Heart in San Francisco, Amelia Diane Coombs
Publishing on June 23rd, 2020 by Simon Pulse.
Why I want it ? Two ex best friends teaming up to save a family’s business, set in the heart of San Francisco? Now this sounds like the kind of romantic contemporary I need, I’m already soft for this okay.
Find on: Amazon
A Love Hate Thing, Whitney D. Grandison
Publishing on January 7th, 2020 by Inkyard Press.
Why I want it ? Okay so I love this cover A LOT, I have to say this. Then, this is a angsty hate to love kind of story and trouble boy and golden girl and helloooooooo this sounds quite awesome, doesn’t it?
Find on: Amazon
The Best Laid Plans, Cameron Lund
Publishing on April 7th, 2020 by RazorBill
Why I want it ? This is a story about an 18-years-old determined to lose her virginity before heading off to college and I have a feeling this will turn out to be funny and a little messed up and adorable and hello here for this.
Find on: Amazon
The Upside of Falling, Alex Light
Publishing on February 8th, 2020 by Harper Teen
Why I want it ? FAKE dating turns into a mess of complicated feelings??? HELLO this is one of my favorite tropes I am really really reaaaaaaaaaaally here for it.
Find on: Amazon
Clique Bait, Ann Valett
Publishing on April 28th, 2020, by Harper Teen.
Why I want it ? This is a story of revenge and it sounds thrilling, to be honest. Uncovering a clique’s darkest secrets and, most likely messing a whole lot of things up and falling for the wrong people in the meantime ? This sounds really good.
Find on: Amazon
Chasing Lucky, Jenn Bennett
Publishing on May 5th, 2020 by Simon Pulse
Why I want it ? I love everything Jenn Bennett writes so I’m here for her new upcoming read. New England and bookshop setting and swoon and this is me running towards this book hello.
Find on: Amazon
Look, Zan Romanoff
Publishing on March 31, 2020 by Razorbill
Why I want it ? I’m already obsessed with this book. It’s about a social media influencer accidentally going viral, it’s about who you are vs. who you seem to be online and it’s all themes and things I WANT to read about and I can’t wait.
Find on: Amazon
I Kissed Alice, Anna Birch
Publishing on May 26th, 2020 by Macmillan
Why I want it ? So they hate each other in real life, but are actually collaborating on an online graphic novel (without knowing it). HOW great does that sound???
Find on: Amazon
Little Universes, Heather Demetrios
Publishing on April 7th, 2020 by Henry Holt and Co.
Why I want it ? I’m such a big fan of Heather Demetrios’s book I’ll Meet You There and Little Universes has SISTERS at its heart and… I just need it. It sounds a little sad and emotional, exploring the complex bonds between sisters after a tragedy and I’m going to cry okay.
Find on: Amazon
Now that I’ve Found You, Kristina Forest
Publishing on June 2nd, 2020 by Roaring Brook Press
Why I want it ? I just loved Kristina Forest’s debut, I Wanna Be Where You Are, so much and her next book has the most stunning cover again and sounds so, so lovely. A wanna-be-movie star, a cute musician and a wild weekend in New York City, this sounds SO GOOD.
Find on: Amazon
You Don’t Live Here, Robyn Schneider
Publishing on June 2nd, 2020 by Katherine Tegen Books
Why I want it ? I really enjoyed Robyn Schneider’s previous books and this one sounds SO good. It’s about Sasha, trying to find herself outside of her grandparents’ expectations, trying to deal with grief and her growing attraction for a girl. This sounds like such a wonderful coming of age story and I can’t wait.
Find on: Amazon
You Say It First, Katie Cotugno
Publishing on June 16th, 2020 by Balzer + Bray
Why I want it ? Okay so this is about a long distance friendship unlikely growing into something more and this sounds like everything I’ve ever needed in a contemporary and did you see that cover I’m a big big fan already okay I NEED.
Find on: Amazon
Anna K. : A Love Story, Jenny Lee
Publishing on March 3rd, 2020 by Flatiron Books
Why I want it ? I’m sort of getting Gossip Girl vibes from that one, with a main character at the top of Manhattan society, a complex, forbidden romance and this sounds like all the drama and fun and I’m really already loving this.
Find on: Amazon
✨ More Anticipated Contemporary YA Books for 2020 : covers to be announced
When it’s over…. MORE BOOKS ARE COMING! Here are some more incredible books I’m looking forward to reading.
- One Way Or Another, Kara McDowell : I LOVED Just For Clicks and this upcoming book has a MC dealing with anxiety and no idea how to make a decision and this sounds lovely and I’m just so pumped!!!
- A Cuban Girl’s Guide To Sweaters and Stars, Laura Taylor Namey : I fell in love with the author’s debut, the library of lost things and WILL read everything the author writes. A summer falling in love with England, hello yes.
- Darius The Great Deserves Better, Adib Khorram : We know nothing about this book except that it exists and, friends, that it already enough for me.
- Recommended For You, Laura Silverman : One of my favorite authors of all times releasing a ya romcom with a teen bookseller??? HELLO I need this more than air.
You might also be interested in these contemporary ya books recommendations: 28 of my most anticipated ya books for 2021
📌 Pin my most anticipated contemporary ya books for 2020 on Pinterest!
Do you want to read any of these books?
What are some of your most anticipated contemporary releases for 2020? I’d love to know your recommendations in comments!
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I have read Only Mostly Devastated and it is one of the best books I could have asked for, for introduction to the YA Contemporary genre. ?
AHH this is so good to know, I can’t wait to read it, it sounds amazing 😀
ooh, I didn’t know Robyn Schneider was going to have a new book! I remember really liking her last book. I’m also super excited for Look. I hope you enjoy all of these, Marie 🙂
ahh so happy I could make you discover a new read <3 I hope we'll both love these! Thank you so much, Mel <3
I’m excited for that Jenn Bennett release.
aahh yes,me too!! 🙂
Oh, I absolutely loved this post … even though it made my TBR grow even more!
Aahh this makes me so happy, thank you, Bree! I hope you’ll love the books you added! 😀
This was my first year making an anticpated reads post and I was so surprised by how stressful it was to come up with all these books and how I couldn’t keep up with everything!! But yes I love reading these posts as I love finding new books and people are so excited!!
I’m so surprised Austin and Emily’s next book is on this list ? haha, i love how passionate you are!! It does sound great and I love that it is set in college!!
I’m excited for it sounded better in my head!! I love the title too!! ?
I’m so excited for Loveless too, I mean I need to read her first two books first but I’m excited!! ?
Little universes sound great!! You’ve brought so many books to my attention and all the covers are so cute as well!!
I’m so excited for the sequel to Darius too!!
Ahh.. I loved your list so much!! Thank you for sharing!! ?
Aah yes you’re right, it is a little bit stressful, there are so many books and I’m always scared to miss out on some, but… it’s also exciting, all the releases to look forward to!! 😀
I’m so happy you’re excited for so many of these books, yay! And that Darius sequel, I just can’t wait, we need more Darius in our lives <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3
I just added a ton of these to my Goodreads! Thank you!!
Ahhh yay, you’re so welcome 😀
SO much great cover art! Also, I’m super excited for Oseman’s newest book as well!
Right? all of these books look stunning! And I’m so happy you love Oseman’s books as well. I can’t wait to read that new one 😀
Heather Demetrios’s book is already pre ordered Marie! And I will add Alice Oseman’s book as I discovered Radio Silence this year and was smitten!
YAY! It sounds fantastic, I can’t wait to read it 🙂 and YES ahh, I hope you’ll read all of Oseman’s books, she writes amazing stories 🙂
Might have added a ton of books to my TBR just now.. Thanks haah!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Ahhh my job here is done haha 🙂 thank you!! 🙂
Thanks for this list! ?
So happy you enjoy it!! 🙂
Most of these I haven’t seen yet and I think my tbr just got bigger. I love that cover for Time of Our Lives. It’s just so cute. Only Mostly Devastated I am super hyped for.
Ahh yay, I’m glad I could make you discover some new ooks 🙂 I hope you’ll love them!! 😀
SO MANY GREAT BOOKS!!! YOU ARE MAKING ME WANT TO ADD MORE!
Also … Time of Our Lives!!!!!! I NEED IT NOW!
AH YAY this makes me so happy, we need ALL THE BOOKS 😀
AND YES! I need that one now, so badly, I can’t wait!!
I’m not usually SO into new releases, but next year all the friendship break up books I’ve seen, I’m like uhm, I need that in my life! There are quite a few I’m looking forward to, like When You Were Everything, Reconnected, and We Used to Be Friends.
Agree! We need way more books about friendships and friendship breakups and I’m happy there are a few coming out next year 🙂
Thank you!! <3
I never keep track of new releases or what’s coming up in the book world (unless it’s from authors I love), and I’m definitely okay with that. Glad I can count on your posts to keep me informed, so I can keep an eye out for books I might be interested in :’)
Ahh I’m happy I could help!! Thank you, Macey <3
I haven’t really looked into books for next year, so it was good to get your list! I just picked up It Sounded Better in my Head and I have a feeling you’ll enjoy it!
Ahh, I’m so happy to hear this! I can’t wait to read it, it sounds so lovely 🙂
So, yeah, looks like my TBR. I actually already read We Used to Be Friends and it had me bawling. Friend breakups are terrible.
I always love how we have so many books in common! 😀
I’m so happy you enjoyed it and that it hit you so hard. I need more books like this one. I can’t wait! 🙂
So many promising books next year! I’m also excited for More than Maybe (Erin’s debut You’d Be Mine was one of my faves this year) and You Say it First. I’ve already read Tweet Cute and, boy, it was so sweet it gave me a toothache. Great list, Marie!
Right, so many exciting reads! I loved You’d Be Mine and can’t wait to read more from Erin Hahn as well 😀
Thank you so much, Rachel! 😀
Great possibilities! Enjoy! ??
Thank you so much, Carol!! <3
This is so NOT good for my TBR-list… haha! I just blindly added all the books, because I’m also a marshmallow so I trust your recommendations 🙂
According to this list, the first half of 2020 will be great, book-wise!
Great post, Marie! <3
AH THIS MADE MY DAY <3 I'm so happy I could make your TBR grow and I hope we'll both love these books 😀
Thank you!! <3
I was so nervous to read this post, because I knew I would probably add almost all of these to my TBR haha. 😛 And I was right, haha. Great list, Marie! I can’t wait for all the awesome books to come in 2020.
Ahhh well happy to make your TBR grow 😀 Thank you so, so much, Ashley <3
Thanks for sharing all of these. I’m so down with YA books featuring friend breakups. Those really SUCK, so it’s good people are writing about it more. And I want alllll the book blogger, influencer, music blogger books. Love it.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Thank you, Lauren! <3 I agree with you, we need more books focusing on friendships like that, I can't wait to read these 🙂
I’m really looking forward for Time of Our Lives and Today Tonight Tomorrow! Tweet Cute is a really fun read! 🙂
Ahh that’s so good to hear, I can’t wait to read all of them 😀 Thank you so much!!
okay, i have been struggling with finding good 2020 reads and this post just outlined it all. thank you so so much!
Oh this made my entire day. I’m so, so happy this could be helpful and I hope you’ll love these! Thank you so much <3
Thanks for making my TBR explode, Marie! Chasing Lucky sounds so cute! And it seems there are some common themes going on in covers these days!
ah you’re so welcome, I’m so happy I could make you discover some new reads 😀
I’ve been awful at keeping up with new releases, especially YA contemporary tbh, so this list is a life-saver!! (Although my tbr and wishlist may be crying, haha, I have 10+ goodreads windows open right now.) Amazing post! 🙂
AH this makes me so, so happy, Veronika! I really hope you’ll find some books you’ll love here 🙂 Thank you so much! <3
When I read “We Used to be Friends”, the Veronica Mars theme immediately started playing in my head haha it’s like when I read “Since You’ve Been Gone” and Kelly Clarkson comes on haha But the cover game is STRONG next year. SO many intriguing stories too, I am sure you’ll have a great time with those reads.
SAME! This book title makes me think of Veronica Mars a whole lot haha. I can’t wait to read it and YES. These covers are all stunning!
Thank you <3 <3
I feel like I’m living so last-minute lately that I’ve barely given any thought to 2020 at all yet. Most years I feel like I have a list of books I’m anticipating, but this year I can only think of a handful from January or early in the year. Guess I’d better get ready to add to that now that these types of lists are coming out! 🙂
Ahh yes! There are so many great looking releases this 2020,I hope you’ll find some new ones to add to your TBR 😀
Oh, this is such a wonderful list of 2020 releases! I’ve been slowly hunting for releases to add to my TBR so this was super helpful to discover more amazing sounding contemporary books! ? I’m especially excited about all the books featuring complicated friendships, it’s great that there’s a rise of books dealing with a friendship fallout as it can be just as devastating as a breakup. I wish we had info on a new Jen Wilde book though, as I love her books so much ?
Ahhh thank you so much, Caro! I’m so happy this could be helpful <3 and yes, to all the books about friendships, we need way more of these!
YES! I wish so too, I need MORE BOOKS by Jen Wilde!!
I mean… I just posted my backlist (which is excessive)… but also, I want to read all of these!!
Old and new, there are always way too many books to read hahaha 🙂
Ooh I actually have quite a few of these on my 2020 TBR after spending a lot of time looking up lists on Goodreads to try and get some of my most anticipated releases posts planned. Some of these are still new to me though. I’m surprised I wasn’t aware of the Robyn Schneider one in particular. I don’t know how to pick a favourite from here. Maybe Loveless as I’ve heard such good things about the author? I’m also looking forward to Meet Me At Midnight, Verona Comics and one that I suddenly cant remember the name of ? it’s about a girl going to her principal claiming her boyfriend is abusive and the sides that form and questions that follow. I honestly don’t know why I can’t think of the name as i was super interested in it.
Ahh yay, happy to hear you’re looking forward to most of these! 🙂
YES! I’m so excited for Loveless and I just recently found out about Verona Comics, it sounds so good!! 🙂
I’ll look forward to reading your most anticipated list!
Thank you (:
Hopefully we’ll both enjoy them all as much as we hope to.
And thank you ❤️
Again, we have so many common books on our list, Marie 🙂 I only wish, I could get arcs of all these but alas… I hope we enjoy all of these books 🙂
YES let’s hope we will love them, so many incredible looking releases 😀
I haven’t really had time to look for all the new releases and anyway, I’m awful at keeping up with them, so thank you so much for putting this list together! I only know about Tweet Cute – that I’m interested in – but I haven’t heard (or have, but only vaguely) about the others. :/
Ohhh well I’m happy if this post could help you! There are so many great looking books for next year, I can’t wait to read them 🙂
This promises so many reviews here 😀 I can’t wait! xxx
Yees hopefully ahha! Thank you my sweechie <3
Hi Marie!!! I’ve missed reading your posts so much as I’ve been on my hiatus! <3 SO happy to see this wonderful list! I've been incredibly out of the loop with new releases, so I will have to keep this post bookmarked! I cannot wait for another Jenn Bennett book! She is my hero and I need Chasing Lucky to be released already! I'm also super excited for Time of Our Lives, More than Maybe, and A Love Hate Thing!
KELLY! I hope you’ve been well, it’s good to see you here ahh you’re too sweet <3 <3 I'm so happy you're excited about the same titles as I am, I hope we will both love them all 😀
This is a great post!!! Apparently blue is the colour next year hahhaa x
It seems like it ahah, but I like it 😀
Thank you so much for your comment!! <3
The amount of books I just added to my TBR is crazy! This style of bright colors with humanoid drawings is MY JAM!
Ahh I’m happy I could make your TBR grow -and sorry, oops haha. RIGHT, I love these covers!!
Haha I just added like all of these books to my TBR, thank you so much!! (That’s not supposed to be sarcastic LOL.) I’m so so excited for so many of these books, 2020 is really treating us well with all of these amazing books with gorgeous covers ?? (and somehow a lot of these covers look similar in style? haha they all look so beautiful though!!)
THIS MAKES ME THE HAPPIEST!!!! ? I can’t wait to hear what you think of all of these books, I’m so excited to read them all! And yes, these covers look amazing, I’m such a fan! <3
Only Mostly Devastated was good! Thank you for compiling this list, Marie! Some of the books I haven’t heard of yet so I’ll check them out 🙂
Ahhh so happy to hear this, I can’t WAIT to read this book 😀
I’m glad I could make your TBR grow, thank you, Pam! <3
Hope you’ll like it!