These adult titles with teen appeal feature a range of genres and topics, from magical adventures and mysteries to nonfiction explorations of everything Taylor Swift and and unexpected debut from John Green in adult nonfiction.

We hope they'll aid in collection development.

Fiction

Ash, Darcy. The Two Hungers of Prince Fierre. 354p. Solaris Nova. 2025. pap. $16.99. ISBN 9781837864775.
Prince Fierre Dannatyne is the newest Sky of Eilean-òir, and as part of his coronation, he must choose his own appointments to crucial positions including the Star of the Sky—his closest royal advisor. While these positions typically go to the most loyal lairds, Fierre instead chooses his former farmboy of a best friend, Aiven, as his advisor. With Aiven’s encouragement, Fierre decides to take a trip to visit his dying father and, along the way, meet the common folk of Eilean-òir. There is a key problem to this plan: the Dannatyne princes are expected to embody physical perfection, which has resulted in Fierre developing physician-assisted anorexia. Although wrapped in a high fantasy plot, the narrative focuses predominantly on Fierre’s anorexia and its impacts on his health and relationships with others, ultimately concluding on an optimistic and somewhat realistic note. However, an enjoyable amount of sword-fighting, magic, and political machinations still abound. Side characters tend to be one-dimensional, but the narrative is still effective. Sex is depicted on page, largely as an unhealthy coping mechanism, and is addressed accordingly. Characters largely cue white and most characters appear to be bisexual in this queernormative world. VERDICT An excellent title for mature teens who appreciate a frank portrayal of tough topics.–Austin Ferraro

Crocker, Ed. Lightfall. 384p. (The Everlands Trilogy: Bk. 1). St. Martin’s. 2025. Tr $30. ISBN 9781250287731.
In a world where vampires, werewolves, and sorcerers are divided into cities, all are preyed upon by the mysterious Grays. Trapped within the city of First Light, vampire classes are divided by the blood they drink. While lower classes are only allotted cow’s blood, barely keeping them alive, nobility drink magically enhanced blood, giving them eternal youth and even wings. Lower class vampire Sam works in First Light as a maid, stealing blood from the nobles to give her the enhancements she needs while plotting her escape. However, her quest for forbidden knowledge leads her right to the recently murdered son of the First Lord. Joined by a vampire rebel, a werewolf assassin, and a sorcerer seeking to prove the existence of mortals, Sam has to work her way through the crime and political machinations of the nobles for any hope of escape. This page-turner will keep fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows on the edge of their seats as the characters slowly come together and plot against the ruling class. Although the extensive array of perspectives may make it hard to follow, there is no shortage of humor and nail-biting tension. The narrative is let down by convoluted writing, but the story eventually finds its footing and promises plenty of action to come in future installments. VERDICT Fans of dark fantasy will delight in this adult trilogy opener.–Elisha Sheffer

Doocy, Maiga. Sorcery and Small Magics. 400p. (The Wildersongs Trilogy: Bk. 1). Orbit. 2024. pap. $19.99. ISBN 9780316576758.
Back at the Fount school for the remainder of his magical education, Leovander Lovage finds himself as the unfortunate class partner of Sebastian Grimm, an extremely skilled magic user. Leo is a scriver who can write spells but can rarely cast magic, and Grimm is a caster who can cast but not write spells. While the idea is for the pair to work together, Leo’s attempt to make Grimm’s life as difficult as possible results in his own worst nightmare: being bound to obey Grimm’s every word. When Leo realizes that the spell is also forcing his increased proximity to Grimm, he drags the other young man on an adventure to find the sorceress he hopes will be able to lift the spell. Both the setting and characters are genuinely charming, reminiscent of the worlds Gail Carson Levine and her contemporaries built, while still providing a story suitable for an older audience. Despite Leo’s impulsivity and penchant towards petty mischief, he remains a likable and relatable narrator whose perspective on long-suffering Grimm deepens over time. Both young men are queer, but their slow-burn romance is only beginning; dodging monsters and outlaws in an enchanted forest is distracting business, after all. VERDICT Suggest this engaging, medium-stakes adventure to teens who are ready to mix tame romance with approachable high fantasy.–Austin Ferraro

Hobbs, Elizabeth. Misery Hates Company. 320p. Crooked Lane. 2024. Tr $29.99. ISBN 9781639109739.
Marigold Manners, a Gilded Age Boston socialite, considers herself a “New Woman” and plans to be an archeologist, but her plan is derailed by the death of her parents, leaving her destitute. Marigold accepts the charity of family when invited to join her Hatchet cousins on Great Misery Island. The correspondence from her cousin Sophronia tells of a “great and godless wrong” done to Marigold’s mother. Great Misery Island and her cousins are not what she expected, but Marigold loves to manage things and sets about making improvements to her cousins, their farm, and leaving an impression on the town of Pride’s Crossing. As she learns more about the dynamics among family members, Marigold realizes her safety is threatened by remaining on Great Misery. A fire and grisly discovery lead to her being suspected of murder. Aided by the dashing Cab Cox, her crush who followed her to Pride’s Crossing, Marigold works on solving murders and revealing the secret of the “great wrong.” The narrative moves along briskly with an eclectic cast of characters and interesting situations. Marigold’s constant self-discourse on being a “New Woman” becomes superfluous at times. Marigold decides to pursue a new career as a writer, implying readers will hear about more of her adventures. VERDICT A solid and entertaining historical mystery, with a few unexpected twists. Marigold is a formidable young woman with plans to live life on her terms. A good general purchase. –Tamara Saarinen

Sullivan, Sophie. Can’t Help Falling in Love. 304p. St. Martin’s Griffin. 2024. pap. $18. ISBN 9781250910608.
Once a scholarship college athlete, Lexi is now a struggling waitress, slowly finishing out school while living with her widowed mom. Meanwhile, Will sits comfortably as the successful grandson of “Seattle’s Royal Family,” though that doesn’t stop his mom from trying to meddle in his love life. A disastrously funny meet-cute turns into people assuming Lexi and Will are engaged, and they decide to temporarily fake a relationship. But the longer the farce continues, the more it doesn’t feel fake at all. But when a relationship begins as a lie, can it really endure? Sullivan delivers a low-stakes, high-rewards romance, brimming with delightful classic tropes. Lexi and Will’s insta-like encounter, paired with their familial back stories, makes their romance easy to root for. The comedy of errors in creating a fake relationship exposes the main underlying conflict of honest communication. Lexi and Will learn they can’t live at the expense of their own feelings; the facade of happiness isn’t worth silencing any struggles. It’s a smooth storyline that’s exceedingly easy to be hooked on. The speed of the romance may be fast, but the “he falls first” is guaranteed to satisfy readers regardless of the short time line. Intimate scenes are built up, then implied and not seen, making this a pick for teens wanting a light romance with older characters. Characters are minimally described. VERDICT A sweet, quick read about tackling changes in life that is sure to delight fans of romance and fake-dating.–Emily Walker

White, Frances. Voyage of the Damned. 464p. Harlequin/MIRA. 2024. Tr $30. ISBN 9780778387428.
The provinces of Concordia are each named after an animal from their founding legend and ruled over by an imperial family. Every province has a governing family that passes on a magical Blessing once per generation. Once this happens, the new Blessed all go on a pilgrimage together. Dee of Fish Province does not have a Blessing due to his father’s infidelity but is pretending to while confined aboard a ship with all the Blessed of his generation. Then the murders begin. Now, trapped in the ultimate locked room mystery, Dee teams up with Bear and Grasshopper provinces to investigate. Readers know as much as the trio of Blessed do, making this an excellent narrative for those who prefer deductive mysteries over currently more common mystery/thrillers. Despite this information and an impressive lack of both plot holes and true red herrings, only dedicated sleuths will figure things out before Dee does. The story clips along at a genre-appropriate rate, which will retain readers initially caught up in a premise that combines the recently rebooted Fruits Basket anime/manga franchise with the 1985 cult classic film Clue. Characters come from diverse cultures and have a variety of skin tones, and there is an assumed queer default. One significant character is a wheelchair user and another copes with chronic illness. VERDICT A fantastical murder that will be a hit for both classic mystery lovers and true crime fans looking to explore new genres.–Austin Ferraro

Woods, Kell. Upon a Starlit Tide. 432p. Tor. 2025. Tr $28.99. ISBN 9781250852519.
Luce, the adopted daughter of a wealthy sea merchant and privateer in Saint-Malo, spends time with her mother and two sisters trapped in their houses following social customs, longing for adventure on the sea. She often sneaks out to a small cove to practice sailing with Samuel and Bones, two British smugglers. One morning after a storm, Luce finds a young man in the wreckage of a ship. Morgan is the youngest son of another wealthy sea merchant family and romance blooms between them. As the story progresses, some ugly truths are revealed: Morgan’s intentions, Luce’s true heritage, and the ultimate betrayal by those she loves. The writing is both lyrical and descriptive, and the constant tension between expectations and Luce’s desires keeps the pace moving along. Set in the 1750s as British and French fleets are privateering, this story blends historical fiction, familiar fairy tale themes, folklore, and fae in a compelling tale of love, loss, learning, and discovery. There are a few love scenes and violent interactions, but nothing too graphic. This excellent book will appeal to a wide variety of readers, especially fans of Marissa Meyer’s Gilded and Robin McKinley’s Beauty. VERDICT A compelling tale full of the mundane and magical, Luce’s adventures and self-discovery will keep readers engaged in this page turner. A very strong first buy.–Tamara Saarinen

Nonfiction

Chapelle, Sarah. Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras. 352p. St. Martin’s/Griffin. 2024. Tr $35. ISBN 9781250906151.
This book is the result of Chapelle’s more than 10 years documenting the fashion of Miss Americana herself, Taylor Swift. What started out as a blog in 2011 has evolved into a behemoth of a book filled with pictures and stories that fans may (or may not) know all too well. From Swift’s self-titled debut album all the way through Midnights and the record-setting Eras tour, no era is left untouched. Additionally, Chapelle pays careful attention to demonstrating how Swift’s fashion choices were not only meant to make her look good, but also how she uses them to tease upcoming projects with her fans. While Chapelle was unable to document every single article of clothing worn by Swift, she does an excellently highlights and breaks down some of her more famous outfits. From the street to the stage and everything in between, this book highlights the best (and some of the worst) fashion in Swift’s entire career. The accompanying pictures range from professional shots to candids to behind-the-scenes photos that offer a better look into how Swift tells stories not just with her music, but also with her looks. This book is proof that, in Swift’s mind, no detail is too small to overlook. After all, she is a mastermind. VERDICT Given how many people are in their Swift era these days, it is difficult to imagine not including this work in library collections for adults and teens alike.–Zach Basler

Clinch, Moira. Start Here: Paint: 50 Ways To Be an Artist Without Trying. 192p. Quarry. 2024. pap. $22.99. ISBN 9780760390436.
A solid resource for anyone starting to paint, or for those looking to expand their skill base. This book helps break down the basics of painting by including common sense instruction across the multiple medias of watercolor, gouache, and acrylic. Each medium is given a very accessible summary and subsequent exercise to expand and develop the new skill. Clinch jams as much information in as possible and does so in an easy-to-follow format that includes basic color theory, brush strokes, light and shadow, and more. VERDICT This title is an excellent addition to any developing artist’s library, a middle school or high school library, or any arts-based instructor’s collection.–Megan McFarlane

Green, John. Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection. 208p. Crash Course Bks. 2025. Tr $28. ISBN 9780525426059.
An enlightening exploration of the history and present-day reality of tuberculosis around the world. This narrative nonfiction title follows the journey of one TB patient, Henry, and his life and treatment in Sierra Leone while simultaneously shedding light on the battle against tuberculosis in impoverished countries. While tuberculosis is considered history to many, Green shares the alarming fact that due to many factors beyond the control of sufferers, over a million people die each year because they don’t have access to the best possible treatments and diagnostic testing. Green skillfully sparks readers’ curiosity within the first pages by discussing the number of deaths TB has caused in recent years and explains, “We know how to live in a world without tuberculosis. But we choose not to live in that world.” Readers will be shocked to hear the impact TB still has around the world when in places like the U.S., most people think tuberculosis is a part of the past. Henry’s story is hopeful and heartbreaking; readers will be rooting for him and his family the whole way through. The author includes much about his relationship with Henry, but also of his own life experiences with medications, OCD, and his treatment of orbital cellulitis which contributes helpful comparisons to the narrative. While medical nonfiction titles can be difficult for the average reader, Green explains ideas and terminology simply to ensure comprehension for readers. VERDICT This is a thought-provoking work and highly recommended for high school collections.–Lisa Buffi

Sheffield, Rob. Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music. 208p. HarperCollins/Dey St. 2024. Tr $27.99. ISBN 9780063351318.
Music journalist Sheffield may be best known to teen Taylor Swift fans as the creator of the ongoing Rolling Stone list ranking all her songs in order. His nonfiction work about Swift is less a bio and more a chronological examination of how she got to where she is, highlighting her drive, creativity, and connection to fans, particularly her impact on girls and young women. Sheffield adds some memoir aspects and peppers the text with song lyrics as he looks at album campaigns, considers how songs may connect to her larger worldbuilding (think: “New Romantics” and “mirrorball” as two perspectives of the same night out), and more. Some of the ties are tenuous at times, such as comparing the reputation single rollout to that of Michael Jackson’s Thriller,which may not resonate. But overall, Sheffield’s writing style is appealing—his relay of the euphoria of the Eras Tour is a highpoint—and gives the feel of chatting with a cool uncle about music. Setting this apart from other books about Swift is Sheffield’s longtime fandom, his encyclopedic knowledge of her music, and his access—while not a focus, he includes short anecdotes of meeting Swift backstage at shows and hearing tracks in advance. For a look at how Red and 1989 era songs were created, pair this with the Max Martin sections of John Seabrook’s The Song Machine. VERDICT A fun read recommended for collections with Taylor Swift fans who want to learn more about the folklore of their favorite artist.–Amanda Mastrull

Shetterly, Aran Robert. Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the Struggle for an American City’s Soul. 480p. HarperCollins/Amistad. 2024. Tr $29.99. ISBN 9780062858214.
In his second full-length book, Shetterly (The Americano) presents a deeply researched and highly detailed account of the November 3, 1979 mass shooting in Greensboro, NC, that left five people dead. Those murdered had planned later that day to participate in an anti–Ku Klux Klan march, but before the march started, three dozen Klan members and neo-Nazis arrived in a caravan and opened fire on the unarmed protestors, spraying 53 bullets over 88 seconds. Shetterly’s narrative covers three distinct phases of this tragic episode: the first leads up to and includes the event, the second encompasses the immediate aftermath of the shooting and three different trials, all of which resulted in no jail time for the perpetrators. The third takes a longer view, including the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission founded in 2004. Shetterly most closely follows the arc of Nelson and Joyce Johnson, providing thorough accounts of their community organizing, their marriage, and Nelson’s religious awakening, which makes him determined to reach out and communicate with those who killed his friends. VERDICT High school students with a deep interest in history, race relations, and the roots of modern American gun violence will want to pick this up, though more casual readers may find its length and depth too intimidating.–Jessica Epstein

Trefil, James & Shobita Satyapal. Supermassive: Black Holes at the Beginning and End of the Universe. 256p. Smithsonian. 2025. Tr $29.95. ISBN 9781588347893.
This comprehensive and insightful book explores the history of black holes, offering readers an eye-opening journey through their discovery and the science behind proving their existence. Written by a physicist and an astrophysicist, the book provides space enthusiasts with a rare insider’s perspective on the groundbreaking advancements that led to our current understanding of black holes. The authors begin by establishing a strong foundation, reviewing general and special relativity as well as early understandings of the universe. They then transition into an exploration of gravity before diving into the scientific debates surrounding black holes’ existence, presenting arguments for and against their plausibility. Readers are then guided through the first successful search for a black hole, learning about the crucial role electromagnetic waves—particularly light and radio waves—played in the process. The book further explores astronomical phenomena, including stellar and supermassive black holes, quasars, pulsars, and neutron stars. A significant portion of the narrative is dedicated to the advancements in technology and human knowledge that made discovering and photographing a black hole possible. The authors continue to deepen the discussion by addressing complex topics such as quantum mechanics, singularity, and the information paradox. While not light reading, this book provides a rewarding experience for readers with an understanding of astrophysics. Its strength lies in the authors’ evident passion for the subject and their admiration for the scientists who contributed to these discoveries. VERDICT A thrilling tour of the universe, spanning from its origins to its potential end.–Cathy DeCampli