6 Delicious High-Concept YA Novels to Devour Right Now
Summer’s end is nigh, and with it go the big Hollywood blockbusters, those delicious “why didn’t I think of that” high-concept stories we all know and love. But you don’t have to wait till next summer for fun, fantastic, and decidedly high-concept tales. You don’t even have to wait till they’re on demand. These amazing YA contemporary reads are begging to be turned into the next big teen romcoms, dramas and more. But you get to check them out now, so you can start fan-casting with your faves right away.
In Some Other Life, by Jessica Brody
We’ve all done things we regret for love. But Kennedy Rhodes didn’t regret her decision to decline her acceptance to the prestigious Windson Academy in favor of public school with her one true love Austin—that is, until she caught him hooking up with her BFF. If only she’d thought harder about giving up her future for a fling. One whack on the head later, and she’s been transported to another life, one in which she’s top of her class at Windsor, acing her app to Colombia, and part of the cool kids’ clique. But in this YA take on Sliding Doors, even her alt life isn’t as shiny as it looks on the surface.
Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds
Reynolds continues to mine dark themes and deep territory in this stunning, high-concept nove in verse. Will, 15, is stuck on an elevator and going nowhere fast. See, he’s got a gun tucked in the waistband of his jeans, and a major decision to make. While making his choice, Will is visited by the ghosts of people he’s known (and maybe loved), victims of the path of violence that lays before him. Does Will use his brother’s Shawn’s gun to get revenge on those responsible for his death? Or does he chose life instead?
I Believe In A Thing Called Love, by Maurene Goo
Goo’s delicious and delightful Love follows straight-laced Desi Lee—A student, class president, good with cars and tools—as she tries to ace the one part of her life she has always struggled with: romance. She decides to faithfully (sort of) follow the commandments of love set forth by her dad’s favorite K-Dramas, hoping to win the heart of her crush, hot new kid Luca Drakos. But as you’ve probably guessed if you’ve ever watched one of those zany Korean soaps, the path from meet cute to happily ever after isn’t always so smooth.
Windfall, by Jennifer E. Smith
What would you do if you won a million bucks? That’s the question at the heart of Smith’s Windfall. Unlucky in life, love, and pretty much everything else, orphaned Alice has always found comfort in her pal Teddy, whom she’s secretly loved for years. Soon after her 18th birthday, she buys him a lottery ticket—and he wins $140 million. As they grapple with the fallout of this astonishing windfall, they’ll question everything they know about themselves, their relationship, and the world around them.
One of Us Is Lying, by Karen McManus
The Breakfast Club with murder? Yes, please! In this New York Times bestseller, five misfit classmates meet in afternoon detention. But when their time out’s over, only four of them leave it alive. Simon, ever the outcast—and the voice behind the school’s rep-shattering gossip app—has been murdered. But who did it? Was it homecoming queen Addy? Or juvie staple Nate? All-star Cooper? Or Yale-bound Bronwyn? More importantly, will the four suspects band together to figure out who did it and clear their names, or will they let the killer strike again?
Noteworthy, by Riley Redgate
She’s the Man meets Pitch Perfect in this swoonworthy, laugh-out-loud comedy about a teen misfit who finds her place by, uh, leaving out some important details. An Alto 2, Jordan Sun has her work cut out for her when it comes to scoring a spot in the Kensington-Blaine Boarding School for the Performing Arts’ fall musical. When she gets shut out for the third year in a row, she decides to do something about it. Luckily, there’s a spot open in the Sharpshooters, the school’s ace a capella troop. One problem: it’s guys only. Or maybe that’s not such a big problem after all…