15 new books we can’t wait to read in April

At the beginning of every month, we like to celebrate the little things. Things like turning a new page in our planners, getting our monthly subscription boxes, and adding a fresh crop of new books to our reading lists. To our delight, April’s titles did NOT disappoint.

Young adult stories of star-crossed lovers? Check. Hilarious scandals in tech startup culture? Check. These books even represent more serious topics like sexual assault, personal loss, and mental health. And to top it all off, there’s even a fictional re-telling of the epic romance between Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler. Here they are: The 15 new books we can’t wait to read in April!

1. “Alex, Approximately” by Jenn Bennett 

When we heard this new book was a modern-day teenage spin on Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s rom com You’ve Got Mail, we immediately jumped on board. Meet Bailey Rydell, a girl crushing on a guy she only knows on the internet. But here’s what Bailey has yet to learn: She actually DOES know Alex IRL — and she can’t stand him. April 4th.

2. “But Then I Came Back” by Estelle Laure

17-year-old Eden just woke up from a coma after a near-death accident. She has tons of questions, like what comes after life, and why she can see things that nobody else can see. But Then I Came Back is magical realism at its finest, and fans of Estelle Laure will love this companion novel to The Raging Light. April 4th.

3. “Definitions of Indefinable Things” by Whitney Taylor

In Definitions of Indefinable Things, Whitney Taylor tackles mental health head-on with a rare mix of humor and candor. She touches on everything from prescriptions to therapy to just getting through everyday life. You’ll laugh, cry, and feel along with the relatable characters through every page. April 4th.

4. “The End of Our Story” by Meg Haston

Bridge and Wil have been through it all together. Childhood friends turned teenage lovers, they were always by each other’s side. That is, until Bridge betrayed Wil, breaking his heart and their special bond. When tragedy strikes a year later, they try to make amends, but realize just how much changes in a short amount of time. April 4th.

5. “Letters to the Lost” by Brigid Kemmerer

Is there anything more romantic than two people falling in love through a series of letters? This is the story of Juliet and Declan. Juliet writes her late mother letters and leaves them at her grave. Declan finds them and feels compelled to respond. They open up to each other on the page, two strangers with an immediate connection — only to learn they aren’t actually strangers. April 4th.

6. “Marlena” by Julie Buntin

Every teenage girl has someone who helped shape and sharpen her world into focus. For 15-year-old Cat, that person was her neighbor Marlena. But when Marlena dies unexpectedly, Cat must figure out how to move forward. April 4th.

7. “Royce Rolls” by Margaret Stohl

On the surface, 16-year-old L.A. starlet Bentley Royce has it all. She attends a fancy private school, takes extravagant vacations, and appears on her family’s reality TV show Rolling with the Royces. But behind the scenes, her fame-obsessed family is falling apart. Now, it’s up to Bentley to save the Royces by saving the one thing that got them in this mess to begin with: the TV show. KUWTK fans, this one’s for you. April 4th.

8. “Sympathy” by Olivia Sudjic

Thanks to the internet, it’s possible to connect with (and even meet) almost anybody. But also thanks to the internet, you can learn a lot of secrets about somebody just from a simple Google search. Sympathy tells the thrilling story of Alice and Mizuko, two people who get a lot more than they expected from their online connection. April 4th.

9. “Alex and Eliza: A Love Story” by Melissa de la Cruz

We memorized the lyrics on the soundtrack and watched the PBS documentary. Now, it’s time to experience Hamilton in a whole new way: through the lens of the epic love story between Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler. We guarantee you’ll be humming “Helpless” the entire time. April 11th.

10. “The Day I Died” by Lori Rader-Day

Anna Winger is a single mother living in a small town. She never puts down roots and is always on the move with her son. Anna is also a handwriting expert and just started working on a murder investigation. Can she solve the case AND save the one person who matters most to her? April 11th.

11. “Literally” by Lucy Keating

The lines between fiction and reality seriously blur in Literally. This book by Lucy Keating is also ABOUT a book by Lucy Keating. Wait, what? In Literally, Annabelle realizes she’s a character created by young adult author Lucy Keating. It’s quirky, meta, and definitely Stranger Than Fiction-esque. April 11th.

12. “Fireworks” by Katie Cotugno

If you have a soft spot in your heart for the late-’90s boy-and-girl-band craze, you’ll adore Fireworks. When Olivia’s BFF Dana tags along to her big audition for support, they both wind up getting discovered. Can their lifelong friendship survive the race to the top? April 18th.

13. “The F Word” by Liza Palmer

On the outside, Olivia Morten has a perfect life. She’s married to a gorgeous doctor. She works as a publicist to L.A.’s hottest celebs. And she has beautiful friends. In reality, her husband is rarely home. Her job consumes her life. And her friends are empty-headed. But Olivia doesn’t mind; she relishes in perfection, regardless of how fabricated it is. She worked hard to bury her high school reputation of being “the fat girl” so she never has to re-live it. That is, until her arch nemesis (and former crush) resurfaces in her life. April 25th.

14. “Lucky Girl” by Amanda Maciel

Trigger warning: Lucky Girl is about sexual assault, rape culture, and slut shaming. One  night, Maddie’s boyfriend assaults her best friend Rosie at a high school party. Everybody gets the wrong idea, and Rosie tries to repair her friendship and her reputation. It’s a difficult read at times, but it’s important and relevant for audiences of all ages. April 25th.

15. “Startup” by Doree Shafrir

Mack is an entrepreneur who created a successful app. Katya is a journalist who needs a juicy story. And Sabrina is a mother of two who accidentally finds herself in the middle of their scandal. Here’s why we’re REALLY excited to read Startup: Author Doree Shafrir writes for BuzzFeed and is entrenched in the tech world. We’re willing to bet some of the details were inspired by real-life events. April 25th.