This Week in Young Adult — Week of June 22, 2026

Young Adult Book of the Week

Julia at the Drive-In by Rainbow Rowell

Published: June 23, 2026

Surprisingly, Rainbow Rowell's Julia at the Drive-In debuted this week with a remarkable jump from 215 to 303 ratings, marking a growth of 41%. This surge in interest positions it at the top of this week's most read Young Adult books, indicating immediate traction for a new release that only became available days ago.

When compared to other titles in the segment, Julia at the Drive-In has outperformed its peers significantly. For instance, the second-place Back to You only added 64 ratings this week, despite being in the same thematic collection. The initial response to Rowell's story speaks to her solid reader base and potential word-of-mouth buzz.

The alluring premise of a shy high school girl's coming-of-age journey at a drive-in may resonate well with contemporary themes of self-discovery and romance, drawing readers to explore this tale of transformation and romance. As summer approaches, stories centered on vulnerability and connection seem particularly appealing.

Stats: 215 → 303 (+88)

Also Trending in Young Adult

Back to You by Ann Liang

Published: June 23, 2026

Back to You moves into second place with a solid increase of 64 ratings this week, up from 343 to 407. This indicates a respectable growth of 19%, demonstrating a promising start for Liang's enchanting second chance romance.

Stats: 343 → 407 (+64)

A Prince Among Pirates by Katie Abdou

Published: June 16, 2026

Meanwhile, A Prince Among Pirates is enjoying a steady rise with an increase of 53 ratings this week, bringing its total to 327. The 19% growth indicates a consistent interest, solidifying its position ahead of other new releases.

Stats: 274 → 327 (+53)

Close to You by Nissa Renzo

Published: June 30, 2026

Despite being fourth in line, Close to You shows marginal growth of 40 ratings, bringing its total to 9,907. While the increase is modest at 0.41%, the high initial count suggests a pre-existing reader interest due to its emotional depth in the series context.

Stats: 9,867 → 9,907 (+40)

Young Adult Genre Pulse

This week, the Young Adult genre experienced a slight uptick with a net increase of 316 ratings, climbing from 10,962 to 11,278. This upward momentum, driven by the debut of multiple new releases, highlights a growing interest and engagement within the genre. Notably, all featured books this week are fresh arrivals, indicating a strong interest from readers in new voices and returning favorites in Young Adult literature.