Quirky, complex essays review different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale—from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets, to Canada geese and penguins of Madagascar—in this collection for adults from John Green. Green is a well-known Young Adult author. His teen novel The Fault in Our Stars was also made into a popular movie.

Emotions get complicated as TV reporter Ari and sports reporter Russell plot together to reunite their divorced bosses in this story for adults from Rachel Lynn Solomon. Solomon is also the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow and other romantic comedies for teens.

A Dominican-American family gathers at a wake, bringing together female relatives, all with secrets to keep. This is the first book for adults from Elizabeth Acevedo, author of the YA verse novel The Poet X.

The kingdom of Talin hosts deadly games, in which competitors jump bodies and in which a princess and an exiled aristocrat are hopelessly entangled. This adult epic fantasy debut is by Chloe Gong, author of the YA fantasy novel These Violent Delights.

Thought-provoking poems confront racism in America and explore current events in this collection for adults from Kwame Alexander. Alexander is the author of the verse novel The Crossover and other books for children and teens.

Shy, bookish Lily calls on her charismatic, handsome new neighbor Nick to help her find romance—not knowing he’s the author she’s secretly been writing to. This story for adults is by Kristina Forest, author of the YA romance Zyla & Kai.

Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a very unlikely Ivy League undergraduate, finds herself caught up in the dark magic of Yale’s secret societies in this fantasy and horror tale from Leigh Bardugo. Bardugo also wrote the Shadow and Bone Grisha trilogy for teens.

Camden, the adoptive son and heir of the late infamous Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, hesitantly returns to the family manor Ashby House. This gothic thriller for adults is by Rachel Hawkins, who is also the author of the YA contemporary Royals romance series.