Grieving Teens, Ghost Dogs, and a Locked Gate Into the Forest: This Week's Free YA

by Elizabeth Mowery

Adeline Bigsby wants nothing to do with her new home after a tragedy, until she finds a locked gate leading into a hidden forest world. It's sitting at 4.52 with over 100 ratings, and one reader called it a wholesome escape they finished in a single lazy Sunday. If you want cozy, gentle adventure with a grieving heroine, start here.

“A magical escape This was a great, little, wholesome escape from reality, and I was able to polish it all off on a lazy Sunday. I love the troubled, young lead and all of her adventures to a magical world, not so far away. The setting was wonderfully described, and the characters are...”

by Mary E. McDonald

This one surprised me on a YA list. It's historical fiction packed with family secrets, murder, and suspense, and it has some award wins behind it. It's at 3.96 from 114 ratings, the lowest of the bunch, but nobody has written a review yet, so you'd be going in fairly blind. Good for older teens or adults who like a slow-burn small town mystery.

by Brady J. Sadler

Set in 1997, with a freshman named Relic Meyers who starts a band while haunted by his missing father, a semi-famous metal drummer. Nostalgic horror with a heavy metal heart is a great pitch, and a 4.32 across 66 ratings suggests it delivers. Pick this up if you miss the era of band posters and dubbed cassettes.

by Abigail Manning

Three Halloween retellings (The Invisible Man, Pinocchio, and Dracula) in a fantasy kingdom, built around a big masquerade-style ball. Reviewers flag gender bent twists, hidden identities, and enemies to lovers, and it holds a 4.5 from 52 ratings. It's perfect if you like your fairy tale retellings a little darker and a little swoony.

“༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･༄˖° 🍂~Genres~🍂 Fantasy/Retelling/Romance/Gender bent/Hidden identity/Enemies to lovers/Anthology... kinda A Shadowy Retelling of The Invisible Man, Pinocchio, and Dracula... 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 🫥~Characters~🫥 (Aethera "Talia") FMC I really lik”

by Jill Hedgecock

A girl adopts a rescue Doberman to cope with her father's death, and then the dog starts seeing ghosts. That hook alone sold me, and the dog angle should hit hard for animal lovers. It's at 4.25 from 55 ratings, with no written reviews yet. Not for everyone if you hate sad dog books, but the suspense sounds like it keeps pages turning.

by S.A. McClelland

Sakura and Zodick are village outcasts who suddenly hear dragons in their heads demanding to be freed. Readers mention feeling for Sakura, who can't go anywhere without fear of villagers or scary creatures, and one reviewer says it's a fine addition to the author's catalog. It's at 4.33 across 45 ratings and is Book 1 of a series, so it's a good pick if you want to start something with more to follow.

“Interesting Story I felt for Sakura, this girl cannot go anywhere without fear of being attacked by fellow villagers, scary creatures, and possibly endangering the one friend who sticks by her side. The wolves, a mysterious egg, an elf were all interesting additions to the story that made it all...”