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Happy August! Somehow we're already in the final stretch of summer, but before we start pretending we're excited for fall, we've got one more month of amazing YA books, shows, and movies to obsess over. So grab a drink, get comfy, and get ready to squeeze every last drop out of summer.
Big Same
In Big Same, we pick a popular title and recommend a new book, movie, or show that matches its energy.
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Together with Sourcebooks Fire
The escapecore aesthetic is all about disappearing into another world—even if only for a few hundred pages. Think dangerous royal courts, storm-tossed secrets, and sun-soaked Martha’s Vineyard romance: the kind of stories that turn “one more chapter” into an all-night promise.
Hitting the Shelves
The Best New YA Books Coming in August 2026
New, Noteworthy, & Next Up
WATCH THIS
What: My Life with the Walter Boys Season 3
Why: Because last season’s Jackie/Cole/Alex cliffhanger has been haunting us for an entire year.
When: 8/6
Where: Netflix
READ THIS
What: Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay by Lex Croucher
Why: Because the gang from Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is back, and somehow everything is even messier.
When: 8/11
Where: Wherever you buy books
LISTEN TO THIS
What: “Gracie Abrams: Countdown To Daughter from Hell (with Olivia Rodrigo)”
Why: Because listening to these two queens discuss how an album gets made is fascinating, inspiring, and oh so fun.
When: Out now!
Where: Wherever you listen to podcasts
The Sale
Together with ThriftBooks
Get books for as low as $2.99 each!
August is here, and that means one thing: back-to-school shopping. (We know, we know... nobody wants to hear school is right around the corner.) The good news? While ThriftBooks can't stop summer from ending, they can make back-to-school shopping sting a little less, because required reading shouldn't break the bank. Whether you're grabbing classroom classics or tossing a few fun reads into your cart (or both!), the ThriftBooks Kids' Book Fair has tons of books starting at just $2.99.
Hitting the Screens
The Best YA Premieres Coming in August 2026
Talk of the Timeline
🍿 We’ve got the first trailer for Children of Blood and Bone…
💔 …But there’s also a lot of drama behind the scenes, and Tomi Adeyemi has distanced herself from the production.
🚨 We finally have a title, plot summary, and cover for the new Fourth Wing-adjacent novel coming in September!
🏹 All of the Hunger Games movies are coming to theaters again with a Sunrise on the Reaping sneak peek.
Read It, Stream It
What: The Magic Faraway Tree
Why: Britain got this one back in March, but now it's finally our turn. Based on the iconic children's book series by Enid Blyton, The Magic Faraway Tree follows three siblings who discover a magical tree that leads to fantastical new worlds. Since the first book was published in 1939, there's a good chance this is one of those rare family movies that your grandparents, parents, and you can all be nostalgic about. Pretty cool, right? Plus, it stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, and Nicola Coughlan.
When: 8/21
Where: In theaters
Internet Finds
Sponsored
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