9 YA Novels with Songs as Their Titles

Books and music have a lot in common. Both can convey different reactions and emotional responses in people just by their names alone. This short list shares a few book titles that are also song titles. Readers may come to these books for their titles, and stay for their engaging plot lines.

Books and music have a lot in common. Both can convey different reactions and emotional responses in people just by their names alone. This short list shares a few book titles that are also song titles. Readers may come to these books for their titles, and stay for their engaging plot lines.

5 covers from list

Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest. Roaring Brook. ISBN 9781250295026.
Gr 9 Up–Acting and filmmaking are in Evie Jones’s blood. Evie lands a role in an upcoming thriller, but her dreams are shattered when she is betrayed by her best friend. With aspirations of a second chance, Evie flies to New York to spend time with Gigi and hopefully use her grandmother’s fame to land another starring role. Adventure ensues when Evie’s elusive grandmother disappears, leaving only a grocery store delivery boy as the possible key to her location. As the two embark on a journey through New York City to locate the missing Gigi, Evie finds out that Milo is much more than just a delivery boy. Multifaceted characters and an entertaining plotline make for an engaging story that teens are sure to enjoy.

Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo. Farrar. ISBN 9780374310578.
Gr 9 Up–Catherine “Lucky” Nam is a Korean American rising K-pop star finishing a whirlwind tour in Hong Kong. Her world is knocked off its axis when a volatile mix of sleeping pills, anxiety medication, and a desire for a hamburger brings her into contact with Jack Lim, gifted photographer and tabloid paparazzo. They decide to spend the day together in Hong Kong with differing objectives, but their goals shift and change over the course of the day as they get to know each other better. The overarching theme of crafting the life you want, while making space for the unexpected, shines brilliantly in this novel.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. Scholastic. ISBN 9781338503265.
Gr 9 Up–Liz has plans to study premed at Pennington College, but when she fails to get the partial music scholarship, she thinks all chances are gone. Her only hope for funding her education is the town’s biggest event of the year, the prom, which comes with its own scholarships. Readers will fall in love with this refreshing book that celebrates the beauty of individuality.

If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann. Feiwel & Friends/Swoon Reads. ISBN 9781250192677.
Gr 9 Up–Winnie Woodson has her dream summer in Misty Haven already planned. She’ll waitress at her grandmother’s restaurant, hang out with her “ungirlfriend” Kara, and watch over her little brother Winston, a budding chef. Winning Misty Haven’s Summer Queen contest and having her confusing crush, Dallas, as the town’s Summer King is not a situation Winniw was expecting. Surprisingly, she finds that she and the Summer King have a magnetic attraction she wants to explore. This novel takes on the topic of love with an honesty that is refreshing.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann. Feiwel & Friends/Swoon Reads. ISBN 9781250136121.
Gr 9 Up—Alice's first year at college did not go the way she planned. By the end of the year, she's still undeclared, and her roommate-turned-girlfriend turned ex-girlfriend has reenforced Alice's fears that no one will stay with her once they find out she's asexual. When she shows up to work one day to meet the beautiful and sweet Takumi, Alice is blown away by her feelings toward him but terrified of being hurt again. A light, enjoyable asexual romance with outstanding representation.

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 We Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. ISBN 9780062885050.
Gr 10 Up–Five months ago, Nico, the heir to Bell Firearms, took his father’s guns to school, killing his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Queen, and himself. One night, Vivian catches Beck painting a mural based on Greek mythology to bring awareness to Cassie’s murder and how it could have been prevented. Vivian decides to help Beck, and together they plan other murals, which causes a stir in town. McCauley’s latest novel is a well-written and enjoyable read on a controversial topic.

When You And I Collide by Kate Norris. Philomel. ISBN 9780593203033.
Gr 9 Up–A girl-saves-boy bildungsroman that weaves physics, history, and time travel together into a compelling first novel. Norris’s captivating story manages to be historical, romance, and science fiction (heavy on the science). The World War II setting allows the author to address social issues, including anti-German sentiment and Japanese interment. A recommended purchase for public and high school libraries.

We Used to Be Friends by Amy Spalding. Abrams/Amulet. ISBN 9781419738661.
Gr 9 Up–Kat and James have been inseparable best friends since the two girls met in kindergarten, but by senior year everything has changed. Kat and James find themselves facing big life changes...alone. James shares her story starting at the end and going backwards, while Kat starts at the beginning and moves forward. The result is a captivating snapshot of a friendship that many teens will relate to.

You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith. Inkyard. ISBN 9781335405685.
Gr 9 Up–Philly kids Adam and Whitney were best friends and inseparable through junior high; then, Adam’s father died and the grief caused them to drift apart. Now, both are seniors, and rivals, each struggling in their own way. A massive Philly snowstorm gives the pair a chance to resolve their differences and rediscover their friendship (and maybe even more), but they soon learn the path to reconciliation is not always easy. A sweet romance with a quirky premise and solid, relatable protagonists.

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