It's been a busy couple of months, but in the best of ways. This month's books are alternately extremely fantastical and all too real. Thanks as always to the publishers and authors who send their books my way!

OTHERWORLDLY
by F.T. Lukens
Now Available

Ellery doesn't believe in the paranormal, unlike their parents. The family farm has been failing since an endless winter began five years ago, and their mother insists on making petitions to a trio of deities. For their part, Ellery prefers to make money at the local diner and send it home. Soon, though, they have no choice but to believe in the supernatural—because the hot guy they've been eyeing at the diner is on the run from it.

Knox is a familiar from the Other World, sent to assist with an ill-advised bargain. With his current master now deceased, he should return home. But that would mean giving up the human life he's come to love, having his memories erased as soon as he returns home. And considering his queen appears to have rejected all his messages, he'd sooner stay in the mortal realm for a while. He strikes a bargain with Ellery: in exchange for helping him experience the human world to the fullest, he'll help them find out how to end the endless winter. But the answers he finds are troubling, and could mean the sudden end of their blossoming relationship.

Otherworldly blends down-to-earth YA romance with paranormal mystery. Fortunately, it sidesteps the less-than-appealing tropes that seem to have taken up residence in paranormal romance as a whole—mainly the idea that predatory behavior isn't a deal-breaker. Knox and Ellery are a sweet couple, and the supernatural world built around them is enthralling while still being small and centralized enough to not overshadow the human story with lore dumps.

KING OF DEAD THINGS
by Nevin Holness
Available April 16

Eli and Malcolm are two young men whose lives are shaped by magic. While Eli wields the power to heal others and take parts of their magic for himself, Malcolm inherited a strange death magic from his father. Malcolm's memories of growing up are fraught with tragedy and heartbreak; Eli has no memories prior to three years ago, and now lives in a Caribbean restaurant doubling as a magic sanctuary. When an ancient power starts to awaken, their paths will cross.

Her name is Mercy, and she has deep ties to Malcolm's father. But the only thing that can stop her is an artifact that Eli is hunting down. Together with Eli's friends Sunny and Max, the two boys venture through the magical underbelly of London. From shapeshifters to spirits, they'll encounter all manner of things good, evil, and in between. And in the process, they'll learn more about themselves, as the spirit known as Mercy tempts them both with the one thing each wants most in the world.

King of Dead Things is a fascinating urban fantasy, taking its cues from Afro-Caribbean mythology and folklore. But you don't need to be highly versed in, or even all that familiar with, this culture to jump in. It's an intriguing gateway to new and less-told stories. Best of all, magic in this setting isn't something to be hushed and hidden from mundanes: it's an inherent part of life if one simply knows where to look.

FINALLY FITZ
by Marisa Kanter
Available April 23

Ava Fitzgerald, known as "Fitz" to her friends, is right where she wants to be in life. She's got a spot in a prestigious summer program where she can pursue her dreams of being a fashion designer. She's sharing a New York apartment with her awesome girlfriend Danica. And, best of all, her Instagram account is absolutely popping off. But when Danica asks for a break, purportedly because of Fitz's social media fixation, everything comes crashing down. In an effort to win Danica back, Fitz goes on an enforced Instagram hiatus. Just to show she can.

Enter Levi Berkowitz, Fitz's childhood best friend who also happens to be in town. He's going through it after a similar (but less Instagram-related) issue with his own girlfriend, and has been occupying his time conducting houseplant rescues, which he showcases online. Then Fitz gets an idea: fake dating. She'll optimize Levi's social media presence and slide herself in as the new girl, making both their exes jealous enough to make a move. It's a great plan, at least in Fitz's eyes. But real feelings seem to be arising between the two just as the plan appears to be working.

While Finally Fitz hits a lot of the YA romance tropes (especially the "fake dating to lovers" trope), there's one thing it does exceptionally well and uniquely: a frank discussion of social media. Instagram is not the villain in this story; rather, it's the mindset that catering to the algorithm can cultivate in the minds of creative people. Ultimately, this is a story of learning how to love every part of yourself and letting go of needing to check all the boxes for everyone around you.

WHERE WAS GOODBYE?
by Janice Lynn Mather
Available April 30

Six weeks ago, Karmen's life fell apart. Her older brother, Julian, died by suicide—and now it's time for her to go back to school. With her family grieving, her friends unsure how to help, and a certain classmate getting verbally aggressive, Karmen eventually snaps. Her outburst gets her sent home, to give her time to heal, and her family is at odds about how to treat this time.

Karmen, however, is on a mission. She's determined to understand what happened to Julian. With help from her crush Isaiah, Julian's former teachers and classmates, and new student Pru, Karmen immerses herself in her late brother's life. His love of skateboarding and his fascination with history lead her down unexpected paths. And the more she uncovers, the more it hurts. Who knew that Julian was hurting? Could anyone have helped him? And, most important of all, what happens next?

Where Was Goodbye? tackles the nasty, real, important parts of grief that don't make for good inspirational social media posts—but that deserve to be talked about. Grieving even the most expected of deaths can feel isolating, as people around you seem to have a knack for saying exactly what you don't want to hear and doing exactly the opposite of what helps. Fortunately, the book shows a variety of examples of being there for grieving friends: the wrong way, yes, but also multiple right ways and "not right but well-intentioned" approaches. It's a powerful book and a difficult read, but one that anyone who's lost a loved one (or cares about someone who has) needs to read.