Emilia Rhodes

Always a quick way to my heart in any form are dogs, desserts, and true crime. And a few recent favorite “for fun” reads have been Mexican Gothic, Malibu Rising, The Other Black Girl, Luck of the Titanic, Solutions and Other Problems, and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.

NOT at the top of my list right now are non-fiction, picture books, gross out humor, books set in space, books set during a theater production, or books centered around a mass shooting. Not knocking any of it, just not right for me!

On the speculative side of YA, give me a world or a circumstance I’ve never seen before. I love high-stakes, plot-driven fantasy and sci-fi, where the world enhances the story more than is the focus.

I’d love to find thoughtful and fresh YA thrillers, books that go beyond the mystery to question the character’s views or the status quo. Think Tiffany Jackson, Kara Thomas, Courtney Summers, or the show Cruel Summer.

In YA, I’m always looking for a great contemporary voice that makes the everyday heartbreaks, secrets, and revelations feel epic. Remind me why being a teenager is hard but in so many ways the most true versions of ourselves.

For graphic novels both MG and YA, give me your messy, flawed, embarrassing, relatable coming-of-age. Think Roller Girl, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, Invisible Emmie, El Deafo, Stargazing, Check Please.

Again in MG, I’d love to find more grounded or just slightly speculative adventure stories. Spies, detectives, quest and adventure seekers. I’m a sucker for a good competition!

On the more fantastical side of MG, I love weird! Send me the stories that Henry Selick would turn into animated movies.

In MG, I love heart-tugging, honest voices that are either grounded or have a slight magic touch. Think Tae Keller, Karina Yan Glaser, Rebecca Stead.

It’s that time of year when fall submissions start flying, so here’s a little #MSWL thread! Big picture, I’m acquiring MG and YA novels and graphic novels in all genres and am always looking for more underrepresented voices in all categories.

Agents, I'm in the mood for some epic YA contemporary in my submission inbox! That moment that changed everything, that person that shifted the way you see the world, that secret you kept, or that summer you'll never forget. #MSWL

And last one for now, YA love stories! Funny or heart-breaking or anything in-between. I'm on the rom com bandwagon after To All the Boys and Crazy Rich Asians just like everyone else and always love a heart-tugging romance, too. #MSWL

YA thrillers that feel surprising and new. I'm a murderino at heart and am currently loving Sadie by Courtney Summers. Also would really love to see thrillers written by POC writers and other writers from marginalized backgrounds. I know they're out there! #MSWL

Also, weird books that can't easily be categorized! A.S. King and Emily X.R. Pan's Astonishing Color of After are favorites. Speculative books that break rules and push boundaries. #MSWL

A little fall submission #MSWL! At the top of my list is YA contemporary realistic that is emotional and layered and classic coming-of-age. This summer I loved Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian and We Are Okay by Nina LaCour. Two different books that really got it.

This take on #mswl is my favorite thing on twitter please never change

#MSWL

Also, I'd love to see more stories like this in YA. #MSWL

A friendly reminder I can't accept direct submissions from writers. Writers, keep me in mind if you work with an agent down the line! #MSWL

In YA and MG, very much looking for more diversity and especially #ownvoices. We want to see your stories and share them. #MSWL