Books
15 YA Books Teens Are Obsessed With, Because Whether Or Not We Want To Admit It, They Kinda Have Awesome Taste In Fun Lit
I have a teenaged sister whose opinion I rely heavily on for super-trendy things. She’s the one I text in the dressing room when I’m unsure if an outfit is cute or not. (Most recently her answer was: um NO. you look like a shower curtain.) But I also go to her for book recs because her taste in YA literature is always on point.
With a plethora of young adult titles that have burst onto the scene, it’s always a challenge to decide which to read next. But because I am a 15-year-old bookish fangirl at heart, I’ve gathered a few titles that have recently captivated the squeal-worthy attention of teens.
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'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas
A rich, compelling retelling of Beauty and the Beast, A Court of Thorns and Roses tells a story of Feyre, who accidentally kills a disguised wolf creature in the woods and Tamlin, a beastly creature, who demands retribution of her by living the rest of her life within his realm.
'Saint Anything' by Sarah Dessen
As Sarah Dessen’s 12th novel, Saint Anything tells the story of Sydney, who feels invisible in comparison to her achieved brother. But when her brother is sentenced to jail time, Sydney starts over at a new school and meets a quirky group of friends — including spunky Layla and charismatic Mac. A book about self-discovery, family, and love, Saint Anything is another timeless novel from Sarah Dessen.
'P.S. I Still Love You' by Jenny Han
This is the highly awaited sequel to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before . Laura Jean’s feelings for Peter are confusing, especially since their relationship had been only for pretend for so long. But when another boy comes into the mix, it complicates things even more.
'The Wrath and the Dawn' by Renee Ahdieh
This widely talked about novel is a loose retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. Shahrzad seeks revenge on her best friend’s murderer when she agrees to marry Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, known for ruthlessly murdering his betrothed the night after their wedding. But Shahrzad soon discovers things aren’t quite as they seem.
'Extraordinary Means' by Robyn Schneider
Those who were obsessed with Schneider’s debut, The Beginning of Everything , have been patiently anticipating her sophomore novel: Extraordinary Means . Told in dueling narration from Lane and Sadie, two teenagers stuck in Latham House with an incurable type of TB, Lane befriends Sadie and her quirky group of friends. But falling in love is completely different in an incurable environment, and both Sadie and Lane slowly figure out what it means for them.
'None of the Above' by I. W. Gregorio
This is an incredibly raw, important story about gender identity. Kristin Lattimer’s life is seemingly perfect — until she unexpectedly discovers that she is intersex. But when the word leaks around her high school, she’s forced to deal with the negative repercussions from her peers.
'All the Bright Places' by Jennifer Niven
This heart-wrenching book shines light on the importance of caring for those with mental health concerns. Theodore and Violet, both dealing with separate personal struggles, meet at the top of the school bell tower one night with the same plan to take their lives. But while an unlikely, beautiful friendship occurs between these characters, their struggles don’t become easier.
'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' by Jesse Andrews
With the movie right around the corner, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is making its way into the hands of teens. This story is about Greg, who prefers to avoid the normal social standards of high school and instead makes movies with his bud, Earl. But when his mother forces him to rekindle his friendship with Rachel, who’s been diagnosed with leukemia, things start to change.
'Girl Online' by Zoe Sugg
Written by popular YouTuber Zoe Sugg, this novel tells a story of a girl, Penny, who runs an anonymous blog, GirlOnline, where she shares all her personal secrets. When her and her family move to NYC, Penny ends up meeting a guy who has a secret of his own. Equipped with witty dialogue and swoony romance, this is also a perfect lighthearted summer read.
'Paper Towns' by John Green
The highly anticipated Paper Towns movie is soon to be released, but you can dive right into the pages first. When Margo Roth Spiegelman breaks into Quentin Jacobsen’s room one night, taking him on a plotted revenge adventure, Q believes things are about to change. But the next morning Margo goes missing, and Q believes she’s left a series of clues for him to follow.
'Tiny Pretty Things' by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
This complex, fast-paced story is told in multiple POVs: Gigi, Bette, and June, are three girls who attend a premiere ballet school in NYC. But each struggle from a grim, dark reality to achieve their own personal perfectionism — even if it means resorting to manipulation and backstabbing.
'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda' by Becky Albertalli
This is a funny, fulfilling story about Simon, a gay teen who is not ready to come out yet. He’s confided everything through email exchanges to an anonymous person at his high school. But when another guy at school discovers Simon’s secret and emails, he blackmails him with the threat of telling everyone.
'The Witch Hunter' by Virginia Boecker
This compelling novel is set in alternate 16th century England where Elizabeth Grey, a lead witch hunter, is accused of being a witch herself. But right before her death sentence, she’s rescued she thought was her enemy — only to have to break his curse for her freedom.
'I Was Here' by Gayle Forman
The author of If I Stay , which was recently adapted into a movie, presents her newest novel, I Was Here . After her best friend takes her own life, Cody travels to her college town to seek answers. But she doesn’t expect to come across more questions, including an encrypted computer file and a boy who broke her best friend’s heart.