Read 25 Young Adult Books in 2025

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5 participants (107 books)

01 Jan 2025—31 Dec 2025

Overview

Young adult novels can be basically defined as books that are marketed towards teens and contain main characters between the ages of 12 and 18, sometimes reaching to early 20s. What young adult literature is not is a story that leaps into adulthood. The majority of the stories (short of maybe an epilogue set years in the future) take place during the characters’ teen years. They don’t typically deal with adult situations and problems such as divorce or financial troubles, etc. Also, a common misconception about young adult novels is that, because they are meant for teens, the stories must be immature and the writing poor. One only need look at authors such as John Green, Hannah Moskowitz and Maggie Stiefvater to see that those claims are false. 

Challenge Books

All books added
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

The Door of No Return

Door of No Return #1

Kwame Alexander

418 pages • hardcover • 2022

fiction historical middle grade young adult adventurous sad fast-paced
The Death and Life of Benny Brooks: Sort of a Memoir by Ethan Long

The Death and Life of Benny Brooks: Sort of a Memoir

Ethan Long

3 hours, 27 minutes • audio • 2023 user-added

fiction memoir middle grade emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne

Chlorine Sky

Mahogany L. Browne

179 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction poetry young adult emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced
We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

We Are All So Good at Smiling

Amber McBride

320 pages • hardcover • 2023

fiction fantasy poetry young adult dark emotional sad medium-paced
Spin by Rebecca Caprara

Spin

Rebecca Caprara

400 pages • paperback • 2023

fiction fantasy lgbtqia+ poetry young adult adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell

Song of the Sparrow

Lisa Ann Sandell

394 pages • hardcover • 2007

fiction fantasy historical young adult adventurous dark medium-paced
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

Death at Morning House

Maureen Johnson

9 hours, 23 minutes • audio • 2024

fiction lgbtqia+ mystery thriller young adult dark mysterious tense fast-paced
500 Words or Less by Juleah del Rosario

500 Words or Less

Juleah del Rosario

384 pages • hardcover • 2018

fiction contemporary poetry young adult emotional reflective slow-paced
Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

Me (Moth)

Amber McBride

248 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction poetry young adult emotional reflective sad fast-paced
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X

Elizabeth Acevedo

368 pages • hardcover • 2018

fiction contemporary poetry young adult emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced