What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “young adult” in fiction? For many, it’s vampires, absurd love triangles, and angst. Everywhere.
These stereotypes get a bad rep, and for good reason. They also shed a bad light on teen fiction, which, believe it or not, isn’t all bad. In fact, some stereotypes, if done well, make stories work. The hard part is sifting through what’s good and what isn’t.
As a young adult myself, I’ve read my share of the genre’s fiction. I’ve read the good, the bad, and the ugly, so I’m here to help you out. I compiled a list of 42 YA novels that are pretty decent, ranging from dystopian to contemporary to historical fiction to paranormal/horror to fantasy, so hopefully, there’s something for everyone in here. I also included the Goodreads link in each title, in case you find something you like.
Even if you don’t find a title that catches your eye, at least enjoy looking at the pretty covers.
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
4. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
5. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
6. And I Darken by Kiersten White
7. Legend by Marie Lu
8. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
9. The Giver by Lois Lowry
10. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
11. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
12. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
13. Gone by Michael Grant
14. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
15. Hush by Donna Jo Napoli
16. Reawakened by Colleen Houck
17. Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks
18. Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer
19. Infinite in Between by Carolyn Mackler
20. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
21. Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung
22. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
23. The Memory Book by Lara Avery
24. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Choksi
25. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
26. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
27. I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
28. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
29. Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed
30. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
31. A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
32. Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
33. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
34. Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
35. Fear the Drowning Deep by Sarah Glenn Marsh
36. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
37. Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
38. Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia
39. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
40. The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics
41. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
42. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
What other YA fiction would you add to this list? Share below.
Books Rock My World 
I would add the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.
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The Tomorrow When The War Began series by John Marsden – I loved these as a teen & still as an adult!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_series
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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
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