Young adult fiction gets dismissed constantly, usually by people who haven’t picked any up since they were young adults themselves. But it’s quietly become one of the sharpest corners of publishing — writers who can make you care about six people in a hundred pages and then put every one of them in real danger.
These are the YA books I’ve read and reviewed. Two of them didn’t fully land for me, and I’ve said so. At the bottom I’ve added two crossover titles that aren’t technically YA but get recommended to the same readers constantly.
The Best Young Adult Books
1. Six of Crows — Leigh Bardugo
Genre: YA fantasy / heist
Read it if you like: ensemble casts, morally grey characters, slow burn
Now that I’ve finally read Six of Crows, I understand the hype. I’d read the Shadow and Bone trilogy first, and what struck me immediately was how much Bardugo’s writing had advanced between the two series — the multiple narratives and flashbacks, each one unspooling a different character’s origin story, are handled with real confidence.
The plot keeps you guessing about whether these six characters — essentially teenagers with troubled pasts and criminal tendencies — will survive an impossible heist. What I loved most was the characters, the banter, the adventures, and the slow burn romance. Kanej, if you know, you know.
There are heartbreaking parts. Five of the six ended up in the Barrel, the part of Ketterdam soaked in sin, crime and general debauchery, and the sixth had to be broken out of prison. So you get the idea. But Bardugo balances the sad against the playful so well that by the end you feel like you’ve had your fill of both.
“No mourners. No funerals.”
2. Shadow and Bone — Leigh Bardugo
Genre: YA fantasy
Read it if you like: chosen-one stories, immersive worldbuilding, a villain you’ll argue about
Between bookstagram and the Netflix series, ignoring this one stopped being an option — and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. Shadow and Bone is a genuine page turner with excellent world-building.
It follows Alina, born into a world ravaged by a century-old war, who discovers she possesses a power that could change the fate of Ravka. That power doesn’t go unnoticed by forces who want to exploit it for their own dark ambitions. As Alina begins training and enters the world of the Grisha — Ravka’s elite, gifted military unit — she unknowingly sets out on a path that could destroy countless lives.
If you want the Grishaverse in order, start here. If you want the strongest book first, start with Six of Crows. Either works.
3. Shatter Me — Tahereh Mafi
Genre: YA dystopian
Read it if you like: unusual narration, dangerous powers, morally questionable love interests
This one made its way into my TBR pile, then into my hands, and finally into my heart. Shatter Me does subscribe to the well-explored “dystopian novel with romance” formula, but it has genuine elements that set it apart.
Juliette’s touch can harm and even kill. She fears her own power and feels tortured by it, shut away from the world in a special institute — until her lethal touch draws the attention of one Aaron Warner. Warner’s interest lands her in the clutches of the Reestablishment, the cruel regime running this dystopian future, which wants to weaponise her against the rebels. But his obsession with Juliette turns out to have very blurry bounds indeed.
The standout element is the narration itself. As Juliette’s state of mind evolves — as she starts to see herself as something other than a monster — so does the way the book is written. That’s a genuinely unique choice and it’s what lifts this above the pack.
And then there’s Adam Kent, who proves to be so much more than he first appears.
Packed with action, romance and dystopian world-building, this is unputdownable YA. I can’t wait to pick up the next one.
4. You’ve Reached Sam — Dustin Thao
Genre: YA contemporary / magical realism
Read it if you like: grief narratives, quiet books, an easy palate cleanser
Julie is seventeen and grieving the recent death of her boyfriend, Sam. Grappling with a life she never planned for and mourning every future they’d mapped out together, she calls his phone in a moment of overwhelming desperation.
And Sam picks up.
Here’s my honest take: this wasn’t as emotional or intense as I expected. That may just be par for the course in YA — at least it has been in my reading so far. It could have used more suspense and stronger character building. But it was a good, easy read, and the ending genuinely did move me.
My copy came from the Strand in New York — one of the last books I bought in the city before moving to London — so it holds a particular place on my shelf regardless. The cover design is beautiful too.
Two Crossover Picks (Not YA — But You’ll Get Recommended Them Anyway)
Both of these are published for adults. I’m including them because they come up in YA conversations constantly, and if the books above are your thing, these are the natural step across.
5. The Chemist — Stephenie Meyer
Genre: Adult spy thriller
Read it if you like: competence porn, on-the-run plots, no love triangles
If you’ve liked other books by this author, you’ll probably like this one. It’s action-packed, flows easily, and has romance — without a love triangle, which is good news if that’s not your thing.
The protagonist, whom I’ll call Alex though that isn’t quite her real name, has been running from the black ops operation she used to work for ever since she became a liability. Alex is a genius with chemicals, cunning, self-sufficient and generally the smartest person in the room, which makes her a great heroine to follow. When a chance appears to get off her former employer’s hit list, she takes it — and meets Daniel Beach, a civilian tangled up in the mess, who changes her life more than she expected as she realises her last operation isn’t remotely what it seemed.
I loved following such a strong heroine and having those ‘aha’ moments as her tricks unfolded. The romance did feel forced and unrealistic at times, but overall this is a good pick for a fast, action-packed read.
6. Ariadne — Jennifer Saint
Genre: Adult mythological retelling
Read it if you like: Greek myth from the women’s side, flawed characters, literary pacing
This retelling centres on Ariadne, Princess of Crete, and gives us characters who are flawed and all too human as they move through passion, fear, courage and despair.
It opens in Ariadne’s childhood. Her early years, and her sister Phaedra’s, are stained by the existence of the Minotaur — their half brother, simultaneously a shameful monstrosity and Crete’s pride, who claims twelve innocent lives offered up to him every year. When Ariadne takes her chance to end him and pursue what she believes is love, she alters her fate forever, and so many others’ with it.
Fair warning: if you want the kind of story where a perfect heroine saves the day, this isn’t it. It’s an interesting story, but you may not find a character to root for.
That said — for Greek mythology enthusiasts, this is probably a must read. You catch glimpses of so many famous figures, and watching it all unfold from Ariadne’s perspective is genuinely compelling. There were moments where I really admired her courage, and it showed me how even people who aren’t especially powerful find a way to rise when they feel they have to.
Where to Start
| If you want… | Read |
|---|---|
| The best-written book here | Six of Crows |
| A world to disappear into | Shadow and Bone |
| Something genuinely original | Shatter Me |
| Pure plot momentum | The Chemist |
| Myth and literary prose | Ariadne |
| An easy, gentle read | You’ve Reached Sam |
FAQ
Are Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows the same series?
Same world, different series. Shadow and Bone opens the original trilogy; Six of Crows is a duology set later with an entirely new cast. I read the trilogy first and enjoyed watching Bardugo’s writing sharpen between them — but you can start with either.
Is You’ve Reached Sam sad?
Less than I expected, honestly. The ending is emotional but the book overall is gentler than its premise suggests.
Is Ariadne young adult?
No — it’s published for adults, though there’s nothing graphic and older teens read it widely.
Which of these is the best place to start with YA?
Shatter Me if you want dystopian, Six of Crows if you want fantasy. Both are unputdownable for different reasons.
What should I read next?
If you liked the moodier picks here, try my roundup of dark academia books — same atmosphere, more candlelight.
What’s your Grishaverse starting point — Alina or Kaz? Come argue with me over on Instagram @booksfromthesea.
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