There is a particular sort of magic that lives between the covers of a truly wonderful young adult novel—the kind that makes one quite forget about supper, or the hour, or indeed that one exists at all outside the story. And if you have been seeking such enchantment, dear reader, then you have arrived at just the right place, for we have gathered here the very finest young adult books of 2025 and 2026.
These are not merely books that critics have praised (though praised they have been, and thoroughly). These are the stories that readers have clutched to their chests upon finishing, feeling that peculiar ache one feels when a beloved adventure ends. From sweeping fantasies to heart-pounding thrillers, from tender romances to tales that shimmer with old magic made new—here are our top recommendations.
The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
If one were to ask what makes a perfect young adult novel—one that appeals equally to thirteen-year-olds and their parents, to lovers of adventure and admirers of wit—the answer would be this very book. The Wendy is a Peter Pan retelling unlike any other, and readers have called it nothing less than “the best YA fiction I’ve read in years.”
Our heroine is not the demure Wendy of nursery tales. She is an orphan with dreams of captaining her own ship, living in an 1780s England where women are told they cannot possibly do such things. But Wendy Darling has an expressive eyebrow that speaks volumes and a secret kiss hiding at the corner of her mouth, and she is not the sort who listens when told what she cannot do.
The prose reads like a story being told aloud by your cleverest friend—whimsical, witty, and sprinkled with observations so charming they make one laugh aloud. Peter Pan appears with wings (yes, actual wings), Captain Hook proves far more complex than any simple villain, and Tinker Bell shimmers with secrets of her own. Readers have declared it “all the markings of a classic” and “a Peter Pan re-telling better than the original.” The complete Tales of the Wendy trilogy is now available for those who simply cannot wait to continue the adventure.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins has returned to Panem, and her readers could not be more delighted—nor more devastated. This Hunger Games prequel follows a sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy as he faces the horrors of the second Quarter Quell, where twice as many tributes must fight for survival.
Those who remember the bitter, brilliant mentor from Katniss’s story will find their hearts quite thoroughly broken to meet him as a hopeful young man, devoted to his family and desperately in love. Collins explores the psychological toll of the Games with unflinching honesty, reminding us why her dystopian world remains as relevant as ever.
Oathbound by Tracy Deonn
The Legendborn Cycle reaches its electrifying conclusion as Bree Matthews faces impossible choices. Having cut herself off from friends, family, and the Order itself, Bree has made a dangerous bargain with the Shadow King—and the consequences threaten everything she loves.
Tracy Deonn weaves “Southern Black Girl Magic” with Arthurian legend in ways that feel both ancient and utterly fresh. Readers who have followed Bree’s journey will find themselves racing through these pages, desperate to see how it all ends.
The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor
In a world where letters can be enchanted to travel between realms, Maeve Abenthy discovers that everything she believed about her father’s death was a lie. The magic of scriptomancy—the art of enchanting letters—proves as dangerous as it is beautiful.
This dark academic fantasy brims with twisty mysteries and slow-burning romance. One might describe it as cozy and perilous in equal measure, which is perhaps the very best kind of story.
Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan
A Chinese Cinderella reimagining with a villainous prince and magic that tastes of ancient folklore—Sue Lynn Tan has crafted something rather extraordinary. Yining must venture into a treacherous court to reclaim what was stolen from her, armed only with her wits and her talent for thievery.
The romance burns slowly, hampered by distrust and competing ambitions, while the fantasy world glitters with political intrigue. Readers seeking fairy tales with sharper edges will find much to love.
The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
In an England ruled by an immortal fae queen, every citizen may bargain once for their heart’s desire. When Ivy Benton enters a competition for a prince’s hand, she finds herself falling for entirely the wrong brother—the rakish Prince Emmett, who has secrets of his own.
Think Bridgerton meets dangerous fae courts, with plot twists that rival the best thrillers. The cliffhanger ending has left readers quite desperately awaiting the sequel.
Hazelthorn by CG Drews
A gothic mansion, an overgrown garden that refuses to stay behind its walls, and a murder mystery worthy of Knives Out—Hazelthorn is gloriously, unapologetically dark. Evander has lived like a ghost in the Hazelthorn estate, bound by rules designed to keep him safe from his guardian’s grandson, who once tried to kill him.
When murder brings them together again, the botanical horror that unfolds is as beautiful as it is terrifying. The autism representation rings true and the slow-burn romance will leave readers quite undone.
Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley
Seventeen-year-old Lucy is on the run when two strangers offer her something she never expected: the truth about her Ojibwe heritage and a family she never knew existed. But her past wants to silence her permanently.
Angeline Boulley tackles the foster care system and stolen ancestry with unflinching prose and propulsive mystery. Seven starred reviews confirm what readers already know—this is essential reading.
Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
Sometimes one simply needs a romance that makes one smile foolishly while reading—and Lynn Painter delivers precisely that. When Dani returns to Minnesota, she hopes to reunite with her childhood best friend, Alec. Instead, she finds he has transformed into a distant hockey star who seems to hate her.
Fake dating ensues, as it tends to do, with banter sharp enough to cut ice. The family relationships prove as heartwarming as the romance itself.
The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson
Jordyn’s freshman year at a prestigious HBCU takes a sinister turn when her roommate’s charming brother moves onto their dorm room sofa. Devonte is older, intelligent, and increasingly controlling—and when a roommate goes missing, Jordyn must uncover the truth.
Inspired by real headlines, this psychological thriller explores how easily young people can fall under the spell of charismatic manipulators. The revealing ending will leave readers questioning everything.
Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick
Rome, 1986. Sixteen-year-old Danny meets the mysterious Angelo, who claims to be nearly three thousand years old, and over one summer they wander the eternal city together, falling desperately in love.
Brian Selznick’s first young adult novel combines his signature pencil illustrations with lyrical prose that captures both the setting and the profound longing of first love. Intricate, wondrous, and deeply romantic.
(S)kin by Ibi Zoboi
This fantasy novel-in-verse draws upon Caribbean folklore to weave a story of magic, identity, and belonging. National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi delivers prose that shimmers like the sea itself.
The juxtaposition of magic and the modern world creates something quite unlike anything else—a reminder that fantasy can take many forms, all of them beautiful.
Choosing Your Next Adventure
And there you have it, dear reader—a gathering of stories that represent the very finest young adult fiction of 2025 and 2026. Whether your heart yearns for magical retellings, pulse-pounding thrillers, tender romances, or all three woven together, these books await you.
We suggest beginning with The Wendy if you have not yet made its acquaintance, for it captures that particular magic of young adult fiction—the sense that adventures await, that the impossible is merely the not-yet-accomplished, and that women who are told they cannot do things are precisely the sort of women who change the world.
Happy reading, and may you find exactly the story you need.
