Best Books of 2025 Teen and YA

By the time readers reach their teens, their relationship with books is shaped by far more than school reading lists. Screens, social media and constant online noise compete for their attention every day, which makes the stories they choose to read even more meaningful. Teens want books that feel relevant, gripping and emotionally honest, stories that cut through the noise and speak to something real.

One bright spot in all this online noise is BookTok, the corner of TikTok where young readers share recommendations and talk passionately about the books that move them. It has introduced thousands of teens to stories they might never have picked up otherwise, and it shows how powerful peer-to-peer reading culture can be.

That same spirit is at the heart of our list. Rather than focusing on the titles adults think teens should be reading, we spotlight the books that young readers themselves have loved and talked about. Our community has always championed lesser known voices alongside the big blockbusters, and this year’s favourites show just how broad, bold and instinctive teen reading can be.

You will find contemporary stories that explore friendship, identity and the pressures of online life, mysteries and thrillers devoured in a single sitting, speculative worlds filled with rebellion, romance and high stakes, and the romantasy that continues to capture so many imaginations. There is no single route through YA. Teens read widely, emotionally and very much on their own terms.

The only question now, is which one of these your teen will want to read first.

See Also:

Best New Picture Books of 2025

Best First Chapter Books for Ages 5+ of 2025

Best New Books for Ages 7+ of 2025

Middle Grade Must-Reads of 2025

Best New Books for Ages 11+ of 2025

Georgina Atwell

Toppsta

2025-12-09

Best Books of 2025 Teen and YA

I Dare You

Starting our list off strong with a book about friendship, social media and ... going VIRAL! All the BFFs in I Dare You by Tamsin Winter want is to become social media stars, and they have an idea to make that happen. They start an account where they post videos daring each other to do anything and everything they can think of! But things quickly get out of hand, and their entire friendship is at risk, all for some likes and shares. Readers loved this book for its accurate (and important) portrayal of peer pressure and the perils of social media, while not being at all preachy or condescending.

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Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood

Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood – well, what a read! Gill Sims has written a book that not only our teens wanted to read, but we did too! This is a summer story with a difference, because – no, our main character does not have a whirlwind romance – she discovers what it means to be seen in a completely different way. Discovering her mother's diary from when she was her same age in the 90s, she realises they're more similar than she would have ever thought. This story tugged at our heartstrings, made us laugh and made our own daughters understand us a tiny bit more.

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Sunrise on the Reaping

There's no denying Sunrise on the Reaping was the book phenomenon of the year. A release some of us have been wanting for YEARS, and that we can now read alongside our teens students and children! The Hunger Games prequel follows one of the most-loved characters from the original books: Haymitch Abernathy, winner of the fiftieth annual Hunger Games. If you read the trilogy, you won't want to miss out on this book to deepen your knowledge of the survival stories that brought us to Katniss. Equally, this can be read as a first introduction to the world of The Hunger Games.

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The Society of Free Spirits: A Grave Inheritance: Sisterhood, seances and a murder to solve...

This wouldn't be a list from Toppsta if there wasn't a good cosy mystery! The Society of Free Spirits: A Grave Inheritance has all the best of cosy crime and magical, gothy vibes! When a girl called Dolores loses both her father and sister, she is left to live in their family home – which she is 100% sure is haunted. So she enlists her occult-loving neighbour, Ada, and a strange spiritual medium, Violet, to form a club: The Society of Free Spirits. And they're set on finding out the truth of how her family died. Readers loved the twists and turns, ghost encounters and dark charm, and most of all the characters! The best part is it looks like this is the first in a series, so you better get on to reading it!

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Mondays Are Murder

Looking for a murder mystery with thriller vibes instead? Check out Mondays Are Murder by Ravena Guron, queen of the YA murder mystery genre. It's perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus who love a fast-paced drama. Following a teenager who is still recovering from the loss of her best friend, her life changes when she receives an anonymous letter telling her a tragedy will take place every day of the coming week, ending on Monday with her very own murder. Readers loved it, devouring the pages of this book in just one sitting!

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Augmented: A thrilling YA sci-fi packed with romance and rebellion for fans of Uglies and Iron Widow

Not into mysteries? How about a good sci-fi?! Augmented by Kenechi Udogu is our very favourite of the year, set in a near-future world where climate change has gotten the better of our planet, resources are limited and everyone is under strict surveillance. To top it all off, a few select have interesting abilities – like our protagonist Akaego, who can use her voice to grow plants. But how she uses these powers is a decision she will have to make carefully, and the utopian world she lives in may glitter, but is certainly not gold. Our readers loved how the book raises questions about technology, freedom and oppression, while also offering up characters you'll want to root for ... and even a romance.

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Fearless: The epic conclusion to the trilogy taking the world by storm!

Romantasy has reigned this 2025, and on the very top of the list has to be the TikTok phenomenon Powerless by Lauren Roberts. Fearless, which came out this year, is the conclusion to the trilogy that had us swooning for Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer. Our rivals to ... enemies ... and lovers? Told through a dual POV, you can get ready for a yearning, slow burn romance that will sweep you off your feet. The books aren't spicy, but the characters are morally grey and have to overcome some of the most heart-racing trials we've ever read! You will have to read the books in order to be able to follow the story, so we recommend starting from Powerless.

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The Dark That Hides Us: The sequel to the TikTok YA romantasy bestseller

If you're after a read that's a bit heavier on the fantasy element, you can't go wrong with The Dark That Hides Us. It's packed full of battles, but it is the second book in the Descent Into Darkness series so you'll have to read book one, The Light That Blinds Us, first. Set in a hidden world, a group of chosen ones, power-wielding Elementals, are destined to save the world from an eternal night. And so we meet Alexis, Demi, Blaise and Caeli, who together must venture on a perilous quest, facing tests of love, loss, and loyalty. The book is told through each of their POVs, and it's the perfect blend of Percy Jackson and Legendborn.

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Immortal Consequences

A boarding school that decides whether you go to the afterlife or become part of the magical elite that conquers death? Well, yes please. We so love Immortal Consequences, the first book in The Souls of Blackwood Academy series, where six students who have no idea how they've left earthly life have to compete in a series of trials if they want to escape death. Each character is motivated to win, but the trials are intense and their deepest fears will be put to the test. Readers loved the themes of identity, mortality and ambition – along with the action, adventure, secrets and high stakes, of course!

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Watch Me

We've talked about Powerless as the romantasy series of 2025, but before Powerless there was Shatter Me. And now, years after the first book in this series came out and became a global bestseller, we're getting more from the same world: a new, spin-off series set ten years later, starting with Watch Me. And, boy did it deliver! It's a breath-taking enemies-to-lover romance set in a dystopian landscape, with some novelty: this time round, Tahereh Mafi has added interesting tech elements to the world, which our readers loved. The chemistry is instant, and you'll be rooting for these characters from the very start to the end of this new series, Shatter Me: The New Republic books.

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The Reappearance of Rachel Price

We know our yearly round-ups only include 10 books, but we had to make an exception here for a very special 11th! It's written by the queen of YA murder mystery Holly Jackson, and it is The Reappearance of Rachel Price. This book takes place 18 years after Rachel has disappeared and become one of America's biggest cod cases. A documentary about her is being made, and her daughter, 18-year-old Bel, is being filmed. But as filming happens, Rachel reappears, and Bel quickly realises things don't add up about the story she'd always thought she knew. The book is fast-paced and will be finished in a single sitting. Safe to say, you NEED to read this!

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Best Books of 2025 Teen and YA

I Dare You

Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood

Sunrise on the Reaping

The Society of Free Spirits: A Grave Inheritance: Sisterhood, seances and a murder to solve...

Mondays Are Murder

Augmented: A thrilling YA sci-fi packed with romance and rebellion for fans of Uglies and Iron Widow

Fearless: The epic conclusion to the trilogy taking the world by storm!

The Dark That Hides Us: The sequel to the TikTok YA romantasy bestseller

Immortal Consequences

Watch Me

The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Best New Books of 2025 Ages 11+

The Children’s Books Adults Loved Most This Year