The Shelves

Best Teen Young Adult Books

A tight teen young adult shortlist - built for quick decisions, not endless scrolling.

Last refreshed 2026-02-27. We keep tuning this list as new titles land and reader interest shifts.

1. Damsel
Elana K. Arnold
Damsel: Paperback – January 28, 2020
2. Twilight
Stephenie Meyer
A Fantasy pick for readers exploring Twilight.
3. Opal
Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Young Adult pick for readers exploring Opal.
4. The Princess Diaries
Meg Cabot
A Young Adult pick for readers exploring The Princess Diaries.
5. The Darkness Outside Us
Eliot Schrefer
A Science Fiction pick for readers exploring The Darkness Outside Us.
6. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
Joya Goffney
A Romance pick for readers exploring Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry.
7. A Conspiracy of Kings
Megan Whalen Turner
A Fantasy pick for readers exploring A Conspiracy of Kings.
8. Thief's Covenant
Ari Marmell
Thief's Covenant: A Widdershins Adventure
9. A Stage Set for Villains
Shannon J. Spann
A Fantasy pick for readers exploring A Stage Set for Villains.
10. Road Home
Rex Ogle
A Memoir pick for readers exploring Road Home.
11. Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day
Alex L. Combs, Andrew Eakett
A Graphic Novels pick for readers exploring Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day.
12. Until the Clock Strikes Midnight
Alechia Dow
A Fantasy pick for readers exploring Until the Clock Strikes Midnight.
13. Jennifer L. Armentrout The Dark Elements Complete Collection
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Jennifer L. Armentrout The Dark Elements Complete Collection: An Anthology
14. Reaper
K.D. McEntire
A Young Adult pick for readers exploring Reaper.
15. The Golden Huntress
Katherine Quinn
A Fantasy pick for readers exploring The Golden Huntress.

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