Best Young Adult Books April 2025

Ignite Me

Juliette’s world is crumbling around her, but she’s never felt stronger. With the power to destroy with a single touch, she’s determined to take down the Reestablishment. As she navigates complex relationships and her own evolving abilities, Juliette must confront her deepest fears and make impossible choices. This heart-pounding finale to Mafi’s dystopian series blends romance, action, and self-discovery in a way that left me breathless. I couldn’t put it down, rooting for Juliette until the very last page.

Restore Me

Juliette thought she’d found peace, but her world is shattered when unexpected visitors arrive. As she grapples with her powers and past, she realizes the truth she believed may be a lie. Torn between duty and desire, Juliette must confront her deepest fears and make impossible choices. With heart-pounding action and simmering romance, this gripping continuation of the Shatter Me series will leave readers breathless, questioning everything they thought they knew.

Unravel Me

Juliette’s touch is lethal, but her heart yearns for connection. As she grapples with her power in a world torn apart by war, she finds solace in unexpected allies. But can she trust them? With each page, Juliette’s journey of self-discovery unfolds, revealing layers of betrayal, love, and the struggle for identity. Mafi’s lyrical prose paints a vivid dystopian landscape, drawing readers into a tale of survival and the strength of the human spirit. A gripping sequel that will leave you breathless.

Shatter Me

Juliette’s touch is lethal, a curse that has isolated her for years. Locked away in a cell, she yearns for human contact but fears the consequences. When the Reestablishment offers her a chance to use her power as a weapon, she’s torn between desire for freedom and the weight of her deadly gift. As she navigates a world of political intrigue and unexpected allies, Juliette must confront her own nature and decide if she’ll be defined by her curse or find the strength to shatter her own limitations.

Wintergirls

Lia’s world shattered when her best friend Cassie died. Now, haunted by Cassie’s ghost and battling her own demons, Lia struggles with anorexia and self-harm. Anderson’s raw, poetic prose captures the aching emptiness and desperate hunger of a girl caught between life and death. As Lia spirals deeper into her illness, readers are drawn into her fractured mind, feeling every painful step of her journey. A haunting, unflinching look at the devastating effects of eating disorders.

Speak

In this raw and unflinching memoir, Laurie Halse Anderson bares her soul, recounting her journey from a traumatized teen to an empowered advocate. With lyrical prose and searing honesty, she explores the impact of sexual assault, the power of speaking out, and the healing found in writing. Anderson’s voice resonates with authenticity, offering hope and solidarity to survivors while challenging society’s silence. A testament to resilience, “Speak” is a vital read that will leave you both shaken and inspired.

Turtles All the Way Down

Sixteen-year-old Aza Holmes grapples with anxiety and obsessive thoughts while navigating the murky waters of friendship, love, and self-discovery. When a local billionaire disappears, Aza and her best friend Daisy embark on a quest to solve the mystery, leading Aza to reconnect with her childhood crush. Green’s poignant exploration of mental illness is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, offering a raw glimpse into the mind of a teenager struggling to find her place in a world that often feels overwhelming.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Two teens named Will Grayson collide in an unexpected encounter that changes both their lives. One, depressed and struggling with his sexuality, finds solace in online chats. The other, more outgoing, grapples with friendship and loyalty. Their paths intertwine through Tiny Cooper, a larger-than-life gay football player staging a musical. With humor and heart, this collaborative novel explores identity, love, and the messy beauty of human connections.

An Abundance of Katherines

Colin Singleton, a child prodigy with a knack for anagrams, has dated nineteen girls named Katherine. After being dumped by Katherine XIX, he embarks on a road trip with his best friend Hassan to prove his Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability. Along the way, they encounter quirky characters in a small town, where Colin’s mathematical obsession collides with real-life experiences. Green’s witty prose and endearing characters make this a charming exploration of love, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of growing up.

13 Reasons Why

Clay Jensen’s world shatters when he receives a box of cassette tapes from Hannah Baker, his crush who recently committed suicide. Each tape reveals a reason why she chose to end her life, and Clay is one of them. As he listens, he’s drawn into Hannah’s pain and struggles, uncovering dark secrets and confronting his own role in her story. This haunting, emotionally charged novel explores the ripple effects of our actions and the weight of unspoken words.