📚 20 Must-Read YA Books for Aspiring Writers

A curated list of stories that don’t just entertain — they teach you how to write with heart

There’s no better way to grow as a writer than to read — deeply, widely, and with curiosity.

Especially in the genre you love.

If you’re writing YA — whether it’s fantasy, realism, or something in-between — these books can show you what’s possible.

How to create voice. Build tension. Break hearts. Heal them again.

Below is a mix of well-loved titles and hidden gems that do more than tell good stories — they remind you why storytelling matters.

🌟 Modern YA Classics (aka: required reading for a reason)

1. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins

Power, rebellion, survival — and stakes that never let up.

2. The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

Poetic. Honest. Bittersweet. A masterclass in writing emotional truth.

3. Eleanor & Park – Rainbow Rowell

First love that’s awkward, tender, and unforgettable.

4. They Both Die at the End – Adam Silvera

A ticking clock story that teaches you how to write urgency and vulnerability.

5. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertalli

Witty, heartfelt, and refreshingly sincere.

🖤 Darker, Deeper, Stranger

6. We Were Liars – E. Lockhart

Twist-heavy and elegantly written — minimal prose, maximal impact.

7. A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness

Grief meets metaphor. One of the most cathartic reads out there.

8. The Astonishing Color of After – Emily X.R. Pan

Lyrical, magical realism that explores loss, culture, and memory.

9. The Bone Season – Samantha Shannon

Worldbuilding, power structures, rebellion — told through a layered dystopia.

10. The Cruel Prince – Holly Black

Dark fae politics, sharp banter, morally gray characters = gold.

✨ Fantasy and Lush Worldbuilding

11. Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo

Found family, heist magic, and some of the best character dynamics in YA.

12. Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor

Dreamlike prose, mythic atmosphere, and heartbreak woven in silk.

13. Serpent & Dove – Shelby Mahurin

Witch meets witch-hunter. Sharp, romantic, and emotionally punchy.

14. The Scorpio Races – Maggie Stiefvater

Haunting and grounded. The ocean is a character in itself.

15. Legendborn – Tracy Deonn

Arthurian legends + Black girl magic + college setting = brilliant.

🌈 Stories That Feel Like a Generation Speaking

16. The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas

Essential reading. Urgent, raw, necessary.

17. Darius the Great Is Not Okay – Adib Khorram

Mental health, cultural identity, and unexpected softness.

18. Radio Silence – Alice Oseman

Queer platonic friendship, creative passion, and burnout — perfectly Gen Z.

19. A Thousand Boy Kisses – Tillie Cole

Will emotionally destroy you. Beautifully.

20. I’ll Give You the Sun – Jandy Nelson

Twin POVs, lyrical voice, and the intersection of art and grief.

💬 Your Turn

Which YA books shaped you — as a writer or a reader?

Did any of these change the way you see storytelling?

Let’s build a bookshelf that not only inspires — but teaches us how to tell the kind of stories we’re meant to write.