15+ Best Young Adult Books in 2023

This post is all about the 20+ Best Young Adult Books of 2023!

I love reading Young Adult books! I always get asked about what books I recommend that are geared toward the YA audience. So today, I decided to share the best young adult books of 2023. I admit it was hard to narrow the list down. But the titles I selected are some of my favorites.

Now, you don’t have to scour the Internet to find the best young adult books of 2023. Here is a list to save you some time and to find some great reads!

1. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

Meredith’s life came to a halt when she lost her sister, Claire. In eighteen months, everything has changed for Meredith, but as a new summer approaches, she has decided to end her isolation and reenter into a world she closed off.

She is headed to Martha’s Vineyard for the annual family vacation and a summer wedding. Meredith doesn’t have a date after getting dumped, but that won’t stop her. She is going to have fun playing the annual family game of assassin since it was her late sister’s favorite game.

But things take a turn that Meredith didn’t expect when a cute groomsman forms an alliance with her in the game. Now Meredith is in unchartered waters and unsure if she is ready to plunge into something new.

2. Kill Joy: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Novella by Holly Jackson

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder protagonist, Pip, is back in this novella! This time Pip is attending a murder mystery party for a friend, and she wants to be anywhere but at this party. Especially since dressing up in costumes in the 1920s era doesn’t exactly fit her style. But there she goes to attend, pretending her town is called Joy and everything else that goes with it for this party.

However, as the party goes on and Pip plays the detective, her mind wanders away from the fictional Reginald Remy murder, and onto a real-life case, she has come across. Will Pip get into another situation someone may make her regret?

3. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Natasha is someone who believes in science to answer life’s questions. She is not a believer in fate or anything or happily ever after. However, everything changes when she meets a boy on the crowded streets of NYC, and suddenly destiny may just be real. But it can’t be because she is about to be deported back to Jamaica in a few hours. Still, Daniel, who is always doing the right thing, can’t deny when his eyes meet Natasha’s, the world seems to stop.

Both are thrust on a journey spanning only twelve hours, but it could change their lives. But can one moment in your life really change your path? Find out when you read this book!

Another great young adult book to read!

4. American Royals by Katharine McGee

American Royals follows the story of two girls vying for one crown and one prince. In an alternate scenario, George Washington got the crown, and centuries later, the House of Washington still holds the throne. Princess Beatrice is set to become the very first queen of America, which she has embraced since she can remember. However, as the day grows closer, the job suddenly seems suffocating.

Unlike her uptight sister, Princess Samantha couldn’t care less about anything. After all, she is nothing but the spare. But she soon finds herself caring unexpectedly for a boy who she is not allowed to date. Finally comes Samantha’s twin, Prince Jefferson, who is third in line to the throne with two girls venturing to gain his affection.

A royal story that will keep you on your toes!

5. The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow

Alice Ogilvie got dumped by the star basketball player, Steve. Then, Alice went missing, only to return mute. No one could figure out what really happened, and it remained a big twist in Castle Cove. That is until Alice’s ex-BFF and Steve’s new girlfriend, Brooke, disappears.

When Brooke doesn’t return, her grandmother offers a huge reward for her return. This intrigued Iris Adams, who is Alice’s tutor. Iris wants to get away from Castle Cove but needs the money. So she sets off to help Alice find Brooke. The police are convinced Steve is behind the disappearance, but Alice is not convinced. Alice has a theory, and with Iris, she is going to try to prove it right.

But to get the money, they must find out who the killer is. Both are armed with Agatha Christie novels and are set to solve this mystery. But danger is in their path, and they may be able to escape it this time.

This series is great, and this one is a great place to start and why. I included it in the best young adult books to read!

6. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

This novel followed high schooler Lara Jean Song. She is shy, and rather than confront her crushes over the years; she pours her heart out into love letters to each of them. But the catch is she never sends them. Instead, she keeps them tucked away in a box in her closet. That is until her younger sister mails them out to each boy she ever loved, and they open the letters.

Suddenly, Lara Jean’s invisible high school days are over as Peter becomes her pretend boyfriend. He wants to get back at her ex, who just broke up with him, while she needs her sister’s boyfriend to know she feels nothing for him anymore. But these two find themselves falling for each other the more time they spend together.

Will it lead to something more? Or will Lara Jean stick to the plan of remaining alone?

7. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Belly loves her summers at the beach in the beach house she knows is always there waiting with Conrad and Jeremiah. They are her mom’s best friend’s sons, but Belly has had a crush on Conrad since she can remember. However, this summer, everything changes as Belly returns older, and the two brothers suddenly see her in a different light.

Belly finds her heart will with Conrad, but she may be swayed into the arms of the other brother as the summer unfolds, and Conrad no longer seems like the boy she once knew. This summer, everything changes, but not all changes bring joy.

8. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Sixteen-year-old Lina is headed to Tuscany for the summer to get to know her MIA father. He hadn’t been around her entire life, but it was her mother’s last wish for her to get to know him, so here she is in Italy.

While she is there, she finds a journal her mother’s kept while she was living in this magical city, and suddenly secrets her mother kept are revealed. Everything Lina thought she knew changes, and a world opens to her she never imagined. Lina starts to follow in the journal’s footsteps with Ren’s help, and one final secret will forever change Lina’s path.

Lina must decide how to deal with what she discovers and if Italy will forever hold her heart.

A personal favorite! I love this young adult book!

9. Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Mia Jenrow is convinced that her fate is to be a professional ballerina. It is all she dreams about doing. Even family legend has said that her many a great grandmother was in the Paris Opera.

Mia herself is headed to France to pursue her dream, but when she gets there, she realizes it’s not that easy. Audrey, her rival, is right there at every pirouette to show her up, while her new instructor is impossible to please. Then there is the distraction of Louis, who wants to show her the beauty in the city, and Mia has to force herself to admit she is there to dance.

But the city of romance is hard to refuse, and Mia has to decide where her heart really lies.

10. The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen

When Emma Saylor was twelve, her mother passed away, leaving her with only vivid memories of the big lake.

Years later, Emma lives with her dad, a very predictable life until an unpredictable turn happens, and Emma Saylor is sent to spend the summer at the big lake. But the lake is very divided between North Lake, where her mother grew up, and the wealthier North Lake, where her dad used to stay. Suddenly, these two worlds leave Emma being one person and then Saylor an entirely different person. She soon learns things about her mother she never knew and about a division in the lake town that brings up the past.

Then there is Roo from the side of the lake her mother grew up in and used to be her best friend. The two still have that bond, but it brings about a great connection, and Roo may possess the magic of the lake her mother used to talk about. But things are compliment now with Emma Saylor having to be two different people in two different places of the lake. Will Emma discover who she really is this summer?

I still think about this book. It’s why I had to include it in my list of best young adult books to read.

11. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Avery Grambs has her world turned upside down when billionaire Tobias Hawthornes dies and leaves Avery with his entire fortune. Avery, however, has no idea who Tobias is, but he seemed to know her.

But to get the inheritance, she has to move into the Hawthorne House, and there resides not only mysteries but the spurred four Hawthorne grandsons. The grandsons are wary of Avery and have their theories about her. However, Jameson views Avery as the last riddle his grandfather left them. Avery will have to decide who to trust and be ready to solve the puzzles the late Tobias left before it’s too late. For this dangerous world is not to be tangled with.

12. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette Ferrars has a deadly touch that can leave any grown man lifeless. She nor anyone knows why or how she possesses this deadly power. To Julliette it’s a curse that she hates having. The Reestablishment, however, views it has a great gift and Juliette their new deadly weapon.

However, Juliette suddenly uncovers a greater power within her when she reunites with someone. Will she be able to conquer this fear and power? Will she discover this burden to be a gift?

13. Ace of Spades by Faridah àbíké-íyímídé

Devon and Chiamaka are students at Niveus Private Academy and have been selected as prefects in their senior class. It looks like their year is starting well, as they are in the running for valedictorian.

But after the announcement is made, someone by the name of Aces releases anonymous text messages. Each contains a secret about Devon and Ciamaka that suddenly puts at risk their entire future. Worse? The messages don’t stop. Will these two be able to come together to figure out who Aces is before their futures are destroyed forever?

14. Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

Hazel Sinnett is a lady in society and her dream is to be a surgeon, not marry. Meanwhile, Jack Currer is a resurrection man grappling to survive in a deadly city. Fate brings these together, and when Hazel is kicked out of Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being a woman, she strikes a deal with him. If she can pass the test, he has to let her join. He agrees, allowing Hazel to ask Jack for help examining corpses for her test.

The two start working together, but Jack has his own problems when his friends start disappearing. Hazel works to help Jack, and the two start to form an unbreakable bond. But secrets may lead to a very dangerous path.

15. The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

Goldie Easton loves Camp Alpine Lake. It’s what the small town of Roxwood depends on for jobs and money. Goldie is back this year as a counselor and can’t wait to reunite with her BFFs Ava and Imogen. However, this year things are different as Goldie has a dark secret she needs to tell them about.

But Goldie isn’t the only one this year with a dark secret. One night, a teen turns up dead, and Goldie knows it is no accident. She also knows her BFF was there that night, but she couldn’t possibly have been involved. Or could she?

Secrets are swirling this summer, and no one is safe with a killer on the loose, especially not Goldie.

I included this in my list of best young adult books to read in 2023 because it’s a great young adult thriller!

16. Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Shadowhunter Cordelia Carstairs has been trained since she was a kid to battle demons. After her father is accused of a crime, she and her brother are sent to London to prevent their family from facing ruin in society. It is there she is reunited with James Herondale, who Cordelia has had a crush on since she can remember. But the world of glittering society soon comes to a halt when demon attacks close in.

The demons are unlike any others that have come before them. They can walk in the sunlight and almost seem impossible to kill. Cordelia and her friends must come together to save London from these attacks. But there is one choice that, if they don’t make it correctly, can bring down everything.

Another top young adult book picks from me as Cordelia is one of my favorite YA characters. It is why I had to include this title in my best young books in 2023 list!