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Young Adult books trending on #BookTok
Epic fantasies and sweet contemporary romances that have YA fans and authors the most excited on TikTok.
Published on August 11, 2023
Foul Lady Fortune
Chloe GongInspired by Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and set in the same universe as Gong’s “These Violent Delights” duology, this story follows Rosalind Lang, an immortal assassin in 1930s Shanghai. As the Japanese invade China, Rosalind poses as the wife of spy Orion Hong, whose secrets threaten their entire operation. Magical realism, YA fantasy, and espionage thriller unite in “Foul Lady Fortune.” Unsurprisingly, in the hands of Gong, the results are brilliant.
This Woven Kingdom
Tahereh MafiMajor BookTok accounts like @aymansbooks, @epic_reads, and @maditasbibliotheca are all over stories by National Book Award-nominated author Mafi, first with “Shatter Me” and now “This Woven Kingdom.” This enemies-to-lovers tale has an emotional plot, beautiful prose, and major “Cinderella” vibes when the love interest, a lowly servant, becomes the heir to the Jinn kingdom. Devour this book before diving into the sequel, “These Infinite Threads.”
Crave
Tracy WolffAfter losing her parents, Grace Foster attends a remote boarding school in Alaska. But it’s no ordinary academy, and Grace must coexist with monsters and mythical creatures. Then she meets Jaxon Vega, bad boy, heartthrob, and vampire. Wolff’s delectable “Crave” series is Gen Z’s “Twilight,” and BookTok is here for it.
Nick and Charlie
Alice OsemanOseman’s novella follows the two protagonists of her fan-favorite YA “Heartstopper” series, who must navigate major life changes that could bring them closer — or tear them apart. As Nick prepares to leave for college, he and Charlie wonder how the distance will affect their relationship. The Netflix adaptation of “Heartstopper,” along with fervent TikTok fans, have made Nick and Charlie’s relationship the hot topic in YA literature.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: A Hunger Games Novel
Suzanne CollinsLong before Katniss Everdeen stepped into the arena, Coriolanus Snow was an ambitious young man determined to elevate his family name. Mentoring a tribute from District 12 isn’t the glamor he hoped for, until he realizes that Lucy Gray Baird is not to be underestimated. Collins’ prequel to her popular “Hunger Games” trilogy offers vital backstory to Katniss’ eventual antagonist. The film adaptation arrives in theaters just before Thanksgiving 2023, and TikTok is busy preparing for the Games.
If He Had Been with Me
Laura NowlinNowlin’s coming-of-age story explores the ripple effect of our choices and how heartbreak shapes us. Autumn and Finn grow up inseparable until their friendship fractures in high school. Later, a tragedy haunts Autumn, causing her to constantly wonder “what if” about Finn and the trajectory of their lives. “I normally don’t ever cry but this book made me sob,” Mia (@mialovesbooks777) wrote about “If He Had Been with Me” on her TikTok video, which has millions of views.
Better Than the Movies
Lynn PainterHoping to attract the attention of her longtime crush, Liz teams up with her annoying neighbor, Wes, and the pair devise a plot to get Liz the prom date of her dreams. Sparks begin to fly — but not with the boy Liz expects. “Better Than the Movies” is “the perfect book for a rom-com lover and Swiftie,” writes TikToker Lilli (@readwithlilli).
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera“They Both Die at the End” was one of the first novels to benefit from TikTok fame, and love for this novel remains strong (the 2022 prequel, “The First to Die at the End,” is also widely adored). Collectively, TikTok videos tagged with #TheyBothDieAtTheEnd have almost 100 million views as of August 2023. In this moving story, two teens learn they’re going to die within the next day. Seeking last-minute solace, these strangers meet on an app called Last Friend, determined to make the most of their final moments.
Legendborn
Tracy DeonnFilled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Deonn’s young adult contemporary fantasy “Legendborn” offers the dark allure of “City of Bones” with a modern-day twist on a classic legend. Sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews is spending the summer at UNC Chapel Hill in a program for gifted high school students when she witnesses a magical attack that has some connection to the death of her mother. Bree’s own unique magic is the key to finding the truth, but she’ll have to make some tough choices along the way. “This unconventional perspective on fantasy was so refreshing,” gushes top #BookTok account @aymansbooks.
The Way I Used to Be
Amber SmithWhen her brother’s best friend rapes her and threatens to kill her if she tells anyone, 14-year-old Eden self-destructs, using alcohol and sex to mask her pain. This heartrending YA novel is an unflinching account of her harrowing journey to process, heal, and, ultimately, speak out.
Red Queen
Victoria AveyardMare Barrow has red blood but Silver powers, threatening to destroy the basis of an unjust social caste system with her unwavering strength and wit. The “Red Queen” series has been a perpetual chart-topper, one of the last great YA dystopias from the heyday that deftly blends fantasy elements. Aveyard’s book is similar, plot- and character-wise, to fellow #BookTok fantasy favorite “Shadow and Bone.” (Plus, we love that the authors are friends IRL.) Author Aveyard is on TikTok and has nearly 400,000 followers (as of August 2023).
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Jenny HanA love triangle blossoms at a shared beach house that friends Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah visit every summer. #BookTokers everywhere are continually charmed by this light YA read about childhood friends growing into something more, from the author of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” It even has a Prime Video series adaptation.
You've Reached Sam: A Novel
Dustin ThaoSam died suddenly, but when his grieving girlfriend Julie calls him just to hear his voicemail, she’s shocked, confused, and delighted to find she’s actually speaking with him. Smartphones prove how powerful and magical they really are at helping us stay connected in this sentimental story about grief and moving on. For fans of the movie “Your Name” from Makoto Shinkai.
The Summer of Broken Rules
K. L. WaltherIn the wake of her sister’s death and the unexpected end of her relationship, Meredith Fox hasn’t been back to her family’s summer home in Martha’s Vineyard, a place that used to bring her so much joy. However, an upcoming wedding and the family’s annual game of assassin are calling her back — not to mention an alliance with a very cute groomsman. “The Summer of Broken Rules” is a beachy YA love story about moving on in the face of loss and learning to live and love again. It’s a particular favorite of TikTokers in summer months, but is a great read no matter the time of year.
Ace of Spades
Faridah Àbíké-ÍyímídéÀbíké-Íyímídé’s debut is a YA dark academia sensation. Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, the only two Black students at the elite Niveus Private Academy, are excited about the prospects for their future going into senior year. But Aces, an anonymous bully, is set on destroying those dreams.