{"id":11034,"date":"2024-02-16T05:00:29","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T10:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/?p=11034"},"modified":"2025-03-10T15:42:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T19:42:43","slug":"adult-books-for-teen-readers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/adult-books-for-teen-readers\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Great Adult Books for Teens Ready To Move On from YA"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned from parenting a teenager, it\u2019s that they are predictably unpredictable. Just when I thought my daughter would never read anything except young adult novels, she informed me, \u201cI am so <\/em>over YA.\u201d I wanted to make sure that she wasn\u2019t over reading<\/em>, so I set out to find some adult books that she would find as compelling as her YA favorites. With the help of a fabulous librarian, I compiled this list of fantastic adult reads for teens.<\/p>\n

no no 9780525620808 Mexican Gothic <\/i> by Silvia Moreno-Garcia <\/p>\n

If your teen craves spine-tingling chills and is ready to move on from YA horror novels, give them a copy of Mexican Gothic<\/i>. The main character is a young, headstrong woman who goes to visit her recently married cousin in a secluded mansion in Mexico. Before long, Noem\u00ed realizes that her cousin\u2019s charming husband, the house, and the staff are hiding something sinister. This suspenseful novel will keep readers up all night!<\/p>\n

9780385527460 The Beautiful Struggle: A Memoir<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/29064\/the-beautiful-struggle-by-ta-nehisi-coates\/ by Ta-Nehisi Coates <\/p>\n

Before Ta-Nehisi Coates penned his bestseller Between the World and Me<\/a><\/em>, he wrote this powerful memoir about growing up with an activist father. More than just a coming-of-age story, The Beautiful Struggle <\/em>reveals the challenges of being an African American man in a country where it often seems like black lives don\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n

9780143127550 Everything I Never Told You<\/i> by Celeste Ng <\/p>\n

A tragic event befalls the Lee family. Their “star child” Lydia is dead. Grappling with her mysterious death, each family member is forced to confront their own buried secrets and confront the expectations and pressures that have shaped their lives. A poignant and suspenseful story by the author of Little Fires Everywhere<\/i> that explores issues of gender, race, and the sometimes crippling weight of parental expectations. <\/p>\n

9781400031702 The Secret History<\/i> by Donna Tartt <\/p>\n

Misfits, mystery, and murder combine in this captivating novel from the author of The Goldfinch. Teens who enjoyed YA novels like The Ivies by Alexa Donne and They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman will obsess over this dark academic novel set at a small New England college. The brilliant plotting and slow-burn suspense will keep readers thinking about it long after turning the final page.<\/p>\n

9780593336229 Ram\u00f3n and Julieta <\/i> by Alana Quintana Albertson <\/p>\n

Shakespeare lovers will adore this swoon-worthy Romeo and Juliet<\/i> retelling with a Latinx twist. Sparks fly between an over-achieving fast food mogul and a taqueria owner when they share a kiss during Day of the Dead celebrations. However, a rivalry between their families and growing tension in the community threatens to keep them apart. It\u2019s perfect for Jane the Virgin<\/i> fans!<\/p>\n

9780593321201 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow<\/i> by Gabrielle Zevin <\/p>\n

Legendary YA author John Green took to TikTok to tout this as one of the best books he’s ever read<\/a>. Childhood besties Sam Masur and Sadie Green created a blockbuster video game together. Fame, fortune, and everything that goes with it come to them at a young age. It\u2019s a dream come true for everyone, but as the years pass, their creative ambitions and need for love might destroy them. Zevin delivers a multi-layered coming-of-age novel about human growth and the evolution of friendships over time with raw, messy, and complicated characters you can\u2019t help but root for.<\/p>\n

9780143122357 The Haunting of Hill House<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/311814\/the-haunting-of-hill-house-by-shirley-jackson-introduction-by-laura-miller-series-editor-guillermo-del-toro\/ by Shirley Jackson <\/p>\n

If your teen was first in line to see \u201cThe Shape of Water<\/a>\u201d or can\u2019t get enough of Stephen King, they\u2019ll go crazy for Shirley Jackson\u2019s The Haunting of Hill House<\/em>. Jackson was the master of creating horror through atmosphere and suggestion rather than through explicit descriptions or gore. True confession: I had to read this with the lights on when I knew I wasn\u2019t alone in our house.<\/p>\n

9780812972351 Prep<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/168071\/prep-by-curtis-sittenfeld\/ by Curtis Sittenfeld <\/p>\n

When my daughter came home from camp last summer, she started saying that she really wanted to go to boarding school. She knew that this was never going to happen, but she continued to bring up the subject. I\u2019m not sure if she appreciated it when I left a copy of Prep<\/em> on her bed, but she gave it a try. She finished the novel in a day, and while it didn\u2019t stop her from bringing up the subject of boarding school, she did thank me for giving it to her \u2014 score one for Mom.<\/p>\n

9780593638859 Love, Theoretically<\/i> by Ali Hazelwood <\/p>\n

Ali Hazelwood is one of the most popular romance novelists right now, and teens ready to move on from YA will find much to love about her books. If your teen enjoys fake dating, enemies to lovers, and school-adjacent stories, they\u2019ll love this rom-com! <\/p>\n

9780307887443 Ready Player One<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/209887\/ready-player-one-by-ernest-cline\/ by Ernest Cline <\/p>\n

If your teen is a gamer, a sci-fi\/fantasy fanatic, or a self-proclaimed nerd, they\u2019ll geek out over Ready Player One<\/em>. Words can\u2019t do justice to this laugh-out-loud quest novel whose twists and turns will keep readers glued to the page. Bonus for parents: You get to explain all of the \u201980s references from Billy Idol to Atari to \u201cFamily Ties\u201d!<\/p>\n

9780756410841 Heroine Complex Series by Sarah Kuhn <\/p>\n

Teens who love books like The DC Icons series<\/a> and The Babysitters Coven series<\/a> will enjoy this humorous superhero series. Between rescuing San Francisco from demons, Asian American superheroines Evie Tanaka and Aveda Jupiter tackle real-life problems like raising a teenage sister, dating, and holding down a job. Witty banter and an action-packed plot make this series an instant hit with young adults! <\/p>\n

9781101907870 Rebecca<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/43579\/rebecca-by-daphne-du-maurier\/ by Daphne du Maurier <\/p>\n

If your teen couldn\u2019t put down E. Lockhart\u2019s We Were Liars<\/a><\/em>, she\u2019ll devour Daphne du Maurier\u2019s classic tale of a young woman haunted by the legacy of her husband\u2019s glamorous first wife, Rebecca. Du Maurier creates a mysterious and compelling cast of characters from the dashing Maxim de Winter to the severe and terrifying housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, that are as memorable as her famous first line: \u201cLast night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.\u201d For an extra treat, I recommend a mother-daughter screening of the Hitchcock classic adaptation<\/a> of the novel.<\/p>\n

9780756416935 Binti: The Complete Trilogy<\/i> by Nnedi Okorafor <\/p>\n

Girl power and STEM themes combine in this fast-paced sci-fi story about a math-loving girl who survives an attack from the Medusae \u2014 jellyfish-like creatures in outer space. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as Binti travels across the galaxy alone, brokers peace, and joins the ranks of a prestigious university. It\u2019s a must-read for anyone who loved Black Panther: Wakanda Forever<\/i>.<\/p>\n

9780345539809 Red Rising Series by Pierce Brown <\/p>\n

If your teen obsessed over The Hunger Games<\/i>, they\u2019ll love this bestselling post-apocalyptic series for adults. When Darrow discovers his entire life has been based on a lie crafted to keep his people enslaved, he sets out to change the system. He enters a cut-throat competition against the ruling class\u2019s most fearsome warriors in hopes of earning a spot at the prestigious Institute. He hatches a plan to take down the ruling class from within its highest ranks.<\/p>\n

9780593099322 Dune Series by Frank Herbert <\/p>\n

Teens will love reading and then watching one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time! Readers will get sucked into this award-winning story about a boy who lives on a planet with only one valuable product \u2014 a magical spice with life-extending properties. As Paul becomes a man, he goes on a life-altering and galaxy-changing journey that will keep teens glued to the page.<\/p>\n

9780553418026 The Martian<\/i> by Andy Weir <\/p>\n

Send your teen to Mars to eke out their survival one day at a time alongside astronaut Mark Watney. Chances are, your teen has already seen the movie adaptation of this book, but that will only make reading the book more enjoyable. Readers get a deeper dive into the science behind Mark\u2019s survival and the incredible lengths it took to return to Earth.<\/p>\n

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2024.<\/small><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Teens will find this collection of fantastic adult books just as compelling as their YA favorites. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":103289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[331,849,1023],"coauthors":[39],"class_list":["post-11034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-reading-ahead","tag-high-school","tag-advanced-readers","ages_stages-teen"],"yoast_head":"\n16 Great Adult Books for Teens | Brightly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Teens will find this collection of fantastic adult books just as compelling as their young adult favorites.\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/adult-books-for-teen-readers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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