The Must-Read YA Books of 2025
by Dena McMurdie
New year, new books! 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for young adult readers. Spine-tingling thrillers, inspiring political commentaries, and swoon-worthy romance novels are coming to bookstores this year. Your TBR (to-be-read) list is about to get longer! So, if you’re dying from the anticipation, keep reading to see the must-have YA books of 2025. These are the buzzy books everyone will be talking about this year!
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Ex Marks the Spot
Preorder from:This delightfully readable YA novel combines romance, family secrets, and a treasure hunt. When Gemma learns that she has family and a possible inheritance in Taiwan, she enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend, Xander, to help her find both. As they solve puzzles and follow clues, Gemma and Xander also find their way back to each other.
(On sale: 12/31/2024)
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Dating and Dragons
Preorder from:From the author of Dungeons and Drama comes another adorkable romance centered around gaming. To make friends at her new school, Quinn joins a D&D game and agrees to the group’s strict rule of not dating other members. But as the campaign continues, Quinn finds it impossible to ignore her crush on Logan, another team member. Sooner or later, the two teens must face their growing feelings for each other.
(On sale: 12/31/2024)
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The Secret Year
Preorder from:Despite their differences, Colt and Julia spent the last year in a secret relationship. What started as a friendship blossomed into a love they kept hidden. When Julia dies and Colt receives her diary, he gets the chance to find out how Julia felt about him and what happened the night she died.
(On sale: 1/7/2025)
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The Last Bookstore on Earth
Preorder from:After the world ends, Liz converts an abandoned bookstore into her home. When another teenage girl, Maeve, breaks in, the girls form an unlikely alliance to survive. Secrets, romance, and impending doom make this post-apocalyptic YA novel a must-read in 2025.
(On sale: 1/7/2025)
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This is The Year
Preorder from:In this captivating YA cli-fi, 17-year-old Goth Julieta is overwhelmed by grief and climate chaos in Florida. Recruited by a space program, she sees a fresh start. But as she trains, new friendships, love, and small acts of environmentalism spark hope. Will the program inspire her to stay and fight or will she leave it all behind?
(On sale: 1/7/2025)
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Better Than Revenge
Preorder from:Calling all YA romance lovers! You can’t go wrong with a Kasie West novel when you need some feel-good vibes. When Finley’s ex-boyfriend uses her idea to steal her spot on a podcast show, she decides to get revenge by taking his spot as a kicker on the football team. But she’ll need some help from her ex’s cute and oh-so-datable nemesis to pull off her plan. This book belongs on every romance lover’s reading list!
(On sale: 12/31/2024)
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Lies on the Serpent's Tongue
Preorder from:Return to Cabal Hallow with this companion novel to Bittersweet in the Hollow. Rowan can smell lies, which means she distrusts everyone. When Hadrian appears on her doorstep, covered in blood and spewing lies, she naturally dismisses everything he says. But strange things are happening all over town, and everyone’s talking about a new monster in the Hollow. Rowan must work with Hadrian to get to the bottom of the mystery, even though she knows he can’t be trusted.
(On sale: 1/7/2025)
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The Meadowbrook Murders
Preorder from:If you loved Jessica Goodman’s previous novels, They Wish They Were Us and The Counselors, add her new YA thriller to your reading list. When her best friends get murdered in their boarding school dorm room, all fingers point to Amy. Meanwhile, school newspaper reporter Liz digs into the case, unearthing secrets and piecing together clues. With a killer on the loose and a college scholarship at stake, Liz will do anything to find the truth.
(On sale: 2/4/2025)
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I Am the Cage
Preorder from:In this heart-wrenching novel, a snowstorm in picturesque Wisconsin forces 19-year-old Elisabeth to face her demons. Writing poetry and learning to trust and love again helps Elisabeth heal from the mental and physical pain she is running from. If you love reading books with all the feels, this one is for you!
(On sale: 2/18/2025)
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The Otherwhere Post
Preorder from:If you loved Emily J. Taylor’s bestselling novel, Hotel Magnifique, you need to add her new title to your 2025 reading plan. Magic, mystery, and romance collide in this breathtaking fantasy about a girl searching for answers. Maeve learns to enchant letters and travel to other worlds, but someone will do anything to stop her from finding the answers she seeks.
(On sale: 2/25/2025)
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Make Good Trouble
Preorder from:Inspire your teen to make a difference with this collection of nonfiction stories about pivotal moments of global activism. This book collects 70 stories about people from various backgrounds who had the courage to challenge injustice. It’s a must-read for any passionate young person wanting to shape the future.
(On sale: 2/25/2025)
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Say A Little Prayer
Preorder from:Get ready for a repentance-free and fun-filled summer romp! After getting in trouble at school, ex-churchgoer Riley gets sentenced to spending her summer at church camp. But Riley has never been submissive and decides to show the girls at camp just how fun sinning can be.
(On sale: 3/4/2025)
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The Scorpion and the Night Blossom
Preorder from:Clear your calendar because you won’t want to stop reading once you pick up this highly anticipated romantasy. Amélie Wen Zhao, the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, delivers a pulse-pounding and nail-biting story for crossover YA readers. It’s about a girl named Àn’yīng who enters a deadly magical competition, hoping to win eternal life for her dying mother. Romance, monsters, magic, and mystery make this book the must-have fantasy novel of the season.
(On sale: 3/4/2025)
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While We're Young
Preorder from:If you love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, you won’t want to miss this humorous and heartfelt retelling! Grace, Isa, and Everett execute the ultimate senior ditch day in Philadelphia, visiting famous landmarks and eating delicious food. Meanwhile, Grace’s suspicious brother does everything he can to catch the friends and put an end to their day of fun.
(On sale: 3/4/2025)
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Dear Manny
Preorder from:Get a box of tissues ready because you’re going to need them when you read Nic Stone’s newest novel about Justyce’s roommate, Jared. As he runs his campaign for class president and deals with his growing feelings for his rival, Jared feels out of his depth. He turns to writing letters to an old friend to help organize his heart and mind.
(On sale: 3/4/2025)
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Huda F Wants to Know?
Preorder from:In the hilarious and touching sequel to National Book Award Finalist Huda F Cares? Huda's junior year takes a shocking turn when her parents announce their divorce. With her world turned upside down, can Huda find her way back to normal?
(On sale: 4/1/2025)
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When the Bones Sing
Preorder from:There’s nothing like a hair-raising read to start your reading year on the right foot. This spooky mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Pet.
(On sale: 4/15/2025)
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All We Lost Was Everything
Preorder from:River loses everything, including her father, the night her house burns down. But between an anonymous multi-million dollar donation to her GoFundMe, a sizzling new romance with a co-worker, and family secrets coming to light, River realizes that she still has more to lose. This dark, romantic thriller will keep you reading well past midnight!
(On sale: 5/6/2025)
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These Vengeful Gods
Preorder from:As a descendant of the god of Death, Crow keeps their identity secret by hiding in the city’s dark underbelly. But when their uncles get arrested, Crow enters a deadly tournament where the winner receives a favor from the gods. This fast-paced fantasy novel will keep YA readers glued to the page.
(On sale: 5/27/2025)
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