The Ultimate Gift Guide for Teen Book Lovers (2023)

Blackout: A Novel was voted by teens as the winner of the Rhode Island Teen Book Award for 2023. Authored by six acclaimed writers, this heartwarming novel takes place during a NYC summer blackout.

Marissa Meyer is a fantasy-author favorite of teen boys and girls alike as she adapts classic fairytales to a fantasy world. Gilded is her latest, based on the story of Rumpelstiltskin. However, if your teen hasn't yet tried Cinder or Renegades, pick those up as well!

No one does young adult historical fiction quite as well as Ruta Sepetys and I Must Betray You is one of my personal favorites of hers. This novel tells the story of communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation from time not-often covered in history class.

The Warcross Duology by Marie Lu is another favorite. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Karen McManus followed up her hit "One of Us is Lying" with a new page-turning mystery. Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.

One of my favorite books of last year (yes, I enjoy YA books too!) was Firekeeper's Daughter. Soon to be adapted for Netflix, Firekeeper's Daughter follows the journey of 18-year-old Daunis Fontaine as she finds herself living two disparate lives, one as a loving daughter and one as a confidential informant to the FBI. After witnessing a murder, she must choose between protecting the people she loves or protecting her tribal community.

The Throne of Glass series from Sarah J. Maas has been out for a few years but it is one of my daughter's all-time favorites. Just keep in mind that this is for mature teens. There is a lot of violence and the romance starts out tame but really heats up by the third or fourth book and may be a little steamier than you would approve of depending on the age and the kid.

I have recently been raiding my teen’s bookshelf and I agree that All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven was an amazing read. It does deal with issues of teen depression and suicide so note the trigger warning. However, it was moving and insightful. And yes, I cried. If your teen likes John Green, I think they will like Jennifer Niven too. This has been made into a Netflix movie so you can do a book and movie comparison.

Another all-time favorite fantasy series is the Six Crows / Crooked Kingdom series.

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a romantic comedy about two rival overachievers whose relationship completely transforms over the course of twenty-four hours.

For those that like astrology (and astronomy), this first book of a series of four would be a good choice. This sci-fi series was a New York Times Bestseller.

Described as Gossip Girl meets Get Out, Ace of Spades is a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon and Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully.

For those that love mythology, this is a tale of sweeping adventure, breathtaking twists of fate, and immersive worlds based on Norse mythology.

In this prequel to The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

This heartfelt, tortured, contemporary YA high school romance will be a favorite for fans of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Kristina Forest’s I Wanna Be Where You Are.

This award–winning novel that’s an irresistible romance starring a Mexican American teen who discovers love and profound truths about the universe when she spends her summer on a road trip across the country.

A scrappy maid must outsmart both palace nobles and Low Gods in a new YA fantasy by Margaret Owen, author of the Merciful Crow series.

This 18x18 pillowcase cover makes a perfect topper for a throw pillow.

Give your teen one more way to say go away and leave me alone with this 7" x 4", I'm Reading sign.

This wrap ring lets everyone know that your teen is a bookworm (and proud of it!)

Tea and books? Sounds lovely.

Show off your book love with these cute earrings of classic book stacks.

The socks say it all!

Raise a book worm and an activist!

Love books and The Mandolorian, then this is the shirt for her!

These stickers are perfect for teen bookworms.

Girls will love this book-themed, waterproof make up bag or carrying pouch.

This rechargeable book light comes with three brightness levels and is a good gift for those bookworms who like to stay up late reading.

For anyone that loves fantasy, this fantasy bookshelf mug is a perfect pick.

Put your favorite books on your bookshelf on your phone with this custom phone case.

Let them put their love of books everywhere with this 100-piece book lover sticker package.