Best Books for Teens: The Most Addictive Reads on the List

Q: What are the best books for teens that they can't put down?

The best books for teens that tend to produce the 'I stayed up reading until 2am' response include: The Hunger Games series, The Maze Runner series, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Wonder, Shadow and Bone series, The False Prince series, Fablehaven series, Michael Vey series, Love and Gelato series, Ranger's Apprentice series, and Before We Were Yours. Series are particularly effective for reluctant readers — once a teen is invested in characters, they keep reading. Most of these are available through the library app or on Kindle.

Q: What is the best way for a teenager to read more?

The best setup for a teenager to read more: have a Kindle Paperwhite available (easy on the eyes, no glare, not connected to social media the way a phone or iPad is), have library apps installed so books are free, and have a list of genuinely exciting next reads so there is never a gap between books. The best books for teens are the ones that create their own momentum — once teenagers are reading a series they love, they will read continuously until it ends.

The best books for teens are the ones that produce the specific parental experience of having to tell a teenager to put down a book and go to sleep. That is the bar. Not books that are educational, not books that seem like they should be good for teenagers — books that are so genuinely compelling that a teenager will choose them over screens, will talk about them unprompted, and will immediately want to know what to read next when they are done. This is that list.

How to Use This Best Books for Teens List

Everyone has different standards for what is appropriate for their kids to read, and what works for a 12-year-old is different from what works for a 17-year-old. Before handing each book over, do a little of your own research. Common Sense Media (linked below) is helpful for the more popular titles. Most of the best books for teens on this list have been tested across a wide age range, and many would also make great read-alouds for families who do those together.

The Best E-Reader for Teens

If your teen reads on a device, the Kindle Paperwhite is by far the best option for getting them into the best books for teens. It is easy on the eyes, has no glare in sunlight, and — crucially — is not connected to social media, YouTube, or games the way a phone or tablet is. It is a reading-only device, which means there is nothing competing for attention when a book is open. You can also use the library app on it so most books are free. If you prefer a less expensive option, the Kindle Fire works, though you will want to regulate its screen time settings. Also worth noting: Audible is currently offering free books for teens on their site.

The Best Books for Teens: The Full List

Each book below is linked so you can learn more about it and see if it will be the right fit for reading level and interest. Most of these cross genres and genders — give them a try even if the description does not sound like an obvious match for your teen. Reader suggestions have been added throughout the list, and new suggestions are always welcome in the comments.

👉 NOTE FOR IMPLEMENTATION: Keep all existing book titles and links exactly as they are. This SEO-optimized introduction and FAQ wrap around the existing book list.

If You Like Your Book Lists Split by Genre

Check out the linked post for genre-specific lists. For books the whole family will love, check out that post as well. Links are in the original article.

Helpful External Resources

Common Sense Media — book reviews by age and content

Frequently Asked Questions: Best Books for Teens

What are the best books for teens that they can’t put down?

The best books for teens that consistently produce the “I stayed up reading until 2am” response include: Keeper of the Lost Cities, The Hunger Games series, Wonder, Shadow and Bone, The Maze Runner, The False Prince series, Fablehaven, Michael Vey, Love and Gelato, and Before We Were Yours. Series are particularly powerful for reluctant readers — once a teen is invested in characters, they keep going.

What is the best way for a teenager to read more?

Have a Kindle Paperwhite available (reading-only, easy on eyes, no social media distractions), have library apps installed so books are free, and always have a list of exciting next reads so there is no gap. The best books for teens create their own momentum — once teenagers love a series, they read continuously until it ends.

Are there books that are good for both boys and girls?

Yes — many of the best books for teens cross genders effectively: Wonder, Refugee, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Shadow and Bone, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Ranger’s Apprentice, and Before We Were Yours are recommended by families of both teen boys and girls. Series with adventure, strong characters, and genuine stakes tend to cross gender lines most reliably.

Looking for books you will love? This POST has them all!

**Links in this post are affiliate links, and I get a small percentage of each purchase. I can’t thank you enough for support my research and writing in this way!

8 Comments

Eliza on March 24, 2020 at 5:12 pm

I definitely reccommend Keeper of the Lost Cities! I seriously couldn’t put it down while I was reading it.
- Brooke Romney on March 28, 2020 at 7:17 pm
  
  Thanks for the new recommendation! We will have to give it a try!
Eliza on March 24, 2020 at 5:13 pm

Keeper of the Lost Cities is a go to book for me. I definitely recommend it!
- Brooke Romney on March 28, 2020 at 7:14 pm
  
  thanks for the recommendation! You are awesome!
Jessica on December 20, 2020 at 12:16 pm

This has been so great to go through! We’ve checked several of the books out from the library and my kids have had their noses in their books ever since! Thanks for sharing!!!
- Brooke Romney on January 13, 2021 at 12:57 pm
  
  Best feedback ever! Nothing better than a great book!
BookPlate on January 16, 2023 at 11:44 pm

I’m so excited to read this one. It’s wonderful!!
- Brooke Romney on March 14, 2023 at 1:59 pm
  
  Thank you!

The Best, Most Addictive Books for Teens