12 Young Adult Novel Series You Need to Read

Last updated on 13 February 2023

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You don’t have to be a ‘young adult’ to read a good young adult book. And I hope I never ‘grow out of’ them. There’s something wonderful about diving into a world of make-believe in a book series, knowing that you’ll be there for a while. These young adult novel series we’re going to take a look at are some of my favourite series in this genre I’ve read, and while there are obviously lots and lots more, it’s enough to get you started (especially if you’re new to reading young adult novels!).

12 Young Adult Novel Series You Need to Read

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• The Young Elites by Marie Lu
• Te Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo
• The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
• Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
• Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
• Scythe by Neal Shusterman
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
• A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
• The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t read or seen The Hunger Games. They’ve been around for years now: the first book was published in 2008 and the last book was published in 2010. They were so popular at the time that three movies were made based on the series in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where North America is now called Panem. In this new world, there are 12 districts that are ruled by a capital that has a bunch of corrupt leaders. The capital also puts on an annual event called ‘The Hunger Games’ where two children/teenagers from each district battle to the death until only one remains. If you think that sounds violent and gruesome—that’s because it is! But don’t worry about being warned about graphic scenes because they aren’t too bad.

This was one of the first young adult novel series I read, and I loved every moment of it. While now in the 2020s, we’ve begun to move away from the dystopian genre a bit more, The Hunger Games will also hold a space in my YA-loving heart.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Another cracker dystopian young adult novel series is the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. Another one that I so loved reading at the time. A little different than The Hunger Games but definitely on the same level of YA dystopian titles.

The first book in the Divergent series by Veronica Roth is a thought-provoking and exhilarating read. Again, this was made into a movie series, and while it was less popular that The Hunger Games, the movies were still quite fun. The books are creative and exciting, full of suspense and action, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.

The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry

While the characters in The Giver quartet are a little younger than those in other YA books, they’re still considered to sit within the age group.

The Giver is about a society that does not allow personal freedoms. Society even controls what people eat, wear, and think. The story centres around Jonas—a boy who is chosen to be a Receiver of Memory. He learns more than he bargained for when this responsibility gives him access to memories from before his world became the way it is now.

Each book after The Giver digs deeper into this dystopian world and how things got so bad in it. The series focuses on themes like individuality, family, love, sacrifice, depression, questions of right and wrong, etc. Like many popular young adult novels, The Giver was also turned into a movie.

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites follows Adelina Amouteru, a young girl who survived the blood fever when she was ten years old only to discover that she developed strange powers and markings on her face. Scarred as an abomination, Adelina is shunned and rejected by everyone—including her own father. Eventually, she encounters another group of survivors like herself who call themselves the Young Elites. Adelina joins their ranks, but soon begins to question what side of the conflict between good and evil she is truly on.

I remember absolutely loving this series; it was so creative and the characters were top notch.

The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo

In the first book of this fantasy trilogy, Shadow and Bone, you’ll be quickly introduced to a world where a young girl named Alina Starkov must discover her abilities as a Grisha (a person with mystical powers) in order to save her nation from ruin. If you haven’t already read this young adult series, you may have already seen the TV series, which came out in 2021.

Here’s the thing with the Grishaverse though: I recommend reading The Grisha Trilogy first (also known as Shadow and Bone Trilogy), you’ll want to pick up Sic of Crows duology (it’s even better – but you definitely need to read Shadow and Bone first), and then when you’re done with the duology, pick up the King of Scars duology. And there’s more to come.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

You will love this series if you are a fan of science fiction or retellings of classic fairy tales. You will especially like it if you enjoy stories about cyborgs and androids (something I didn’t know I like reading about until I read this series). The Lunar Chronicles are set in a futuristic world where the characters from your favourite childhood fairy tales interact with technology that is part human, part machine.

Cinder, the first book in the series, follows Cinder (of course), a cyborg who is introduced to us as she works at her family’s garage fixing mechanical parts. And that’s just to give you a taste of this series.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

You’ve probably heard of this one by now. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before follows Lara Jean, who has always written letters to the boys she’s loved and then sealed them away in envelopes. She decides that if she can’t have these boys, at least she’ll have her memories—but when the letters get sent out, things get complicated. In order to make things right with some of the letter recipients, Lara Jean pretends to be dating one of them.

The book is romantic and funny at the same time, and after you’ve read the first one (and watched the Netflix movie!), you can get straight onto reading PS I Still Love You and Always and Forever, Lara Jean.

Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes

This one is an interesting series for me. I read the whole thing basically in one go – as in, I think I only read one other book in between a couple of books – and I loved it to pieces. The writing, I found wasn’t wonderful, but the story was, and I found myself sinking into the world that Rhodes has created in a way that I haven’t in a fantasy young adult series in a long time.

If you’re a fan of fantasy, warring kingdoms, different perspectives and creative characters, then the Falling Kingdoms series is a great ya series to read.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

The Truly Devious series follows Stevie Bell, a student at the elite and private Ellingham Academy, high in the mountains of Vermont. The school is for bright kids who want to work on and develop their skills further in a particular subject area. And Stevie? Murder is her thing. She’s at Ellingham to uncover the mystery of the school, how the founder’s wife and daughter were kidnapped years and years ago, and the case was never solved.

If you’re a lover of mystery, then this is honestly, hands down one of the best young adult mystery novels of late. I had been captivated from the first page and I loved every single second of it.

Scythe by Neal Shuterman

Scythe is a series that may just well blow your mind. It’s set in a world where humanity has conquered death. A group of people known as Scythes are tasked with the job of killing people in order to keep the population at a manageable level. The series tells of two teenagers who have become apprentices to one of these scythes, and after a few years, must decide whether or not they will join their mentor in his profession—and if so, how they will do it.

The world is fascinating and unsettling. Even though death has been eliminated, life is far from perfect. Throughout the series, we see how this world has changed over time and what problems come up when humanity no longer faces its own mortality. There’s also plenty here for romance fans—the main characters have enough chemistry that each time you think they’re headed for Happily Ever After, something comes along to make you doubt it can possibly work out for them.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Throne of Glass is the first book in a series of novels by Sarah J Maas. The protagonist, Celaena Sardothien, is an assassin with the ability to make magic. She’s imprisoned for her crimes and offered the chance at freedom if she wins a competition. This tournament pits Celaena against other deadly assassins from all over Erilea, the world in which this story takes place.

The Throne of Glass is a series of 6 main books and also a 7th which should be read as well, but follows a character in another part of the world for a time. This series is one of my favourites and if you like fantasy, assassins, great characters and a bit of magic, then this is the series for you!

Also check out: A Court of Thorns and Roses series

A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab

I’ll literally read anything Schwab writes. A Darker Shade of Magic is one of my favourite young adult novel series (the series is actually called Shades of Magic) and I’ve read it multiple times now. Imagine London as we know it. Then imagine another London layered on top, only this time, throw in magic. And then another, and make it evil. And then one more, and make it a shell of a city. And now sprinkle those Londons with fantastic characters, magical coats, pirates, and princes.

You’ve got one of my favourite series.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Avery is suddenly thrown into the high life when she’s named in the last will and testament of Tobias Hawthorne’s incredibly lucrative fortune. But the thing is: Avery has never known the Hawthorne family, and neither she nor Tobias Hawthorne’s children and grandchild know why he left it all to Avery.

The three books in The Inheritance Games series (book three out in 2022), follow Avery and the Hawthorne grandchildren as they try and uncover the secrets and mysteries of Tobias Hawthorne. A great series for those who love a mystery!

So what do you think?

Do these young adult novel series pique your interest? Some of them you’ve probably read, others perhaps not. But whatever book series you pick up, I hope you enjoy it!

Have you read any of these YA series? Let me know in the comments!