Best Young Adult Summer Reads 2024

Last updated on 12 March 2024

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The weather is getting warmer in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting longer, and you’re probably looking for something fun to read while you’re out there enjoying it all. Finding young adult summer reads is something I love doing; in fact, anything that I can read that seems pretty seasonal is always a goer!

In autumn there are particle reads that I love diving back into. Winter is the time for cosy romances, perhaps, and spring for light-hearted reads. Summer is no exception, and while June – August is winter here in New Zealand, the summer reads are abounding everywhere as the Northern Hemispheres heats up.

Whether you’re looking to find your next book boyfriend or chill out with a light-hearted thriller, I’ve got you covered! These are a real mix of young adult books set in the summer as well as books that I think make for a great holiday read.

Let’s take a look at these young adult summer reads!

Best Young Adult Summer Read for 2024

1. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
2. Heartstopper Series by Alice Oseman
3. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
4. The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
5. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
6. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
7. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
8. The Drowning Summer by Christine Lynn Herman
9. Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales
10. Since You’ve Been Gone, by Morgan Matson
11. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
12. Panic by Lauren Oliver
13. Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo
14. Places We’ve Never Been by Kasie West
15. The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
16. Summer’s Edge by Dana Mele
17. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of those books that I couldn’t put down. And they’re exactly the type of books we love for summer! There are currently two in this series out, with the third due to hit the shelves late summer 2022. When Goodreads tells you it’s a ‘A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists’ then you know it’s going to be good.

I read this book and the second in the series, The Hawthorne Legacy, in the space of a weekend. I was sucked in that much.

Heartstopper Series by Alice Oseman

If you haven’t read anything by Alice Oseman yet, stop what you’re doing, put everything down and pick up one of her books. The Heartstopper series is a comic series and is super cute. It’s perfect for reading over the summer, even though the characters spend most of the series in school time. Heartstopper is hitting our screens in April 2022, so when you’ve finished reading the books, catch the show! Can summer get any better!?

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is one of the most perfect young adult summer reads in my opinion.

It’s a brilliantly written book that leaves you with … thoughts. It’s a story that the internet has accidentally unanimously decided that we can’t really talk about for fear of spoilers. It won the 2014 Goodreads Award for Best Young Adult Fiction, and at the bottom of the description, it says ‘Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE’. That’s how you know it’s good.

The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

A gallivant around the continent in 18th century Europe with your best friend? With pirates? I mean, I’m in!

The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and its sequels – The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy and The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks  – make for a brilliant summer read. The characters in these books are so much fun, and I’ve actually read the first twice.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Time for bit of a thriller! While this book and the others by Karen M. McManus are mostly set during school time throughout the year, they still make for a great summer read. Teenagers causing havoc and mischief, all while trying to prove that they didn’t kill their classmate during detention. One of us is Lying has also recently been turned into a Netflix show, so when you’ve finished reading the book, you’re ready to binge the series.

Also check out: One of us is Next, You’ll Be the Death of Me, Two Can Keep a Secret and The Cousins. 

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

I cannot recommend this book enough. A mystery, an old boarding school in the mountains, murders, smart teens … Truly Devious is the beginning of a fantastic series. There are 3 books in the main series, and then a 4th book which happens a while after the events in the 3rd book. Definitely worth reading them all this summer.

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

Looking for a romance? If you haven’t already read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (and its follow up books), then get ready to fall in love. With the series. It’s super cute and super fun. It’s light-hearted (mostly), and when you’re done with the book you can watch the Netflix movies! So handy! Maybe make it a marathon. Why not?

The Drowning Summer by Christine Lynn Herman

“Six years ago, three Long Island teenagers were murdered—their drowned bodies discovered with sand dollars placed over their eyes. The mystery of the drowning summer was never solved, but as far as the town’s concerned, Evelyn Mackenzie’s father did it. His charges were dropped only because Evelyn summoned a ghost to clear his name. She swore never to call a spirit again. She lied.”

I had to include at least part of the synopsis for you because I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my list for my own reading! Can’t wait to pick it up!. You can learn more about The Drowning Summer here.

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

Another romance for your list of young adult summer reads! Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales follows the story of a classic summer fling that takes an interesting turn. Will and Ollie end up in the same school, but not all is like those long summer days anymore. The perfect summery read for the romance-lovers out there.

Since You’ve Been Gone, by Morgan Matson

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson has been on my TBR for so long now, but I finally got my hands on it and I plan to read it this year. A classic young adult summer read Since You’ve Been Gone is popular with YA readers during the summer season, so if you haven’t already picked this one up, this is your year!

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Another Matson tale, The Unexpected Everything follows the story of Andie, a politician’s daughter with her life all sorted out. Until all her summer and life plans are interrupted. A great one to read at the beginning of summer, and hope your holidays are unexpected in better ways than Andie’s.

Panic by Lauren Oliver

“Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.” That’s probably all you need know about Panic. A summer thriller to remind that you that you’re way smarter than the people in this book.

 Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo

Get ready for Season 2 of Shadow and Bone by diving headfirst into the series! While not that summery, I find the summer the perfect time to start and binge an entire series. With only 3 books in this series, it’s an easy summer achievement. To make your reading even better, check out the Six of Crows duology after you’ve finished with Shadow and Bone.

Places We’ve Never Been by Kasie West

Released in May 2022, Places We’ve Never Been is the story of Norah and Skyler who are off on a summer RV road trip with their families. This is literally a summer story, so it would be very remiss of me not to include it. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s queued up in my list and I can’t wait to dive in!

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson

Another new young adult read for 2022, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet is the debut novel from Ferguson and is looking like it’s going to be a hit for this summer. You can read more about this YA book here on Goodreads.

Summer’s Edge by Dana Mele

“I Know What You Did Last Summer meets The Haunting of Hill House  in this atmospheric, eerie teen thriller following an estranged group of friends being haunted by their friend who died last summer.” Ummm okay then! Summer’s Edge is a mystery, thriller, paranormal, young adult read set in the summertime and if that’s not a brilliant book for cool summer evening reading, I don’t know what is.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

It’s probably time for a re-read of Twilight. Go on. You know you want to.

What young adult summer reads will you be picking up this year?