A mix of favorite YA reads that still wow this 30-year-old mom—heartfelt, fun, and endlessly re-readable across ages
Two misfit teens find fierce first love in a messy, beautiful world of music and comic books
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
A day-long collision of fate and fierce hope as two teens chase connection amid chaos and chance
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
After losing her parents, a teen is sent to live with a stranger in a coastal town, where a guarded boy and a summer romance force her to confront grief, class divides, and first love
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
Magic, rivalry, and forbidden connection collide in a fairytale-infused story of letters and secrets
Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, #1) by Rebecca Ross
A nostalgic, high-stakes virtual treasure hunt packed with ’80s pop culture and heart
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
After witnessing a police shooting, a teen must find her voice while navigating grief, activism, and the tension between her neighborhood and private school world
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
A modern reimagining of Anna Karenina with romance, betrayal, and social media’s edge
Anna K by Jenny Lee
Clever puzzles, unexpected inheritances, and sizzling chemistry make this a wildly fun YA mystery
