It’s hard to believe that the year has already passed. As you take stock of how your year of reading has been so far, it’s also a good time to reflect on the books that meant the most to you this year. Whether they rose to the top of your Best Of because of their superb quality or because you simply liked the book, consider what those titles may – or may not – have in common.
For years, I never really considered myself a historical fiction reader. But every year, I find that historical fiction rises to the top of my favorites list in the middle and end of each calendar year. This year is no different, my favorite YA book is a historical Gothic mystery. I’ve also really enjoyed two books, both gay-authored and gay-centered, that explore the gay teen experience over time. one of those books, best things by Abdi Nazemian, was published last fall; Abdi also wrote this fantastic guest post on literary censorship, which inspired the book. The second book came out last month, and if I had read it at the time of our call to nominate “best” titles, it would have made the list. That’s Jane St. Jude’s quintessential performance where will you find us. I suspect we’ll see and hear more about this book as the year progresses.
This week, Book Riot published our roundup of the best books of 2026 so far. Check out the full list, but find the YA titles that made the cut below. In addition to highlighting the books we’ve seen as the best so far, I’m going to do what I’ve done in the past and highlight YA books that have earned starred reviews in professional trade magazines. thanks for doing Untrusted database created Librarian Superstar by Jennifer LaGarde, Donnalyn Miller, and Martha Hickson, an easy way to read titles that have received this distinction from professionally reviewed magazines. For those who aren’t familiar, starred reviews are the highest honor a book can receive in a professional trade review. These are books that are different from the rest.
For those of you who, like me, really appreciate the focus on data, later this month, I’ll be exploring the YA books that have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list so far this year. I’ll be honest: It’s actually kind of boring, and it also points out that books available in hardcover and paperback at the same time — something I appreciate and think is a great service to readers — have many opportunities to reach the top of the NYT list.
First up: here’s the best of the best in YA from Book Riot’s list. This is a short list that reflects our “best of” list so far. I know it was hard for me to pick out titles that I felt were worthy of a spot here, and it was less about the quality of the titles, but more about not reading as much or in as much depth in YA this year. I also read the backlist more than the frontlist, but I expect my year-end best-of list and the titles of the rest of Book Riot’s staff and contributors to be much longer.
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as i dream of you By Jennifer Lee and Leuyen Pham
I’m a big fan of illustrator Leuyen Pham, so when I heard she was collaborating with frozen For a YA graphic novel from director Jennifer Lee, I was intrigued. What I didn’t expect was that it would be a heartbreakingly beautiful love story that would leave me sobbing. Drawing on the mythology of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as Lee’s own teenage experiences with love and grief, as i dream of you A stunningly illustrated story with real emotional depth. Lee brings a cinematic approach to her storytelling which Pham brings to life with gorgeous art, brilliantly balancing the light and dark elements. This is a story that will remain in your heart even after the last page.
– Susie Dumond
heiress from somewhere by Stacey Lee
Lee embraces the Gothic in this gripping historical mystery set in Orcas Island, Washington in 1918. When Lucy – who was washed up on the island as a child and taken in by a shipbuilder – finds her employer’s severed head on the beach, she is not convinced by rumors that mythical sea wolves are to blame. Lucy must find out who is behind the murder to make the island safe, and what Lucy will do when she is told she has been named heir to the estate, leading to a story that exposes both of them. Find plenty of romance, intrigue, shady characters, and a love letter to orcas.
– Kelly Jensen
wake up in the fire now By Jarrett DePier, illustrated by AJ Dungo
Attacks on books have intensified over the past five years, but they didn’t start with the Trump administration and the rise of the MAGA movement’s censorship in the name of fake morality. This YA graphic novel focuses on the ban of Persepolis in Chicago Public Schools in 2013 and the student outrage and protests in the weeks that followed. Dapier deftly moves between teen perspectives, showing these super smart and complex kids dealing with personal anxieties while battling censorship and finding ways to protest that speak to them personally, from writing essays to leading sit-ins. It is a powerful, compassionate read.
-Margaret Kingsbury
And from trades, per the above database? No YA book has yet earned five stars in writing form, the highest number ever among all books written for young readers. We’ve seen several YA titles earn their third and fourth stars from trades. Here’s what those titles are—they were all published before July. Expect to see more star earners in the second half of the year. You may also want to check out one or two of the titles below while picking up extra gold.
four starred reviews
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