Young Adult books read in 2025

In 2025, I read 50 young adult books, mostly by Australian authors in all sorts of genres and styles, and who all had different identities. Some of these books probably crossed over with middle grade, but they’re here because they could also be enjoyed by a young adult audience, or in the case of the reptile book, by readers of all ages. Young adult books in Australia are, as I have been finding, very diverse – the authors, what the books are about, and the genres. It’s why I love young adult books. There’s so many different books out there that it’s a great area to read in. And I hope to read some more good ones in 2026.

I write roundups that are broad and focused, and split them into men, women, Australian, non-Australian, children’s, young adult, adult, LGBTQIA, Disabled and co-authored books. There is also a post with everything and a summary at the end. So if people want to look at something in particular, they can.

1. Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles by Corey Tutt, art by Ben Williams
2. How to Be Normal by Ange Crawford
3. Tuckshop Terrors by Leo Baker
4. A Good Kind of Trouble by Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward
5. Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson
6. Sunny at the End of the World by Steph Bowe
7. Blood Moon Bride by Demet Divaroren
8. Splinters by Rachel Delahaye
9. Into the Wild by Hayley Lawrence
10. On Gallant Wings by Helen Edwards
11. The Surface Trials by HM Waugh
12. The Edge Of Everything by Miranda Luby
13. This Dream Will Devour Us by Emma Clancey
14. Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
15. The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn
16. Golden by Jade Timms
17. Made of Steam and Stardust by Bianca Breen
18. The Lies We Tell Ourselves by Maura Pierlot
19. Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough
20. The Mushroom in the Sky by Jackie French
21. When Dark Waters Burn by Zena Shapter
22. Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
23. Moonlight and Dust by Jasmin McGaughey
24. The Set-Up Girl by Sasha Vey
25. Weaving Us Together by Lay Maloney
26. Looking Out and Beyond by Toby Hammserschlag
27. The Pull of the Moon by Pip Smith
28. Drift by Pip Harry
29. Thunderhead by Sophie Beer
30. Promises and Other Lies by Sue Whiting
31. Flip by Rebecca Fraser
32. This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska
33. A Guide to Falling off the Map by Zanni L Arnot
34. Maisy Hayes is Not For Sale by Allayne L Webster
35. Catch by Sarah Brill
36. There’s a Prawn in Parliament House by Annabel Crabb, illustrated by First Dog on the Moon
37. The Story Writer’s Handbook: Adventures in Creative Writing by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini
38. This is Us: Essential Poems for Young People by Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit
39. What Have They Done to Liza McLean? by Amy Doak
40. A Murder Is Going Down by Kate Emery
41. All Shall Mourn by Ellie Marney
42. Space Demons by Gillian Rubinstein
43. Underdog: #LoveOzYA Short Stories edited by Tobias Madden
44. Win, Lose, Kill, Die by Cynthia Murphy
45. Splinters by Rachel Delahaye
46. Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis Featherstone
47. The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton
48. Wish You Dead by Rebecca Westcott
49. The Tempus Imperium by Juliet A Paine
50. The Kids’ Guide to Speaking Your Mind Without Losing Your Cool by Dr Matt Agnew