Most popular Teen and YA books of 2023 (so far)

As part of our Blank Page programme, we're showcasing some of our most popular Teen and YA fiction books of 2023 (so far!). Take a look at these fan-favourites, including crime thrillers, LGBTQ+ romcoms, fantasy, horror and more.

Blank Page offers 10-16 year olds the chance to express their creativity through free workshops during the school holidays.

• Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, by Lex Croucher

Historical LGBTQ+ romcom where two enemies, a smart princess and a duke-to-be join forces to keep their best-kept secret loves from being exposed.

• The Dos and Donuts of Love, by Adiba Jaigirdar

Romance and rivalry abound on a televised baking competition show.

• Straight Expectations, by Callum McSwiggan

After wishing he could have the ‘easy’ life of straight kids, Max gets his wish and wakes up to discover that his new reality is far from simple in this LGBTQ+ romcom.

• Chain of Thorns, by Cassandra Clare

Latest book in the Lost Hours, one of the series in the Shadowhunter Chronicles, where fairy tales and mythologies exist alongside the ordinary human world.

• Gallant, by V.E. Schwab

A gothic tale of a girl summoned to a mysterious estate, which borders an ancient and magical realm.

• The Dragon's Promise, by Elizabeth Lim

Inspired by fairy tales and East Asian folklore this story of a princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse, is the conclusion to the Six Crimson Cranes duology.

• One of Us is Back, by Karen M. McManus

More secrets, lies and sinister games for the high-schoolers at Bayview. Latest in the One of Us is lying series.

• Family of Liars, by E. Lockhart

This thriller is the prequel to We Were Liars and focuses on an earlier generation and the betrayals, mistakes and the repercussions of the terrible secrets they’ve sown.

• Five Survive, by Holly Jackson

A cat and mouse thriller featuring a group of friends, buried secrets, a broken down RV and a sniper.

• The Brothers Hawthorne, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Set in the world of the Inheritance Games mystery series, which pits a girl who unexpectedly inherits a fortune against the deceased's enraged family members.

• Bite Risk, by S.J. Willis

One night each month, and ordinary town is turned upside down when almost all of the adults turn into werewolves and it's up to the young people to protect themselves from danger.

• Five Nights at Freddy's: Fazbear Frights, by Scott Cawthorn

Five Nights at Freddy's is survival-horror franchise that began life as a video game but has spawned novels, graphic novels and an upcoming movie.

• You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight, by Kalynn Bayron

Teens go missing on site while re-creating scenes from classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake.

Looking for more reading inspiration? We publish new recommendations every month! Take a look at our top picks for young adults.