Thanks to the massive influence of BookTok, YA and teen books are enjoying a major surge in popularity, with readers of all ages flocking to discover their next favourite read. This year, the book world has delivered some incredible titles that have quickly earned a spot on our TBR lists.
Whether you’re drawn to epic fantasy realms, swoon-worthy romantic fantasies, or compelling stories that capture the complexities of everyday life, 2025 has something for everyone. From debut authors making their mark to established bestselling names continuing to captivate, the variety and quality of this year’s releases are unmatched.
Georgina Atwell
Toppsta
2025-05-12
2025-05-12
The Best Teen and YA New Releases
Under a Fire-Red Sky
In Blitzed, four young people form an unlikely bond during the London Blitz. Laurence builds a secret machine, Gemmy scavenges bombed homes, Franklin seeks to join the Fire Service, and Olive cares for her broken father. As they roam the war-torn streets of London, they discover their resilience amidst the chaos. Inspired by the author’s firefighter father, this emotional coming-of-age story captures survival, heartbreak, and hope as the friends navigate the dangers of the Blitz, trying to protect each other in a city torn apart by bombs.
In Sunrise on the Reaping, the fiftieth annual Hunger Games brings heightened tension to Panem as twice as many tributes are taken. Haymitch Abernathy, from District 12, is thrust into the Games, separated from his family and love. As he faces a deadly arena with unlikely companions, Haymitch grapples with being set up to fail but discovers a will to fight back. This emotionally charged addition to The Hunger Games series explores resilience, love, and defiance against a cruel regime, with a film adaptation slated for November 2026.
In this captivating fantasy debut, Merriment Feast and Rue Famine are heirs to opposing families with centuries-old rivalries. Merri enjoys a life of luxury, while Rue studies potion-making and uses her magic to help others. Custom dictates that on their thirteenth birthday, the two must duel for control of the land of Fauret. However, as the contest looms closer, they begin to realize their real enemy may not be each other, but a greater threat that could destroy them both. A story of rivalry, power, and unexpected alliances.
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Normal Women: Making History for 900 Years
Adapted for teens from her bestselling Normal Women, Philippa Gregory’s Normal Women: Young Readers Edition uncovers the thrilling, overlooked history of ordinary English women over the past 900 years. Far from passive figures in bonnets and ballgowns, these women were farmers, pirates, soldiers, rebels, inventors and more—fighting, surviving, and shaping history in extraordinary ways. With engaging, age-appropriate storytelling and bold illustrations by Alexis Snell, this vibrant history book brings to life the courage, rebellion, and sisterhood that truly define women’s past. Perfect for curious and empowered young readers.
In The Beck, Kyle is reluctantly spending the afternoon with his eccentric grandad when he discovers the magical creatures in a nearby stream, once full of rubbish but now thriving. However, a new development threatens the beck’s future. With his grandad falling ill, Kyle must summon the courage to execute a daring plan to save the stream. From Carnegie Medal-winning author Anthony McGowan, this environmental tale combines grit, heart, and humor as Kyle learns to stand up for what matters most.
Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 9, this shorter book (just 150 pages) will appeal to reluctant teen readers.
Laurie adores stories—reading them in her mums’ bookshop, sharing them with others, and inventing characters from her imagination. But everything changes when Neon, a boy she’s dreamed up for six months, appears in real life, exactly as she imagined him—musical talent and all. As Neon steps into her world, Laurie must confront the boundary between fantasy and reality. This magical tale from the award-winning author of Away With Words is a heartfelt celebration of imagination, friendship, and discovering what it truly means to be real.
The most exciting debut of 2025, A Language of Dragons is a spellbinding Dark Academia fantasy set in 1920s London, where dragons fly and rebellion brews. Vivien Featherswallow dreams of studying dragon languages to secure a better life—but by midnight, she’s sparked a civil war. With her family in peril, Viv is recruited to Bletchley Park as a codebreaker, tasked with decoding a dangerous hidden language. Packed with magic, secrets, slow-burn romance, and high-stakes intrigue, this bestselling novel is perfect for fans of Babel and Fourth Wing.
Fearless: The epic conclusion to the trilogy taking the world by storm!
The sizzling finale to the No. 1 bestselling Powerless romantasy trilogy is here! Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya, where Paedyn faces a life-changing decision that could alter not only her destiny, but the future of everyone she loves. In a battle between love and loyalty, hearts—and kingdoms—hang in the balance. Brimming with high-stakes tension, epic romance, and unforgettable twists, this is the breathtaking conclusion fans have been waiting for. Over a million copies sold—don’t miss the fantasy phenomenon everyone’s talking about.
Return to the Shatter Me universe in Watch Me, the explosive first book in a brand-new spin-off series set ten years after Juliette and Warner’s rebellion. James Anderson infiltrates the secretive Ark Island—home of The Reestablishment—landing himself in a prison cell but closer than ever to the truth. Assassin Rosabelle Wolff follows orders without question—until James. With deadly secrets, slow-burn romance, and high-stakes rebellion, this globally bestselling, TikTok-favourite series asks: who are we when no one is watching? Perfect for fans of Powerless and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
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The Reappearance of Rachel Price
In The Reappearance of Rachel Price, 18-year-old Bel has lived her life overshadowed by her mother Rachel’s mysterious disappearance 16 years ago. The case resurfaces when the Price family agrees to a true crime documentary. Bel hopes the filming will end quickly, but everything changes when Rachel unexpectedly reappears, turning her world upside down. This gripping YA thriller from Holly Jackson, author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, has been shortlisted for several prestigious awards and was a bestseller in both the UK and the US.
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