Best YA Books of February 2025

Maeve spends her days living a life in secret, never using her real name and never staying in one place for too long. When she receives an unmarked, life-changing letter, she embarks on a magical quest to prove her father’s innocence. Equal parts mystery, fantasy and romance, this is a wildly imaginative story of one girl, alone in the world, ready to make a difference. 

The author of My Life with the Walter Boys and The Heartbreakers is back with another binge-worthy romance starring another member of the world’s hottest boy band. Swoony, sweet and sincere, Paper Hearts is a perfect ten.

As soon as girls come of age under faerie Queen Moryen, they must make a bargain with her — one that always comes with a cost. With the worldbuilding of Leigh Bardugo and the romantic tension of Holly Black, The Rose Bargain is the start of your next favorite duology.

In Pixie Hollow, season fairies stick to their own domains, never crossing their borders. When the centuries-old rule is broken, it’s up to one fairy to get things back on track. A warm and charming romance steeped in fairies, monsters and magic, this is perfect for anyone looking for more whimsy (and a little bit of pixie dust) in their reading life.

Everyone knows Lia and Beck are supposed to be together forever — so how is she supposed to move on with her life after his sudden death? For fans of A Thousand Boy Kisses and If Only I Had Told Her, this is a guaranteed tearjerker centered on a girl grappling with heartbreak and new love. 

Bestselling author of Unwind and Roxy is back with a biological thriller set in a world plagued by an evolved coronavirus with an unexpected symptom — happiness. Joy is rapidly spreading around the globe and the powers that be want it gone for good. Dystopian and dire, this is great for fans of Suzanne Collins and Scott Westerfeld.

Action-packed and thrilling with a touch of history, this is a sweeping mystery spanning past and present. Featuring three teens from three different periods, Under the Same Stars tells the heartfelt (and magical) story of the sacrifices they make in the name of a better world. 

Fans of The Cruel Prince and These Hollow Vows: we have your next read. Boy meets girl in a magical wood amid the start of a devastating war — what could go wrong? This is the forbidden fairy tale romance of our dreams (and the start of our next favorite series). 

The whirlwind story that left us reeling in Heartless Hunter continues with a witch, a witch hunter, and one impossible choice. Part cat-and-mouse chase, part enemies-to-lovers romance, this one will get your heart racing.

The Hunger Games has never looked better than it does in this boxed set. It’s all of Panem, all with stenciled edges, all in one deluxe package. Whether you’re already a fan or coming to this series fresh (oh, to be so lucky), this set is as gorgeous to look at as it is to read.