I fell in love with young adult romance from the first time I read Twilight. Teenagers feel a first-time love so deeply—especially when there are life-and-death fantastical dangers surrounding them! I couldn’t get enough of these sci-fi/fantasy love stories, so I started writing my own. These picks are for YA fans who enjoy a sprinkling of magic or an epic space battle thrown in with their heart-pounding romance.
Stel Alaster can travel between parallel universes. But she never expected to fall for an infuriating boy from a different version of Earth. As she tries to unravel the mysteries behind her power, the fate of every world—and the fate of her heart—hangs in the balance.
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A love story for the ages, set inside of a giant spaceship! Amy wakes up from cryogenic sleep only to fall for a boy she was never supposed to meet… Add in great writing, a murder mystery, and the dark vacuum of space, and you’ve got every ingredient for a timeless young adult journey. Amy + Elder forever.
What if the Chosen One fell in love with his nemesis? I’d curl up with any Rainbow Rowell book, but the chemistry between Simon and Baz is second to none. Baz is the kind of bad boy you can’t help but swoon for. This book takes a fan fiction trope and turns it into an epic love story with so much heart.
A girl from the past meets a boy from the present—cue the historical details and atmospheric settings. Not every love story ends with a happily ever after, yet sometimes the most impossible attractions are also the most compelling. This book left me captivated even after the last page.
Lilac and Tarver barely escape a luxury spaceliner crash, only to end up trapped alone on an inhospitable planet. Tarver is one of those YA military heroes that makes the most jaded reader sigh with longing. He and Lilac clash immediately—fireworks!—and when they fall into each other’s arms (because of course they do), it’s so very satisfying.
Lea hunts werewolves to protect her village, and Henrik is…yep, you guessed it. But he’s also literally the boy from her dreams. The magnetic attraction between these two is unforgettable! My eyes were glued to the page through the last quarter, when war escalates and Lea finds allies—and new enemies—she never would’ve expected.
5,215 authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about interstellar travel, New York City, and survival.
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From Aaron's list on The best novels that combine science fiction and detective stories.
Asimov wrote this novel way back in 1953, after an editor insisted that mystery and science fiction were incompatible genres. While some aspects of the story are understandably dated, it shows a remarkable amount of creativity and imagination given the year it was written. It introduced the “buddy cop” trope, but with one human detective and a robot (R. Daneel Olivaw, one of the great sci-fi characters), who must abide by Asimov’s “Three Laws of Robotics”. Like all of Asimov’s work, it’s well-written, a great read, and, in my opinion, perhaps the true genesis of the Sci-Fi/Detective genre.
From Michael's list on The best apocalyptic books of all time.
This book has a unique take on the apocalyptic genre and the interest the story and characters offered.
In old New York, living in the tunnels of the ancient subway system, the book documents what might happen to those left to fend for themselves in a city whose social and political construct collapsed due to a violent strain of some virus. (Sound familiar?)
The way the female lead, Deuce, discovers this new world where the sun is a threat and the wide-open spaces, claustrophobic, is a testament to the way the author captured the character’s innocence. Aguirre expertly relates Deuce’s apprehension when discovering anything could be different from the darkness she’d grown up in.
From Terry's list on The best middle grade books that feature an adventurous journey.
Peak is a climbing addict in trouble with the law. But he gets to join his estranged father on an expedition to climb Mount Everest. The catch is that his dad just wants to use Peak as a promotion for his climbing company. Peak has to navigate complex relationships, all while trying not to die. I loved the adventure, but also the window into why so many risk it all to reach the top.
