The most recommended new adult fantasy books

Who picked these books? Meet our 88 experts.

88 authors created a book list connected to new adult fantasy, and here are their favorite new adult fantasy books.
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Book cover of Mr Breakfast

JL Civi Author Of Timely Persuasion

From JL's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Eclectic Weird Connector of dots

JL's 3 favorite reads in 2023

JL Civi Why did JL love this book?

Jonathan Carroll is my favorite author. Heā€™s also my wifeā€™s favorite. We lovingly bicker over who gets to read his books first whenever a new one is released, oftentimes ending up with two bookmarks as we alternate reading it at the same time.

Sixteen novels in, Carroll has perfected his take on magic realism, where anything can happen and itā€™s no big deal while always grounding the story in observational truisms such as ā€œYou can love someone and still think theyā€™re an idiot.ā€

I hope he has another book in him, and I hope it doesnā€™t take another 9 years.

By Jonathan Carroll,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Mr Breakfast as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From one of the great modern masters of the fantastic, ā€œA beautiful, brilliant, meditation on art, love, inspiration and what makes life worthwhile."-- Neil Gaiman

"[Carroll's] prose is spare, polished and quick-moving, sometimes lightly comic, always immensely engaging... Mr. Breakfast is pure pleasure to read. It will surprise you, make you laugh and scare you ā€” and then, just when you think itā€™s over, add several extra twists." - Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

Graham Pattersonā€™s life has hit a dead end. His career as a comedian is failing. The love of his life recently broke up with him andā€¦


Book cover of In the Lives of Puppets

Tyrolin Puxty Author Of Immortal Cells

From Tyrolin's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Singer Hypnotist Cat-lover

Tyrolin's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Tyrolin Puxty Why did Tyrolin love this book?

I totally took a risk when I bought this book. Robots? Gay romance? Dystopian future? Not my usual pick, but I had a feeling about it. Boy, am I glad I listened to my spidey-booky-senses, because this was so unique that I still find myself thinking about it.

Firstly, the characters were so fleshed-out that I feel as if I know them. In fact, I miss them. I miss imaginary characters. How bizarre is that? I laughed and I sympathised ā€“ a rarity for most characters.

The contrast between high-tech beings living in a secluded, untouched forest provided interesting imagery and the romance wasnā€™t soppy.

I donā€™t enjoy romance, but this didnā€™t throw it in the readerā€™s face. There was a connection, a spark, and that was it. None of the ā€˜dizzying headā€™ tropes.

This book taught me to take a risk on books you wouldnā€™t ordinarily read!

By TJ Klune,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked In the Lives of Puppets as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, In the Lives of Puppets is a queer retelling of the Pinocchio tale, inviting you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

'A deeply stirring journey through a world of extraordinary robots' - Chuck Tingle, Hugo-shortlisted author of Camp Damascus

In a small home, built into the branches of a tree, live a human named Victor and three robots. These are a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, a small vacuum desperate for love and attention, and a fatherly inventor-android namedā€¦


Book cover of Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Kerry O'Malley Cerra Author Of Make a Little Wave

From Kerry's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Kerry's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Kerry O'Malley Cerra Why did Kerry love this book?

It was thrilling to be back in this world once again. Admittedly, I was nervous when I read the prologue. I wasn't sure we'd be brought back to the island, and yet after finishing, I see the importance of why it was done. Again, the characters were the high point for me, but I also love how doing this right thing isn't always easy or clear.

As with the first, I truly hope this one is made into a movie.

I listened to this on audio and it's likely the best narration I've ever, EVER heard. Kudos to the reader.

By TJ Klune,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Somewhere Beyond the Sea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Featuring gorgeous gold color sprayed edges! Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the hugely-anticipated sequel to TJ Klune's TheHouse in the Cerulean Sea, one of the best-loved and best-selling fantasy novels of the past decade.

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

Heā€™s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his wholeā€¦


Book cover of A Story Spun in Scarlet

Kristin Ardis Author Of Smoke and Light

From Kristin's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Kristin's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Kristin Ardis Why did Kristin love this book?

This book was everything I wanted from a romantic fantasy. Swoon-worthy, no spice romance. A sweeping story full of adventure. Twists and turns to surprise and delight. It's a beautifully-written tale that I'd love to read again!

By Renee Dugan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Story Spun in Scarlet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY...



AUDRA JASHOWIN is a storyteller without a purpose.

When all the tales in the land of Mithra-Sha lost their endings, Audra fled from her family's rejection and the only home she ever knew. Now, with a sense of veiled danger haunting her heels and her life as devoid of direction as her stories, she arrives at long last in a city of fresh starts and second chances.


There, she finds an adventure greater than she ever dreamed.


JAIK GRISSOM might be the key to bringing back the power of all stories.


A simple farmhandā€¦


Book cover of Son of a Liche

Michael J. Sullivan Author Of Drumindor

From Michael's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Michael's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Michael J. Sullivan Why did Michael love this book?

Too many times fantasy books are too serious and dire. I've really enjoyed a number of satiric takes on the genre and not since Terry Pratchette have I been so entertained by the humor that was found in J. Zachary Pike's books - starting with Orconomics. I'm so glad the trilogy is complete and I'm looking forward to Dragonfired in 2025 - after a re-read starting with book #1.

By J. Zachary Pike,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Son of a Liche as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Someone You Can Build a Nest In

Caitlin Rozakis Author Of Dreadful

From my list on make you laugh and punch you in the feels.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve never been a fan of polemics or schmaltz. But that doesnā€™t mean I donā€™t want to learn or see new perspectives or feel deep feelings; I just think humor is the best way to get past peopleā€™s defenses. (All the better to sucker punch them in the feels.) I also think the world can be a pretty dark and scary place. I love books that give us hope, enough hope to have the courage to change what we can to make the world a little brighter.

Caitlin's book list on make you laugh and punch you in the feels

Caitlin Rozakis Why did Caitlin love this book?

Is it wrong to feel cozy while people are being digested by a monster? And yet. Shesheshen is a terrifying blob monster that has to eat and absorb people to use their bones to walk and talk.

She falls in love! Awww. She wants to lay her eggs in her love so they can feast on her belovedā€™s entrails. Ewww. This is straight-up horror. But it's somehow also funny and clever and heart-warming, even with all the murder.

I wanted to spend more time with Shesheshen, even though she probably would take the compliment by eating me for my shinbones.

By John Wiswell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Someone You Can Build a Nest In as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A Most-Anticipated Book of 2024: LitHub, Polygon, Apple, Goodreads

"Wiswell raises the bar on the outcast as protagonist . . . the ultimate monster slayer story, if the monster is just a misunderstood creature searching for love." - Kristi Chadwick, Library Journal (starred review)

Discover this creepy, charming monster-slaying fantasy romance-from the perspective of the monster-by Nebula Award-winning debut author John Wiswell

Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she's fallen in love.

Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by huntersā€¦


Book cover of Mr Breakfast
Book cover of Sistah Samurai
Book cover of In the Lives of Puppets

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