UKYA Books That Should Be On Your TBR
It’s no surprise to anyone that YA books are my favourite. The vast majority of my reviews are on YA books. However, I do find that a lot of the books I read are from US authors. I’m actively trying to promote more authors from my home country, the UK. So here are 5 UKYA authors I think you should give a go. If they’re not published in your country remember that you can order their books on The Book Depository that has free shipping to most countries.
This list was so incredibly difficult to narrow down to five so you may find another UKYA post coming your way soon.
Holly Bourne
I can never think of UKYA without thinking of the Queen of UKYA Contemporary, Holly Bourne. Everyone who reads this blog regularly will know I don’t actually read Contemporary much but I absolutely adore all of Holly’s books. Both YA and her Adult books. I love her. One of my personal favourites is Am I Normal Yet, which follows a teenager living with OCD and she suffers a relapse. It’s such a real and raw insight into the condition. It’s a phenomenal read.
Non Pratt
Another UKYA Contemporary writer here that I just adore. Non Pratt writes about such hard hitting issues, in such a beautiful way. I love all of her books but my favourite remains to be her debut, Trouble. A very raw and real insight into teen pregnancy. Including what it’s like when all of your friends alienate you, call you a whore and you’re left trying to figure this all out alone. It’s such a heart-wrenching yet heartwarming read all at the same time.
Lauren James
Lauren James writes mainly YA Sci-fi and I love every single thing she has wrote. It was very difficult to pick just one of her books for this post but I initially went with her debut, The Next Together. This book absolutely stole my heart and blew me away when I read it. It follows two soulmates who keep getting torn apart and ending tragically, so they get reborn over and over again. This is such a stunning romance with so much reincarnation and I loved every single moment of it.
Catherine Doyle
Catherine Doyle is a stunning UKYA author who wrote an incredible Mafia-style romantic suspense series, Vendetta, but for a YA audience. I’ve never come across any other Mafia type books for young adults so this is a very unique series to me. I loved every single second of the whole trilogy. It’s just incredible. Her other series have focused towards more of a middle grade audience but I am preying she returns to YA soon so I can obsess over her new work like I did this one.
Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson is a UKYA author I only discovered a few years ago. Her debut A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder released in 2019 and I absolutely devoured it. It’s a YA Thriller and it’s told in such a unique way, I recommend it to everyone. It had me on the edge of my seat guessing ‘who dunnit’ all the way through. It was incredible.
Do you read any UKYA authors? Who are your favourites?
K-Books
I’m Kayleigh, a teacher and blogger who is obsessed with all things bookish. I love reading YA books of all genres and I am happiest when sharing my love and passion for books.