20 Awesome Book Series for Teens, Whether They’re Into Romance, the Supernatural or Adventure

• Best for ages 11+

This bestselling series centers around four friends and a pair of jeans that happens to fit them all perfectly. When the girls have to spend their first ever summer apart, they decide to let the pants travel between them. What follows is a heartwarming five-part series about friendship, love, family and what it means to grow up. Your teen will laugh, cry and possibly even learn some valuable life lessons along the way. And the good times don't have to end with the last page—the series was turned into two popular feature films starring America Ferrera, Alexis Bedel, Blake Lively and Amber Tamblyn. Family movie night, anyone?

• Best for ages 14+

A New York Times bestseller, this science-fiction adventure takes place in post-apocalyptic Chicago and features a dystopian plot that centers around morality and choice. Equal parts page-turner and conversation starter, this gripping series will keep teens hooked from start to finish—and once they’ve devoured all four books, they can revisit the thrills with any of the blockbuster movies based on ‘em.

• Best for ages 12+

Stephanie Meyer’s immensely popular Twilight saga is a vampire-themed fantasy series that serves up age-appropriate romance between star-crossed lovers and a whole lot of drama. This series-turned-movie franchise has a diehard fan base, and for good reason. Indeed, it’s hard not to become engrossed in this epic tale, which features compelling leads, supernatural threats and plenty of tough moral decisions that speak to the coming-of-age experience.

• Best for ages 13+

This romance series for young adults takes place in a dystopian, caste-based society, and involves a televised competition (a la The Bachelor) called ‘The Selection’ in which women vye for the opportunity to lead a royal life with a prince for a husband. Being chosen to participate in the contest is all fun and fairytale-princess-games for most, but for lead character America Singer, who has fallen in love with someone of a lower caste, it’s a heart wrenching event that will put her values and loyalties to the test. Replete with romance, brimming with excitement and loaded with powerful socioeconomic themes—this one is smart and binge-worthy, to boot.

• Best for ages 9+

Percy Jackson must discover his true identity and harness his powers to fight off monsters in this action-packed fantasy series, which boasts relatable characters, plus a superhero storyline that’s inspired by Greek mythology and peppered with humor. This fast-paced and highly entertaining pick is guaranteed to hold the attention of even the most restless tween and teen readers.

• Best for ages 11+

Chances are you’ve heard of The Hunger Games already—namely because it’s a pioneer of the young adult dystopian genre that has enjoyed enduring popularity since its release in 2008 and earned the status of modern-day classic. Still, to summarize, this series has a dark and substantive storyline that revolves around a violent Gladiator-esque competition in which teens battle to the death for the entertainment of the public. Themes of classism, power, and inequality are prominently featured throughout, so it’s as much a thought-provoking social commentary as it is an exhilarating page-turner.

• Best for ages 12+

A gaggle of teens work together to conquer an ever-changing maze and secure their survival in this action-packed and mighty suspenseful book series. The Maze Runner is basically an escape room experience in book format, so you can expect plenty of thrills.

• Best for ages 16+

Celaena Sardothien, the main character of this fast-paced and imaginative book series, is an assassin-in-training and whistle-blower who fights for justice in a corrupt, fantasy kingdom. There’s romance, mystery and (yep, you guessed it) a strong female protagonist who’s sure to charm young adult readers.

• Best for ages 12+

Supernatural creatures abound in this story about Rose Hathaway, a fanged female protagonist, and her journey from newbie to pro level in the vampire world. Fans of fantasy will dive right into this series, which features highly relatable characters, a lot of fast-paced action and a little teenage love for good measure. In other words, this one checks all the boxes.

• Best for ages 14+

Werewolves, vampires and all kinds of supernatural creatures make an appearance in this captivating story, which follows the adventures of female protagonist Clary Fray as she navigates the secret world and protects ordinary humans from dark forces. Harry Potter fans will find their next fix here.

• Best for ages 11+

This celebrated, bestselling series from Philip Pullman is a modern fantasy classic that boasts an array of mythical creatures and a plot that centers around two ordinary kids and the many perils they face as they try to save the fate of their world and the parallel ones they encounter. Dreamlike, imaginative and laden with themes of friendship, identity and courage—this series manages intellectual merit without sacrificing digestibility.

• Best for ages 12+

J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous series requires little introduction. This classic, arguably the greatest fantasy trilogy of all time, is a truly epic adventure that’s full of magic, complexity and symbolism. Encourage your kid to steer clear of the movie franchise until they’ve finished the reading, lest the special effects dull their imagination.

• Best for ages 14+

Alex, the eldest of three Latinx sisters, is a bruja (witch) who doesn’t much care for her magical powers, but her attempt to rid herself of said powers results in the disappearance of her family and a magical adventure to retrieve them unfolds. Thus begins the trilogy, the first book of which (Labyrinth Lost) focuses on Alex, while subsequent books tell similarly fantastical stories of the other sisters. Breathtaking and enchanting from beginning to end, this family saga scores points for its strong female protagonists and particularly original storylines.

• Best for ages 13+

This graphic novel trilogy is an homage to the life and political work of late Congressman John Lewis, a co-creator of the series. Truly remarkable artwork brings history to life for the visually-oriented reader—and the content, which covers everything from Lewis’ childhood years in Alabama to his iconic leadership role in the Selma to Montgomery Marches, is a poignant and informative lesson on the civil rights movement.

• Best for ages 12+

Here, another graphic novel—this one a cultural phenomenon that began as an online comic before being published as a book and, later, turned into a totally binge-worthy Netflix series. Heartstopper is a tender, feel-good story about the friendship and romance between two teen boys. If you’re looking for a heartfelt read that addresses LGBTQ+ issues in an uplifting way, this one fits the bill.

• Best for ages 12+

Netflix cashed in on this teen romance series, too—but don’t let your kid spoil a truly delightful read with screen time, friends. The plot is so relatable (and mortifying) it could make a grown woman cringe: Young Lara Jean quiets her twitterpated heart by writing love letters to all her crushes at bedtime each night, but when the boys in question get a hold of these never-meant-to-be-seen sweet nothings, chaos ensues. Sweet, juicy and irresistibly charming—this series is bound to make the teen girl in your life blush and swoon.

• Best for ages 12+

This spirited and addicting three-part series is a clever reimagining of the classic Sherlock Holmes books, featuring a similarly brilliant and aloof male detective who works alongside Zoe Webster, a teenage girl who develops a baffling crush on him after unwittingly becoming his friend and sidekick. There’s a missing girl case to crack, and plenty of hilarity with which to wash down the suspense in this fast-paced, screwball detective trilogy.

• Best for ages 13+

Terrifyingly dark and impossible to put down, this dystopian thriller unfolds in a world where parents have the option to take their teenage children out of commission by harvesting their organs for a good cause—a practice known as “unwinding.” It is in this context that a band of friends with a singular mission to avoid their awful fate is formed. Macabre and oh-so riveting to read, this series boasts all the hair-raising excitement of a horror movie without the gratuitous gore.

• Best for ages 13+

Julie Kagawa leans into Japanese mythology to craft a breathtaking and artfully penned fantasy series that includes samurais, dragons, demons, humans and a mission to piece back together an ancient prayer scroll with magical powers. This work of whimsical storytelling is culturally rich and highly engaging to read.

• Best for ages 12+

Teens can really take a deep dive into this one—namely because this enchanting fantasy story has spawned a trilogy, two duologies and a Netflix show. There’s top-notch adventure, fast-paced action, heart-racing peril and sweeping romance on the menu in the gripping tale of soldier Alina Starkov and her intrepid trek across a shadowy, magical land full of creatures unknown.