14 Captivating YA Thrillers To Read This Summer
by Dena McMurdie
Young adult thrillers are my latest addiction and I can’t get enough of them. Whether they’re exploring deep space, experimenting with monsters, or navigating private school politics, YA thrillers inevitably keep me turning pages well past my bedtime. Here are a few action-packed thrillers I’m obsessing over this summer.
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Wander in the Dark
Available from:Mardi Gras, murder, and messy family secrets collide in this fast-paced thriller from the author of The Black Queen. When a rich white girl invites Amir to take her home, then winds up dead, everyone assumes he’s a murderer. His estranged brother Marcel is the only person who can help him, and together, they dig up enough secrets to shock New Orleans to its core.
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The Party
Available from:No summer is complete without reading the latest Natasha Preston thriller! When Bessie and her friends head to a remote English castle for spring break, they expect to have the time of their lives. But their party takes a sinister turn when someone ends up dead. As a storm rolls in, the body count rises, and the teens realize they may never leave the party alive.
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The Color of a Lie
Available from:A tragedy forces Calvin’s family to relocate to a suburban town where his father insists they pretend they’re white. However, living a double life leads Calvin to the other side of town, where he can be himself. He makes new friends and uncovers a dark current of secrets running underneath the picture-perfect town.
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Nothing Bad Happens Here
Available from:An idyllic summer in Nantucket is just what Lucia needs, but when she discovers a dead teenager on the beach, her carefree summer gets turned on its head. As Lucia investigates the murder, she gets pulled into the glamorous world of three wealthy girls. But the more time she spends with her new friends, the more she suspects they’re connected to the murder. This chilling mystery is the perfect summer thriller!
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When the Bones Sing
Available from:Dovie can hear the bones of dead people singing and uses her ability to help the police find hikers who vanished in the Ozark mountains. When her best friend, Lo, tells her the spirits of the murdered hikers haunt him, they set out into the wilderness to find out who or what has been killing them. This spooky Southern thriller will keep you reading well past bedtime!
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Murder Between Friends
Available from:When Grace’s testimony put Henry’s brother, Jake, in jail for murder, their group of friends shattered. Now, Jake is walking free, and Grace is retracting her testimony. Henry, Grace, and their friend Ally must figure out what really happened before Jake’s new trial date — but the three former friends don’t know who or what to trust anymore.
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Difficult Girls
Available from:Greta takes a summer job at the local amusement park, where she immediately gets charmed by an enigmatic girl named Mercy. When Mercy vanishes, Greta goes looking for answers. But the deeper she digs into the sinister history of the amusement park, the more her own secrets threaten to expose her past. This spine-tingling thriller is a must-read!
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Such Charming Liars
Available from:A jewel heist, a murder, and several serial scammers collide at a billionaire’s birthday party in this novel from the author of One of Us Is Lying. When a body is found at the party, ex-step-siblings Kat and Liam team up to solve the murder and avoid becoming the next victims. This fast-paced heist thriller will keep YA readers glued to the page.
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The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Available from:If you loved A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, don’t miss this #1 New York Times bestselling novel by the same author. It’s about a girl named Bel whose mother vanished when she was a toddler. Now, her family is filming a true crime documentary about the disappearance when her mother suddenly reappears — alive. As Bel digs into her mother’s story, she makes a shocking discovery that changes everything.
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Liar’s Beach
Available from:Agatha Christie fans will love this modern YA reimagining of The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Linden isn’t rich but does his best to fit in when his boarding school friends invite him to spend the summer in Martha’s Vineyard. When someone drowns in the pool, Linden’s childhood friend, Holiday Proctor, decides to investigate. As she pieces together the clues, she peels back the layers of their friend group to reveal a deadly secret.
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Kill Her Twice
Available from:Travel back in time to the 1930s in Los Angeles’s Chinatown in this murder mystery from the bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl. Three sisters find the body of their famous former classmate and suspect foul play. But with the police unwilling to investigate, the sisters risk everything to discover what happened to their friend.
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Ride or Die
Available from:Loli is an adrenaline-seeking teen who never turns down a dare. So when a mysterious boy named X challenges her to a series of dares, she doesn’t hesitate to say yes. But each dare gets riskier than the last, and soon, their game of one-upping each other turns perilous. This fast-paced summer read is perfect for readers who want a fun, exhilarating thrill ride.
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The Counselors
Available from:Secrets, lies, and murder collide at a summer camp where Goldie works as a counselor. Her best friend goes to the lake one night, and the following day, a dead body turns up in the water. Goldie gets caught between wanting the truth about that night and wanting to protect her friend. If you love this book, grab a copy of Jessica Goodman’s other YA thriller, They’ll Never Catch Us.
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Lies You Never Told Me
Available from:A high school drama with a twist, this novel follows four teens through breakups, new love, and dark secrets. With plenty of surprises and disturbing elements, this book will keep you flying through the pages.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2025.