Must-Read YA Books To Obsess Over in Fall 2025
by Dena McMurdie
The season for cooler weather, Halloween, and pumpkin spice-flavored everything has arrived! And so have dozens of exciting new young adult novels.
Fall is my favorite time of year, due in no small part to the fantastic selection of new books. I have two voracious teenage readers in my house, and we are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of these titles in stores. From thrillers and horror to romance and fantasy, here are the must-read young adult novels coming out this fall.
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Keep Your Friends Close
Buy from:When Chloe gets rejected from a secret society at her school, she is devastated. However, that changes when members of the society start dying. With a list of suspects as long as her arm, the culprit could be anyone. As the bodies pile up, Chloe digs through the school’s secrets and lies to expose the killer before she becomes the next victim.
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How Far I’ll Go
Buy from:Disney fans will love this alternate Moana story that explores what might have happened if she broke the heart of Te Fiti. With Maui gone and darkness overtaking the world, Moana teams up with another girl named Noe who claims to have a way to repair the heart. They set off on a whirlwind adventure through monster-infested realms, searching for the only thing that can save them: Te Fiti’s tears.
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When We Were Monsters
Buy from:Dark academia gets a creative twist with this thriller from the bestselling author of All the Bright Places. Set at a New England boarding school, a group of eight students attend an elite storytelling workshop where they push themselves creatively, intellectually, and homicidally. When the teacher ends up dead, the students must sort through a tangle of lies, motives, and rivalries to figure out who is behind the sinister crime.
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My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser
Buy from:Readers who enjoy history, family, and heartfelt journeys will love this companion novel to My Father, the Panda Killer. It’s about a boy named Paul who travels to Vietnam, searching for answers about his estranged mother. Readers also learn his mother’s story as she leaves her war-torn homeland decades earlier and travels to America. This dual-timeline story will captivate young adult readers until the very last page.
(On sale: 9/23/2025)
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The Weaver Bride
Buy from:Marriage, murder, and magic — oh, my! Lovett possesses a rare magic, but can only access it if she marries a wealthy husband called a “Weaver.” She forms an unlikely partnership with Eliot, the son of a prominent Weaver, to help her win a marriage competition. If she can solve the mystery behind his sister’s murder, he will ensure her a favorable marriage. This fantasy murder mystery will keep you guessing!
(On sale: 9/30/2025)
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You’ve Found Oliver
Buy from:If you loved the Sandra Bullock movie, The Lakehouse, add this YA romance to your fall reading list. After his best friend dies, Oliver continues to send text messages to his old number. When he calls the number and another boy answers, it ignites a romance that lifts Oliver’s spirits. However, when they try to meet in person, the boys realize they are living in different timelines.
(On sale: 9/30/2025)
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Zodiac Legacy
Buy from:If you love magical boarding schools, mystery, and paranormal creatures, you’ll want to read this series. In this sequel to Zodiac Rising, readers dive back into a fast-paced adventure where Evangenline and the other Descendants try to reclaim their power. With a dark force trailing after them, their people turning on each other, a friend captured by the enemy, and rumors of monsters roaming free, their time is running out.
(On sale: 10/7/2025)
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And the River Drags Her Down
Buy from:Sisterhood and necromancy combine in this slow-burn horror novel that every YA lover needs to read. When her sister dies, Soojin uses an ancient magic to bring her back from the dead. What starts as a joyful reunion takes a dark turn when other people start dying. Soon, Soojin realizes her resurrected sister is a more sinister, ruthless version of the girl she once knew.
(On sale: 10/7/2025)
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Angelica and the Bear Prince
Buy from:Graphic novel readers have been eagerly awaiting this book from the creator of The Magic Fish. It’s about Angelica, a girl suffering from severe burnout, who takes an internship at her local theater. She strikes up a text relationship with the boy who plays the bear character from the production. The two gradually fall for each other while they grapple with their individual challenges. Equally heart-wrenching and charming, this slice-of-life romance will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
(On sale: 10/7/2025)
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Last Chance Live!
Buy from:Reality television collides with death-row inmates in this one-of-a-kind young adult novel. Desperate to escape her death sentence, Eternity auditions for a reality show where death-row inmates compete for clemency. But there can only be one winner, and Eternity faces the impossible task of either betraying her new friends and sending them to their deaths or accepting that fate for herself.
(On sale: 10/7/2025)
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My Life as an Internet Novel Vol. 1
Buy from:Dani’s life gets turned upside-down when she wakes up as a side character in an internet novel. Now, several gorgeous boys vie for her best friend’s attention while Dani tries to avoid whatever disaster lies in wait for unremarkable side characters. But as plot twists pop up and characters go off-script, Dani suddenly isn’t sure she wants to leave the story after all.
(On sale: 10/14/2025)
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The Book of Dust: The Rose Field (Book of Dust, Volume 3)
Buy from:Mark your calendar for the release of the final volume in Philip Pullman’s Book of Dust trilogy! Lyra searches for her beloved daemon, Pan, while Malcolm searches for Lyra. Meanwhile, old and new threats arise, causing both Lyra and Malcolm to question their most deeply held beliefs. This book concludes this epic fantasy series that captured the hearts and minds of countless readers.
(On sale: 10/23/2025)
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The Library of Lost Girls
Buy from:When Gwen’s vibrant, adventurous sister returns from boarding school, she’s not the same girl. Suspicious that something bizarre happened, Gwen enrolls in the school herself. Not only does she uncover dark secrets lurking beneath the school’s strict rules, but she also discovers a mysterious library of books that nobody is allowed to read. Each book has a girl’s name on the spine, and Gwen thinks they hold the truth about what’s happening at the school.
(On sale: 10/28/2025)
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A Queen’s Match
Buy from:Dive back into the world of royal romance and political games with this sequel to A Queen’s Game. Follow three princesses as they fall in and out of love, win hearts, and lose their own. Hélène, Alix, and May have their eyes on their respective prizes. But new suitors and unexpected complications have them second-guessing the most critical decisions of their lives. This stunning duology is a must-read for fans of historical romance.
(On sale: 11/4/2025)
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The Fangirl Project
Buy from:Fans of The Kissing Booth will want to read Beth Reekles' newest rom-com. Hoping to transform her friendship with Jake into a romantic relationship, Cerys joins his online fantasy fandom. But what starts as a bid to win Jake’s affection takes a left turn when Cerys actually likes the fandom — and the mysterious boy who slides into her DMs.
(On sale: 11/4/2025)
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We Fell Apart
Buy from:Return to the world of We Were Liars with this twisty new thriller. Matilda’s estranged father invites her to spend the summer at his mansion on the beach. But when she arrives, he isn’t there. Instead, she finds her brother, his brooding friend, and a lot of unanswered questions. Crack this book open to get your fill of plot twists, turns, and surprises!
(On sale: 11/4/2025)
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The Obsession
Buy from:As the daughter of an influencer, Connie grew up in the spotlight of social media. So, when girls who resemble Connie start dying in her hometown, she realizes that a killer has her in their sights. Keep a flashlight close by because this hair-raising thriller will keep you up all night!
(On sale: 12/2/2025)
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Better in Black
Buy from:If you can’t get enough of the romances in the Shadowhunter Chronicles, then you’re in luck! This gorgeous book contains ten all-new romance stories featuring your favorite couples from the series. It also has a sneak peek into Cassandra Clare’s upcoming trilogy. This romantic short story collection is a must-have for every Shadowhunter fan!
(On sale: 12/2/2025)
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