‘Tis the season…for new reads! Find the perfect gift for the reader in your life with Penguin Teen’s Holiday Gift Guide.
Scroll down to discover fantasy reads, swoony romances, award-winning fiction, bookish boxsets, and more.
For Fantasy Readers…
These Deadly Prophecies – A twisty, magic-infused murder mystery perfect for fans of Knives Out and The Inheritance Games.
The Encanto’s Daughter – A YA romantasy inspired by Filipino mythology, the first in an enchanting new duet by #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz. Now in paperback!
Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry – Weaving the familiar with the peculiar, this stunning tale of loss, triumph, friendship and magic, will remind readers everywhere that true heroes are made, not born—and when you’re never the chosen one, sometimes you have to choose yourself.
Heir – Prepare for a ruthless and romantic new fantasy from #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning author Sabaa Tahir that introduces a new generation of characters set in the same world as the unforgettable An Ember in the Ashes series.
Shadows of Perl – The dazzling romantic fantasy world of House of Marionne continues in this dark and deadly sequel full of forbidden magic, devastating lies, and broken hearts.
Fledgling – The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war.
For Readers of Realistic Fiction…
When the World Tips Over – The explosive new novel that brims with love, secrets, and enchantment by Jandy Nelson, Printz Award–winning and New York Times bestselling author of I’ll Give You the Sun.
Everything We Never Had – From the author of the National Book Award finalist Patron Saints of Nothing comes an emotionally charged, moving novel about four generations of Filipino American boys grappling with identity, masculinity, and their fraught father-son relationships.
Sync – From #1 NYTbestselling author Ellen Hopkins comes a new heartbreaking young adult novel in verse about twins separated in the foster care system and the different paths their lives take.
Just Another Epic Love Poem – Best friendship blossoms into something more in this gorgeously written queer literary romance.
Every Time You Hear That Song – Perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six, this queer coming-of-age story celebrates country music, complicated women, and living authentically.
Pick the Lock – From Michael L. Printz Award winner A.S. King, a weird and insightful new novel about a girl intent on picking the lock of her toxic family.
For Thriller & Mystery Readers…
Two Sides to Every Murder – Friday the 13th meets The Parent Trap in this propulsive YA thriller by the author of How to Survive Your Murder.
Heist Royale – The high-stakes sequel to Thieves’ Gambit, for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Ally Carter.
Under the Surface – An epic survival-thriller about four teens lost in the Paris catacombs. Now in paperback!
Kill Her Twice – From the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl comes a YA murder mystery noir set in 1930s Los Angeles’s Chinatown.
One Last Breath – The New York Times bestselling author of Dark & Shallow Lies delivers another chilling supernatural thriller filled with murder, romance, and a decades-long mystery that haunts a small Florida town.
Hearts Still Beating – An immersive and romantic post-apocalyptic sapphic novel perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland, Adam Silvera, and The Last of Us.
For Romance Readers…
Everything We Never Said – Dark romance, high stakes, and plot twists abound in this paperback original YA thriller.
The Davenports: More Than This – The anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller featuring escapist romance and a wealthy Black family in 1910s Chicago
Prince of the Palisades – Young Royals meets Red, White, and Royal Blue in this heart-pumping romance by award-winning author Julian Winters!
Exes & Foes – When two ex-best friends decide to hold a competition for the new girl’s heart, they don’t expect to fall for each other instead.
Wish You Weren’t Here – A summer camp enemies-to-lovers sapphic rom-com from Erin Baldwin!
Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts – A swoony contemporary romance from Adam Sass following a boy who is cursed to doom any romantic relationship—and the summer that changes everything.
For Readers of Graphic Novels…
The Ghostkeeper – Perfect for fans of everything from Lockwood & Co. to The Haunting of Hill House, this gothic graphic novel follows a young medium with the gift—or curse, as some might say—to communicate with the dead.
Punk Rock Karaoke – A debut graphic novel from Ignatz Award–winning and nationally syndicated cartoonist Bianca Xunise.
The Glass Scientists: Vol Two – The second book in the YA graphic novel series about star-crossed lovers and misunderstood monsters, which is already a webcomic phenomenon!
No Rules Tonight – From the creators of Banned Book Club comes a young adult graphic novel about unveiling secrets, confessing your crushes, and finding yourself: all in the mountains of South Korea on Christmas Eve.
Luminous Beings – Set over the course of a single day, Luminous Beings explores the many facets of friendship and love, the heavy burden of a well-kept secret, the boundless tenacity of the human spirit, and, yes, the furriest of all zombified mammals.
The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance – Gravity Falls meets Five Nights at Freddy’s in this thrilling lightly gothic YA graphic novel, for those who love a dash of camp and a dollop of darkness.
For Readers of Non-Fiction…
Bless the Blood – A searing debut YA poetry and essay collection about a Black cancer patient who faces medical racism after being diagnosed with leukemia in their early twenties, for fans of Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals and Laurie Halse Anderson’s Shout.
American Wings – From the acclaimed author of Flygirl and the bestselling author of Code Name Verity comes the thrilling and inspiring true story of the desegregation of the skies.
Black Girl You Are Atlas – A thoughtful celebration of Black girlhood by award-winning author and poet Renée Watson.
Pieces of a Girl – A raw and bold memoir about abuse and addiction, and the power of expression and community that helped Stephanie Kuehnert, the author of Ballads of Suburbia and regular Rookie contributor, survive and thrive.
Breathe – A graphic guide to chest binding with real-life stories and research-backed advice from bestselling Gender Queer author MAIA KOBABE and University of Michigan professor SARAH PEITZMEIER.
How to Survive Your Parents – Want to improve your relationship with your problematic parents? This honest and supportive guide, written by an experienced teen therapist, will help.
Paperback Favs!
The Outsiders – Over 50 years of an iconic classic! The international bestseller– a heroic story of friendship and belonging.
Fireborne – Game of Thrones meets Fourth Wing in a debut young adult fantasy that’s full of rivalry, romance . . . and dragons.
Hotel Magnifique – For fans of Caraval and The Night Circus, this decadent and darkly enchanting YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel, follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.
The Last Girls Standing – This queer YA psychological thriller from the author of Some Girls Do is now in paperback, featuring a glow-in-the-dark cover!
The Legacies – A glitzy YA thriller set in New York City elite social circles, filled with backstabbing and blackmail, twisty secrets, and a dead body, from New York Times bestselling author Jessica Goodman, now in paperback.
Bittersweet in the Hollow – Now in paperback, this beautifully dark and enthralling YA features a mysterious disappearance in a secluded Appalachian town.
Bookish Boxsets for Collectors…
An Ember in the Ashes Complete Series Paperback Box Set – Journey to the ruthless and romantic world of Sabaa Tahir’s New York Times bestselling fantasy series, An Ember in the Ashes quartet, available as a stunning paperback box set!
Vampire Academy Boxset – Enter the complete saga of the international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series with this 6-book boxed set!
The Jane Austen Gift Set – Rifle Paper Co. x Jane Austen classics in a beautiful 3-book boxed set, just in time for the holidays!
John Green: The Complete Collection – This iconic box set includes all of John Green’s bestselling novels—including Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, and Turtles All the Way Down!