Give us books, friends, and food (in that order) and we’ll be happy. And what’s something that could have all three? We’re talking book clubs, and the book club books worth discussing!
Interested in starting a book club? We got you. Need some questions to kick things off? We got you, part two. Want to join one that’s already formed? We got you part three: there are plenty of YA book clubs out there, including Barnes & Noble’s YA Book Club and Target’s Book Club. We’re also adding these great Book Club Kits with discussion questions and more for some of our favorite YA reads!
Want even more options? Book clubs can also be found on Goodreads via the “Groups” tab under “Community.” (We might recommend “Addicted to YA,” because, well, we are addicted.)
Basically? We just really love book clubs. Whether in person or online, they’re the perfect place to read great books with great book nerds, and dive deep dive into stories that really make you think. Need some recommendations? These contemporary stories are a fantastic place to start. Grab some friends, choose a book, and get started on your book club today.
35 Book Club Books
THAT WILL KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING
1. Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand, illustrated by Tara Anand
A powerful, must-read graphic novel about mental health through a South Asian lens. This story is as moving as its gorgeous illustrations, and will leave your book club with much to talk about!
This debut teen graphic novel from social media influencer Jyoti Chand and rising star illustrator Tara Anand follows one girl’s journey navigating high school and her mental health within a traditional South Asian family. Perfect for fans of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever and Tillie Walden’s Spinning.
All Nitasha’s parents want is for her to be the perfect Indian daughter—something she is decidedly not. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mom. They just don’t get that she’ll never be like her doctor older brother. To make matters worse, she’s never quite felt like she belongs at school either, and lately, her best friend, Ava, and her crush, Henry, seem to be more interested in the rich new girl than in her.
Alcohol takes the edge off, but when that doesn’t work, Nitasha turns to cutting. She can’t stop asking herself: Will she ever be enough for her friends or her family? Or even for herself?
This authentic and powerful teen graphic novel shines a light on how harmful the stigma of mental illness is and how lifesaving a community that is honest about mental health can be.
2. Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy
This heartfelt and hilarious story is also layers deep, diving into queer history, identity, and blooming where you’re planted. There’s no shortage of conversation topics with this one!
From Emmy Award winner Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye and #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a bighearted story about friendship, love—and discovering the secrets and beauty of your own hometown.
Sully is ready to get out of Hearst, Pennsylvania. With a fashion internship secured, the gender-nonconforming eighteen-year-old is trading in their stifling small town for the big city. Sully even sells their beloved car, to Bread—er, Brad—the most boring (and maybe only other) gay kid in town.
When Sully’s internship goes up in smoke, they’re trapped in Hearst with no cash—and no car. Desperate, they go to the thrift store, their personal sanctuary. There, they discover a vintage bag—like “put this baby in an airtight case at the MET” vintage. If Sully can authenticate it, the resale value would be enough for a new life in the city.
But when they begin to investigate, Sully finds themself haunted. Literally. With the ghost of Rufus, a drag performer from the fifties with no memory of how he died standing—no, floating—in their bedroom, Sully’s summer has a new purpose: 1) help this ghostly honey unlock his past and move on and 2) make bank—after all, the Real Real doesn’t take poltergeist purses.
With Rufus in tow, and Brad—who’s looking pretty scrumptious these days—playing chauffeur, Sully delves into the history of the town they’re so desperate to escape. Only to discover that there might be more to Hearst than they ever knew.
3. Run Like a Girl by Amaka Egbe
With themes of differences in cultural upbringings and misogynoir in sports, this YA debut is perfect for fans of books like Furia.
Dera Edwards knows her life is over when she’s shipped off to live with her estranged father in the middle of White Suburbia. To make matters worse, Dera learns that her new school doesn’t have a girls’ track team, shattering her dreams of getting a track scholarship and, one day, competing in the Olympics.
Not one to give up easily, Dera joins the boys’ team instead. But while she has the school administration’s blessing, her new teammates and classmates are less than welcoming. Between that and her frustratingly distant father, Dera is positive her junior year is ruined.
Just as she starts to accept her status as an outsider, Dera’s approached by her classmate Rosalyn, who wants to feature Dera’s story in her blog. Eager to change the narrative and spend more time with Rosalyn’s gorgeous cousin Gael—also known as one of the few teammates who will talk to her—Dera agrees.
But when she goes viral and gains attention across the state, Dera’s new notoriety opens the door for trolls both online and at school. Paired with her deteriorating relationship with her father, she soon finds everything to be too much. Will Dera be able to keep outrunning her problems, or will her dream be the very thing that derails her?
4. Leaving the Station by Jake Maia Arlow
The author of How to Excavate a Heart is back with another sapphic romance that will tug at your heartstrings, as main character Zoe explores gender and sexuality, faith, and relationships.
Nina LaCour meets Alyson Derrick in this cross-country journey of identity, love, and friendships as Zoe tries to figure out her life, one train stop at a time.
Zoe’s life has gone off the rails.
She banked on college being a fresh start, but instead she’s leaving for fall break with zero friends and an ex-boyfriend, the latter being a real shock considering she’s a lesbian.
On a cross-country train home, Zoe meets Oakley, who is also running away from her mistakes, and Zoe starts to wonder if they just might be able to help each other along before that train finally leaves the station.