You know me: I’m a huge YA contemporary reader and have been for, well, a long time, now. Since the holiday season is going to come bite us in the a** pretty soon (can you tell I’m not a fan?), I thought I’d compile one of these bookish gift guides for you all. Since I’m a contemporary fan, well… it only made sense to start with a basic gift guide to YA contemporary book lovers!
I hope you’ll enjoy my selection of books and, if you have any recommendations for any of the categories I mentioned (or other ones!), please feel free to mention them in comments!
This blog post contains affiliate links. If you buy something on my recommendation, I will receive a small commission. Purchasing via these links will not cost you any extra and will help me cover the costs of book blogging. You will find more info on my privacy policy and disclaimer pages. Thank you!
For the romance lovers
Bad at Love, Gabriela Martins
Daniel’s a rock star with a bad boy reputation. Sasha’s an aspiring journalist, in need of a scoop to make a name for herself. When these two meet, Sasha sees an opportunity to get close to Daniel and to get the story she needs…
Adorable blooming romance, Los Angeles setting, pansexual & demisexual representation, adorable characters: Bad at Love is overall a fantastic romance I 200% recommend!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
☂️ Also read: 10 of my Favorite Romances in YA Books
For the romantic & emotional ones
When the Stars Lead to You, Ronni Davis
I found this debut absolutely incredible and wish more people would read it.
Ashton broke Devin’s heart after an incredible summer together. Now that she finally feels like she’s healing, he shows up again at her school… It’s a story about falling in love for the first time, it’s about dealing with depression and loving someone with depression, it broke my heart and put it together again and for those loving an emotional read, you’ll love that one.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For the ones looking for a good ugly-cry
The Beauty That Remains, Ashley Woodfolk
I read the first page of this book and cried, so. If you’re looking for a good ugly-cry, I think this book’s the one.
The Beauty that Remains deals with death and grief: it follows three teenagers as they lost someone very close to them. It’s raw and tough to read at times, yet it’s also beautiful to follow these characters as they slowly try to heal, meet each other, find escape in their music. It’s beautiful and deserves more hype.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
☂️ You might be interested in: 10 YA Books That Will Make You Cry (I did)
For the ones loving a good laugh
Last Chance Books, Kelsey Rodkey
Last Chance Books is one of these rare YA contemporary reads that made me laugh out loud. Kelsey Rodkey writes such incredible books filled with heart and laughter and I’ll always recommend them.
This story is about a family-owned bookstore having to deal with a chain bookstore, Prologue, opening across the street. It’s about Madeline, determined to destroy that new competition and Jasper, working at Prologue and apparently determined to ruin her life. It’s filled with banter and books and heartwarming moments!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For the travelers
Destination Anywhere, Sara Barnard
Destination Anywhere made me want to book a plane ticket to Canada, so if you’re looking for a little escape, this is the book.
After really tough months at college, Peyton books a one way ticket to the other side of the world without telling anyone, leaving with just her backpack… It’s a beautiful story about finding yourself, about friendships and it makes you travel to so many beautiful places, as well. You’ll love it.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For the road trip lovers
Exactly Where You Need To Be, Amelia Diane Coombs
Florie’s OCD and her mother keeps her from doing a lot of things… but it’s not going to keep her from going on an unexpected road trip with her best friend (oh, and her brother a.k.a her forever-crush) to see her favorite podcast live.
I adore this book. It has everything I love: excellent mental health rep, friends to lovers, friendships, road trip sheneanigans… 200 % recommending this always.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
☂️ Also read: 10 Awesome YA Books About Road Trips To Feed Your Wanderlust
For the writers
Final Draft, Riley Redgate
This is the perfect book for all the writers out there. I felt called out by this one so many times, aerm.
It’s about Laila, whose creative writing teacher is suddenly replaced by a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist with absurd assignments. Suddenly, Laila’s forced out of her usual comfort zone, faced with the way her anxiety influences her writing life and so on. It has beautiful friendships as well and I just love it. An underrated gem!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For the gossips in your life
The Rumor Game, Dhonielle Clayton & Sona Charaipotra
The Rumor Game is an excellent contemporary read with a hint of mystery and friends, I was obsessed. It heavily deals with the way social media rumors start and build up, turning real lives upside down in the worst of ways.
In this story, we follow three teenagers: Bryn, whose reputation was destroyed over the last year ; Georgie, suddenly under the spotlight after a summer make-over and Cora, the IT-girl suddenly threatened. I loved these messy characters so much.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For thes ones enjoying darker YA contemporary books
Meat Market, Juno Dawson
Meat Market is the kind of book that just slaps you in the face.
It’s about Jana, scouted and suddenly catapulted to stardom in the fashion industry. It’s hard-hitting, terrifying, raw and yet addictive, as well. Not saying too much, but this book will certainly work for any fan of darker YA contemporary reads.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Blackwell’s
For the foodies
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, Laura Taylor Namey
When everything falls apart, Lila’s parents send her to one of their friends’ house in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. What Lila thinks will be a terrible summer away from home turns out to be a beautiful surprise…
It’s a heartwarming read with a soft romance, a whole lot of mouth-watering baking, self-discovery and I just adored it!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For the ones in a fandom
I Was Born For This, Alice Oseman
Angel’s one of the biggest fans of the Ark, a pop-rock trio of teenage boys she can’t wait to see live. Being part of this fandom has given her friends, dreams, a purpose.
Jimmy’s one Ark’s members and he suddenly feels like everything’s falling apart. This is the story about them meeting, it’s a story about fandom, internet friendships, anxiety disorder, it’s absolutely excellent and perfect for anyone who’s ever been part of a fandom.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
☂️ You might be interested in: 10 YA books about fandom you’ll love
For the ones putting their family above everything else
Far From the Tree, Robin Benway
Adopted at birth, Grace starts looking for her biological family after giving up her own baby for adoption. This book, friends, this book just broke my heart and put it together again and you all need to read it, okay.
It’s an absolutely wonderful story about family, finding yourself and where you fit in and YES, I cried and yes, I 200 % recommend it a thousand times.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For the music lovers
More than Maybe, Erin Hahn
Eighteen-years old Luke isn’t much for the spotlight, unlike his punk-rocker of a father. He’d rather write his own songs on his own and stay completely anonymous with his major, un-requited crush on Vada.
Vada’s a music blogger dreaming of Berkley’s prestigious music journalism program. When these two start getting closer, unexpected sparks fly… This is one of these adorable YA contemporary romances I fell for and I just loved how passionate these two characters are.
For the reality tv show lovers
All the Right Reasons, Bethany Mangle
If you love shows like The Bachelor, you should really have a LOT of fun reading All the Right Reasons. It’s about Cara, accidentally posting a rant about her father online that catches the attention of TV producers. She ends up being cast, with her mother, as the leads of a sort-of-Bachelor TV show. Her mother and her are supposed to pick the winning pair, between a long list of suitors and their kids.
This was overall such a fun read, with a great focus on mother-daughter relationship and a lot of TV show drama!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Blackwell’s
For the feminists
Not Here To Be Liked, Michelle Quach
Eliza Quan’s supposed to be the new editor in chief of her school’s newspaper. She’s the perfect candidate. And yet, when the ex-jock Len DiMartile suddenly decides to run for the job and wins, Eliza loses it. She spills her frustration in an essay that suddenly turns viral, inspiring an entire feminist movement at her school…
This is an excellent book that deserves ALL the love. It has incredible characters, feminism, great, complex family relationships and romance and I just loved it!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
☂️ Also read: 10 feminist books that will make you want to smash the patriarchy
For the brutally honest ones
If I’m Being Honest, Emily Wibberley & Austin-Siegemund-Broka
This book, this book has one of my favorite characters of ALL times, okay. Cameron’s the queen bee at her school and… she’s a bitch. Brutally honest, beautiful, talented. Yet, to win over her crush, she tries to tame herself and make amends with everyone she’s wronged…
This book is excellent, honestly. I loved Cameron and all of her flaws, I loved the soft romances and I just love it okay read it.
Find the book on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For the bookish ones
Recommended for You, Laura Silverman
I know a lot of books set in bookstores and such, but I wanted to recommend… Recommended For You today, because it’s such a fantastic and a little bit underrated gem, okay.
When the bookstore Shoshanna’s working in announces a holiday bonus to the person selling the most books, Shoshanna sees a great opportunity to finally repair her car, but the new hire, Jake, is also ready to fight for the bonus. This is such a fun, perfect holiday read with romance, great characters, family vibes and I just loved it!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
☂️ You might be interested in: 10 YA books with writing and bookish settings
For the overly ambitious ones
Today Tonight Tomorrow, Rachel Lynn Solomon
Today, Tonight, Tomorrow is the perfect academic-rivals-to-romance YA book okay. It’s about Rowan Roth and Neil McNair, competing for the valedictorian spot. When Neil wins, Rowan’s ready to take over their senior class game, Howl. In order to be the first, she has to (reluctantly) team up with Neil…
This is a story about two overachievers you’ll fall for, it’s filled with so much fun in Seattle, a blooming romance with excellent chemistry and I just, loved it okay.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For the anxious ones
One Way or Another, Kara McDowell
I think this little gem is a perfect gift for anyone struggling with anxiety and decision making. To this day, it’s still one of the most relatable books I’ve ever read okay.
It’s about Paige, paralyzed by indecision about her Christmas vacation. Going to New York with her mom, or to Fitz (her best friend and crush)’s family mountain cabin? Fate steps in and Paige’s life splits in two, allowing her to live these two holidays…
This book is such a sweet, endearing, perfect read for this time of the year.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
☂️ You might also be interested in: 10 YA books dealing with anxiety
For more YA book recommendations, check out these blog posts:
- My Must-Reads YA Contemporary Authors: A Quick Guide To The Ones I Adore
- 10 underrated ya contemporary books to add to your TBR
- 14 Great YA Books To Read Based on Your Favorite Romance Tropes (& My Thoughts On These Tropes)
📌 Pin 20 books to gift YA contemporary lovers on Pinterest!
Hours of work went into creating this blog post. If you enjoyed it, please consider tipping me on ko-fi 💛
Do you like gifting books? What are some YA contemporary books you love and would recommend as gifts?
Do you have any recommendations for me? I’d LOVE to hear them in comments!!
Twitter ☂️ Bookstagram ☂️Goodreads ☂️ Bloglovin’ ☂️ Support the blog
Subscribe to the newsletter for more book recommendations, exclusive intl giveaways, behind the scenes and more:
More Than Maybe and Far from the Tree are two favorites of mine. I still need to read Bad at Love. Great list!
I hope you’ll get a chance to read it soon, it was so lovely! Thank you so much! <3
I want to read most of these now ahhh I think my Christmas list just got a little longer 😉
So glad I Was Born For This was featured – it’s a favourite of mine that I don’t hear people talking about as much as Heartstopper! When The Stars Lead To You and Destination Anywhere are probably the ones that I’ll try to get first, wow they sound amazing! At this point I can barely read one of your posts without getting recommendations and books I desperately want to read – and this one will help me with my bookish gifts too! Thank you!
Happy reading!
Zoë
zbestbooks.blogspot.com
Ahh I’m so happy to hear that! 😀
I Was Born For This is cruelly underrated, when you compare it to Heartstopper, and it makes me so sad. I think it might be my favorite by Alice, so far! <3
I'm so, so happy I can make your TBR grow, thank you so much for stopping by and reading!! 🥺🥺
Such a great gift guide! ❤️I really need to read more books by Sara Barnard, I read A Quiet Kind of Thunder this year and loved it 🥰 Destination Anywhere sounds like so much fun! Of course, I also need to read Exactly Where You Need To Be 😊
Ah thank you so, so much, Caro! I LOVE Sara Barnard’s work so far, I need to get to all of her books! <3 AND YES, I have a feeling you'd adore Exactly Where You Need To Be :)