Summer book recommendations from 16-year-olds who love reading

Eight teenagers on a Greek holiday share their literature picks

Photo: Jenny Anderson

One of the weirdest things about raising kids in another country is losing familiar, ingrained rituals and traditions and adopting ones that are “normal” to the place you now call home. My kids will never go on Spring Break, or understand that very American feeling of the day before Thanksgiving, when my family would descend on Washington DC amidst the brilliantly changing leaves and falling temperatures of late Autumn. There’s no prom, and certainly no celebration around the independence of the US from, well, us (the Brits).

But their world is a wonderful one, filled with its own English rituals of half term breaks, walks in the rain, Guy Fawkes celebrations, a deep reverence for Spring flowers and Christmas done to the nines (starting in October, which is actually annoying). Many of the traditions of high school are related to exams, since exams form the backbone of the education system. As such, I wrote this in Greece where I travelled with eight 16-year-old girls on their post-GCSE trip.*

They were happy to blow off some serious steam and I was happy to see them unshackled from the marathon of studying which was their Spring and Summer. They swam in the sea, shopped in sweet Greek villages and, of course, adventured in the ways 16-year-old girls do. I was with two other moms who tagged along to make sure they didn’t die, and we all kept pinching ourselves: how lucky were we to have girls who worked hard and, now, could have fun? We all had a wonderful dinner towards the end of the trip, chatting about school and travels, books and exams, upcoming adventures and the complexity of social media and AI. They were delightful and funny and it was a nice reminder that for all the worries—and trust me, I have plenty —there is also joy. We need to lean into that joy when we see it: grab it, bottle it, pitch it back to them.

Quickly the conversation turned to books and I found myself thinking maybe some of you would appreciate a list of books from a group of teenagers from the UK, Pakistan, Japan, France, the US and Canada.

(*Privilege acknowledged.)

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

(Recommended by Aliya A.)

It’s a really fun page-turner that has a little bit of everything: some romance, mystery, suspense, friendship and teen spirit! It had a great twist as well. I’m not that fast a reader but I was so invested in the book I finished it in a day.

The Naturals is about a group of teens with ‘special talents’ (nothing magical though; for example one character is really good at reading emotions on people), who are enlisted by the FBI to work on cold cases. The story follows Cassie as she joins the team nicknamed ‘The Naturals.’ If you like criminal minds this is for you. Such a good book that is perfect for anyone 14-18 in my opinion, it doesn’t feel childish in any way but isn’t too mature. A very easy and fun read.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

(Recommended by Isabella N.)

Keeper of the Lost Cities is a fantastical story about Sophie Foster who discovers she is an elf (I know it sounds kooky but they’re not like Christmas elves) and leaves the human world to move to the Lost Cities. As Sophie gets more settled into the Lost Cities, she learns about why she was put into the human world and lurking problems within her seemingly perfect new home. Despite extremely wacky names, the characters are all hilarious (especially Keefe) and as the series goes on, the narrative and world develop so well that you will always be reaching for the next book. It is funny, relatable and engrossing and it will leave you wishing you too could move to the Lost Cities.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

(Recommened by Isabella N.)

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows the story of an actress (Evelyn Hugo) in Hollywood in the 1970s. Evelyn is smart, gutsy and admirably ruthless; she is flawed and manipulative but that makes the book all the more immersive as she (as well as the other characters) feel realistic, making the book enthralling. It gets interesting quickly and there are some crazy plot twists that will leave you staring at the wall in open-mouthed shock. This is probably a book you’ve heard of and been recommended many times but I promise, believe the hype! Also, if you enjoy this then check out Taylor Jenkins Reid’s other books (especially her more recent ones) as they are set in the same time frame and have equally incredible characters!

The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

(Recommended by Molly B.)

Imagine if the Greek gods were no myth, but as real and pervasive as the people you see every day. Then imagine being a child of a god, perpetually passing between the lives and problems of mortals and immortals. It is this challenging balance that Percy Jackson faces when he discovers he is the son of the all-powerful god of the sea, Poseidon, and is thrust on an all-endangering adventure with the icy, intellectual Annabeth and the innocent, incompetent Grover.

A perfect mix between an engaging, fantastical adventure story and a (mostly) factually accurate depiction of the Greek gods and their world from the renowned classicist and author Rick Riordan.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

(Recommended by Molly B.)

In a fantasy world where magic and crime run rampant, six outcasts attempt an impossible heist, with the author using their varying personalities and areas of expertise to create diverse, unique and constantly engaging characters and an exhilarating plot.

An easy-to-read yet engaging and powerful book, this would be a perfect next read for any lovers of fantasy and magic or crime and heists.

A whole lot of Murder Mysteries

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie: ingenious and well-deservedly famous.

Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens: Murder mysteries inspired by the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie; more accessible stories aimed at younger lovers of murder mysteries.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: part of a series, well-written and engaging. Soon to be a Netflix film starring Pierce Brosnan and others.

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz: slightly longer book for more committed murder mystery fans. Great concept and well-written.

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz: also part of a series. Ingeniously plays with the author’s own life and experiences while adding elements of fiction to entertaining and engaging effect.

A Bit of a Stretch by Chris Atkins

(Recommended by Aliya A.)

This is one of the few non fiction books I have read and loved to be honest. It’s a fascinating, engaging read that really sparked an interest in prison reform for me and thus politics. It’s easy to read and so interesting, my brother recommended it to me and I was slightly apprehensive about reading it since I thought it would be boring, but I could not be more wrong — now I recommend it to everyone I know!

In this book Chris Atkins recalls his time in Wandsworth Prison after having to serve time for a white collar crime. While he was in prison he made notes on so many niche things, riots, mental health, the black market in the prison, the different treatments of prisoners etc. I think the blurb is really good so have put below!

A shocking and darkly funny account of the reality of Britain's prisons.

Where can a tin of tuna buy you clean clothes? Which British education system struggles with 50% illiteracy? Where do teetotal Muslims attend AA meetings? Where is it easier to get 'spice' than paracetamol? Where does self-harm barely raise an eyebrow?

Welcome to Her Majesty's Prison Service, a creaking and surreal world that has been left to rot for decades in the shadows of polite society. Like most people, documentary-maker Chris Atkins didn't spend much time thinking about prisons. But after becoming embroiled in a dodgy scheme to fund his latest film, he was sent down for five years. His new home would be HMP Wandsworth, one of the oldest, largest, and most dysfunctional prisons in Europe.

Horrifying, moving, and darkly funny, this is the unvarnished depiction of what he found. With a cast of characters ranging from wily drug dealers to corrupt screws to senior officials bent on endless (and fruitless) reform, this is the reality behind the locked gates. Full of incredible and hilarious stories, A Bit of a Stretch reveals the true scale of our prison crisis and why it is costing us all.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

(Recommended by Ella B.)

This book follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman, a member of the Sinclair family, pre and post her accident of which she doesn’t remember the events. Having spent a summer at Beachwood Island and ending up in the water alone and nearly dead, she returns the next year to try and gather her memories, against the wishes of her family who refuse to help her. What she finds is worse than she could ever imagine…

This is an easy and gripping read with an excellent plot twist, written in an engaging way going back and forth between flashbacks and the present moment. It explores the complex issues of privilege, secrets, and social conflict in a gripping mystery/romance and is an unforgettable story.

The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis

(Recommended by Leila D.)

The Shards is a story of Bret, an elitist teenager dealing with his sexuality while keeping it from his friends along with the arrival of a mysterious new student called Robert Mallory, who swiftly befriends him. Bret develops a suspicion and theorizes a potential connection to a new serial killer known as ‘The Trawler’ who is murdering young girls. Bret becomes obsessed with the serial killer which allows themes of paranoia and mental turmoil to be explored.

When I read this book I honestly couldn’t put it down because of its eerie and raw detail, self-centred narration and blur between fiction and reality. The book is written as a semi auto-biographical narration where we only hear events solely from Bret’s narrow perspective, which removes other character detail, exposing a surprising psychological twist. I love this book because it almost feels as if some of this is real, which is absolutely a sign of great writing and an even better plot.

Fourth Wing Series by Rebecca Yarros

(Recommended by all the above!)

Fourth Wing follows Violet Sorrengail, who was supposed to be a quiet little scribe, but her mom—who’s this super scary general—forces her to join a deadly dragon-rider school called Basgiath. Everyone there is powerful and brutal, and they think Violet is too small and fragile to survive. But she’s secretly really smart and kind of a badass in her own way. There are dragons (yes, real dragons), insane trials, and people dying all the time. And then there’s Xaden Riorson, this super hot, mysterious guy who’s supposed to hate her, but there’s major tension between them and it’s so good.

As the series goes on, Violet gets stronger and starts uncovering dark secrets about the war and the people in charge, and nothing is what it seems. It’s not just about surviving school—it’s about figuring out who to trust, fighting for what’s right, and becoming a total legend. The romance gets even spicier, and the betrayals are insane. Every chapter ends with you screaming and needing the next book immediately. If you’re into magic, danger, enemies-to-lovers vibes, and girls who go from underdog to unstoppable, Fourth Wing is everything.