Books by YA author Jenny Han

Jenny Han is young adult and children’s literature author from Richmond, Virginia. She’s written extensively on the themes of love, family relationships, and self-discovery, and her characters are more than relatable—they are friends to millions of young adults worldwide, and they continue to resonate with new readers every day.

Who is Jenny Han and her impressive rise as an author

Who is the woman behind beloved characters like Lara Jean Covey and Belly? Jenny Han was born to Korean-American parents in Richmond, Virginia, in 1980. An avid reader from an early age, she studied writing at the University of North Carolina and received her Master of Arts in Creative Writing from The New School.

Her authorial career began in 2006 with the publication of Shug, her first novel. The success of her debut propelled her to continue as a storyteller, and she soon graced the world with another novel, Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream, as well as her Summer I Turned Pretty and To All the Boys I’ve Loved series.

Han’s humorous and touching style resonated with readers immediately. With her novels garnering a sizeable following of loyal fans, Han came into the spotlight as a writer of realistic teenage characters and someone who understood young romance. In 2018, her To All the Boys I’ve Loved series was adapted into a movie by Netflix and cemented Han’s reputation as the leading force in young adult fiction.

Jenny Han’s impact on literature and entertainment

Jenny Han is one of the leading voices in young adult entertainment, especially literature. Ever since the publication of her first novel, Han has been pushing the limits of what young adult stories can achieve, proving that teenage romance and coming-of-age tales can be a worthy medium for serious storytelling.

Her To All the Boys I’ve Loved book series has been especially impactful. In addition to the critically acclaimed Netflix adaptation starring actress Lana Condor, the novels have been translated into multiple world languages, bringing Han’s tales to international audiences.

Last year, Han signed a partnership deal with Amazon Prime Video to adapt her The Summer I Turned Pretty novel into a new series starring actor Gavin Casalegno, which is already lined up to have a second season. Han will serve as a co-showrunner and executive producer with Gabrielle Stanton, one of the minds behind Grey’s Anatomy.

“Is it fun? Is it easy? Is it really worth it?”—ask yourself those questions before making decisions, says Han. Her novels definitely follow those tenets, and the entertainment industry loves them.

Jenny Han’s books

Han is a prolific author, having penned over ten novels over the course of fifteen years. Most of them have become recognizable parts of pop culture and merit a reading thanks to their relatable characters and heart-warming stories.

The Summer I Turned Pretty series

The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy is Han’s first venture beyond the stand-alone format. It follows the life of a teenage girl named Belly (played by Lola Tung in the Netflix adaptation) and her exploits at the beach house. She navigates her relationships with her mother, her brother, and her friends Conrad and Jeremiah as they face all the challenges of growing up together.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009)

The first part of the series, The Summer I Turned Pretty focuses on the pangs of first love, mother-daughter relationships, and coming of age. All the characters introduced in the novel have their own story to tell, and together, they weave an intricate net of all the difficulties we’ve all faced in our adolescence, including love triangles.

It’s Not Summer Without You (2010)

In It’s Not Summer Without You, Han picks up where she left off in the first volume in full force. This time, Belly has to face heartbreak and loss and learn how to make tough decisions alone. The style is as captivating as it was in book one, and the characters are even more complex.

We’ll Always Have Summer (2011)

In the final volume, Han wraps up Belly’s story and pitches her against some of the most difficult challenges of growing up. The novel touches on themes of loss and sadness but also new beginnings and redemption.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series

The New York Times bestselling series To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before fixed Han’s reputation as a bestselling author. It follows the story of a young girl, Lara Jean Song, who has a penchant for writing love letters that she never sends. Thanks to its charm, the series has spawned a movie adaptation and touched the hearts of millions worldwide.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2014)

In the first volume, we get to know Lara, a sixteen-year-old Asian American girl writing letters to her crushes who never receive them—until one accidentally does. Her secret out, Lara must learn how to reclaim control of her situation and come to terms with her feelings and the power they have over her life.

P.S. I Still Love You (2015)

In the sequel, Lara must learn how to cope with one of her crushes coming back into her life. She becomes the target of arrows of false rumors, has to figure out her first job, and learns how to make decisions for her future.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (2017)

In the third and final entry, Lara stands at the crossroads of her life. She must figure out what she wants to do, where she wants to go to college, and how to become her own person. The end of Lara’s tale is likely the most popular volume in the trilogy and one of the most satisfying conclusions in the young adult genre.

Fire with Fire (2018)

Fire with Fire is the second volume of the Burn for Burn trilogy, co-authored with Siobhan Vivian. It tells the story of Natasha, a teenage girl spending the summer with her grumpy, estranged dad. The summer may not be going so well, but Natasha soon meets Daniel, a boy who helps her come to grips with her role in the family.

Other novels in the series include Ashes to Ashes and Burn for Burn.

Why Jenny Han’s books stick out amongst other young adult authors

Jenny Han is most known for her storytelling and characters. Ever since her early days as an author, she’s been proving time and time again that she has a knack for telling stories that appeal to mass audiences, and the emotional depth displayed by her characters in each subsequent novel keeps justifying her place at the top of the young adult genre.

What truly sets Han apart from other authors is her ability to write adaptable stories. Her plots yield themselves to movie and TV scripts flawlessly, as the number of big-screen spinoffs her stories have generated testifies.

Listen to some of Jenny Han’s most popular works with Speechify audiobooks

Author Jenny Han is best known for her fiction work for young adults and children. Her most popular work is the novel trilogy titled The Summer I Turned Pretty, which was converted into a television series with the same name that premiered in 2022 and is still running. The readers quickly connected with Han’s style, which managed to be both funny and moving. Jenny Han is recognized as a prominent figure in the world of young adult entertainment, particularly in the field of books. During the course of fifteen years, Han has written more than ten novels, making him a very productive novelist. Listen to Jenny Han audiobooks on Speechify for a great experience.