Social Proof

The best young adult audiobooks for listeners

Speechify is the #1 audio reader in the world. Get through books, docs, articles, PDFs, emails - anything you read - faster.

Featured In

forbes logocbs logotime magazine logonew york times logowall street logo
Listen to this article with Speechify!
Speechify

If you are looking for the best young adult audiobooks, here is a list you need to check out. These books have been dominating top lists for years.

If you are interested in the best YA audiobooks you can find today, here is a list you need to check out. Those that enjoy reading (or listening to) the New York Times bestsellers will adore each and every entry here. 

Benefits of audiobooks

Audiobooks can be quite helpful for those struggling with reading disabilities, visual impairment, or if they are just auditory learners. But even if they have no issues with reading, listening to audiobooks can allow them to multitask, and enjoy two things at once. 

Young adult books are for all ages

While the term “young adult” can refer to anyone between 18 and 25, this doesn’t mean that other people can’t enjoy reading these books. In fact, the most popular book series of all time, Harry Potter, is written for young adults. But everyone else enjoys reading them too. 

Skyward

Skyward was published in 2018, and it was written by Brandon Sanderson. And as you can probably expect. It is the first out of four books that make up the series. If you enjoy reading science fiction, this is something you need to read. 

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

The book was written by Mackenzi Lee, and it came out in 2017. After numerous prizes and praises, the book got two more sequels. This one is the first book in the Montague Siblings series. 

Scythe

Scythe is a novel by Neal Shusterman, and it is the first part of the Arc of Scythe series. The book is a combination of sci-fi, adventure, biopunk, and many other exciting genres. It tells a story of the dystopian future that will leave you craving for more. 

Illuminae

Illuminae is a space opera written by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It is the first of the Illuminae Files series, and there are two more books you should check out if you enjoy listening to this one. 

Code Name Verity

The book came out in 2012, and it was written by Elizabeth Wein. This historical fiction novel follows a group of people that became best friends during World War II. It tells a story of an unusual friendship in the Nazi-occupied France.  

The Hunger Games: Special Edition

Everyone has heard of the Hunger Games series by the bestselling author Suzanne Collins, and if you are a fan, you need to check out the Special Edition of the series. But even if this is your first contact with Katniss Everdeen, this is a great starting point. 

Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park is Rainbow Rowell’s debut novel, and it is a charming story set in the late eighties. It tells a story of a young girl and her new friend Park. These two sixteen-year-olds discover that they have a lot in common, and it is just the first step of their love story. 

The Poet X

The Poet X is a story about conflicts, growing up, poetry, and so much more. It was written by Elizabeth Acevedo, and it follows a young girl named Xiomara Batista living in Harlem. The Poet X comes from her nicknames Xio or X, and the novel received numerous awards. 

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give is an emotional story by Angie Thomas, and it was her debut novel. The story follows Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old girl from a poor neighborhood going to an elite school. Her life changes in an instant when she witnesses the murder of her friend. 

The audio version is narrated by Bahni Turpin. 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

The book was published in 2014, and it is the first in the series by Jenny Han. She was inspired to write a series based on her own experiences and crushes she had as a teenager. The novel received a film adaptation, and it came out in 2018 on Netflix. 

Dear Martin

Dear Martin is a debut novel by Nic Stone, and it came out as a reaction to murder of Jordan Davis in 2012. It is a story about Justyce McAllister, a high-school student living in Atlanta. 

After an unjustified arrest by a police officer, Justyce tries to understand his life in the political climate. 

The audio version of the book was narrated by Dion Graham. 

What If It's Us

What If It’s Us is a romantic comedy story about two teenage boys that fall for one another. In a series of unexpected events, they get to know more about themselves and their romantic interests. Each chapter alternates between these two main characters. 

The story was written by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. 

Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone came out in 2018, and it was written by Tomi Adeyemi. This was her debut novel, and it became an instant hit. The story follows Zélie Adebola and her quest to restore magic to the mystical kingdom of Orïsha.  

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz came out in 2012. The story is set in 1987 in Texas, and it follows two Mexican-American teenagers. It is a story about growing up, friendship, family, sexuality, and everyday struggles.  

An Ember in the Ashes

An Ember in the Ashes is a fantasy novel by Sabaa Tahir, and it was published in 2015. It is the first book in the series, and it is inspired by ancient Rome. The story follows a young woman named Laia, and her fight against the tyrannical regime of this fantasy land. 

The Raven Boys

The Raven Boys is the first book from the Raven Cycle, and it was written by Maggie Stiefvater. It is a delightful story about love and fantasy, and it is one of those books that you won’t be able to put down. 

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was written by Erika L. Sánchez, and it is a story about a young girl trying to come to terms with losing her sister. This YA book is full of heart and it is worth checking out. 

The Selection

The Selection is the first book in the series by Kiera Cass, and it is a dystopian story set in a future where people are divided into castes. America Singer is a Five, which is a caste reserved for artists (while Ones are elite), and it tells of her fight for a chance to live normally. 

The book was inspired by famous fairy tales, and it is a retelling of the well-known stories in her own way that breathes a new life into them . 

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.