Our Fave Own Voices YA

When Dimple Met Rishi - Sandhya Menon

This is one of our all-time fave contemporary YA novels. The perfect summer read, this book is so adorable that we could not help but smile the whole way through. Also read: From Twinkle, With Love

The Wrath and the Dawn - Renee Ahdieh

A reimagining of the classic One Thousand and One Nights, this book is truly captivating. Shahrzad is totally kickass and we can’t help but get lost in the stories she tells. Also read: Flame in the Mist

The Belles - Dhonielle Clayton

The world of The Belles is a simply decadent and there is something completely entrancing about the splendour of it all. But perhaps what we love best is that the various Belles are all celebrated for their beauty regardless of their perceived ethnicity. With the sequel coming in 2019, we can’t wait to be entranced again. Also read: The Everlasting Rose (2019)

Mirage - Somaiya Daud

A twist on the classic fairytale of the Princess and the Pauper, Mirage is a stunning and lushly imagined young adult debut about a girl who is kidnapped and forced to become the body double for the princess of a ruthless empire. Even better – it is set in space.

Run Riot - Nikesh Shukla

Run Riot is an adrenaline-fueled, powerful YA novel about alienation, gentrification, community and young people taking charge of their own destiny. Nikesh describes the timely themes of youth helplessness and police brutality with such candour that we couldn’t help but be touched by this novel.

The Astonishing Colour of After - Emily X.R. Pan

Emily X.R. Pan’s novel explores a lot of difficult subjects but the way that she explores Life, loss, love and art is truly beautiful. Emily is passionate about diversity in YA and has said it is necessary so that writers of colour aren’t all labelled under one blanket in terms of writing style, and this definitely comes across in her work.

Girls of Paper and Fire - Natasha Ngan

The Date A Book team can’t stop talking about Girls of Paper and Fire at the moment. With a girl plucked out of an oppressive caste system, a forbidden romance and an explosive plot, this is a stunning novel that you simply won’t be able to put down.