YA Royalty Books
If you have been following Jackie and me for a while, you know that The Selection is the book that brought us together. So you are probably not surprised that we love YA royalty books. I wanted to make a list of my favorites, including YA royal fantasy books.
Jackie and I go through reading phases. While I am always in the mood for books about royalty, the YA royalty book phase was real! Although these books are technically classified as YA, they do not feel childish. The storylines and conflicts are addictive, and the characters are fun.
These are my favorite YA royalty books. I hope you love them as much as I do.
The Best YA Royalty Books
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Fiction YA Royalty Book
A Queen’s Game by Katherine McGee – Jump to Section
Best YA Royal Fantasy Book
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton – Jump to Section
Best YA Dystopian YA Royalty Book
The Selection by Kiera Cass – Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Fiction YA Royalty Books
A Queen’s Game
Author: Katherine McGee
Year: 2024
Genre: Young Adult Historical Romance
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a YA historical romance that is based on the true events of 19th-century Europe. Three princesses: Alix of Hesse, Helen D’Orleans, and May of Teck will find themselves looking for love in the ballrooms of the Victorian era. Each woman is looking for a husband and it may not be the man their parents (or the Queen) want them to marry!
Why Kirsten loves it
American Royals is one of my favorite series so I knew I needed to read McGee’s first historical fiction story and boy was it a doozy! I felt for each of these ladies and their various love triangles… or hexagons? Honestly, their romances and potential matches overlapped so much that I’m not sure what shape they would make in the end!
I’ve long been a fan of historical fiction, but McGee made this story feel like the Gossip Girl version of real events. It got juicy and fun and damn would it make an excellent show! It’s Bridgerton for teens and I can’t recommend it more highly! The sequel is gonna be just as great!
Why Jackie loves it
I loved reading about three princesses in a royal love triangle that seemed more like a reality television show than based on real people. The story, the romance, and the love tangles were utterly unputdownable. I completely agree with Kirsten’s description of Bridgerton for teens.
Find this book in: Royal Reads / Best New Children’s Books of 2024 / Royal Romance Books / YA Royalty Books / Royal Historical Fiction
Tokyo Every After
Author: Emiko Jean
Year: 2021
Genre: YA Fiction
More info: YA Summer 2021 Reese’s Book Club Pick, Tokyo Ever After #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 13+
Plot
Izumi Tanaka does not feel like she fits in as a Japanese American in her mostly white California town. When she finds out that her unknown father is actually the crown prince of Japan, she is determined to meet him. When she travels to Japan to be with her dad, she’s overwhelmed by all the customs and traditions she knows so little about. There is also a sweet romance in the story where Izumi, now a princess, falls for her handsome bodyguard.
Why Kirsten loves it
What a fun quick book by Emiko Jean. This book was one part Princess Diaries and one part Crazy Rich Asians. It was an entertaining and light summer read that will satisfy your desire to escape into a royal getaway.
Find this book in: Best YA Romance Books / Beach Reads 2021 / Royal Reads / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2021 / Books Set in Japan / YA Royalty Books
Plot
This is an LGBTQ graphic novel that I read in a few hours. Prince Sebastian is a prince by day and Princess Crystallia by night. The only one who knows his secret is his seamstress who hopes to make a name for herself with her fashion.
Trigger Warnings
Homophobia, Transphobia
Why Jackie loves it
My son read it twice because he “loved the message that it’s okay to be yourself”. I don’t normally read graphic novels, but, I loved it!!! What a wonderfully inclusive, feel-good story.
Find this book in: Novels About Fashion / Best Books for 13-year-olds / YA Historical Fiction Books / YA Royalty Books / Royal Historical Fiction
Fantasy YA Royalty Books
The Belles
Author: Dhonielle Clayton
Year: 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: The Belles #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 13+
Plot
The people in the world of Orleans are devoid of natural beauty and need The Belles to use their magical treatments to be beautiful. The most powerful of the Belles is known as the favorite and works for the royal family to set trends and perform beauty treatments.
But what happens when a sick queen and a greedy princess have differing views on ruling the people of Orléans and The Belles of the world?
Trigger Warnings
Body shaming, Sexual assault
Why Kirsten loves it
I loved the first book. I finished it and immediately rushed into book 2. The world-building in this YA Fantasy was wonderful and the descriptions of the elaborate beauty treatments painted a vivid picture. The characters were flawed but wonderfully constructed and the teacup pets were adorable.
Find this book in: Books Like the Selection / YA Fantasy / Best Books for 13-year-olds / YA Royalty Books / Royal Fantasy Books
Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Year: 2015
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Red Queen #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 15+
Plot
In this world, those with red blood are common and those with silver blood are elite with superhuman abilities. In the war against Silvers and Reds, Mare Barrow is special. She’s a red blood with the abilities of a Silver. But how can that be? To cover the anomaly, she is brought into the King’s home, where it’s announced that she will be marrying one of the princes, Maven, with whom she begins to grow close. But she’s also attracted to Cal, the heir to the throne. As their attraction grows, so do the problems in the realm, and Mare’s knowledge of just how dangerous the world can be.
Why Kirsten loves it
I have been on some weird YA fantasy/sci-fi kick recently – which is funny because I had to be forced to read the Hunger Games. Now I can’t seem to stop! I’m sure I’ll switch gears this summer, but I love this young adult fantasy novel. The ending was a total shock! I couldn’t put it down.
Find this book in: Books like The Hunger Games / YA Romance fantasy books / Books like ACOTAR / YA Dystopian Novels / Books Like The Selection / Books with Red in the Title / Best YA Romance Books / Royal Romance Books
Ash Princess
Author: Laura Sebastian
Year: 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Book 1 of 3 Ash Princess
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Think Cinderella with a twist. When Princess Theodosia’s mother (the Queen) is killed, she is taken to live with the conquering family. She becomes the princess of ashes, donning a crown made of Ashes as a reminder of who she is.
Why Jackie loves it
I read this young adult fantasy novel in just two days and then passed it on to my son who loved it too. This is a great YA fantasy book about royals and the first in a trilogy series.
Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics / The Ultimate List of Books about Royalty / YA Royalty Books / Royal Fantasy Books
The Cruel Prince
Author: Holly Black
Year: 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: The Folk of Air #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
When Jude was seven years old, her parents were murdered and she was taken to live in the high court of the Faeries with her two sisters. Now, ten years later, Jude is living as a human among faeries and trying to find her place in Court. She must survive life as a human in Faerie.
But as civil war threatens, Jude will need to risk her life to save herself, her sisters, and Faerie.
If you are looking for books like A Court of Thorns and Roses, this pick is tamer but addictive as well. This series should be on your radar for books that are more appropriate for the younger YA audience as well.
Why Jackie loves it
This book is filled with angst, treachery, and drama that makes it completely addicting. I ordered the sequel the minute that I was done with this book, which is the first in a trilogy.
Find this book in: YA Fantasy Romance / Fae Books/ Books Like A Court of Thorns and Roses / YA Fantasy Series / Ultimate List of YA Fantasy / Enemies-to-lovers books / Royal Romance Books / YA Royalty Books
American Royals
Author: Katherine McGee
Year: 2019
Genre: YA Romance
More info: American Royals #1
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
What if George Washington had become America’s monarch instead of its president? How would his descendants be ruling the country today? I mean….what a fun plotline! That’s exactly what McGee imagines with this novel. We have Princess Bea, who will eventually become America’s first Queen, and her younger twin siblings, Princess Samantha and Prince Jefferson.
Each of them struggles in different ways with being royal in a modern world and trying to find real love in a political landscape dominated by the latest social media posts and scheming courtiers.
Why Kirsten loves it
This royal book was pure fun and honestly would make for a perfect beach read. The whole series kept me guessing like the latest episode of Gossip Girl as I waited to see how the royal family would carve their place in the new era. I can’t recommend this one more highly!
Find this book in: Royal Romance Books / College Romance Books / Royal Reads / YA Royalty Books
Dystopian YA Royalty Books
The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Year: 2013
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Romance
More info: The Selection #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 12+
Plot
This incredible series is so much fun – think The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor. It’s a reality TV royal match-making contest in a dystopian world. But in this case, the bachelor happens to be the future king. America Singer, our leading lady, is selected against all odds to be a contestant, forcing her to leave behind her love, Aspen.
When America meets Prince Maxon by mistake before the start of the show, she isn’t expecting to be so enamored with him. Should she try to win his heart or stay true to her love for Aspen?
Why Kirsten loves it
I love royal stories, romances, reality TV books, and high drama so this book was made for me! The covers of the series aren’t bad on the eyes either. This series was pure magic and just so fun.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of my favorite books about royals. It also happens to be the reason that Beyond the Bookends exists, but that is an entirely different story.
Find this book in: Books Like The Selection / Ultimate List of YA Fantasy / Books Like ACOTAR / Books Like the Hunger Games/ YA Dystopian Books / Fun Books for Teens / Best YA Romance Books / Books for 12-year-olds / Reality TV Novels
Royal Replicas
Author: Michael Pierce
Year: 2017
Genre: YA Sci-fi
More info: Royal Replicas #1
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Victoria has just learned that she and 6 other girls are clones created to replace the royal heir, Amelia. Now she must compete to win both her title and the hand of a prince.
Why Kirsten loves it
Talk about a guilty pleasure! I devoured this YA Fantasy book about royals in less than 24 hours. I couldn’t stay away and can’t wait to read the next books in the series.
Find this book in: Books Like the Selection / Royal Reads / YA Royalty Books
Expert Tip
Young adult books are typically written about characters who are between the ages of fifteen and twenty years old. YA books are typically appropriate for ages 12-14+. Jackie and I have found some books billed as YA that are not appropriate for those under the age of 18. There are some things to consider
- Most of the YA royalty books on this list have very little spice. There are some books that have two kisses. For us, this means that there is kissing and maybe references to behind the door scenes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a YA royalty book?
A young adult royalty book is a book where the main characters are between the ages of 15-20. These are books geared towards readers as young as 12. Jackie and I have read all the books on this list and have age recommendations for each book. But, as always, it is important to do your own research when deciding if a book is appropriate for you or a child.
Related Content
- Royal Fantasy Books
- Royal Mystery and Thrillers
- Royal Historical Fiction
- Royal Romance Books
