I’ve always been a bit of a weirdo, but lately I have been extremely into weird books. Sadly, there aren’t nearly enough of them and no matter how hard I look I can’t find a list of weird books that are strictly YA and not contemporary. I can’t quite put my finger on what I mean by “weird” here other than a specific atmospheric quality, but I think each of these books speaks for itself. If you’re like me and love weirdness and YA, look no further than this list (unless it isn’t long enough and you need more to read, in which case keep looking).
WINTERSONG BY S. JAE-JONES
This book is definitely based on Labyrinth and if you’re a Labyrinth fan you’re already weird, so you’ll probably love it! Wintersong is for people who secretly shipped Jareth and Sarah despite the weird age difference and general creepiness of the Goblin King. There are spooky goblins, a creepy underground, and a lot of weirdness, but the Goblin King is very handsome, a bit weird, and of course, swoon-worthy.
HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS BY ERIN A. CRAIG
THIS. BOOK. I only read this very recently and it hasn’t been published yet, but I promise you want to read this book! It’s a retelling and a ghost story and it’s just a weird, atmospheric masterpiece. This is the kind of book that you’re never really sure you can trust and it will keep you guessing until the very end.
THE COLD IS IN HER BONES BY PETERNELLE VAN ARSDALE
I fell in love with Peternelle van Arsdale when I read The Beast is an Animal last year (also a very weird book). The Cold Is in Her Bones is just as weird, but I loved it even more! This is a medusa retelling and has a very folktale feel about it, which adds to the strange atmosphere. There are snakes and curses and demons and it is AMAZING!
WILDER GIRLS BY RORY POWER
The cover of this book tells you everything you need to know about it. Every part of this book is original and I literally have nothing else to compare it to. It involves a weird disease that gives the girls of the island really, really awful symptoms and basically the entire island is out to get them. Think Annihilation, but YA. Read it.
SAWKILL GIRLS BY CLAIRE LEGRAND
I literally finished this last night and, while it’s not my favorite, it definitely belongs on this list. This book involves a monster on an island and the girls who come together to fight against it. There are so many things going on in this book, but the atmosphere is chilling and every part of it is weird from the monster to the romance.
THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN BY HOLLY BLACK
This one was recommended to me when I asked for more weird books and it definitely fits the list! I had only read a handful of other Holly Black books and I honestly wish everything she wrote was like this. The vampires were much closer to Lestat than Edward and the Coldtown was creepy and unique and I loved it! Of course, there’s also some vampire romance that I absolutely could do with more of.
CRUEL BEAUTY BY ROSAMUND HODGE
Cruel Beauty was one of the first Beauty and the Beast retellings I read and I was not prepared for how strange it was. I loved the dark, creepy atmosphere and the anti-hero that the author created. This book has magic and mythology and a lot of general weirdness. All of this author’s books are super weird, honestly. You should probably just go ahead and add them all to your TBR.
BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA BY APRIL GENEVIEVE TUCHOLKE
I did not know what I was getting into with this book, but I absolutely loved it! It’s about a girl who lives with her brother on a cliff and a mystery boy named River who comes into their lives. The town is creepy, the characters are weird, and the atmosphere the author creates is incredible. I still need to pick up the sequel, but she is definitely an auto-buy author. Her recent Beowulf retelling is pretty weird too.
BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO ME
(but that I haven’t read yet)
Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin
The Graces by Laure Eve
The Killing Jar by Jennifer Bosworth
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
A Room Away From the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma
Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton
Do you like weird books?
Are there any others you’d recommend?
Let me know in the comments!
Let me know in the comments!
