Looking for an unforgettable collection of YA books about alcohol and drug abuse? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger about issue-driven YA fiction, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most impactful YA novels about tough topics like substance abuse and alcoholism in teens.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen great novels in the roundup below. I’m confident you’ll find something new to read for Alcohol Awareness Month or National Substance Abuse Prediction Month. The books in this list remind us that others have walked in similar paths, and healing is possible. I promise you’ll find something new to love here. Be sure to bring some tissues!
Drive to June by Khristina Chess
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Trauma & emotional coping
Substance
Alcohol
What It’s About
After sixteen months of quiet self-destruction, a girl drowning in grief and addiction is thrown a lifeline by an unexpected stranger—if she’s brave enough to take it.
Why I Love It - Review
“You do realize that a car is a mobile make-out location, right?” ― Khristina Chess from Drive to June.
What kind of girl drinks after a drunk driver kills her mom?
Sixteen months ago, Adrianna lost her mother. Since then, she’s been drowning her grief—one bottle at a time. With her father always away and her sister off at college, no one notices she’s slowly draining the wine collection and numbing herself to an awful secret she can’t face.
Now, she can’t quit.
Then one evening, a pizza delivery boy finds her crying on the roof of her house and offers to teach her how to drive—and somehow, that changes everything.
Wow—what a ride! Drive to June grabs you from the start and never lets go. It’s more than a story about alcohol abuse—it’s funny, romantic, and deeply emotional, unraveling the truth of grief, healing, and unexpected love. Adrianna and Ian’s chemistry is undeniable, and their growing connection makes this novel unforgettable.
A beautifully crafted novel, Drive to June has sparked conversations across book clubs and reader communities—solidifying its place as one of the most memorable YA books of the decade. If you are looking for an atypical YA book about alcohol abuse, Drive to June is an absolute must-read. In fact, Khristina Chess is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!
The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Recovery
Substance
Alcohol
What It’s About
A lovely YA novel about a girl hitting rock bottom and finding the way through recovery.
Why I Love It - Review
“Every morning when I wake up, I don’t think I’m going to make it. Or maybe I think that I don’t want to make it. I’m heavy with what I did the night before and I’m heavy with everything inside me and sometimes it is just too goddamn much to carry around.” ― Kathleen Glasgow from The Glass Girl
Everything Kathleen Glasgow writes is pure gold, and The Glass Girl is no exception.
Bella is a 15-year-old girl with a drinking problem. Her parents divorced and put her in the middle, and her beloved grandmother died, and her boyfriend broke up with her because she's "too much" (his words), and life really sucks except when she's drinking.
Bella hits bottom as most addicts do and finds herself in the hospital and then in rehab. Her journey through recovery and back to real life is not linear, and along the way, I fell in love with her and her pain. She's very authentic and young. There are moments when she shines so, so brightly, and I just wanted to hug her.
If you're looking for a wonderful YA book about teen alcoholism, you must pick up Kathleen Glasgow's latest, The Glass Girl.
Fix Me by Lisa M. Cronkhite
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Identity, trauma, & healing
Substance
"Fix" - a fictional hallucinogenic
What It’s About
To deal with emotional trauma, a girl becomes addicted to a hallucinogenic drug after the death of her sister.
Why I love it - Review
“I have to stop asking myself whether or not I'm going to make it through life and start reminding myself I already have.” ― Lisa M. Cronkhite from Fix Me
Fix Me starts as a simple story about a girl using drugs. The drug has properties that cause strange hallucinations, but lots of drugs do that. Pen is a realistic teen character dealing with addiction in that her mind is constantly thinking about Fix, thinking about quitting Fix or taking more Fix or worrying about what happened while she was on Fix, and all of that was very, very compelling.
But what was up with this Nate character? The intriguing mystery in the novel is a slow burn, but I thought the conclusion was worth the journey. I wish the mom hadn't been such a jerk. It happens.
Fix Me is a great book if you like reading about addiction and the complications surrounding drug use. It is also an important book about sibling grief as Pen's sister committed suicide, and Pen is still mourning that loss--as well as her dad--without any real support structure.
These are important topics that resonate with readers of all ages.
Swallow the Rainbow by Khristina Chess
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Trauma & emotional coping, cycles of addiction
Substance
Opioids
What It’s About
She survived the worst tornado in history—but now Savannah must survive what comes next: withdrawal, guilt, and the long road back to herself.
Why I Love It - Review
“That’s the thing about addiction. Now that I’m hooked, nothing else matters. Nothing. Not my mom, not Mr. Purrty, not the power outage, not my lack of clean clothes or showering, not the disaster surrounding us, not these kind people taking care of me, not my friends, nothing but the addiction”― Khristina Chess from Swallow the Rainbow
If you’ve ever loved someone with opioid an addiction—or suffer from one yourself—Swallow the Rainbow is for you. Savannah’s sharp, darkly unique perspective makes this more than just another teen addiction story—it’s raw, emotional, and beautifully crafted.
After the tornado, nothing is where it should be—not the roof, not the cat, not Savannah Young’s mother.
But that’s not the worst part.
The worst part is the empty pill bottle.
With roads blocked and power out across multiple counties, Savannah has no way to get more painkillers—and withdrawal is worse than any storm. As her neighborhood bands together to rebuild, she fights a more private war against opioid addiction, survivor’s guilt, and the wreckage of a past she thought she’d buried with her brother.
Wow—this book is unforgettable. Swallow the Rainbow grabs you from the first page and never lets go. If you’re looking for YA books featuring characters dealing with substance abuse, Swallow the Rainbow is an absolute must-read.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Consequences
Substance
Alcohol
What It’s About
A teen girl dies in a drunk driving accident and must relive her last day in this YA version of Groundhog Day with a twist.
Why I Love It - Review
“The last laugh, the last cup of coffee, the last sunset, the last time you jump through a sprinkler, or eat an ice-cream cone, or stick your tongue out to catch a snowflake. You just don’t know.” ― Lauren Oliver from Before I Fall
Samantha Kingston is dead.
In this YA-version of Groundhog Day, a “mean girl” gets a chance to relive her last day and the party she attended with her friends before the fatal car crash. She has an opportunity to make the same choices over and over, until she makes different ones.
This beautiful novel is a mystery about redemption. Samantha’s character arc really blew me away, and although I disliked her in the beginning, I was cheering for her by the end, and I love the way Lauren Oliver wrote the ending.
If you’re looking for an atypical book about teen alcohol abuse and its consequences, Before I Fall is worth a look.
The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Trauma & emotional coping, cycles of addiction
Substance
Alcohol
What It’s About
After her brother’s best friend sexually assaults her in her own bedroom, a girl descends into self-destructive drinking and other behaviors to cope with the trauma and secret she’s keeping.
Why I Love It - Review
“No, can’t cry. Because there’s nothing to cry about. Because it was just a dream. A bad dream. A nightmare. Not real. Not real. Not real. That’s what I keep thinking: NotRealNotRealNotReal. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Like a mantra. Like a prayer.” ― Amber Smith, quote from The Way I Used to Be
Fourteen-year-old Eden was raped by her brother’s best friend. In her own room. In her own bed.
Instead of telling anyone, she internalizes the trauma and begins a multi-year downward spiral of acting out, drinking, taking drugs, losing friends, and sleeping around. She’s no longer the “good girl” she used to be.
This book shows how a young girl can stay silent about rape for years, why it can be so hard to tell someone, and what it’s like to try to survive in silence.
The Way I Used to Be is a poignant YA book about alcohol abuse and sexual assault that can be hard to read because Eden’s pain makes her an unlikeable character at times, but this story is worthwhile.
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Consequences, cycles of addiction & recovery
Substance
Heroine
What It’s About
A powerful story of addiction and recovery after a teen girl wakes up to find all of her friends dead.
Why I Love It - Review
“When I wake up, all my friends are dead. I don’t know when they stopped breathing, or how long I slept while they dropped off one by one.” ― Mindy McGinnis, quote from Heroine
Those are the opening words of Heroine, the compelling novel about the slow slide of Mickey from Catalan from her position as a star student athlete to heroin addict. It begins with a terrible car accident and pain. Determine to make it back on the field, she uses the prescription painkillers to accelerate her recovery.
But then she’s out of pills and needs more.
What’s so compelling about Heroine is Mickey’s slow slide into addiction and her denial about her situation. She justifies every step of the way. The means justifies the ends, every time.
I did not watch my friends die.
I did not leave their bodies cooling in a basement.
I am not an addict.
Heroine is one of the best YA books featuring characters dealing with substance abuse that I’ve ever read. It’s real and raw, and I couldn’t look away. I really rooted for her to find a way to health.
You’re Be Home by Now by Kathleen Glasgow
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Family impacts
Substance
Opioids
What It’s About
A gripping YA story about substance abuse, siblings, unrequited love, bullying, finding one’s voice, friendship, hope, and so much more.
Why I Love It - Review
“Someone I used to know said that’s the problem with adults. They just see kids as they want them to be, what they aren’t, and not as they are. I think about that all the time. Like, how much time and pain and suffering could be eliminated if you just accepted the kid in front of you and stopped trying to fix them. Maybe there is no “fixing.” Maybe there is just heartbreak and love and trying to help them stay alive, whatever it takes.” ― Kathleen Glasgowe from You’d Be Home Now
Kathleen Glasgow knows how to make me cry.
You’d Be Home Now is a YA story about substance abuse, siblings, unrequited love, bullying, finding one’s voice, friendship, hope, and so much more. I couldn’t put it down.
Emory’s older brother Joey is struggling to recover from opioid addiction. Her overbearing mother assigns her the task of monitoring his progress, and when he stumbles, Emory tries to cover for him. Meanwhile, Emory is hooking up with the baseball star next door, and things have gone too far. She finds herself in a storm where everything—everything—is wrong!
I loved this book. I love all Kathleen Glasgow’s book. If you’re looking for a great read about siblings and substance abuse, this one’s for you.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Alcohol as social lubricant, consequences
Substance
Alcohol
What It’s About
A quiet boy at boarding school meets a charismatic girl, then loses her.
Why I Love It - Review
“There comes a time when we realize that our parents cannot save themselves or save us, that everyone who wades through time eventually gets dragged out to sea by the undertow-that, in short, we are all going.” ― John Green from Looking for Alaska
A quiet boy at boarding school meets a charismatic girl, then loses her.
Miles Halter goes away to boarding school, where he makes new friends, takes up drinking and smoking, breaks some rules, and meets a hot girl named Alaska Young. She’s the ringleader of the merry group’s adventures. She’s the one who can get alcohol and cigarettes.
She’s a bit wild.
Then one night while they’re all partying, she receives a phone call and takes off in her car. She never returns.
For a cautionary tale about alcohol and drug abuse, this award-winning story is a must-read.
Car Heroin Train by Virginia Austin
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Family & social impacts
Substance
Heroine
What It’s About
A recent college graduate goes in search of a girl, but the girl he finds is an opioid addict with real life problems.
Why I Love It - Review
This slim novel is a fast and unexpected read. The main story is about Evan, who leaves graduation in Chicago and travels to Buffalo to find a girl who survived the car crash that killed his father. He's looking for some closure. Instead, he meets a beautiful young woman who is a heroine addict and also a child. The child is an unexpected subplot, equally important, and a bit odd.
Although the viewpoint character is a recent college graduate (and therefore technically knocks this one outside the genre category), you should add this one to your list of YA books about drug abuse. It’s great.
The First True Thing by Claire Needell
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Recovery
Substance
Alcohol
What It’s About
A teen girl works through a recovery program as well as a mystery
Why I Love It - Review
“People sometimes go with their instincts. They have sympathy. They care about people. I think Martin learned something when he messed up. Like now he really knows he wants to be here. Like he actually knows why he’s here and what this Group is really for.” ― Claire Needelle from The First True Thing
The First True Thing is both a mystery and a book about a teen working through the hard parts of recovery.
The mystery is that Marcelle’s friend Hannah is missing, and Marcelle was the last person to hear from her. What happened? What should she do? And if she tells the truth, the whole truth, what does that mean for her friends?
Working through this dilemma is part of her recovery because lying, hiding, hanging out with people who aren't good for her are all behaviors associated with her drinking.
Books about people in recovery can be hard to read. Addiction and drug abuse makes people choose the wrong thing, and Marcelle does that before she chooses the right thing. Therapy and group can seem dull or even frustrating. However, the ending of her story was satisfying to me because she grew and made the positive steps she needed to make. I felt she was on a good track by the end.
If you’re looking for atypical YA books about alcohol and drug abuse, The First True Thing is definitely worth a look.
Opioid, Indiana by Brian Allen Carr
Themes in Addiction and Recovery
Family impacts
Substance
Opioids
What It’s About
A traumatized orphan looks for help from an uncle, who is a drug addict.
Why I Love It - Review
After reading Heroin by Mindy McGinnis, I wanted to find more YA novels about drug use, but this book isn't about that. Despite the title, this book really isn't about drug use at all.
Seventeen-year-old Riggle is living with his uncle and uncle's girlfriend in Indiana because both of his parents are dead. Riggle is definitely dealing with lingering grief and trauma resulting from the ways each of his parents died, and now his uncle--his only remaining relative--is also missing.
Riggle has a great voice and viewpoint. His story is short and tragic, but it ended leaving me with the feeling that something was missing. I wish the book had a different title, or I'd come to it with different expectations.
Other YA Books about Alcohol and Drug Abuse
In all of my recommendations, alcohol and substance abuse plays a role in the story, but it is not the primary plot element. There’s so much more going on. For more atypical YA books about alcohol and drug abuse, you will find some great lists on Goodreads (links): YA Drug & Substance Abuse Novels (59 Books) and Substance Abuse & Addiction (627 Books).
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which lists other reviews of YA contemporary books about tough topics for teens.
Author Bio
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
