I binge-read a new favorite author the same way I consume a great new series on Netflix: in multiples. Why have just one title when there are three by the same author? Or six? Or ten!
And with Kindle Unlimited, you have subscription access to the world’s library of books, audiobooks, and anything you want on any device you want to read it on, not just a Kindle but also your tablet or phone. You can walk and read with an audio book. Or drive and listen to one. You can binge your favorite authors all the time.
So what are the all-time best YA authors to binge on Kindle Unlimited? I have a list for you, and I promise that these binges are not series, although series are worthy binges in their own right. If you want to read The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, or Twilight, those classics are great binge-worthy collections, but the list below list focuses on those YA authors with standalone books that you can find on Kindle Unlimited.
Khristina Chess
If you’re looking for an author whose books will keep you hooked from page one, look no further—Khristina Chess is pure binge-reading gold.
With twelve gripping novels, Chess dives into tough, unfiltered topics—anorexia, self-harm, mental illness—yet always balances them with hope, wit, and often a touch of romance. Some of her books are raw, emotional journeys; others are pulse-pounding thrillers that will leave you breathless.
Take Junior Missing, a tense, steamy thriller about a runaway teen who gets caught in an abusive relationship with an older man—and soon realizes escape isn’t an option. Or The Delinquent Hero, a gut-wrenching mystery about sisterhood, eating disorders, and profound loss. And don’t forget Coywood Creek—part dystopian, part anxiety-driven psychological exploration—proof that Chess doesn’t fit neatly into any box.
It’s impossible to pick a favorite because every story is so unique, so immersive. But don’t just take my word for it—hundreds of Goodreads and Amazon reviewers rave about her binge-worthy books.
If you love YA fiction that grips your emotions, keeps you turning pages, and leaves you thinking long after the last chapter, Khristina Chess belongs on your Kindle Unlimited must-read list.
Kate Alice Marshall
If you’re looking for dark and creepy YA novels, read Kate Alice Marshall. I loved, loved, loved Rules for Vanishing and Our Last Echoes, which are deliciously eerie. After reading these two novels, I immediately put this author on my Amazon Follow list. Her wilderness survival novel, I Am Still Alive, is one of my personal favorites. From the beginning, this book grabbed me and didn’t let go!
Although I prefer her earlier books more than her more recent ones, all of her books are pretty amazing. I have binged all of them on Kindle Unlimited in the past, although if you only find some titles in Kindle or other formats, you might read more about why so many of your favorite authors are leaving Kindle Unlimited.
Mindy McGinnis
Mindy McGinnis writes tough topics with a twist. The Female of the Species, for example, is about rape but also a traumatized teen girl who turned into a killer because of what happened. Her novel Heroine is a deeply compelling look at opioid addiction. What drew me into Heroine was the main character’s slow-motion slide into addiction and her denial about her situation. She justified every step of the way.
If you pick up The Female of the Species, be sure to check out Be Not Far From Me while you’re at it. There’s a reason they’re frequently bought together.
Honestly, I have loved every one of her books. She has a rich and diverse library of YA novels to choose from (too many to show on this page). They’re unique and thrilling! They’re binge-worthy books for your Kindle.
Kathleen Glasgow
Kathleen Glasgow writes heart and soul like nobody I know. She makes me cry every time! Her characters really dig deep. In How to Make Friends with the Dark, I felt Tiger’s grief over her mom’s death in a way I never have in a novel before. It was real and honest. And so, so sad. You can see my full review in Which YA Books about Mother-Daughter Relationships Depict This Loving But Painful Dynamic.
In her highly popular novel, Girl in Pieces, which you can see my review in Which YA Books about Self-Harm and Cutting Should You Read Next, she introduces a character named Charlie that I genuinely worried about.
Kathleen Glasgow is one of the best YA authors to binge on your Kindle! Buy all of her books.
Laurie Halse Anderson
Another fantastic and classic author of issue-driven fiction is Laurie Halse Anderson. Her critically-acclaimed novel, Speak, about rape was my introduction to her work, and I worked my way through her titles about anorexia (Wintergirls), boys and masculinity (Twisted), and over-performance (Catalyst).
Although I said this list wasn’t about series, Anderson does have one; the first book is Chains, which addresses the issues of slavery and race in colonial America during the start of the Revolutionary War. Check these books out too!
Amazon reviewers also rate this author as one of the best YA authors to binge on Kindle Unlimited, and I agree! You can see my review of one of her most popular novels, Wintergirls, in my blog, Which YA Books about Eating Disorders Should You Read. Her critically-acclaimed novel, Speak, was also one of my favorites, and you can find my thoughts about it on Which Poignant YA Books about Rape and Sexual Assault Should You Read Next.
You definitely want to add Laurie Halse Anderson to your list of best YA authors to binge on Kindle Unlimited.
Jandy Nelson
I wish Jandy Nelson would write another book. Truly. I love, love, loved The Sky Is Everywhere and I’ll Give You the Sun. These wonderful YA novels about siblings, love, loss, and life are lyrical. Beautiful! The language is breathtaking. If you haven’t read them yet, do yourself a favor.
You can read my full review of The Sky Is Everywhere in Which YA Books Have Love Triangles in Unexpected Places.
E. Lockhart
If you like twisty, thrilling novels with secrets and unreliable narrators, E. Lockhart’s books might be for you. I discovered her first with We Were Liars, which was completely unexpected and surprising, and its prequel, Family of Liars, is just as amazing. You won’t be able to put either of them down! Genuine Fraud is a modern-day take on The Talented Mr. Ripley. E. Lockart is a must-have author to add to your list of best YA authors to binge on Kindle Unlimited.
John Green
Just in case you have somehow missed this author, let me introduce you to John Green. A co-worker told me about him at lunch one day; she was reading The Fault in Our Stars, a YA book and told me how wonderful it was. I picked it up. After reading that one, I read everything he’d ever written. Immediately. And I pre-ordered Turtles All the Way Down. John Green’s books are that good.
But don’t take my word for it. Check them out for yourself. I think you’ll agree he’s one of the all-time best YA authors to binge on Kindle Unlimited.
You can find my review of The Fault in Our Stars in my blog Which Heartbreaking YA Books about Star-Crossed Lovers Should You Read Next? In fact, another great author is in that list, Jennifer Niven.
Other YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited
Okay, here are some more binge-worthy Kindle Unlimited YA authors. These are authors I pre-order every time they publish something new (and authors, some of you are due for a new book…):
1. Angie Thomas – The Hate U Give and On the Come Up
2. Nicola Yoon – Everything Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star
3. Jennifer Niven - All the Bright Places, Breathless, and Holding Up the Universe.
If one of these authors doesn’t appeal, there are several lists about great Kindle Unlimited book reads, like Best Romantic YA Kindle Unlimited eBooks on Goodreads and Kindle Unlimited Fantasy and SciFi Favorites on Goodreads. You may also want to browse through Other Good Reads.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Do you have a favorite author to binge? Or a list worth sharing?
Khristina Chess is the award-winning author of several YA novels about troubled teens turning corners. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter as an active daily contributor in the #5amwritersclub.