5 YA Sci-Fi books you won’t be able to put down

Science fiction stands out as a genre that cleverly examines the laws of reality, introducing its readers to thought-provoking hypotheticals and innovative advancements. Sci-fi for young people can be especially gripping, as the characters must keep pace not only with the strange and often perilous worlds they inhabit, but with the universal challenges of coming of age. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in foreboding dystopian futures or swashbuckling steampunk adventures, the Libby app has you covered. Read on to discover five great sci-fi series that celebrate UK settings and authors.

HappyHead by Josh Silver

When Scottish teenager Sebastian Seaton is selected to participate in a 13-day retreat dedicated to improving teenage mental health, at first it seems like a perfect fit. Sebastian has been struggling with feelings of depression and anxiety related to challenging relationships with peers and the fact that he is secretly gay. However, he soon begins to suspect that the programme may have a sinister ulterior purpose - misgivings that are shared by another rebellious participant with whom Seb soon becomes close. Readers who become engrossed in the world of HappyHead can dive straight into the sequel, Dead Happy. 

Timekeeper by Tara Sim
🎧 Audiobook

In an alternate version of late-1800s London, time is controlled by clock towers linked to each town and city. 17-year-old Danny Hart is a Mechanic, tasked with the vital job of keeping the clocks running. But when the towers are sabotaged, he is launched into a high-stakes mystery with the fate of time in the balance. This book is perfect for anyone who loves steampunk, laden with mystery, romance, and rich world building. Keep reading with the next two books in the trilogy, Chainbreaker and Firestarter.

The Loop by Ben Oliver
🎧 Audiobook

Scottish author Ben Oliver offers up a dark, complex dystopia in his debut series. Luka Kane is a 16-year-old prisoner, granted stays of execution in exchange for agreeing to participate in scientific experiments for the benefit of the elite, cybernetically enhanced upper class. Luka and his fellow prisoners strive every day to persist in the face of brutal treatment - until a calamity outside the prison walls opens the door to a world of even greater chaos. Readers can continue the pulse-pounding action and narrative twists in the next two volumes, The Block and The Arc.

Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine
🎧 Audiobook

This Nebula award-winning novel reimagines an 1800s society full of fantastic technology and interplanetary travel. 17-year-old Arabella’s world is upended when her mother decides that London is more suitable for a young lady than their home on the colony of Mars. But after receiving devastating news and fearing more to come, Arabella hatches a plan to return to Mars as part of a ship’s crew. The journey sees her reckoning with privateers, threats of mutiny, and the dangers of keeping her identity hidden. The adventure continues in Arabella and the Battle of Venus and Arabella and the Traitor of Mars.

Songlight by Moira Buffini
🎧 Audiobook

This winner of the 2025 YA Book prize from English writer Moira Buffini features a post-apocalyptic Earth thousands of years in the future. Teenagers Elsa and Rye are no strangers to secrets. Not only are they dating (in defiance of their prescribed roles), they are both gifted with a telepathic ability called songlight. The government under which they live considers songlight to be an aberration, and the punishment for so-called ‘unhumans’ who wield it is severe. After Rye’s songlight is discovered, Elsa unites with others who are resistant to her country’s oppressive regime. Fans can also check out the newly released second novel, Torchfire, in ebook or audiobook. 

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