fbpx

Advertisement

These 10 New Young Adult Books Are Retellings Of Classic Novels

Image Credit: Pexels

Retellings aren’t just classic novels being re-written or even just updated to reflect modern times. When done well, movies like Clueless (a retelling of Emma) and 10 Things I Hate About You (a retelling of The Taming of the Shrew) become classics in their own right.

These 10 authors are hoping that their young adult novels bring something new to the conversation, and since they all have the jumping off point of well-worn, classic novels, you can feel smart when you read them, too.

10. The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

View this post on Instagram

Hello everyone💛 What are some of your recent favorite covers?😍 There are so many covers that I think are beautiful and one of them is The Last True Poets of The Sea! I love the design, it’s so pretty🥰 . Thank you so much @petejknapp for gifting me a copy of The Last True Poets of The Sea by @julia.k.drake 😊 #gifted . #thelasttruepoetsofthesea #bookstagram #cozyvibes #bookstagrammer #ofquietmoments #bookishlove #bookishlife #bookishgirl #booknerdigan #bibliophile #bookobsessed #totalbooknerd #bookdragon #flatlaystyle #bookaesthetic #bookgram #bookblogger #instareads

A post shared by Rebeca (Becky) (@booknerdbecky) on

A Retelling Of: Twelfth Night
Release Date: October 1, 2019

This queer take on a Shakespearian classic stars Violet Larkin, who is starting over without her brother, who is in treatment following a suicide attempt.

She finds herself in Lyric, Maine, a town founded by her great-great-grandmother after she was the sole survivor of a shipwreck.

Fellow treasure hunter and beautiful aspiring historian Sam joins her on a quest to find the wreck of the ship.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

9. Hood by Jenny Elder Moke

View this post on Instagram

I am SO THRILLED that School Library Journal gave HOOD a STARRED REVIEW!! Pre-order here: https://jennyeldermoke.com/books/ Full review: https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=hood . . . . . . . #authorsofinstagram #instabooks #booksofinstagram#bibliophile #bookish #bookworm #ireadya#igbooks #igreads #bookishfeatures #bookphoto#bookaddict #booklovers #booklove #yalit #authorlife #yabooks #yafiction #readersofinstagram #instareads #bookstagram #amwriting #Roaring20sDebut #Hood2020

A post shared by Jenny Elder Moke (@jennyeldermoke) on

A Retelling Of: Robin Hood
Release Date: June 9, 2020

This retelling is told from the perspective of Isabelle of Kirklees, the daughter of the infamous outlaw, when she finds herself on the wrong side of the crown.

Led by her mother, Marien, she sets off to find her father and also a place within his men as they fight, side-by-side, to protect everything they love.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

8. Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim

View this post on Instagram

What intrigues you about SCAVENGE THE STARS? If you've read it, what did you think? . . . I haven't read this one yet, but that will change soon! Because Disney was super nice and sent me an ARC. I figure I'll do a second updated Breakdown once I know all the deets, but for now, I wanted to highlight what I do know about this gem. First of all, it's a gender-swapped retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, aka one of my favorite books of all time. So honestly I was sold there. But there's also a diverse cast, hints of a potential hate-to-love romance (??? please???), and the magical-ness of Tara Sim, whose debut TIMEKEEPER is one of the cleverest fantasy stories I've ever read. Hitting shelves January 2020! Get hyped! . . . In SCAVENGE THE STARS, Amaya has been captive for years on a debtor's boat. But when she saves a mysterious man from drowning, instead of a longer sentence, the man offers her wealth, a new identity, and a chance to revenge herself on the man who destroyed her family–in exchange for helping him with his own revenge. Amaya digs deeper into the shadows of Moray, a city-state of fabulous wealth and seedy gamblers, and finds her paths crossing with the son of the very man she wants to destroy. The deeper her deception, the more she discovers about her own past, and the fewer people she can trust. . . . (Breakdowns are not reviews) #CJreads #CJsbookbreakdowns #book #books #bookworm #igbooks #bookstagram #bookishfeatures #bookstagramfeatures #bookishpics #instabooks #instareads #reader #booklove #booknerd #bookblogging #bookaholic #booksofinstagram #bookpics #scavengethestars #fantasy #ya #youngadult #thecountofmontecristo

A post shared by C.J. Listro (@sarcasmlemons) on

A Retelling Of: The Count of Monte Cristo
Release Date: January 7, 2020

This is a fantasy, but it contains all of the transformation, betrayal and revenge of the original.

This time, the main character is a countess named Amaya, whose revenge is complicated when she falls for the son of the man who enslaved her.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

7. Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

View this post on Instagram

📚❤️ @bloomsburyya ・・・ The Myth of Orpheus & Eurydice gets a modern retelling in @lilliamr's NEVER LOOK BACK. ✨ Eury comes to the Bronx as a girl haunted. Haunted by losing everything in Hurricane Maria–and by an evil spirit, Ato. She fully expects the tragedy that befell her and her family in Puerto Rico to catch up with her in New York. Yet, for a time, she can almost set this fear aside, because there's this boy . . . ✨ On sale in the US: September 1, 2020 On sale in AUS/NZ: December 1, 2020 #neverlookback #lilliamrivera #orpheusandeurydice #greekmythology #greekretelling #magicalrealism #yafantasy #standalonefantasy #mythologyretelling #authorsofinstagram #bloomsburypublishing #bloomsburyya #bookstagram #amreading #Bibliophile #Bookish #currentlyreading #YAfiction #ya #teenfiction #yabookstagram #booksta #bookcommunity #yareads #bookcommunity #booksofinsta #igreads #igbooks

A post shared by Lilliam Rivera (@lilliamr) on

A Retelling Of: Orpheus
Release Date: September 1, 2020

The charming Pheus and recent transplant Eury meet after losing everything in Hurricane Maria, but their relationship will only work if they can fight the demons determined to tear them apart.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

6. Off Script by Kate Watson

View this post on Instagram

What is your favorite Jane Austen book??? . I honestly love them all but my favorite is either Persuasion or North Hanger Abbey!!! I love reading modern day retellings of her books and today I’m featuring Off Script @katewatsonya! . This is a beautiful, heartfelt retelling of Emma that is so relevant for our day and age. This is the third book in the Mansfield Park series but each book can be read as a stand alone. . I have partnered with the author to giveaway one copy of the book! Check out the details below: . GIVEAWAY Enter to win a copy of Off Script TO ENTER – follow me, @katewatsonya, @fluxbooks and @storygramtours – tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry – visit @haley_and_her_books and repeat these steps RULES – Giveaway will end Jan 27th at midnight EST -INTERNATIONAL (as long as the book depository ships to you) – not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries . . . . . HASHTAGS #OffScripttour #OffScript #KateWatcon #FluxBooks #storygramtours #bookhoarder #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booknookstagram #booksofinstagram #homedesign #booknerdigans #lifestyle #bookphotography #booklove #bookishfeatures #becauseofreading #totalbooknerd #bookphoto #yafantasy #flatlay #flatlayforever #photooftheday #igreads #igbooks #retelling

A post shared by 🇺🇸Bridget🇺🇸 (@darkfaerietales_) on

A Retelling Of: Emma
Release Date: January 21, 2020

You might think you’re tired of Austen and Emma retellings (which, Clueless aside, are never as good as you want them to be), but this book might change your mind.

In it, starlet Emma Crawford returns to Manhattan after a semester of college determined to make all the right moves, but is derailed by a failed attempt to transform her assistant and (of course) a gorgeous man comes back into her life.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

5. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

View this post on Instagram

It's here! The LEGENDBORN Cover Reveal! 🌟⚔️❤️💙⚔️🌟 "Bree thinks her mother died in an accident, then she meets the Legendborn. King Arthur's knights. Demons. Hypnosis. Lies. To find her truth, she must fight their war." 😭😱 Not only do we have a cover, friends, we have a release date and pre-order links! LEGENDBORN will be out 9/15/20! And pre-order links are available at the link in my bio! It is HAPPENING!! Credit to @hillarydwilsonart for this fantastic illustration!!! Her art is absolutely phenomenal. 📚📚📚 #legendborn #readya #youngadultbooks #ya #youngadult #yalit #bookstagram #bookfestival #geekcommunity #booknerd #amrevising #amreading #amrevising #amwritingfantasy #amwriting #bookstagram #booklover #roaring20sdebut #sff #sffcon #authorlife #writerlife

A post shared by Tracy Deonn (@tracydeonn) on

A Retelling Of: King Arthur
Release Date: September 15, 2020

Every version of King Arthur is pretty much epic, and this one is full of promise.

Bree is thrown into the world of magic when she’s attacked by a demon, then learns about a secret society that exists to hunt them down.

Secrets float to the surface, Bree discovers latent talents of her own, and a magical war is brewing…delicious.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

4. Night Spinner by Addie Thorley

View this post on Instagram

♡Hi friends! What’s a Disney movie you love that doesn’t get much praise? . Thank you so much to @pagestreetpublishing for gifting me an arc of Night Spinner by @AddieThorley! Happy Book Birthday!♡ . ❥Who’s up for a great retelling?….Especially one about a fairytale that doesn’t get enough praise! When I found out this was a Hunchback of Notredame retelling.. yes please! Packed with action this will have you intrigued through and through. This is available now, check out the synopsis in the comments. ________________ ❥Gifted: One more chapter candle by @flickerwix Use VE10 to save on your #flickerwixflavors!♡ ________________⁣ #hyggebookstyle #betweencozymoments #currentlyreading #currentread #ilovebooks #bookphotography #booksandcoffee #mybeigelife #cozymood #cosy #flatlay #bibliophile #bookish #hygge #booksbooksbooks #bookphoto #somanybookssolittletime #flatlaystyle #flatlayout #roominspiration #myhyggehome #homedesign #bookoftheday #flatlayforever #pagestreetpublushing #nightspinner

A post shared by 𝚟 𝚊 𝚗 𝚎 𝚜 𝚜 𝚊| ʜʏɢɢᴇ ᴏʙsᴇssᴇᴅ (@ve_xo) on

A Retelling Of: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Release Date: February 11, 2020

The hunchback is one Enebish, a warrior who lives in a monastery to atone for her murderous loss of self control.

She’s given a second chance to return to the army, but only if she can track down the rebel Temujin.

She does, but then ends up facing another dilemma altogether.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

3. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

View this post on Instagram

so bold of me to switch this account to a Professional Author Setting and then not post anything author-y… well now I’m remedying that 🤪 . I’m almost done with pass pages, meaning the book is book-shaped! I’ve always loved seeing pictures from other authors with their whole file printed out, so since I’m working digitally, I decided to print just the first page and stick it onto a textbook for the insta. it’s a metaphor. a metaphor that I’m on instagram instead of writing my papers. I lugged out my Jane Austens because I don’t have my Shakespeares on me, and I swear its for the aesthetic, this isn’t an ad for Penguin (Simon & Schuster please forgive me you know I love you) . If you’re a new follower, the short pitch for this book is: Romeo & Juliet meets The Godfather in 1926 Shanghai, featuring rival gangs and a monster terrorising the city 🥀 more info in the link in my bio! #Roaring20sDebut #theseviolentdelights

A post shared by Chloe Gong (@thechloegong) on

A Retelling Of: Romeo and Juliet
Release Date: November 17, 2020

I don’t know about you, but I am always down for a R&J retelling.

This one is set in the world of 1920s gangsters, so I mean, count me the heck in.

It follows Juliette Cai, a former flapper and heir to the Scarlet Gang and her Romeo, Roma Montagev, mastermind of the rival gang.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

Get it from Amazon for $13.99, Barnes & Noble for $13.99, or at a local bookstore through Indiebound here.

2. Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin

View this post on Instagram

Happy Book Birthday to these lovely books and more…you can see them all on the blog today at BookCrushin.com or link in bio! ▫️ Tell me if you had to learn a weapon, which would you wield? ▫️ I’m just about finished Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin and whoa this book is FIRE! It’s the dark, feminist revenge fantasy we’ve all had…or maybe just some of us (I’m secretly a Sith shhh). Thanks so much to @wednesdaybooks for the advance copy and I can’t wait to write up a full review of this one. ▫️ Ps. Check trigger and content warnings on the authors website, and as always I’m available to say what reactions I had, so feel free to DM if you need me. ▫️ Also pictured is Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon – this is a contemporary retelling of Beauty & the Beast! Miss You Love You Hate You Bud by Abby Sher is a story about friendships and mental health. Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli is about an Olympic gymnast! So definitely check out these new releases and more! Don’t forget to add to your TBR! ▫️ #newreleasetuesday #foulisfair #hannahcapin #bookbirthday #yacontemporary #ontheblogtoday #yanewrelease #tbrpost #yalovin #ireadya #contemporaryromance #happybookbirthday #toberead #yaretellings #ilovebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksarelife #amreading #alwayswithabook #bookstagram #bookstack #bookspines #lovetoread #readingislife #readingissexy #instabooks #alwaysbereading #booklife #yabooks #bookcrushin

A post shared by Kelly~BookCrushin (@bookcrushin) on

A Retelling Of: Macbeth
Release Date: February 18, 2020

This ultimate revenge fantasy follows a group of friends looking to make a rapist pay.

Witchery and revenge and delights ensue – sometimes more than they bargained for.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

1. Ruinsong by Julia Ember

View this post on Instagram

Ruinsong has a cover!!! And the cover gods (@casacassie and @rubenireland) have blessed me!! You can read an exclusive excerpt over at @hypable !!https://www.hypable.com/ruinsong-cover-reveal-excerpt/ @ericsmithrocks @trishadeg @fiercereads #books #bookstagram #bookish #bookworm #booknerd #bookcover #coverreveal #ruinsong #cover #yalit #yabooks #fantasy #book #author #authorsofinstagram #authorlife #writerslife

A post shared by Julia Ember (@juliaemberya) on

A Retelling Of: The Phantom of the Opera
Release Date: November 20, 2020

Candace is a queen’s mage with a poisoned voice, but when a childhood friends arrives to convince her to turn to the rebellion, she’ll have to make a choice.

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

I’m going to have to give some of these a try – I actually love a good re-telling!

Did you put any of these on your to-be-read list? Tell us which ones sound great to you in the comments!