Looking for an unforgettable collection of the best YA books about sisters? As an award-winning author and longtime blogger about issue-driven YA fiction, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most emotionally honest stories about the joys, griefs, and complexities of the relationship between sisters.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen great novels in the roundup below. Each offers a unique perspective on this profound and beautiful relationship.
So which heartbreaking YA books about sisters should you read for next? Discover your next great read for National Sisters Day in this list. Be sure to bring some tissues.
The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess
Sister themes
Shared secrets, grief & healing
What it’s about
A grieving teen investigates the mystery surrounding her anorexic sister's suspicious and tragic accident.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It’s easier to think about food and the physical pain inside my body from not eating than the other pain of not having Kat. My sister would totally understand this. She would. As long as I’m connecting to her this way—our familiar, hungry old way—she’s with me.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Delinquent Hero
For readers who love great “tear-jerkers,” The Delinquent Hero offers a tragic and raw exploration of sisterhood, eating disorders, and devastating loss. If you’ve ever lost someone you love, this gripping YA novel speaks directly to the grief of saying goodbye.
At its core is Molly, desperate for answers after her older sister, Kat, lands in the hospital. Something is suspicious. The investigation unfolds in real time, peeling back layers of secrets, regrets, and the painful bond they’ve always shared. For Molly, reconnecting with Kat means slipping into their old patterns—the kind that consume and starve in equal measure.
"I'm not very hungry. I am, and I'm not. I am hollow, but this feeling seems less about food and more about Kat. At any rate, I do not want to eat."
What makes The Delinquent Hero truly unforgettable is its heart-wrenching puzzle—not just unraveling what happened that night, but understanding Kat herself. This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it forces you to feel every ache, every unanswered question, every regret, every desperate search for why.
I wholeheartedly recommend this heartbreaking YA book about sisters.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Sister Themes
Identity and coming of age
What it’s about
A teenage girl's secret love letters are accidentally mailed to the boys, forcing her to confront her past crushes and navigate unexpected romance.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I want to say yes, but I don't want to be with a boy whose heart belongs to somebody else. Just once, I want to be somebody else's first choice.” ― Jenny Han, quote from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Lara Jean is a super sweet adorable character, and even though the story seems like a common love triangle, there are enough twists to keep the pages turning. Plus, Lara Jean herself is such a star. She’s naive and on her own for the first time, and she’s making all kinds of mistakes. She’s basically a train wreck. I love her immensely. Two plot points surprised me, and I thought I had those wrapped up early on.
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, but I finished it in two sittings. Now I see why everyone’s been reading it! :-)
If you’re the last person on the planet to miss this one, you must go and read this comical YA book about dating.
The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Sister themes
Grief & healing
What it’s about
A beautiful novel about a grieving girl who falls in love with two boys: the cute new kid in school and her dead sister’s boyfriend.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“What kind of girl wants to kiss every boy at a funeral, wants to maul a guy in a tree after making out with her sister’s boyfriend the previous night? Speaking of which, what kind of girl makes out with her sister’s boyfriend, period?” ― Jandy Nelson from The Sky Is Everywhere
I love, love, loved this book! The writing is so lyrical, and the story is incredibly sad. It begins with protagonist Lennie, who is grieving the sudden death of her sister. Although Bailey is dead, the relationship between these siblings is very much alive on the pages of this novel. Lennie writes beautiful poems, and she spends time in their room and shares so many memories that I feel I know Bailey.
A charismatic new boy shows up at school, and Lennie ends up entering into 2 romances at the same time. This is the love triangle. One romance is with the new boy at school, and the other is with her dead sister’s grieving boyfriend. Sooner or later, she has to decide which one of these guys is the one she’s going to stick with. Oh, boy.
All of the characters are vivid, and the story is captivating. The creative visual aspect of the novel is also a nice touch; Lennie writes her poems on scraps and scatters them everywhere, and these appear at the beginning of chapters.
This book is another must-read for anyone looking for YA novels about sisters.
This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis
Sister themes
Supernatural sibling rivalry
What it’s about
A girl begins to sense the presence of her twin who was absorbed in the womb--and who is now trying to take control.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“All the stupid people I know are happy.” ― Mindy McGinnis from This Darkness Mine
What a disorienting and strange book!
Sasha Stone, high-achieving teen with a promising future in music, begins believing that she's sharing her body with a twin that she absorbed in her mother's womb. And, this twin sometimes takes over and does things. Things that Sasha herself would never do.
Well. Buckle up because this is a strange journey.
I began to believe that Sasha suffered from one type of mental illness, and that would explain this behavior and delusion. Then the plot took a hard left turn. And another. And in the end, I don't know WHAT happened. :-)
I love Mindy McGinnis books because she writes characters and stories that are unique. Nothing is cookie-cutter with her. In fact, Mindy MicGinnis 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! You won’t want to miss this unusual and also heartbreaking YA book about sisters.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Sister themes
Cat and mouse mystery, trauma
What it’s about
A girl leaves home and goes on a journey to seek justice against her sister’s killer.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I live in a place that's only good for leaving.” ― Courtney Summers from Sadie
Sadie knows who killed her younger sister.
She leaves home and goes on a journey to seek justice against her sister’s killer. She has plenty of personal reasons to hate him, and he deserves to die for his crimes.
This novel alternates between young Sadie, who is a missing teen, and a podcast show, where details of her disappearance are told through a series of interviews. I think I would have loved this book even more in audio format than paperback
Still, Sadie is a great read. The pacing increases as the story unfolds and Sadie gets closer and closer to her target. The conclusion to her quest for justice is a surprise. This heartbreaking YA book about sisters will stay with you long after the last page.
And if you’ve already read Sadie, be sure to check out my blog about Books You’ll Enjoy If You Liked Sadie.
Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
Sister themes
Supernatural sibling rescue
What it’s about
A teen girl and her friends embark on a journey to find a missing sister, but they encounter supernatural danger on “The Road.”
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I know Becca didn’t run away. That leaves one possibility and one impossibility, and I long for the impossible. Because if she isn’t dead, if she’s only been taken, she can be brought back.”― Kate Alice Marshall from Rules for Vanishing
Sara’s adopted sister Becca vanished a year ago.
Although everyone has given up the search, Sara is determined to find her because she believes Becca has gone into the woods and is lost on The Road. Sara convinces (tricks) a group of her friends to join her on this terrifying journey.
Not everyone comes home. Because at some point they break the rules:
Don’t leave the road.
Don’t let go.
Don’t follow other roads.
Rules for Vanishing is not a typical YA novel about sisters. It is dark, mysterious, creepy, and full of scary and supernatural stuff. I loved it and devoured it in a few days. The ending was an unexpected twist, especially because of the connection to Kate Alice Marshall’s other novel, Our Last Echoes, which I’d read first.
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Sister themes
Identity and loyalty, family bonds
What it’s about
A powerful story about a teen girl who falls for possessive and physically violent boyfriend after her sister runs away.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It's funny how someone's perception of you can be formed without you even knowing it.” ― Sarah Dessen from Dreamland
I've read a couple Sarah Dessen books that were "okay," but wow, this one really, really grabbed me!
It starts when Caitlin's sister, Cass, runs away. I knew the story was about relationship abuse, and I was expecting the runaway sibling, Cass, to be with a bad guy, but no. After she disappears, Caitlin falls for a guy named Rogerson who ends up being the abusive one. Caitlin's downward spiral is emotional, realistic, and heartbreaking. From the first time Rogerson hits her, I kept waiting for someone to intervene or for her to wake up, but it went on and on until the climactic moment when something had to shatter.
I felt really bad for Caitlin. She seemed invisible to everyone who supposedly loved her. She was hiding her pain in front of everyone. And people she loved kept leaving her: first her sister Cass and then her new friend Corinna.
The sibling relationship in this book is that Caitlin lives in the shadow of a “perfect” older sister, and the parents remain focused on Cass, so no one notices that Caitlin is in trouble. If you’re looking for a YA book about sisters with an unexpected plot, check this one out. I couldn’t put it down.
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
Sister themes
Identity and loyalty, family bonds
What it’s about
A prequel to popular We Were Liars shows that the Sinclairs have been liars from the beginning.
Why I Love It - Book Review
"They're doing just as I asked them to. As we Sinclairs always do. Pretending. Lying. Trying to have a good time.” ― E. Lockhart from Family of Liars
Lockhart's prequel to We Were Liars does not disappoint! The narrator, Carrie, tells the story of the summer of the boys' visit to the island, but long before those events, there are ominous hints of what is to come. In her early teen years, for example, Carrie's father insists on a surgery to break her jaw, and an infection sets in.
But Carrie bends to his will. She is a "credit to the family."
This novel has some brilliant symbolism, a few great twists, some predictable story-lines, and other unexpected turns. I finished in 4 days because the pages turned fast and furious. I had to know the secrets these liars were keeping.
The pages are full of great details about summertime on the island. The lemon hunt was very vivid, as well as the details about clothing, food, and the picnic table. Lockhart painted a vivid sense of place, siblings, and privilege.
Family of Liars definitely one of my new favorite YA books about sisters!
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
Sister themes
Identity and family bonds
What it’s about
Three siblings who are adopted by different parents at birth are reunited.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It took us fifteen years to find each other, but we still did! And sometimes, family hurts each other. But after that's done you bandage each other up, and you move on. Together. You've got us now, like it or not, and we've got you.” ― Robin Benway from Far from the Tree
Okay, I know this list is for heartbreaking YA books about sisters, but this book was so good it made me cry. As in, I had to leave the couch for tissues. Prepare yourself.
Grace, Maya, and Joaquin are siblings that were adopted to different parents as infants—except Joaquin wasn’t adopted. He went into foster care and had a harder time of things.
At 16, Grace finds herself pregnant and giving her baby up for adoption, which is the triggering event for reuniting these siblings and sending them on a search for their biological mom. In the process, they learn what it’s like to be family with one another as well.
This book won the National Book Award, and there’s a reason. If you haven’t read this one yet and you’re looking for great YA books about sisters, give it a look. You will not regret it!
The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow
Sister themes
Family dynamics and emotional complexity
What it’s about
A lovely YA novel about a girl hitting rock bottom and finding the way through recovery.
Why I Love It - Book 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 7-year-old little sister needs her more than ever, 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.
Her relationship with her little sister, Ricci, is sweet and integral to the story. The impact of Bella’s drinking and recovery hits Ricci as well.
If you're looking for a wonderful YA book about sisters, you must pick up Kathleen Glasgow's latest, The Glass Girl.
Bonus Round: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Sister themes
Complex family relationships and identity
What it’s about
Set in occupied France during WWII, two sisters contribute to the war effort in different ways, each heroic in its own right.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Vianne didn’t hesitate. She knew now that no one could be neutral—not anymore—and as afraid as she was of risking Sophie’s life, she was suddenly more afraid of letting her daughter grow up in a world where good people did nothing to stop evil, where a good woman could turn her back on a friend in need." ― Kristin Hannah from The Nightingale
The Nightingale starts slowly. It takes its time with characterization and setting, but when the Germans invade Paris, the plotting picks up and doesn't stop. Two sisters give their perspective on events as they unfold. Isabelle, the impulsive one, has a heroic story to tell about saving airmen, while her older sister Vianne takes another route that is ultimately heroic in its own right. These women have a complicated family relationship, both with each other and also with their father.
For the last 150 pages, I curled up and cried and cried. Not since Elie Wiesel's "Night" have I been so horrified by the atrocities that the Nazis committed. Kristin Hannah does not flinch as she shows readers the brutality that Jews, French citizens, and allied fighters experienced during World War II. It's unfathomable that humans can inflict such evil on one another. That individuals rose up with such courage is astonishing. Isabella was not even twenty years old when she began her fight. Her sister had much more to lose, as did all the other French citizens who found ways to resist, to save Jewish children as their parents were forced onto trains, and all the others who didn't give up even with starvation, sickness, cold, and great loss.
If you're looking for a sweeping, moving, and inspiring historical novel about sisters, be sure to give The Nightingale a look. It's one of those books that will keep me thinking for a long time.
Other Heartbreaking YA Books about Sisters
If you are looking other heartbreaking YA books about sisters, check out the Sisters Fiction Books and Sisters Book Lists on Goodreads. You can also check out my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books, including Great YA Books about Siblings.
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.
