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Original poster

Books to grip a 16yr old boy?

37 replies

gerbo · 03/05/2026 11:43

My son has always quite enjoyed reading. He sometimes finds a series he likes, and follows it, then seems to not read for a while. (Revision/xbox are other pulls on his time!)

He recently really enjoyed Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir....

Can anyone recommend other page-turners for teen boys? (Not thinking too hard about then being literary classics; I just want him to keep enjoying reading.)

Thanks!

OP posts:
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Dappy777 · 09/05/2026 22:06

KeeleyJ · 06/05/2026 23:02

Asked my DH and he remembers reading the Ian Fleming James Bond books at that age.

Yes!! They’re surprisingly good.

How about Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide? The teenage boys I knew all seemed to love that.

Reader19 · 08/05/2026 19:05

Robert Harris books are excellent - gripping historical thrillers.
Novels by Kurt Vonnegut.
The novella Chess by Stefan Zweig.

chocolateaddictions · 06/05/2026 23:07

Different vibe but has he read Adrian Mole? My non reading 15yo really enjoyed them. But yours actually reads so you have more choice!

KeeleyJ · 06/05/2026 23:02

Asked my DH and he remembers reading the Ian Fleming James Bond books at that age.

HHCrochetDiva · 06/05/2026 17:39

@DoAWheelie I was just coming on to recommend Dungeon Crawler Carl, I’ve only recently discovered them, about to start book 3. They’re so good!! So much fun.
Also Ben Aaronovitch, Rivers of London
Jim Butcher, Dresden Files
Gormenghast

WinterFrogs · 06/05/2026 16:15

Another vote for Lee Childs' Jack Reacher.
Also recommend just letting him loose in a bookshop.

RausageSoul · 06/05/2026 15:56

My 16 yo used to read a lot when younger them stopped. Has recently enjoying hitchhikers guide to the galaxy and the other two

DoAWheelie · 06/05/2026 15:49

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Aliens turn up and turn the entire planet into an 18 level video game dungeon and if any human makes it to the 18th floor and kills the boss, they'll restore the planet and leave.

Carl enters with his ex girlfriends cat, who becomes sentient and they team up to take on the dungeon together. Amazing series, I've read it twice and I'm excited for book 8 coming out next week.

The audiobook is better than the physical books as the narrator is a real voice actor who does amazing different voices for every character.

Original poster
gerbo · 05/05/2026 21:28

Great ideas thanks everyone. I have a long list now!

OP posts:
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 05/05/2026 21:05

The ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ books by John Marsden. Not sure if people are aware of them here but they’re Aussie classics - about a bunch of teens camping in the bush when Australia is invaded, who become guerrilla / resistance fighters. Inhaled them as a teen

www.waterstones.com/book/the-tomorrow-series-tomorrow-when-the-war-began/john-marsden/9780857387332

AprilFlowersMay · 05/05/2026 13:15

The Rivers of London books.

IdRatherBeAtTheTheatre · 05/05/2026 11:50

Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Jasper Fforde, John Scalzi - funny writers who engage my teens.

If he's willing to try some non fiction my DS loved "What If?" and all others by Randall Munroe. He could try some Bill Bryson. "Dot Con" by James Vietch is funny. Also "Prisoners of Geography" (and sequels) and he got "This Way Up" for Christmas and enjoyed it.

This is a fun tool for exploring authors
https://www.literature-map.com/andy+weir

Authors similar to Andy Weir

https://www.literature-map.com/andy+weir

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 04/05/2026 16:16

Skulduggery pleasant is another one my son enjoys. Today he was also enthusing about the hitchhikers guide and the hobbit.

damemaggiescurledupperlip · 03/05/2026 23:24

The Reacher books by Lees Child

CypressGrove · 03/05/2026 23:18

My teens use booktok to find books in the genres they like.

shellyleppard · 03/05/2026 23:17

May I recommend Stephen king the dark tower series?? The first one is a bit dry but the second....wow it really moves fast. Also Percy Jackson series by rick Riordan had my teenage son enthralled at that age

Ophir · 03/05/2026 23:14

Mine loved The Road and No Country for Old men

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 03/05/2026 23:13

My son loves the Artemis Fowl books.

I think the Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell who's mentioned upthread is fab.

UniversityofWarwick · 03/05/2026 23:11

I’ve recently enjoyed the Crookhaven series and have a friend who is also reading them.

mamaduckbone · 03/05/2026 20:04

Ds1 was completely drawn into the Miss peregrines school for peculiar children series at about that age (lockdown…it was a strange time!) Also the Mortal Engines series if he likes a bit of steam punk.
Assumehe’s already done Hunger Games / Maze Runner?
Ready Player One both of mine enjoyed.

ThisTimeWillBeDifferent · 03/05/2026 19:20

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. Great for teens and adults. It often has the effect of opening a whole universe to people that enjoy it (he has a lot of books, both in series and stand alone!).

Blushingm · 03/05/2026 17:38

DPs 16 year old likes the Simon Scarrow books

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 03/05/2026 17:19

I was thinking of Under The Dome, The Stand and The Green Mile by Stephen King, they are less horrory for want of a better word

Original poster
gerbo · 03/05/2026 16:57

Brilliant ideas, thanks.
He really enjoyed 1984 so Julia could work.

I'm going to list everyone's ideas, and sit and read about them!

OP posts:
DisplayPurposesOnly · 03/05/2026 16:49

Diana Wynne Jones - Dogsbody, Eight Days Of Luke

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