Looking for a beautiful young adult book

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

Beautiful to look at, as well as to read, preferably!

I've just bought a lovely hardback graphic novel for one DC's stocking, so want to buy an equivalent for DD (16). Last Christmas she was given the last of the Ink trilogy which is exactly the sort of thing I'm after - hardback, gorgeous foiled cover, with vivid coloured endpapers, which made it feel like a special gift (as well as her loving the stories in the series). I haven't been able to browse physical stores and Amazon doesn't really show that sort of information (beyond whether something is hardback or paperback) so I'm feeling a bit stuck. Has anyone seen or read anything lovely that they'd recommend? She isn't interested in graphic novels or classic literature, but does read most other things. It also doesn't really need to be YA as long as it's relatable and not too adult in theme.

Google the House Without Windows. It's just been re published with a beautiful slip cover and illustrations by Jackie Morris.

There are some beautiful editions of the Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas or some of the Grisha books. My 14yo has enjoyed both.

What is the graphic novel you've already bought? One of my dds loves graphic novels.

Thanks for those suggestions @kulaexchange @SorrelBlackbeak - I'd seen the Jackie Morris book but thought it was for younger children, will look again.

@FancyNancyl It's not actually a novel, strictly speaking - it's a graphic novel treatment of a biography of David Bowie (DC1 is a big fan).

Ohhhh, interesting. Thank you.💐

Is it worth having a look on Books2Door or books4people? I just got a lovely set of clothbound Jane Austen's from the first and the second looks like it's a similar style but with some different books. There's an illustrated Harry potter and the philosopher's stone there which looks rather lovely.

Thanks for those suggestions @kulaexchange* @SorrelBlackbeak - I'd seen the Jackie Morris book but thought it was for younger children, will look again.*

To be fair, I think it probably is marketed at young children. It's quite poetic though and I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. I think it's the type of book that could be enjoyed by any age but on second thoughts maybe not quite what you're after.

What about the hardback Philip Pullman ‘His Dark Materials’ books? You can get a hardback gift edition of all 3 novels or a set of paperbacks in a slip cover. My DD saw it yesterday and wants it!

Thanks @BellaVida and @Nacreous but she read His Dark Materials and Harry Potter a while back. The websites are new to me though - are they Phoenix companies from The Book People? The stock looks similar.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children is a lovely and unusual book. Might be a bit young though.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel but not a far fetched one. Older subect matter - growing up in Iran - but maybe not as colourful as you'd want. Think she's done other books but don't know if all black and white. Obviously no use if DD dislikes all graphic novels.

Would she like Tom Burton? There's Melconcoly Death Of Oyster boy and a fancy book of art works.

Folio Society do lovely but expensive books but probably most are classics.

I sympathise OP, not being able to browse the bookshops is rubbish. I quite fancy some Brian Froud books after reading the Lady Cottington pressed fairy ones. They are really lovely but daft.

Oh I loved those pressed fairy books @Scout2016! Had completely forgotten them. I'll look for the Melancholy Oyster Boy book, I haven't heard of that. Miss Peregrine is another she has read (and liked) so if that's in the same vein may be perfect.

I've also had a suggestion pop up on Amazon for Witch by Finbar Hawkins (I've never heard of it, or him, but it looks interesting - hard to judge from a brief extract though.) I miss bookshop browsing!

I just did some browsing in Asda. Because, you know, better than nothing (slightly). Anyway there were some Disney spin off books that looked interesting, Villan tales and Twisted tales. Have googled and I can't see age rating but look maybe young adult.

Miss Periguine books look to be a series with the next one called Holliw City.

Yeah, Disney is definitely too young for a 16 yr old, but thanks @Scout2016 - I'm sure they'd be great for younger readers though. She's read the Miss Peregrine series already.

That's what I'd assumed but in the reviews there were loads of adults saying how they'd loved them and read them all. Back story to Cruella De Vile and that sort of thing. guess it's like adults and Harry Potter maybe.

Slightly different but I love the MinaLima editions of books, they have Peter Pan, Pinocchio, the secret garden etc. They are beautiful editions that are interactive with pullouts and illustrations.

Just also wanted to say the Disney twisted tales are young adult books, they are not the proper Disney stories they are reimaginings for example, the book about Ursula from the Little mermaid is a story about what would of happened had Ursula won.

I guess my thoughts were probably not that she would be getting a new book at 16 with Harry potter but that if they were well loved books she night enjoy a different copy, and lots of the beautiful covers are of books that are classics.

It's a funny age at that point I think. I think I was mainly reading adult books then, certainly for "good reading". I still enjoy children's books now. Would she enjoy something like a nice copy of pride and prejudice or the great Gatsby?

It doesn't meet your amazing cover requirements but if you were prepared to compromise on that I really enjoyed the night circus by Erin morganstern (I think) and that feels like the right genre.

PS if you do decide to go for a classic the "penguin clothbound classics" are lovely. They have some offers on on their website I think.

I loved Stardust. This edition looks even more special than mine, though I'd like to see more photos of the inside.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stardust-Gift-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0062200399/ref=sr1121?dchild=1&keywords=Neil+gaiman&qid=1603781945&refinements=pnnbinding_browse-bin%3A492563011&rnid=492562011&s=books&sr=1-21

How about a beautiful edition of Rebecca? Not YA, but an easy read and current due to the new (pretty, but disappointing) film.

The Night Circus
The Foundling & also The Familiars by Stacey Halls

I don’t know about beautiful editions, but how about the Gornenghast trilogy? There’s bound to be some lovely hardbacks around zomdwhere.

I don't know if this is still in print, but I have a lovely Jostein Gaardner book (the author of Sophie's World, another wonderful book) called The Christmas Mystery, which is a nice hardback book with some colour pictures - it's sort of an advent calendar with a chapter of the story each day, and a time travelling mystery story.

How about the DK Big Ideas Simply Explained books according to her interests? Psychology, Law, Medicine, Politics, Crime, Shakespeare, Literature, Physics are just some of the titles in the series.

Also, we are slowly building the Penguin Clothebound Classics collection - lots of wonderful books to choose from.

Or maybe some beautifully illustrated art, fashion, photography books?

Quite a lot of independent bookshops are staying open for delivery and may be able to recommend something if you call?

My same age DD is into The Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas-she has some lovely editions. Also now into classics and there are lovely copies of those-Daphne du Maurier, EM Forster etc are hitting the spot!