Books to grip a 16yr old boy?

[gerbo]

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!

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

The Rivers of London books.

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

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

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.

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

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

@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

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

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

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

Yes!! They’re surprisingly good.

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