April Henry is an American author known for young adult mysteries and thrillers packed with danger, quick pacing, and sharp twists. Novels such as Girl, Stolen and The Girl I Used to Be pull readers in with high-stakes plots and characters who have to think fast.
If you enjoy April Henry's suspenseful storytelling, these authors are well worth adding to your reading list:
Karen M. McManus writes twisty YA thrillers built around secrets, shifting loyalties, and tense social dynamics. Her books have a knack for making every character seem suspicious in the best possible way.
One of her best-known novels is One of Us Is Lying, a gripping mystery in which five students enter detention and only four come out alive.
Holly Jackson delivers smart, tightly plotted mysteries with memorable teen protagonists and plenty of carefully planted clues. Her stories often reveal the darker side of ordinary communities.
Readers who like solving puzzles alongside determined investigators should try A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, a compelling novel about a high school senior who reopens a local murder case everyone else believes is closed.
Natasha Preston specializes in intense thrillers where teenagers find themselves trapped in terrifying and often highly unusual situations. Her novels lean into fear, urgency, and the constant sense that something is about to go very wrong.
If you like April Henry's fast-moving suspense, Preston's The Cellar is a strong pick—a chilling story about a teenager who is abducted and held underground.
Kara Thomas writes dark, engaging mysteries that explore fractured friendships, buried truths, and the unease simmering beneath small-town life. Her books balance suspense with emotionally believable teen relationships.
Fans of April Henry may enjoy The Cheerleaders, a layered mystery about a string of tragedies and the girl determined to understand what really happened.
E. Lockhart is known for clever, emotionally rich stories centered on memory, identity, deception, and the things families leave unsaid. Her writing is especially appealing to readers who like suspense with a strong psychological edge.
We Were Liars is a haunting, beautifully constructed mystery about privilege, grief, and devastating family secrets hidden behind an idyllic surface.
Tiffany D. Jackson writes powerful YA thrillers that combine suspense with timely social themes. Her novels tackle difficult realities while keeping the tension high and the emotional stakes even higher.
In Monday's Not Coming, she explores friendship, neglect, and indifference through the story of a missing girl whose disappearance no one seems eager to investigate.
Caleb Roehrig creates brisk, suspenseful thrillers filled with danger, secrets, and vividly drawn teenage characters. His books often pair a central mystery with thoughtful coming-of-age themes.
In Last Seen Leaving, Roehrig uses the disappearance of a girlfriend as the starting point for a gripping investigation shaped by hidden truths and personal discovery.
Mindy McGinnis writes gritty, hard-hitting YA fiction that doesn't shy away from the darker corners of teen life. Her stories are intense, emotionally raw, and often focused on survival, justice, and resilience.
Her novel The Female of the Species examines revenge, violence, and moral complexity through the lives of teenagers carrying deep trauma.
Courtney Summers is celebrated for emotionally charged novels that dig deeply into the experiences of teenage girls. She writes with honesty and urgency about trauma, bullying, and what it takes to keep going.
Her novel Sadie blends traditional storytelling with podcast transcripts to create a tense, unforgettable search for justice after a girl goes missing.
Gretchen McNeil writes sharp, suspenseful thrillers with inventive setups and a darkly playful edge. Her books are a great match for readers who enjoy mysteries that feel both creepy and entertaining.
In Ten, McNeil reimagines a classic locked-room premise by placing teenagers on an isolated island where a deadly threat turns them against one another.
Kim Liggett writes intense, atmospheric stories filled with tension and emotional weight. Her work often explores power, control, identity, and the pressure society places on young women.
A standout choice is The Grace Year, a suspenseful novel about girls fighting to survive within a deeply oppressive system. Readers drawn to April Henry's high-stakes storytelling will likely connect with Liggett's darker, immersive style.
Neal Shusterman writes suspenseful fiction that blends page-turning plots with big ethical questions. His novels often place young characters in unsettling situations that challenge their beliefs and force impossible choices.
His novel Unwind combines action, emotional depth, and provocative ideas in a way that many April Henry readers will appreciate.
Teri Terry builds suspense through mystery, strong characterization, and protagonists facing difficult choices. Her stories often mix emotional tension with intriguing questions about memory, trust, and identity.
In Slated, she follows a girl whose memories have been erased, creating a compelling story that asks who we are without our past. Readers who enjoy suspense with a strong emotional thread should find plenty to like here.
Chelsea Pitcher writes YA thrillers centered on friendship, secrets, and psychological manipulation. Her pacing is tense, and her characters feel grounded enough to make the danger hit even harder.
This Lie Will Kill You is a suspenseful mystery about the destructive power of deception and the fallout from buried secrets. Like April Henry, Pitcher excels at creating intense situations driven by believable teen voices.
Kit Frick focuses on psychological suspense, especially stories involving complicated friendships, blurred motives, and hidden truths. Her writing is thoughtful, tense, and often morally ambiguous.
Her novel I Killed Zoe Spanos uses multiple perspectives and uncertain memories to steadily build intrigue. Readers who enjoy April Henry's mix of emotional depth and page-turning suspense should appreciate Frick's approach.
