Welcome! Thanks for joining us in our quest to find clean books for teens and adults. If you’re having a hard time finding clean book ideas for Christmas gifts (those without all the language, sex, or mature situations) for your teens, you’re not alone. Lots of kids and parents are looking for them, and we’ve found some great suggestions. (Scroll down if you want to know more about our search for clean books.)
-Sara & Stacy
**This newsletter is part of the section of our website called “Clean YA Books for Teens, Tweens, or anyone.” Sign-up to receive our updates if you haven’t already! (This list is different from our general Book Series Recaps newsletter.)
Looking for clean books for your teen’s Christmas?
A note from Sara:
Hello! I’m Sara, one of the owners here at Book Series Recaps, and I curate the clean book lists on this website. I’m also a writer and a part-time high school teacher.
I hope your holiday season is off to a fabulous start! If you are looking for clean book recommendations for those Christmas stockings, I’ve got you covered. This page is full of bookish gift ideas; some we have suggested before, and some are brand new.
Our top suggestions for Christmas 2023:
- Clean Fantasy & Sci-Fi
- Clean Contemporary & Historical
- Sweet Christmas Romance (teens and adults)
Happy reading! -Sara
Clean YA Fantasy and Science Fiction:
*Reminder: Our site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases….hey, we had to upgrade our hosting due to our amazing number of readers…we’re just trying to pay for it! ;)*
Our top picks for clean YA fantasy and science fiction gift ideas:
2023 award winner: “Can she summon the will to do what is necessary, or will she risk all to save a human?” Synopsis
“I didn’t care that he was a prince—they would not force me to marry a stranger.” Synopsis
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good fright…” Synopsis
“Hi, I’m Lucy. And I just found out I’m not normal.”
Synopsis
“The second book in the gritty, action-filled Calculated series.” Synopsis
“Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.” Synopsis
“A realm of monsters. A world of lies. She belongs to both.”
Synopsis
“Pride and Prejudice meets Matched in this stunning dystopian debut.” Synopsis
“There are ten golden rules if you want to survive an encounter with a fae…” Synopsis
“How far would you go for revenge if someone killed your father?” Synopsis
“The task is simple: Don a disguise. Survive the labyrinth.” Synopsis
“Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow.” Synopsis
Clean YA Contemporary and Historical Novels:
*Reminder: Our site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases….hey, we had to upgrade our hosting due to our amazing number of readers…we’re just trying to pay for it! ;)*
Our top picks for clean YA contemporary and historical novels:
“…let go of first impressions and take a chance on love.” Synopsis
“A historical YA novel set against the backdrop of WWII…” Synopsis
“Some memories are better left forgotten.” Synopsis (*References to making out and drug and alcohol use.)
“People come to Italy for love and gelato, but sometimes they discover much more.” Synopsis
“Grief brought Finley Sinclair to Ireland. Love will lead her home.” Synopsis
“A contemporary twist on the Cinderella tale.” Synopsis
By day, Jo works as a lady’s maid. By night, an anonymous author. Synopsis
“Who says the smart girl can’t get the quarterback?” Synopsis
See a few more sweet YA contemporary romance suggestions here.
Still didn’t find what you’re looking for. Check out our main list. You’ll find clean books for young teens and older teens here: Clean YA Books for Teens, Tweens, or anyone
Clean Christmas Romance for teens or adults
Christmas As We Know It
YA Christmas Romance
From Amazon: “Maybe all I need is the magic of a mistletoe kiss to make up my mind. Or better yet, a Christmas miracle…” Synopsis
The Twelve Holidates
Christmas Romance Novella
From Amazon: “This Christmas novella is a companion story to the Love Clichés Sweet RomCom series.” Synopsis
Scrooge and the Girls Next Door
Christmas Romance
From Amazon: “When the sunniest woman in Creekville buys the house next to the grumpiest man on the street, sparks fly…” Synopsis
A Cross-Country Christmas
Christmas Romance
From Amazon: “On this cross-country road trip, they discover that history doesn’t exactly repeat itself. . . but like any good Christmas carol, it does have a second verse.” Synopsis
See all of our holiday romance suggestions here: Clean Christmas Romance and Holiday RomCom
More info for new subscribers:
It’s not difficult to find clean book ideas for older books and classics, but what if your teens and tweens want to read newer fiction? My kids do, and that’s why I began a broader search.
Many people are looking for these books, and they ARE out there. You just have to know where to find them. The big publishing companies aren’t backing clean books as often right now, so I started searching in smaller publishing houses or from indie authors. I’ve found some great reads this way.
Because of this, some of these may not be at your local library, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get them there. In fact, if you want your library to offer more clean books, you should request more clean books so they’ll know what their community wants. You can request books at your library on their website, in person, or over the phone.
Also, I’d love your feedback and suggestions. You can reply to this email if you have recommendations. Keep in mind that I’m looking for more recent releases of clean books for young teens or anyone, books published in at least the last five years. (Or a series that finished in that time, even if the first book is a bit older.)
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That’s all for now. We’ll write again soon, and thanks again for your valuable suggestions.
Until next time,
~ Sara and Stacy
I just wanted to say that “The Summer We forgot” Is not a clean book, these are some of the quotes from the book:
”we continued to kiss and touch, , sink deeper into the wall of our fur coats, until Darby’s older brother discovered us. He must have caught us in a compromising position because he flung open the closet door…guess he didn’t expect to find two fifteen year old with their tongues down each other’s throats”
”last night seemed like a week ago. A tipsy haze of Alcohol , glow stciks, and a part timer Emily offering to make out with me in Kip’s room”.
I would not allow my teens to read this book.
Thank you for your input! Yes, that one of all on this page is probably for an older teen audience. As I always say, everyone has a different definition of exactly what makes a clean book. Check this page where I list more specific details about the books. https://www.bookseriesrecaps.com/clean-romance-books-for-teens/