Has VERY little/limited to no romantic content. (briefly kissing/holding hands/ light, playful flirty banter is fine. Just so the last bit isn’t super explicit 😉 )
Has no sexual content. (hey, voluntary celibate here) Mildly implied/hinted at things are fine as long as nothing is viscerally described to the reader.
Has plenty of wit or banter throughout.
Makes you think, or has many decent plot twists, at least.
Has COMPLEX, realistic characters.
Has a “I could order a passport for this country rn” feel, with the worldbuilding. If it’s a fantasy world with magic, I love complicated worlds with detailed magic systems, i.e., Narnia books, HP, Grishaverse, etc.
Not “Call of the Wild,” read as a 12-13 yo when younger, and I’ve lost a lot of pets growing up– triggering book.
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by LivingforMore63
8 Comments
“A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking” might work for you
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman?
Sabriel – Garth Nix
Aurora Rising (sci fi, but seriously fun)
Dark Water Daughter (fantasy world pirates)
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (sort of Top Gun meets Star Wars, no romance, great characters, funny, etc.)
* *Furthermore* and *Whichwood* by Tahereh Mafi
(*Furthermore* has a tendency towards middle grade, *Whichwood* is classic YA. You can read one without the other. The worldbuilding is very nice in both of them.)
* *Daughter of the Deep* by Rick Riordan.
(Not quite as strong in worldbuilding, the focus is on the adventure, but relatable and diverse characters and fun dialogue.)
Green rider series
I think you might want to look at non-YA if you want those things.
*A Thousand Steps Into Night* by Traci Chee has a fascinating, unusual fantasy world, good characters and no romance. (“Banter throughout” may be the weakest point from your list, but it does have funny dialogue at times.)
You could also crosspost this to r/YAlit for more suggestions.