No matter how much you might love your sister, there will be times when you can’t stand them.
But, equally, there will be times they’re the only person you want to see!
That bond between sisters has a lot of narrative potential. YA books are particularly good at exploring the sister relationship.
Your sister can be your best friend through childhood, but as you grow, you become new people. The perfect background for your next YA read!
Whether you want a down-to-earth story of sisters discovering each other or a fantasy world of fighting and magic, there’s a sister book for you to fall in love with!
It might not always resemble your relationship with your sibling (unless you live in a cursed kingdom or a fairytale boarding school) but this bond is always relatable.
If you love books that explore family bonds, you’ll love these 27 books about sisters. From the heartwarming drama of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before to the dark fantasy of The River Has Teeth, check out our guide to the best YA books about sisters.
Themes In Books About Sisters
There are many themes you can explore through a sister bond.
Growth And Change
Our siblings are generally there with us from childhood through to adulthood.
Books about sisters often explore how the relationship changes, both weakening and strengthening as we grow as people.
Self-Realization
It can be hard to define ourselves within a close family! Some books about siblings look at how a strong family relationship can inhibit our personal growth, and how this changes as we age.
Family And Loyalty
Family is everything — until they’re not! How far would you go for your sister? Many sister books explore the complex feelings of prioritizing family vs friends.
Cee has been trapped on an island for three years. She has no memories and no idea why she’s been left there.
All she knows is that somewhere out there she has a sister named Kay. She’ll do whatever it takes to get back to her.
Kasey Mizuhara is a STEM prodigy, protected from the harsh natural environment in an eco-city. She’s happy there for the most part, enjoying the shelter and spending the required time in her stasis pods.
But she misses her sister, Celia. Celia took her boat into the outside world three months ago and has yet to return.
When two sisters set out across the oceans to find each other, what secrets might they uncover? And what is this world hiding from them?
Pros
The ambitious setting is complex and twisty, leaving you constantly guessing.
Themes of environmental protection add a thought-provoking element to the story.
Both sisters have strong and unique personalities.
Lulu and Milagro might be sisters, but they’re very different people.
Lulu is very focused on the future. She wants to do her best and be the best, and she has the next ten years all planned out.
Milagro doesn’t care about the future. She’s focused on the now. She wants to have fun — who cares if everyone thinks she’s boy-crazy?
But both girls find their plans in jeopardy. When older sister Clara went to college it led to arguments, fighting, and an uncomfortable distance between parents and children.
If they can’t fix the rift in their family, it might mean no college for Lulu and no more fun for Milagro.
If they want to get their lives back on track, Lulu and Milagro will have to team up on their cross-country college trip.
Pros
The heart of this book is all about the strong bond of sisterhood.
A fun look at the differences (and similarities) between families of different cultures.
Rani is a princess in a gilded cage. She has everything she wants apart from her freedom.
But she knows if she had a chance, she could prove to everyone just how strong she is.
Rai is a street urchin. Every day she has to work just to stay alive. All she wants is a life free from stress and struggle.
Rani and Rai have lives that should never have crossed, but a chance meeting reveals some new possibilities — the princess and the orphan are identical.
Each can see something they want in the life of the other, so they agree to make a switch. Rai will head to the palace, while Rani is out on the streets.
But switching lives reveals new complications in this magical and mysterious book.
Pros
There’s plenty of excitement and lots of thrills.
The plot might seem a little familiar, but the magical setting adds a new touch.
Cons
If you don’t like snakes, you might want to give this one a miss.
Twin sisters Cath and Wren did everything together growing up.
They read the Simon Snow series together, they visited Simon Snow forums together, they went to Simon Snow movie premiers together… Just the two of them (and Simon Snow) against the world.
But now Wren isn’t so into the fandom.
While Cath is still clinging to her childhood obsession — and her relationship with her twin — Wren is looking to move on.
She doesn’t even want to share a college dorm anymore.
For the first time, Cath feels like a person alone. Can she find out who she is without the comforts of her sister and her fandom?
And does she really want to know who she is without these fundamental parts of her personality?
Pros
Weaving fandom into the story makes it very relatable for modern audiences.
The strained sister bond is painfully real for anyone who has felt the struggle of growing up.
Cons
The fanfiction sections of the book won’t appeal to everyone and can slow the story down.
Every summer Camino Rios waits for her dad to arrive in the Dominican Republic. But this year he doesn’t make it. His plane crashed before he could reach her.
At the same moment in New York City, Yahaira Rios is receiving the devastating news that her father died traveling abroad for the summer.
Already battling with terrible grief, the two girls are forced to confront a new pain.
Their Papi had secrets — a whole other family living across the ocean. Camino and Yahaira have been kept from each other all these years.
A novel told in verse, Clap When You Land explores the pain of grief and forming new bonds during a tragedy. It’s a heartfelt look at just how complex family can be.
Pros
A sensitive exploration of how complex family relationships can be.
The writing is beautiful, adding rich layers to the story.
Cons
As a novel-in-verse, the style won’t appeal to everyone.
When Em’s older sister is attacked, Em vows to do whatever she can to find justice. At first, it seemed like it worked.
A grassroots campaign ensures the attacker can’t take a plea bargain. But the joy of victory doesn’t last long, as the judge sentences the attacker to no prison time.
Now, Em feels lost. Her family is devastated, her sister is stunned, and comments made in the heat of the moment have made Em a national news story.
She’s torn between finding revenge and searching for hope.
But support comes from an unlikely source. As Em draws strength from the story of Marguerite de Bressieux, a fifteenth-century noblewoman/knight, will she find the peace she needs?
Pros
At the heart of the book is a message of finding strength through sisterhood.
Tough and complex themes are tackled both sensitively and realistically.
Cons
The central storyline is traumatic and might be upsetting for some readers.
A twist on alternative history, American Royals takes place in an America where the Revolutionary War ended in the crowning of George Washington.
It’s several centuries later and his family still occupies the throne. But with three siblings vying for succession, things are going to get messy.
Beatrice is the eldest, the firstborn and the rightful heir.
She has a sense of duty she can never shake, even while her younger sister Samantha enjoys the freedom of being second born.
Meanwhile, Samantha’s twin brother Jefferson just enjoys courting the attention of his many devotees.
Family relationships are never simple. But when you have to contend with your siblings, the eyes of the world’s press, and the glittering allure of a crown, it can get a lot more complicated.
Pros
Bringing together the historical concept of the monarchy with modern morals and American sensibilities, there’s a sharp wit exhibited throughout.
It’s super fun, with each narrator character enjoyable to spend time with.
The Steckler sisters don’t have much in common, but they both love to run and they both dream of escaping their small town.
But while Stella is driven and focused, Ellie takes a more casual approach to life.
Mila Keene could be an intrusion into their hopes and dreams. The top cross-country runner at her school, she threatens the sisters’ position on the team.
Still, the girls can’t help but be drawn to Mila, confiding in her and becoming friends.
Things are turned upside down when Mila goes missing. Having left one day for a run and never returned, suspicion falls on the Steckler sisters.
Fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns, this is an exciting examination of female bonds and misogyny.
Pros
The girls feel real, with flaws and failings as well as strengths.
You can never guess what’s coming next, as the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Cons
Running is very important to all the characters in the book and plays a key part in the plot. Sometimes, it feels like it takes precedence over the actual plot.
Grace grew up as the only child of adoptive parents. But when she has to put her own child up for adoption, she’s compelled to learn more about her biological family.
Including the two siblings she never knew she had it.
As Grace adapts to being the middle child, her younger sister Maya is excited to find a family she feels she can connect with.
Her adoptive family is cheerful and chipper, and she feels like the odd one out.
Meanwhile, older brother Joaquin is rejecting his role as sibling entirely. His stay in the foster system has hardened him to life with a family.
Far From the Tree explores blood ties and what family really means, in a moving story that weaves together different narratives.
Pros
The importance of connection is a key theme, creating a moving plot that will tug at your heart.
The multiple perspectives add insight into different topics.
Cons
Far From the Tree tackles heavy subjects that younger readers might struggle with.
Sibling arguments can be brutal, but they rarely come much darker than this. On the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born to every generation.
Each child is a princess, with a potential claim to the crown. But if they want to take their seat on the throne, they have to fight to the death.
This is the fate that Katharine, Mirabella, and Arsinoe find themselves confronting. As their sixteenth birthday looms, each girl knows the fight will soon begin.
Each has a unique power that could see them rise to the top.
But each queen is also weighed down by secrets and weaknesses. Do they fulfill their destiny and battle for the crown?
Pros
Sisterhood isn’t always pretty! Three Dark Crowns is an inventive look at how families and obligations can strain sibling bonds.
The fantasy world is well executed.
Cons
The book starts slow and when the plot ramps up, you have to get the sequel!
Lara Jean Song writes letters to every boy she’s ever loved. She pours her heart into them, divulging personal secrets she’d never normally feel comfortable sharing.
It’s okay, though. The letters are for her eyes only, never intended to be seen by anyone else.
Until one day the worst possible thing happens. Her letters are mailed out and now all her crushes know exactly how she feels.
Her love life suddenly goes from zero to 100. Could this disaster actually be an opportunity?
While her romantic aspirations might be a mess, Lara Jean knows she can rely on her family. Her older sister Margot and younger sister Kitty have her back, no matter what.
Pros
Lara Jean is a loveable main character, with relatable quirks and inspiring strengths.
The family bond might not be the main focus of the book, but it adds plenty of heart.
Cons
The love interests aren’t as compelling as the family relationship.
The Cahill family is ostracized from the rest of society. Partly because society fears them.
They’re too smart for their own good, seeking education rather than doing as they’re told. But partly by choice. The Cahills are hiding a magical secret that could spell disaster if it’s found out.
But disaster might be coming anyway. When Cate Cahill discovers her mother’s diary, she reads of a fate that could mean destruction for her and her sisters.
Can she prevent the seemingly inevitable? Or is the safety of the Cahill sisters under threat?
And how is Cate meant to help her family when she’s fast approaching the deadline for getting engaged?
Pros
Combining magic with strict social rules in the 1900s brings a fun twist to the magical genre.
The characters grow throughout the novel, carrying you with them.
Cons
The romance is less intriguing than the rest of the plot.
Highmoor estate has fallen to a curse. Once, twelve sisters roamed the isolated halls.
Now, four of them have died in quick succession. And each death has been accompanied by a tragedy. Annaleigh, one of the remaining sisters, begins to suspect that these deaths are no accident.
Because each night her sisters are sneaking away from the estate to attend decadent balls. They dance all night with mysterious strangers, only to return home to a terrible fate.
Annaleigh knows there’s a link between these enticing dancers and the curse that has taken over her family.
Can she stop disaster from claiming the rest of her family? Or is the allure of the ball too difficult to resist?
Pros
A retelling of the classic fairy tale Twelve Dancing Princesses, House of Salt and Sorrows takes a familiar concept and turns it on its head.
The gothic mystery vibe builds an intriguing backdrop for the main story.
Cons
Some of the plotlines aren’t wrapped up very well.
Princess Jaya Rao is dedicated to her family. She’ll do anything for them, especially her younger sister, Isha.
So, when it seems the awful Emerson family has targeted Isha, Jaya swears revenge. And what better target than Grey Emerson, a fellow pupil at the sisters’ boarding school?
Jaya’s plan is relatively simple. Make Grey fall in love with her and then break his heart. But Grey is more intriguing than she first realized.
He’s brooding and handsome, living a life in isolation and resisting the advances of Jaya.
Can the two come together against the odds? Is it possible to create a happily ever after for yourself?
A modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Of Curses and Kisses grapples with the concepts of family and loyalty.
Pros
The two sisters have a fun relationship which adds lots of life to the plot.
Of Curses and Kisses encourages the reader to think about their beliefs and prejudices.
Cons
Inspired by a fairytale, it’s easy to see where the plot is going.
Lu is set to become the leader of her father’s empire.
The firstborn with an assertive personality and inner strength, Lu is ready to take on the challenge of guiding her people.
With the help of her sister Min, of course. Min is the younger sibling, quiet, sensitive, and used to a life in the shadows.
But their plans are turned upside down when the male cousin Set is named heir instead of Lu.
Lu needs allies if she wants to claim her birthright, so she sets off across the empire for support. Min is left alone, facing a court that has turned against her.
While Lu grapples with the realities of the empire and her quest for power, Min discovers a secret magic she never knew she possessed.
Can the sisters come together? Or will the fight for the throne claim them both?
Pros
The fantasy world is clever and well-built, creating a strong backbone for a complex story.
The sisters have distinct and strong personalities.
Cons
Several unnecessary plotlines muddle the main story.
Kezi Smith was a strong believer in equal rights and social justice, always willing to go the extra mile to stand up for what she believed in.
When she dies suspiciously at a rally, news coverage celebrates Kezi as the perfect victim. She was “one of the good ones”, an angel the world is worse without.
Happi and Genny loved their sister Kezi. They loved her strength and her goodness, but they also loved all the messy things about her.
The parts of her personality that the news glosses over because it isn’t right for their narrative. So, they set out to celebrate their sister in their own way.
But along the journey, will they uncover more about Kezi than they planned to?
Pros
A heartfelt and powerful exploration of what it means to be black in society.
The characters are relatable and inspiring.
Cons
The plot twist is intriguing but not entirely necessary, as the story stood up on its own.
Rafi is the perfect daughter, protected by her powerful father from the many enemies that lurk in a crumbling world.
Frey is Rafi’s twin, identical from head to toe but a very different person.
While Rafi has been raised for greatness, Frey exists in the shadows. She’s been taught to protect her sister at all costs, even if she has to sacrifice herself.
So when their father agrees to use his daughter as collateral in a deal, Frey is sent in Rafi’s place.
But Frey isn’t quite the perfect imposter. Get close, and you can see the killer lurking inside…
Set in a sci-fi world that’s falling apart, Imposters is about a sister relationship unlike any other.
Pros
Fans of the Uglies series will enjoy the callbacks and Easter eggs, but it also works as a standalone book.
Frey is an intriguing main character, both knowing and naive.
Cons
The first-person present tense perspective takes some time to get used to.
Adina is a talented musician with a drive to succeed and a hidden rebellious streak.
Her twin sister, Tovah, dreams of attending medical school and is determined that nothing will throw her off her path.
Their relationship is already stretched by their different personalities, but as their mother succumbs to Huntington’s disease, their bond is pushed further than ever.
While their mother’s illness was already a tragedy, it could have even more devastating implications for the twins.
As a genetic disorder, they’re both at risk of developing Huntington’s. A DNA test reveals joy for one twin and disaster for the other.
Will the pain of their diverting fates draw the sisters together? Or will this be the final test for their broken relationship?
Pros
The frustration between the sisters is palpable.
The Jewish heritage of the characters adds layers to the book and provides a new perspective.
Cons
Heavy themes are tackled throughout the book, which can make it a tough read.
Gentrification is changing Portland. A neighborhood once known as part of the “ghetto” is now becoming a hot destination for the city’s hippest residents.
Old buildings are changing coffee shops and bakeries, and the neighborhood is losing its former soul.
For Nikki, this is nothing but a good thing.
She loves what her home is becoming, and she doesn’t mind that her principal seems determined to step away from the black heritage of the area.
But twin sister Maya feels differently. She feels her heritage is being erased and she’s losing the place she loved.
The changes in the neighborhood reflect the changes the twins are undergoing. Their once-powerful bond is fractured. Is growing apart inevitable?
Pros
The writing is poetic, adding thoughtful touches to the plot.
Short chapters ensure this is a quick read that you’ll struggle to put down.
Cons
It’s a quick read but it could be longer. You’ll want to know what happens to the characters beyond the confines of the book.
Ruby has been looking after herself for years now. Even before her mother left she’d learned to take care of herself. She doesn’t want to let anyone in and she doesn’t need to let anyone in.
But when the authorities are alerted that Ruby is living alone, she’s forced to leave her home and live with her older sister, Cora.
Cora and Ruby used to be close. When Cora was at home, she looked after Ruby when her mother wouldn’t. But after Cora left for college, the relationship fell apart.
Ruby is less than happy to be reunited. She wants to get by without anyone’s help. After all, she’s been doing it for a long time.
But the safety and security of a life with Cora are tempting. Can Ruby allow herself to open up to others?
Pros
The quirky and engaging cast of secondary characters brings delight to the story.
Themes of hope and overcoming challenges create a heartwarming finish.
Natasha knows the world isn’t safe, but when her sister disappears, the danger is more real than ever. She turns to Della for help.
The local girl is rumored to be a witch and Natasha hopes she can use her powers to stop the violence.
But Della has problems of her own. She suspects she knows who is behind the recent disappearances — her own mother, transformed into a monster when a spell went terribly wrong.
Motivated by anger and with little to lose, the two girls team up to fight against the tragedy haunting their town. But is it too late to save Natasha’s sister?
Pros
The River Has Teeth blends multiple genres to create a richly layered and atmospheric plot.
The characters are angry in a way that echoes reality — you can relate to their struggles.
Cons
You can spot where the plot is going from quite early on.
Serina has prepared her entire life for her fate as a Grace, to stand by the Heir as the picture of quiet womanhood.
It might not be what she dreams of, but it’s what she’ll do to protect her younger sister, Nomi. Nomi is a rebel, determined to go her own way even as she hides dangerous secrets.
But their plans are ruined when it’s Nomi who catches the eye of the Heir.
Now she must stand by the throne in subjugation, while Serina is sent to Mount Ruin to fight for her life.
Neither sister is prepared for their new position. Serina must find her inner strength — weakness is fatal on Mount Ruin.
Meanwhile, Nomi hopes to gain enough power to free Serina from her prison. But there’s a traitor in the court who threatens to destroy them both.
Pros
Both sisters are unique, strong characters. They have clear personalities and voices, and you’ll love them both.
The action scenes are well-written, keeping the plot moving at a quick pace.
Cons
The romantic plots are unnecessary, and take up space in the short book.
Conclusion
Sister relationships can be complex and confusing. It’s a bond like no other — and that’s not always a good thing!
Your sister is someone you love and support and only want the best things for even when they’re driving you nuts.
This is why a sibling relationship can be such an intriguing basis for stories.
There are many excellent books about sister relationships.
This guide is only just scratching the surface! Whether you prefer fantasy or thriller, drama or comedy, sister relationships can encompass almost anything.
We hope you’ve found your next read on this list! What book about sisters have you enjoyed?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Best Books About Twins?
There are lots of excellent YA books about twins. Try You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone by Rachel Lynn Solomon or This Side Of Home by Renee Watson.
What To Look For In Books About Sisters?
Books about sisters explore the complex bond between siblings and how this bond grows and changes with life experiences.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
