Scott’s been writing YA since 2007, though unlike Dessen, she’s branched beyond realistic fiction a few times - as well as tackled very dark topics such as kidnapping - so not all the titles in her catalog make for strong next reads. Every scene and setting is layered and nuanced, and every interaction a character has with a place is intentional and pushes either the story or characters forward. Without question, Dessen has some of the best world-building in realistic YA.

Perhaps we’ll see her earn even more accolades for her well-written, engaging, and timeless novels. That’s far from true, and I think in time, we’ll better recognize what Dessen has truly contributed to YA.

But it also doesn’t surprise me: many believe YA stories which feature female characters, particularly those who seek romantic relationships, are ephemeral and easily overlooked. In my mind, Dessen is one of the most underrated YA authors, as well as one of the most underappreciated for the depth, complexity, and style within each of her books. She’s a foundational writer and a mainstay of realistic YA. But Dessen’s career has spanned much further than that - in fact, she’s been writing YA fiction for twenty years. You may be familiar with Dessen from her latest books, including The Moon and Moreand What Happened to Goodbye, both of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestsellers list. This time, I’m going to go in a different direction and talk about what to read next if you’re a fan of YA superstar Sarah Dessen. Welcome to the second installment of “Beyond the Bestsellers.” Last month, I talked about Veronica Roth’s “Divergent” series and what books readers who loved that series should visit next that weren’t the ones everyone already knew about or recommended.

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott