As a kid, I loved all things involving princesses, fairies, and magic. My sister and I watched countless hours of Disney Princess and Tinker Bell movies. I read so many fairy tales, and I was particularly drawn to strong female main characters. Now, as an adult, I miss the childhood joy that stemmed from those things and discovering a new favorite story or film. Fortunately, books often provide me with a return to those magical elements I loved as a kid. If you too are in search of some books similar to your favorite childhood movies and stories, here are some of my favorite young adult (YA) books that make me feel nostalgic.
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
This book is the villain origin story for the Queen of Hearts, and it follows Catherine, a baker, who falls in love with a court joker named Jest. It is an excellent retelling, and while I am trying to avoid any spoilers here, just know that I was sobbing at the end of this book. The book is incredibly emotional and thorough in its character development of Catherine, who goes from a sweet baker to a ruthless villain. Overall, this book reminded me of being a kid and loving romance and iconic villains. It successfully transported me back into Wonderland and made me feel all the nostalgia and magic that I did when I watched Alice in Wonderland as a child.
Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft
This book specifically targets my childhood love for fairies, as it’s the origin story of Queen Clarion from the Tinker Bell universe. I read this book fairly recently and immediately fell in love. It transported me back to when I first watched Secret of the Wings, a Tinker Bell film in which Tinker Bell meets her sister who lives in the forbidden Winter Woods. I remember watching that movie as a kid and being enthralled by Queen Clarion and Lord Milori when a past relationship between them was revealed to us. This book is all about their love story and brought me back in time to my childhood curiosity about Queen Clarion. I also have some great news: a second book will be released on August 4th, 2026! It is called Wings of Reverie by Anna Bright, and it follows Periwinkle, Tinker Bell’s sister.
The Selection by Kiera Cass
This book follows America Singer, who is selected along with 34 other girls to compete for the prince’s hand in marriage. The story is also mixed with political intrigue and dystopian world-building, which makes it so captivating. It’s a great addition to the romantic and competitive aspects of the story, raising the stakes even more. I first enjoyed the Selection series when I was in middle school, and I have reread it numerous times since. Every time I reread it, I am reminded not only of my middle school-self that first fell in love with this trilogy, but also my even younger self that adored princesses and a good love story with some high stakes.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
This book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling where the main character, Harper, is transported from Washington D.C into a fairy-tale kingdom. There, the prince is under a curse that transforms him into a monster. Harper just wants to return to her modern-day home, but the prince needs someone to fall in love with him to break the curse. I am a big fan of Beauty and the Beast retellings because they always reignite that childhood joy that came from watching the film and dreaming of having a massive library like Belle someday. (A goal I am still working towards, if you are curious.)
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
This book follows Princess Lia, who flees an arranged marriage and ends up living a simple life in a village where she meets two men—a prince and an assassin—but is unaware of their true identities. I love this book because it features a strong and independent female main character, similarly to most of the movies and stories I loved as a kid such as Aladdin and Brave. There are so many twists and turns in this book that will really keep you invested and add that extra sense of mystery.
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
This is the first book in a series, and it follows triplet queens who must fight to the death for the throne. Each of the sisters have unique powers and were raised separately by mentors that could help each girl hone their specific power. What makes this story so interesting is how dark it is, especially in comparison to other YA books I have read. The book really dives into elements of death, competition, and violence. However, it still contains those elements I love such as romance, sisterhood, and high stakes, which all kept me on the edge of my seat and made me enjoy the series.
All of these books have such a special place in my heart, and there are even more I could have included in this list. It is always so special when you find a book that gives you all those warm and magical feelings like these books did for me. If you have not already, definitely give these books a try!
Katelyn Burklow, Pine Reads Review Writer