Author Spotlight: Suzanne Young

Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of over twenty books, including In Nightfall, the Program series, and the Girls with Sharp Sticks series. Originally from New York, Suzanne is a dual US and Italian citizen, currently living in the breathtaking Veneto region of Italy. 

Suzanne started writing stories in middle school. She remembers writing murder mysteries starring all of her friends. Although they weren't great stories, she fell in love with writing. 

In an interview, she recalled that the first time she told someone she planned on becoming a writer, she was in high school, and they laughed. But nothing held her back, and she studied creative writing in college. After that, she moved to Arizona and became an English teacher. She never stopped creating stories; a decade later, she finished her first full novel.

When not writing novels, you are bound to find her traveling or visiting a local museum. Suzanne also loves decorating her home, antique shopping, designing, and painting. 

Suzanne Young’s Books

We love how her books immediately draw you in with her captivating narratives and complex characters. These are definite page turners which you won’t be able to put down!

The Program

The Program is the first book in this New York Times bestselling series, hailed by Kirkus Reviews as a “gripping tale for lovers of dystopian romance.” This compelling story follows two teens navigating a world where genuine emotions are forbidden, teen suicide is rampant, and the only solution is The Program—now presented with a newly reimagined look.

Sloane knows she must never cry in front of anyone. In a world where suicide is a global epidemic, even a single emotional outburst could send her to The Program, the only proven treatment. Having already lost one child, Sloane's parents will do anything to keep her alive. But Sloane is all too aware that everyone who goes through The Program returns as a blank slate. Their depression may be gone, but so are their memories.

Constantly monitored at home and school, Sloane puts on a brave face, burying her feelings as deep as possible. The only person she can truly be herself with is James. He’s vowed to keep them both safe from The Program, and Sloane believes their love is strong enough to endure anything. Yet, despite their promises, hiding the truth is becoming increasingly difficult. Both are growing weaker, depression is creeping in, and The Program is closing in on them.

Other books in the series include The Treatment, The Remedy, The Epidemic, The Adjustment and The Complication.

Girls With Sharp Sticks

The first book in this bestselling series is Girls with Sharp Sticks, a thrilling and subversive novel about a girls-only boarding school with a terrifying secret and the friends determined to protect each other at all costs.

The girls of Innovations Academy are beautiful and well-behaved—it says so on their report cards. Under the vigilant eye of their Guardian, they receive a well-rounded education designed to make them better. Obedient girls, devoid of arrogance or defiance, free from troublesome opinions or individual interests.

But their meticulously controlled existence is not what it seems. As Mena and her friends uncover the dark truths behind what’s really happening at the Academy—and who they truly are—the girls will learn to fight back.

Girls with Sharp Sticks is followed by Girls with Razor Hearts and Girls with Rebel Souls.

In Nightfall

We featured this supernatural story in our April 2023 Young Adult Mysterious Creatures box, which included three gifts that brought this eerie read to life!

In the quaint town of Nightfall, Oregon, it isn't the dark you should be afraid of—it's the girls. The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this propulsive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Treatment.

Theo and her brother, Marco, threw the year's biggest party. And got caught. Their punishment? Leave Arizona to spend the summer with their grandmother in the rainy beachside town of Nightfall, Oregon—population 846 souls.

The small town is cute when it’s not raining, but their grandmother is superstitious and strangely antisocial. She lays out the one house rule upon their arrival: always be home before dark. But Theo and Marco are determined to make the most of their summer, and on their first day, they meet the enigmatic Minnow and her friends. Beautiful and charismatic, the girls have a magnetic pull that Theo and her brother can't resist.

But Minnow and her friends are far from what they appear to be. And that one rule? Theo quickly realizes she should have listened to her grandmother. Because after dark, something emerges in Nightfall. And it doesn’t plan to let her leave.

Suzanne’s Writing Advice

Suzanne’s advice is to keep writing! As she says, “It wasn’t my first book that sold. Not my second. Not my third or fourth. It was my fifth. I just kept writing books. So if I could suggest something, it’s that. Keep going and love what you write!”

She says that although she has published over 20 novels, many never were. But she learns from every book she writes, even the ones that don’t make it.

We are so pleased that she stuck with her passion, and we can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! 

If you’re a fan of author spotlights, you may like our blog on Sabaa Tahir, author of All My Rage which was featured in our Young Adult Generational Healing box. Remember to subscribe to save on future boxes!