Adi Alsaid Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Adi Alsaid

Adi Alsaid is celebrated in the Young Adult (YA) community for his vivid contemporary settings, road-trip dynamics, and characters undergoing profound self-discovery. Because all of his novels are standalones set in distinct realities, there is no strict narrative continuity to follow. You can pick up his books in any order without worrying about spoilers or missed plotlines.

However, if you are looking for the absolute best entry points, we highly recommend starting with one of these three standalones:

• Let's Get Lost (2014): This is Alsaid's major breakout novel and remains the quintessential introduction to his style. It follows Leila, a mysterious girl driving a red car toward the Northern Lights, who intercepts and changes the lives of four different strangers. Its episodic, emotional structure is perfect for fans of John Green.
• North of Happy (2017): If you love stories centered on culinary passion, grief, and finding independence, start here. It tells the story of Carlos, a teenager who flees his affluent life in Mexico to pursue an unpaid kitchen job in Seattle after his brother's tragic death.
• Actually Super (2023): For a more recent, globetrotting experience, this novel follows Isabel on a quest across the globe to find real-life "supers" (people who embody extraordinary goodness or resilience) to restore her faith in humanity.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Reading Adi Alsaid's novels in publication order allows you to experience his evolution as a writer—starting from traditional contemporary YA romance, moving into environmental realism, and transitioning into high-concept speculative fiction and middle-grade fantasy.

1. Somewhere Over the Sun (2010): Alsaid's self-published debut novel. While harder to find than his mainstream releases, this book established his early themes of youth, dreams, and journeying.
2. Let's Get Lost (2014): The critically acclaimed breakout road-trip story featuring five interconnected perspectives centered on a journey to see the Aurora Borealis.
3. Never Always Sometimes (2015): A clever spin on classic high school tropes. Best friends Dave and Julia spend years avoiding teen clichés, only to spend their final semester systematically breaking their own rules.
4. North of Happy (2017): A sensory-rich exploration of grief, family expectations, and the culinary arts, featuring elements of magical realism.
5. Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak (2019): A meta-fictional look at romance, where a cynical teen writer documents the predetermined end of a new relationship.
6. We Didn't Ask for This (2020): A fast-paced, politically charged drama set during an international school's overnight lock-in, where a group of students stages an eco-protest in a campus greenhouse.
7. Before Takeoff (2022): A surreal, genre-blending survival romance. Two teens meet at the Atlanta airport just as a reality-bending event traps them inside a chaotic, rule-defying landscape.
8. Actually Super (2023): An international quest novel that explores global cultures, mental health, and the small acts of heroism that define everyday people.
9. The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria (2023): Alsaid's official middle-grade debut, featuring a whimsical, action-packed fantasy setting where a ordinary boy must stop a cartoonish supervillain.

Adi Alsaid's Edited Anthologies and Collections

In addition to his novels, Adi Alsaid is a prominent voice in YA anthologies. He has served as both a lead editor and a contributing short story writer, often highlighting diverse voices, multicultural perspectives, and themes of identity.

• Welcome Home (2017): Edited by Eric Smith, this collection focuses on the diverse experiences of adoption. Alsaid contributes a poignant short story to the anthology.
• Dear Heartbreak: YA Authors and Teens on the Dark Side of Love (2018): Edited by Heather Demetrios, this collection features letters from real teens experiencing heartbreak, answered with short stories by YA authors, including Alsaid.
• Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food & Love (2019): Edited by Elsie Chapman and Caroline Tung Richmond, this food-centric anthology includes a story by Alsaid that aligns perfectly with his passion for culinary themes seen in North of Happy.
• It's a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories (2019): Edited by Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman, this anthology features stories about Jewish teen identity, including a contribution from Alsaid reflecting his Jewish-Israeli heritage.
• Come On In: 15 Stories of Immigration and Finding Home (2020): Personally edited by Adi Alsaid, this is a landmark YA anthology featuring 15 stories from diverse authors exploring the emotional, legal, and social complexities of immigration. Alsaid also contributed a story.
• First-Year Orientation (2023): Edited by Lauren Gibaldi and Eric Smith, this collaborative anthology follows sixteen teens during their first days navigating college life, with Alsaid writing one of the interconnected chapters.

What to Know Before You Start

While Adi Alsaid is primarily known for contemporary realistic fiction, his writing frequently crosses into other styles. Readers should be prepared for varying levels of speculative realism. For example, North of Happy features quiet, magical elements, while Before Takeoff leans heavily into surrealism and speculative survival. If you prefer strictly grounded contemporary romance, stick to Never Always Sometimes or Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak.

Furthermore, his multicultural background plays a large role in his work. Born in Mexico City to Israeli parents, Alsaid frequently infuses his stories with global travel, multilingual characters, and deep reflections on what it means to feel caught between different cultures or places. This makes his books exceptionally popular with readers who enjoy stories with international settings or themes of immigration and belonging.