David Yoon
David Yoon has published 6 books across 3 series. The recommended reading order starts with Frankly in Love (1900).
David Yoon is an American author who made his debut with Frankly In Love, a young adult novel that landed on the New York Times Bestsellers list and earned him recognition from Entertainment Weekly as YA's Next Superstar. The book went on to become a finalist for the William C. Morris Award and an honor book for the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, establishing him as a voice in contemporary young adult fiction.
Before turning to writing, Yoon worked as an illustrator and brought that skill to his wife Nicola Yoon's novel Everything, Everything, a number one New York Times bestseller for which he drew all the illustrations. The couple, both novelists, live in Los Angeles with their daughter. Yoon has since published the young adult novel Super Fake Love Song and moved into adult fiction with the thriller Version Zero. He grew up in Orange County, California, and describes himself as a stationery enthusiast who invented a binder called the Sorta notebinder.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Arc of a Scythe Books
- TagsmysterysuspensethrillerDescriptionReturning to the mesmerizing world where death has been conquered but corruption remains, this collection offers a vital expansion of the Scythe universe. It is a fascinating journey back into a post-mortal age where the scythes hold the only power to glean life, yet even they are not immune to the flaws of the human heart. What makes this volume truly compelling is how it peels back the layers of the Thunderhead’s perfect society to reveal the cracks underneath. Through a variety of voices and perspectives, we witness the quiet struggles and moral dilemmas that define this era, exploring the gray areas where duty and desire violently collide. The emotional resonance here is profound, digging deep into the psychological weight of wielding such absolute power over life and death. You will find yourself lingering on the ethical questions posed in every chapter, feeling the heavy burden that rests on the shoulders of those who must choose who lives and who must die. For anyone who has ever wondered about the untold stories lurking in the margins of the main trilogy, this book is an essential read. It captures the same haunting beauty and philosophical depth as the original saga, reminding us that even in a world without natural death, humanity is as fragile and complex as ever.Publication date8 November 2022Amazon rating4.6/5Print length432LanguageEnglishPublisherSimon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Order of Non-Fiction Books
- Tagsnon-fictionDescriptionThe medieval world was not just a time of knights and castles, but a complex era of emerging commerce and shifting values. This book peels back the layers of history to reveal the intricate dance between money, morality, and daily life. It’s a vivid portrait of a society grappling with the rise of merchants and the ethical dilemmas that came with newfound wealth. What sets this apart is its focus on the human stories behind the economic shifts. The authors delve into the lives of merchants, bankers, and ordinary people, showing how financial transactions were intertwined with faith and social norms. It’s not just about coins and ledgers; it’s about the choices people made and the consequences they faced. The writing is sharp and engaging, balancing scholarly depth with accessibility. Short, punchy sentences keep the narrative moving, while rich details bring the past to life. You’ll feel the tension in a marketplace negotiation or the weight of a moral judgment in a confessional booth. This is a must-read for anyone curious about the roots of modern capitalism and the moral questions it raises. It’s a fresh perspective on a familiar era, told with passion and precision. Pick it up and see how the medieval world mirrors our own struggles with money and meaning.Publication date1 February 2024Amazon rating5/5Print length232LanguageEnglishPublisherGiles
Order of Standalone Novels
- Tagsyoung-adultromancechildrenDescriptionWhat happens when the life you meticulously curate for your parents begins to suffocate the person you are actually becoming? David Yoon’s debut immerses us in the humid, high-pressure atmosphere of Southern California, where Frank Li navigates the suffocating expectations of his immigrant family with the practiced ease of a seasoned performer. The air is thick with unspoken rules and the heavy scent of tradition, creating a world where Frank feels perpetually split in two, forced to code-switch between the dutiful son his parents demand and the American teenager he longs to be. When Frank falls for Brit Means, who is smart, beautiful, and decidedly white, he risks shattering the one inviolable rule of his household: date Korean. Desperate to maintain his double life, he enters into a chaotic pact with Joy Song, a fellow peer trapped in similar cultural crosshairs, to fake a relationship that will buy them both freedom. Yet, as the deception deepens and the lines between performance and reality blur, Frank is forced to confront the messy, unscripted truth about his own identity. Yoon captures the agonizing friction of growing up between cultures, delivering a narrative that is as hilarious as it is heartbreakingly honest.Publication date1 January 1900Amazon rating4.4/5Print length432LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin Young Readers Group
- Tagsyoung-adultromanceDescriptionDenny Kim stands in the corner of the party, clutching a red plastic cup. He is invisible. He is tired of being the sidekick in his own life. Then he sees her. The girl with the blue hair. He decides right then that he needs to be someone else to get her attention. He invents a persona. A rock star. A bad boy with a guitar. It is a ridiculous lie. But she buys it. Suddenly, Denny is living the dream. He has the girl. He has the respect. But the lie is growing. It is getting harder to keep track of the truth. This book is a wild ride. It is funny and painful in equal measure. You will cringe at Denny’s choices. You will root for him anyway. It captures that desperate teenage need to be seen. To be loved for who you are, or maybe for who you pretend to be. Yoon writes with a sharp, honest voice. The dialogue snaps. The emotions feel real. It is a story about identity and the courage it takes to just be yourself. Grab a copy. Get comfortable. You won’t want to put it down until you see how the music stops.Publication date1 January 1900Amazon rating4.3/5Print length368LanguageEnglish
- Tagsthrillersuspensesci-fiDescriptionIn the sprawling digital landscape of the modern age, a single algorithmic intrusion sparks a quiet rebellion. An internet worker, initially complacent, finds his outrage ignited by a breach of privacy that feels too personal to ignore. He joins forces with a like-minded colleague, a fellow traveler in the data mines who has long harbored a simmering distrust of the system. Together, they form a small liberation group, a collective of disillusioned tech workers determined to push back against the surveillance state they helped build. As their movement gains momentum, the line between resistance and radicalism blurs. The group evolves from a band of concerned employees into something more dangerous: a modern Luddite faction willing to dismantle the very infrastructure that defines contemporary life. The central conflict is not just about data, but about control—over information, over identity, over the future itself. Yoon’s narrative is taut and urgent, a thriller that asks what happens when the tools of connection become weapons of oppression. The stakes are high, the pace relentless, and the question at its heart is impossible to ignore: how far would you go to reclaim your privacy?Publication date1 January 1900Amazon rating4/5LanguageEnglishPublisherG.P. Putnam's Sons
- Tagsliterary-fictionthrillermysterysuspenseDescriptionHe wakes up in the dust, injured and alone, with no memory of his name. The world around him is a ruin, a stark apocalyptic landscape where survival is the only law. He scrounges for water. He forages for food. Vague memories of a previous life flicker in his mind, but they are just out of reach, offering no comfort and no answers. He is a man stripped of identity, fighting to stay alive in a place that seems determined to crush him. Then he finds a boy. And suddenly, nothing makes sense. The reality he thought he knew begins to fracture. The past is a puzzle. The present is a lie. This is not just a story of survival, but a desperate search for truth in a world gone mad. It is harrowing and heartfelt, a speculative journey grounded in raw human emotion. He must confront the worst that has befallen him to find his way home.Publication date24 May 2022Amazon rating3.9/5Print length348LanguageEnglishPublisherG.P. Putnam's Sons
Frequently Asked Questions about David Yoon
David Yoon writes novels for young adults and standalone fiction. The books are not part of a series and can be read in any order. Frankly in Love was his debut novel. Super Fake Love Song and Version Zero followed. City of Orange was published in 2022. Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe is a collection of short stories set in a different universe, co-authored with several other writers. Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality is a non-fiction work, also co-authored.
Readers can start with any of David Yoon's standalone novels. Frankly in Love, published in 2020, was his first novel. It is a story about family, identity, and first love. Super Fake Love Song, published in 2021, is another young adult novel that explores themes of authenticity and online personas. Version Zero, published in 2021, is a science fiction novel about a hacker. City of Orange, published in 2022, is also a standalone novel. Any of these would be a suitable entry point.
David Yoon's novels are standalone works, meaning they do not need to be read in a specific order. Each novel tells a self-contained story with its own set of characters and plot. Readers can choose to begin with any of his novels based on their individual preference for themes or settings. Frankly in Love, Super Fake Love Song, Version Zero, and City of Orange are all independent stories.
David Yoon writes standalone novels. His works of fiction are not connected by a continuous plot or recurring characters that would necessitate reading them in a particular sequence. Each novel is a complete and independent story. He also co-authored a collection of short stories, Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe, and a non-fiction book, Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality.
David Yoon has written four standalone novels: Frankly in Love, Super Fake Love Song, Version Zero, and City of Orange. He also co-authored the short story collection Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe and the non-fiction book Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality. This brings his total published works to six books.
The first book David Yoon wrote was Frankly in Love, published in 2020. This young adult novel explores the complexities of family expectations and romantic relationships through the eyes of a Korean American teenager. The book has been recognized for its honest portrayal of identity and cultural navigation.
David Yoon's most recent book is Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality, a non-fiction work co-authored with Deirdre Jackson, Diane Wolfthal, and Steven A. Epstein, published in 2024. His most recent standalone novel was City of Orange, published in 2022.
David Yoon writes young adult fiction and science fiction novels. His novels often explore themes of identity, family, culture, and technology. Frankly in Love deals with family and romance, Super Fake Love Song with authenticity and online life, and Version Zero with hacking and artificial intelligence. City of Orange is another standalone novel. He also contributes to non-fiction and short story collections.
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We verified the reading order for David Yoon's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: April 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “David Yoon Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/david-yoon