YA Books Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Craft
If your teen years were shaped by late-night reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or you went through a full black-eyeliner phase after watching The Craft, this one’s for you. This list is bringing the nostalgic chaos of 90s supernatural girl gang stories into the modern YA space—complete with witches, vampires, necromancy, and questionable decisions made with the help of magic.
We’re talking undead besties, secret vampire boarding schools, and babysitting gigs that turn into demon-hunting side hustles. It’s the chaotic teen girl energy of yesteryear, now with better queer rep and way cooler boots.
Why We’re Still Obsessed with Buffy and The Craft
Buffy walked so our witchy girl squads could run. Whether it was slaying demons after school or casting spells in a candlelit bedroom, these stories gave us permission to be messy, powerful, angry, and vulnerable all at once. They made it okay to want justice and wear combat boots. The Craft showed us what happens when teen girl rage meets ancient magic. Buffy gave us the blueprint for balancing sarcasm with slayer strength. And we ate it up.
Millennials especially grew up with these stories as cultural cornerstones. They weren’t just entertainment—they were identity. So of course we’re still looking for books that hit those same emotional beats. If you want a deeper dive into the nostalgia, I did a full rewatch and breakdown of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 last fall, and let’s just say… some things aged better than others. You can listen to that episode right here. (Yes, Season 2 is coming this fall!).
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Best YA Books like Buffy and The Craft
These books give major Buffy and The Craft vibes—for readers who like their magic messy and their girl squads ride-or-die (sometimes literally).
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
If Veronica Mars got detention with The Craft, this would be the result. When Mila Flores’ BFF dies under suspicious circumstances, Mila does what any self-respecting teen witch would do: resurrects her. Along with two other dead mean girls. Now stuck with a snarky undead girl gang and only seven days to solve their murders, Mila has to find the killer before the spell (and her time with her best friend) runs out.
Tropes: necromancy, mean girls, fat rep, vigilante justice, found family
Grab Undead Girl Gang on Amazon
In Nightfall by Suzanne Young
Welcome to Nightfall, Oregon. Population: 846. Vibe: creepy AF. Theo and her brother are stuck there for the summer and warned to stay inside after dark. Naturally, they don’t. Enter: mysterious girls, eerie beach town secrets, and The Lost Boys meets Buffy-level danger. This is coastal gothic with sharp teeth and a hotter-than-you-should-trust girl squad.
Tropes: vampires, small town secrets, sibling duo, summer gone wrong.
The Babysitters Coven by Kate M. Williams
Babysitting is a cover. Literally. Turns out, Esme and the new girl in town Cassandra are part of a secret lineage of magical guardians tasked with keeping the world safe from evil—and still making it back before the parents come home. This one has big Buffy Season 1 energy: high school antics, a supernatural undercurrent, and awkward teens discovering their powers with only half the instructions.
Tropes: hidden legacy, magical girl squad, reluctant chosen one, humor + horror.
Grab The Babysitters Coven on Amazon
Youngblood by Sasha Laurens
High school is hell. Boarding school for vampires? Even worse. Especially when your ex-best friend is your new roommate and someone might be out for blood—literally. Youngblood is the lesbian vampire prep school book you didn’t know you needed, with secret societies, dark politics, and mean girls who will absolutely kill you (and look good doing it).
Tropes: vampire academy, ex-best friends to enemies, queer romance, secret societies.
The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl
What if your vampire ex was a manipulative trash fire who left you stuck in eternal adolescence with no job prospects and a craving for synthetic blood? Holly’s done being haunted by her vampire ex’s mistakes—especially when she finds out he’s pulled the same move on other girls. Time to squad up and take him out. Forever.
Tropes: vampire ex revenge, sapphic romance, immortal burnout, girl gang justice
FAQ: YA Books with Buffy Vibes
What makes a YA book feel like Buffy?
- Teen girls who fight monsters (literal or emotional)
- A balance of humor, horror, and found family
- Witchy elements, vampire drama, or magical powers
- Sharp banter, messy friendships, and just a little angst
Are these books romantic?
Many of them include romance or queer relationships, but the focus is on the teen girl’s emotional arc and her squad—so basically, very Buffy.
Do I have to be into 90s pop culture to enjoy these?
Not at all. But if you know what it means to be the Slayer, you’ll appreciate the callbacks.
Final Thoughts
These books are for anyone who grew up wanting to be the girl with the stakes in her purse and eyeliner that could kill. Whether you’re in it for the witches, the vampires, or the vibe that says “I’ll hex my ex and save the world before math class,” this list has something for you.
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