Young adult (YA) series are a diverse genre that encompasses comedies, dramas, crime, and more. Back in the days of peak ABC Family (now Freeform) and The CW shows, countless teen shows were being released and were very popular. Nowadays, Freeform and The CW have taken a different direction with their shows. But where do we go for our YA content? Netflix and other streamers.
Netflix has consistently been releasing high-quality teen shows that are great to watch and feature talented up-and-coming stars. Most people have heard of shows like Sex Education and Ginny & Georgia, but Netflix has released many YA series worth watching.
10
‘Reblede’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Based on an Argentine telenovela from 2002, Netflix’s reboot of Rebelde premiered in 2022. Both the first and second seasons premiered within the same year and were canceled before a third season could be made. This is a Mexican teen drama filled with music, drama, relationships, and mystery. If you enjoyed Netflix’s Elite, you would definitely enjoy Rebelde as well.
For fans of the original series, it’s a fresh take on the concept but still pays tribute to its roots. The series features a cast that has great chemistry with each other, along with plot points that are filled with our favorite fun tropes. Rebelde doesn’t do anything extraordinary that no one’s ever seen before, but it’s an enjoyable watch if you’re a fan of the genre.
- Release Date
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2004 – 2005
- Network
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Las Estrellas, Univision
- Directors
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Juan Carlos Muñoz
- Writers
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Pedro Armando Rodríguez
9
‘The Order’ (2019–2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Fans of shows like Teen Wolf and The Secret Circle (still upset about its cancellation) will love The Order. It has horror, supernatural elements, magic, romance, and teen drama. While the show only had two seasons, it is still worth investing in. Similar to other teen shows like The Vampire Diaries, the acting and writing aren’t always the best, but they improve as the series progresses. It’s filled with twists and turns you wouldn’t expect and presents a story full of adventure.
In addition to werewolves and magic, the show is filled with secret societies and college drama. The surprisingly interwoven storylines make for a plot that you want to keep watching and discover more thoroughly. Paired with plenty of humor, The Order is an easily bingeable young adult series that won’t leave you with any regrets (besides maybe that the show was so short-lived).
8
‘Trinkets’ (2019–2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 60%
Unlike most young adult shows, Trinkets brought a unique premise to the teen drama universe. Three girls are brought together over their shared kleptomania. They meet each other at a Shoplifter’s Anonymous meeting, and the rest is a fun and great journey. Again, it’s another series that Netflix canceled after two seasons, but it’s definitely worth watching. Of course, Trinkets has the classic trope of three unlikely friends who discover they are more similar than they previously thought, but it’s worth it.
They all have their own unique stories and reasons for attending the Shoplifter’s Anonymous meeting, but they ultimately become each other’s support systems. Whether they are exploring sexuality or loss, Trinkets doesn’t try to overcomplicate itself. At its core, it’s about friendship and how that support can help overcome some of our biggest challenges.
7
‘Raising Voices’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% (Popcornmeter)
This Spanish teen drama is reminiscent of Euphoria, and even I May Destroy You. It explores the main character’s experience with sexual assault and the consequences that come after. Unlike other teen shows that may feel light and fun, Raising Voices carries a heavy weight throughout the show. Similar to I May Destroy You, we watch the protagonist try to understand what happened to her. We also see her friends and family trying to support her.
There is no sugarcoating in Raising Voices. The characters can be hated, even the ones we want to root for. The moral ambiguity throughout the series prompts us to question what to believe and who is to be held accountable. With mental health being a central theme throughout the series, we observe how our families’ and others’ actions can shape our behavior and how we present ourselves in the world. Raising Voices will leave you with plenty to think about.
6
‘Forever’ (2025–)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Inspired by Judy Blume’s book of the same name, Forever premiered in 2025 to strong critical reception and viewership numbers on Netflix. The series is created by Mara Brock Akil, who is most known for her work on UPN/CW’s Girlfriends and BET’s Being Mary Jane. Forever follows the love story of two high schoolers, Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.).
The story is a surprisingly insightful eight-episode season. At first glance, it may seem like a generic love story, but there’s far more to it. It’s an exploration of young love and all of its silliness, drama, and romance. While there are parts that make you want to yell at the characters for not listening, there’s also a shocking amount of authenticity in the story. Exploring their Black identities and how their economic backgrounds affect their futures was refreshing to watch in a young adult series.
5
‘Atypical’ (2017–2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Atypical is a unicorn in the Netflix world because it was able to get four whole seasons. In a streaming world where most projects struggle to reach a second season, Atypical was able to break through. The young adult series follows Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist), a teenager on the autism spectrum who is searching for love and a more independent life. Unfortunately, this search for independence also affects each member of his family, especially his overprotective mother, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh.
The first season was criticized for not including any writers or actors on the autism spectrum. However, they addressed that issue in subsequent seasons, which resulted in a better critical reception. Atypical is hilarious but also poignant. It depicts the support system Sam has and how scary it can be to venture out into the world without them. The heartwarming series is a great watch and has a satisfying four-season run.
4
‘Young Royals’ (2021–2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Young Royals was largely overlooked during its three-season run in the United States, but it has since garnered critical acclaim and developed a cult following. With only eighteen episodes, the young adult show is a quick watch, but it will leave you moved. Young Royals is a Swedish teen drama following the love story between the Prince of Sweden and his male classmate at a fictional elite boarding school, Hillerska.
Young Royals does an expert job of developing the romance between the insecure Prince of Sweden, Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding), and sensitive scholarship student, Simon Eriksson (Omar Rudberg). The teen drama explores conversations around mental health, sexuality, classism, substance abuse, and even talks about the constitutional monarchy. Both characters feel authentic to their ages, and the ensemble cast provides support and their own worthwhile stories.
- Release Date
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2021 – 2023
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Rojda Sekersöz, Erika Calmeyer, Kristina Humle
- Writers
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Tove Forsman, Pia Gradvall
3
‘Heartbreak High’ (2022–2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Heartbreak High is a reboot of the original Australian series, which ran for five years and 210 episodes in the 1990s. The series received critical acclaim and even won an International Emmy Award in the Kids: Live-Action category. Heartbreak High has been praised for its representation of different races, genders, sexualities, and neurodivergence. Unlike Atypical, the show’s character with autism, Quinn ‘Quinni’ Gallagher-Jones, is played by an actress who also has autism, Chloé Hayden.
The best part about the show is its fearlessness in discussing important topics. Whether it’s police brutality or sexual assault, it feels authentic to the broader story. Heartbreak High has two seasons available, with a third season set to arrive soon. For non-Australian viewers, the series may require subtitles and a dictionary to fully understand the slang used. However, you’ll leave the show enjoying a great teen drama and learning plenty of Australian slang, such as “doing a shoey.”
2
‘Julie and the Phantoms’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Did you love High School Musical growing up? Well, the director of the film, Kenny Ortega, actually executive-produced a Netflix musical series called Julie and the Phantoms. The musical series has a unique premise, following Julie (Madison Reyes), a girl who has recently lost her mother and is struggling to return to music. However, when four ghost bandmates from the past appear (literally) in her life, she regains her love for music and performs alongside these supernatural beings. The whole ghost thing doesn’t make too much sense, but that doesn’t mean Julie and the Phantoms doesn’t provide you with an A+ experience.
First, the musical show features many high-quality songs that are sure to get stuck in your head. Second, the entire cast is incredibly talented and have excellent chemistry with one another. Lastly, when you suspend your disbelief and move beyond the ludicrous premise, the series offers plenty of heartwarming and beautiful moments. When you hear “Unsaid Emily,” it’s impossible not to shed a tear.
1
‘The Society’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
The Society is a Netflix YA series that has left many fans upset with the streaming service. After a massively popular debut and universal critical acclaim, The Society was renewed for a second season. However, after the tumultuous year for Hollywood resulting from the pandemic, Netflix reversed its decision and canceled the series. The scheduling conflicts and costs were too high for Netflix, and they didn’t think it was worth producing another season.
Most viewers were surprised by the quality of the series. The Society follows a group of high schoolers who return from a school trip to their mysteriously empty hometown, where everyone has vanished. Now, this group of teens has to build their own society. Of course, the series is filled with teen drama and silly things. However, it also contains numerous comments on community and the social contract. What would you do if you had to build a society from scratch? It may prompt you to reevaluate your own relationships with others and with society as a whole.