Fiction Books: Across the Universe — Space Adventures in YA & Adult Fiction

Fiction Books: Across the Universe — Space Adventures in YA & Adult Fiction

Alright, cosmic readers — grab your blanket, your favorite mug, and your TBR list that’s already 74 books long (don’t worry, we’re adding to it anyway). We’re heading across the universe — exploring the wild, romantic, dangerous, and deeply human stories that unfold among the stars.

Because space fiction isn’t just about rockets and alien invasions. It’s about survival, identity, loneliness, love, chaos, and hope — the same things we deal with down here, just with more zero gravity and less Wi-Fi.

So whether you like your space adventures full of action, romance, political drama, or pure existential dread, here’s a mix of YA and adult novels that’ll take you to infinity and beyond (without needing to actually pack a bag).

YA Space Adventures — For Dreamers, Rebels, and Galaxy-Runners

Think Titanic, but in space — with survival, romance, and corporate conspiracy. A rich girl and a soldier crash-land on an uncharted planet and have to work together to survive. It’s lush, emotional, and beautifully written — the kind of book that makes you stare dramatically at the stars afterward.

Basically, if “found family” and “chaotic misfits in space” are your thing, welcome home. A squad of outcasts accidentally wake up a mysterious girl who might be the key to saving (or ending) everything. It’s witty, fast-paced, and surprisingly heartfelt.

If you love underdogs, battle training, and snarky spaceship AIs, this is your book. Spensa dreams of becoming a pilot like her father — who’s been branded a coward — and fights her way into flight school on a planet under siege. Great for anyone who loves determination, courage, and sarcastic one-liners.

Yes, it’s told through hacked files, transcripts, and messages — and somehow it’s still an emotional rollercoaster. Corporate cover-ups, plagues, rogue AI, and teenagers just trying to survive. It’s chaotic brilliance, and the audiobook is a full cast masterpiece.

A cyborg mechanic meets an interplanetary prince, and together they uncover political secrets that could change everything. It’s Cinderella meets space rebellion — light sci-fi, strong characters, and a slow burn romance that carries through the whole Lunar Chronicles series.

A girl alone on a spaceship, sending messages back to Earth after a mission goes terribly wrong. It’s eerie, emotional, and completely absorbing. Perfect for readers who like their space stories quiet, psychological, and just a little spooky.

A soldier and a rogue robot (AI, if we’re being polite) become unlikely allies in a war that blurs the lines between human and machine. It’s thoughtful, action-packed, and full of “found humanity” moments that’ll punch you right in the feelings.

The book that literally inspired this post title. A frozen girl wakes up on a spaceship centuries too early — and nothing on board is what it seems. A slow-building mystery mixed with romance and social commentary.

This one’s grounded but stellar — about a girl who dreams of space but gets stuck taking care of her family until she meets the daughter of an astronaut lost in space. It’s emotional, queer, quiet, and beautiful.

Runaway teens, space pirates, and reluctant friendships that turn into something more. It’s got all the snark and banter you want from a good “chaos in space” romp.

Adult Space Fiction — For When You Want Big Feelings and Existential Crises

One astronaut. One planet. Zero backup. It’s survival, science, and humor rolled into one. If you’ve ever wondered what sarcasm and botany look like on Mars, this book’s your answer. (Also, you’ll feel oddly empowered to fix things with duct tape afterward.)

A man wakes up alone in space with no memory — and slowly realizes he might be the only one who can save Earth. Funny, emotional, and unexpectedly hopeful, with one of the best alien friendships ever written.

The start of The Expanse series — a gritty, detailed, political, and human look at life in a colonized solar system. Think noir detective story meets full-on space opera. Perfect if you love morally gray characters and complex world-building.

Yes, the Eragon author went full sci-fi. It’s huge, detailed, and cinematic — an epic story of a scientist who accidentally bonds with an alien symbiote and sets off an interstellar war.

Half space adventure, half cozy found-family drama. A trans violin prodigy, a runaway alien family running a donut shop, and a bargain with the devil — somehow it’s tender, funny, and absolutely brilliant.

If you could only read one “comfort in space” book, this is it. A ship full of wildly different species and personalities traveling through the galaxy, talking about love, culture, and what it means to belong. Cozy sci-fi at its best — like a warm blanket of starlight.

Okay, not strictly “space” — but it’s full of interdimensional chaos, giant creatures, and dry humor. Think “what if Jurassic Park but in another universe.”

A space pilgrimage, seven travelers, and one terrifying, poetic mystery. It’s strange, ambitious, and unforgettable — the kind of book that makes you stare at nothing for ten minutes after finishing a chapter.

The classic story of humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life, written by the man who basically taught half the world to love the stars. Thoughtful, emotional, and quietly hopeful.

Discussion Prompts for Family, Book Club, or Personal Journaling

Why do you think space settings make human stories feel bigger — or smaller?

Which would you rather explore: deep space or alien cultures?

How do you think isolation changes people in space?

Do you believe humanity should colonize other planets — or learn to fix this one first?

Which book’s vision of the future feels the most believable to you?

Who’s your favorite “reluctant hero” from any space story?

What makes “found family” stories so perfect for space settings?

Which fictional spaceship would you want to live on?

Would you go on a one-way mission to Mars if you could?

Which space book made you feel the most human?

Final Thoughts

Space fiction isn’t really about stars — it’s about people. It’s about connection and loneliness, love and loss, and the way we carry our humanity into the vast unknown. Whether you love your stories fast and fiery or slow and introspective, there’s a galaxy waiting for you between the pages.

So go ahead, pour yourself some galaxy lemonade, dim the lights, and escape into the cosmos. Just don’t forget to come back — there’s laundry, and probably a small human asking for snacks.