Read 12 Verse Novels in 2025
What is a verse novel? 

A verse novel is defined as a novel-length narrative told in poetry rather than verse, and depending on the story, will use different types of poetry and poetic forms to tell the story. The poetry within the verse novel will have a distinct voice as well. It is a distinct hybrid form which has its roots in epic poetry but is a newer development stretching back to the nineteenth century and has taken different forms throughout its history. Verse novels, as Sally Murphy points out, need to consider things like line length, but also whether the story and all its elements will work as a verse novel. I can see how this would be a good process, as some stories might work better as prose novels, whilst others have the most impact as verse novels, such as one I read recently called Sunshine on Vinegar Street by Karen Comer. From my reading, the rhythm of the verse novel is just as important as the narrative, because the verses and poetic forms used in combination with the words are what ensure the novels have impact where they need to.
https://www.ncacl.org.au/resources/bibliographies/australian-verse-novels-resource/