Lisa also recently launched a young adult book subscription box service called Uppercase and is offering a giveaway to PBF readers at the end of this post. And be sure to check out her awesome blog, Read.Breathe.Relax for even more recommendations for must-read young adult books! Enjoy and happy reading!
Guest Post: Read.Breathe.Relax
I’m constantly in search of my next favorite book. Although I read a lot (61 books so far this year!) for my YA book blog, I still find that truly excellent books are hard to find.
I’m all about avoiding this situation…
(That gif never gets old…)
…because no one wants to waste their time, energy and money on a book that you want to throw out a window.
So, I’m here to share with you some of my favorites books so far this year. Note: These are all young adult books because that’s my area of expertise. I promise they’re just as sophisticated, fun and interesting as adult literature. 🙂
Contemporary Romance
- On the Fence by Kasie West
If you’re looking for an end-of-the-summer read, then look no further. One the Fence is sweet and lovely – it’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin and not conforming to who everyone thinks you are vs. the real you.
Even though it’s a romance, this book has some serious heart. Plus, it’s laugh-out-loud funny.
Great For Book Clubs
- Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
If you loved John Green’s books, then you’ll adore Rowell’s work. Eleanor and Park is about first love and so much more – it’s heart-wrenching and beautifully written. The story deals with tough issues while making them relatable and light when it could be so dark.
I’ve recommended this book to everyone this year to the point of being pushy. Yes, I’m totally that person.
Surprise Factor
- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
This book is getting some serious buzz, and for a good reason. It’s suspenseful with a writing style I’ve never experienced before.
Do yourself a favor, and read this book without scanning the description or any book reviews. This is a book best experienced without too much outside information.
The only other thing I’ll say is – We Were Liars is a book you won’t soon forget…
The Next Book-to-Movie
- If I Stay by Gayle Forman
I’m also one of those people who thinks books are always better than the movies (with some exceptions. The Host, I’m looking at you…). If I Stay will be in theaters August 22, and I highly recommend you read the novel first.
It’s definitely a tear-jerker, but the story is told so clearly and in such simple language that you’ll be sure to zoom through the pages.
Thrilling Fantasy
- The Grisha Series by Leigh Bardugo
I love a great fantasy read (Game of Thrones, anyone?), and The Grisha series is seriously one of my all-time favorite YA fantasy series. The final book, Ruin and Rising, was released in June, so it’s a great time to read all the books without having to wait years for the next one.
Shadow and Bone is the first book, followed by Siege and Storm, then Ruin and Rising. The world-building is phenomenal, plus there’s some epic romance to boot.
***
If these type of book recommendations are something you’d like regularly, then I’d love for you to check out something I’ve been working on.
I’ve started a young adult book subscription box service called Uppercase. Subscribers receive a hand-picked book by me every month, along with a cute bookish accessory AND access to an online book forum with exclusive content and videos about that month’s book.
And thanks to Julie, one of you will win a free month of Uppercase!
To enter this giveaway, simply comment on this post with the name of one of the last great books you read!
Julie will randomly select a winner on Friday!
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Looking for Alaska!
I’m teaching a middle school English class, so my reading has been limited to children’s books lately. Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins!
I recently read a romantic comedy called Baked Bree that was fantastic
What a cool sounding subscription service! I might have to explore gift subscriptions. I’ve been on a Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill kick lately. For a spooky YA novel, you can’t go wrong with Gaiman’s “Graveyard Book” – my 13 year old loved it, too. I’m just finishing up a re-read of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and enjoying it immensely.
I really enjoyed Heft by Liz Moore!
Me Without You by JoJo Moyes
My latest great book were the Infernal Devices Series which are great!
I know I’m WAY behind but i just read The Fault in Our Stars. 🙂
I recently finished reading The night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It was different than books I’d usually choose, but I’m glad I picked it up because it was excellent! Thanks for a great list!
A Painted House by John Grisham…so late to read this but it was so good!
Awesome Idea! Great for my Book Club!
I just finished “The Selection” series by Kiera Cass (The Selection, The Elite, The One). It was a very good series and youg adult book. Sort of The Bachelor meets Hunger Games.
Oh those look like good reads! Thanks for the tips, I’m always looking for fun books to read.
xoxo Allison
http://allisons-eye.com/
I’m currently reading the second book in the divergent series. Divergent was the most recent book I finished. I have to read the books before I see the movie!
Eat, Pray, Love 🙂 Where passion, hope and dreams come true
I’m in the middle of Outlander right now- and really enjoying it! I’m trying to finish the first (of 8!) books before I dive into the new series on Starz. If you like historical fiction with a touch of romance, I highly recommend!
Loved fault inour stars…completely avoided the movie asi knew it would ruin howitzer felt about the book!
I just read The Night Circus recently and loved it!
Just finished Gone Girl – an interesting book, that’s for sure.
I actually just read Eleanor and Park! I ADORED it. Oh my goodness. So great. I think I cried quite a few times and it was so sweet.
I’ve heard We Were Liars is good! It’s definitely on my list of books to read:) One of the last great books I’ve read is This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Trooper – it was very funny- a movie version has already been made and is coming out in September I believe.
I just finished reading Demi Lovato’s book and it was awesome. SO may inspiring quotes.
Last great book, almost finished, Wildwood by Colin Meloy
I’ve mostly been reading brewing books as I try to open my own brewery, but I did like Gone Girl for the mystery and the pacing.
I just finished Pat Summitt’s Sum It Up. She is an amazing woman and it was a great story about her life, with some basketball thrown in the mix.
I’m a huge John Green fan and I finally got around to reading A Fault In Our Stars and couldn’t put it down. Absolutely wonderful!
The last book I read was Gone Girl. The movie was actually filmed in my hometown (Cape Girardeau, Missouri) so I’m super excited to watch the movie since I’ll know all the places and a lot of people I know are extras!
The Game of Thrones series has been on the top of my summer books to read. So twisted! -Abby H.
I just read The Hiding Place. I loved it.
After I do by Taylor Jenkins Reid. FANTASTIC book!
The One by Kiera Cass, great way to wrap up the seires
I just finished We Were Liars and LOVED IT!! You’re absolutely right. It was so suspenseful and different from any other book I’ve read.
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons is one of my favorite books. Also anything by Nicholas Sparks.
I recently read ‘The Dinner’. Loved it!
The Fault in Our Stars 🙂
The last great YA book I read was The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. But one of my favorite YA series will always be the Sloppy Firsts series.
This is an awesome idea!! I will be def. checking out those books soon. Favorite this year…The opposite of Love.
I just finished Cress by Marissa Meyer. Loved it!
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
i LOVE THIS IDEA. I have been keep ing up with my reading all summer and tearing through books so I love some good recommedndations. I am starting If I stay this weekend. I recently read the Matchmaker, The One and Only, After her, Nantucket Nights, and the first 2 books of the Summer Lowcountry Triolgy (Summer sisters and summer wind- anyone know when the next is coming out) and LOVED The Fault in our Stars. Also loved Rukes of Civility which I read earlier this year.
I would be very interested in a test run and subscribing to this service
I am currently reading the alchemist and am loving the story. It’s a lesson in a story and a super easy read. I also just finished Wild by Cheryl Strayed and loved it! Next on my list is If I Stay if I can ever get my hands on the copy from the library.
The last great book I read was Empty Mansions. Super fascinating true story of a reclusive heiress!
In between reading the Game of Thrones series, I read the Time Traveler’s Wife. I had already seen the movie already but fell in love with the book!
Just read Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater…it was excellent. (I actually listened to it as an audiobook…amazing narrators!!)
Most recently I read This is Where I Leave You by Jonathon Trooper. Great book, easy read. Highly recommend!
The Paris Wife! Great book and an easier read that I thought it would be!
The Aviator’s Wife
I just finished Dark Places and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn – possibly more twisted than Gone Girl! They were very good, but I still can’t wrap my head around what goes through the mind of someone who can come up with plots like that!
A Voice in the Wind – first of a 3-part series.
The Invention of Wings……WOW!