Hi guys! While I am off enjoying IDEA and BlogFest, I have a guest post (and giveaway!) for ya from my good friend, Lisa! Lisa and I used to work together in Orlando and quickly bonded over our love for reading. Below you will find a list of Lisa’s top picks for great reads this year.
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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Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It’s a true story, extremely moving, and very well written.
The last good book I read was the final book in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy.
Currently rereading the Harry Potter series which I haven’t read in years. Really enjoying all the subplots I had forgotten!
I really loved This Is Where I Leave You.
I have been reading boring business books! I need a good read. Please pick me!
I recently just read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green which I loved. I also really liked the 3 series book called Matched, Reached, and Crossed by Ally Conide. They were set in a Utopian society so they kind of reminded me of the Divergent Series. Either way I found that completely engaging and exciting.
Just finished Mr. Mercedes and loved it!
OH…I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YA Fiction – BEST books ever!! I will definitely be taking a look at Uppercase and Read. Breathe. Relax (I’m also a book blogger and I love finding other bloggers and readers to follow).
If I’m just talking about my YA reads for this year, I probably couldn’t narrow it down to only one, but my faves in that category are TORN AWAY by Jennifer Brown, THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY by Laurie Halse Anderson, and THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky.
I recently finished The Fault in our Stars. Great read that took place in my hometown.
well lets just say the last book I read was the 50 shades series- I think I could use some new books to read.
The last book I read was Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling and I loved it!
Finally reading Midwives by Chris Bohjalian!
I just read “maybe someday” and it awesome. Very quick read and it has links to music that acoompanied the book. Has a great spin/surprise to it!
The last books I read was “If I Stay” followed very closely by “Where She Went”. What great storytelling!
I LOVED Gone Girl. One of my most favorite books I read this year. I was kind of sad that I read it while on vacation because I had all the time in the world to read and as much as I wanted to know how the story ended…I never wanted the book to end.
The last book I read was the Paris Wife!
I loved Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio which was actually recommended from this blog! 🙂
I loved “Me Before You.” It broke my heart in the best way.
I read ‘If I Stay’ about a month ago and loved it! It was captivating- but such an easy read. Can’t wait for the movie. I am reading ‘Gone Girl’ now…loving it so far!
I never have time to read books anymore. I spend too much time reading online, sleeping, or exercising or cooking or being tired! Ha.
And The Mountains Echoed
The last great book I read was The Queen of the Tearling. It is going to be a series and I am looking forward to reading them all.
Emily giffins newest book
I finally got around to reading Divergent because I wanted to read it before seeing the movie. I LOVE the idea of the box service you started!
I never saw the movie, but I was surprised at how much I liked Charlie St. Cloud. Actually, I loved it! And my last great spiritual read was Love Does. A great reminder that love is more than a feeling; it’s a choice to care for our loved ones. I just ordered On the Fence, If I Stay, The Fault in Our Stars, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. After reading this post, I’m definitely starting with On the Fence. Thanks!
I’m so pumped that I finally got my hands on Gone Girl – and finished it in less than a day! Thanks for the giveaway!
I recently finished Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, so funny!
I actually just finished reading three amazing books (I always read at least 3 books at once–I’m a bit obsessed)! The Rosie Project (which was super cute and funny!), Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore (think books + National Treasure) and The Dinner. All were very good in their own ways which is what makes reading so gosh darn fun! I love the idea of Uppercase and will probably subscribe even if I don’t win the giveaway 😉
I recently finished Five Days in November, a book about the 5 days surrounding the JFK assassination. I tend to read about 2-3 non-fiction books a year (and about 20+ fiction), and this one was definitely a winner. I’m actually in the middle of another non-fiction called Brain on Fire that is fascinating so far. This has got to be the coolest subscription box idea I’ve seen!!
I just re-read The Great Gatsby for the millionth time!
I have been reading the Divergent Series and I love it!
I recently read If I Stay and loved it!
A Discovery of Witches… a Harry Potter/Twilight hybrid that I’m loving
I loved A Discovery of Witches! Have you read the other two books in the series yet?
Loved Gone Girl!
I read tell the wolves I’m home recently, and I really enjoyed it.
I’ve been going back reading some old classics that I somehow missed in school. Just read The Giver for the first time!
I love all the john Greene books
I loved Eleanor and Park and If I Stay! The last books that stole my heart were Divergent and the Maze Runner–trying to beat the release dates of all these new movies. I am so obsessed with Divergent now.
I recently read The Rosie Project which was pretty good 🙂
The Night Angel Trilogy!
I loved The Fault in our Stars!
I just finished Eleanor and Park. It was such a great read!
Paper Towns by John Green. So good!
I really enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars last! Such a quick and easy read but so so good!
I recently read Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
I just read Freedom by Jonathan Franzen and loved it!
Daughter of Smoke and Bone! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. And the Selection series. Just way too many!
I just finished Opposition, the last in the Lux Series by Jennifer Armentrout and I loved it!
One and Only.. loved it!
I just finished Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater this morning. It was just what I needed to finish off the Wolves series!