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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The last great book I read was “Looking for Alaska” by John Green. Reminded me in a way of my all-time favorite book, “Good Times/Bad Times” by James Kirkwood.
61 books! That’s impressive. I started keeping track of the books I read throughout the year and managed to read 50 books last year. This year, I haven’t been reading as much. I go through phases with my reading…The best book I read so far this year would have to be “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand. I also love Sarah Jio’s and Kate Morton’s books.
I just finished Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith, and I LOVED it! I am on to Silkworm next, which is sucking me in just as quickly!
While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell – such a strong female lead!
I’m a firm believer that you’re never too old to read YA fiction, so props to you for starting this monthly book club/subscription! I just finished We Were Liars myself, and loved it. I’m halfway through the Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi, but I’m not ready to call it “great” yet – reserving judgment until I’ve finished the second book.
Thanks, Jeannie! I LOVE the Shatter Me books! I hope the second book doesn’t disappoint!
I read Delancey recently and loved it! Great food lit book, if that’s your type of thing.
I am actually pretty excited about this! I love YA fiction (even as an adult!) and I am in the middle of reading Sharp Objects, but the last really good book I read was Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. Thanks!
Great recommendations! I have thought about diving into Game Of Thrones, but have been told that I would really need to commit and have no distractions while reading (very complex). I am currently reading if i stay and am one of those that also likes to read the book before the movie comes out.
Great post! I am always looking for new books to read and never know where to start! I am currently reading “The Fault in our Stars” and its a cute easy read!
I loved Jonathan Tropper’s “This is Where I Leave You”..which is coming out as a movie this September! I’m pretty excited about the movie, due to the awesome cast (Tina Fey, Jason Bateman etc.) Here is an overview about the book from goodreads.com, “When their father passes away, four grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens.” It seems like a simple concept, but it’s a book anyone can relate to, whether or not you have experienced the same situation. It’s thought provoking, happy, sad…all of the above. Highly recommend!
I actually read If I Stay earlier this year and loved it! The sequel Where She Went is great and quick, too.
It isn’t the most recent book I’ve read (and NOT young adult), but “Gone Girl” has stuck with me for well over a year as the best book in a very long time!
Summer – I enjoyed Gone Girl, too! It’s so dark, and I can’t wait for the movie
I’m a big fan of the YA genre and I think there’s a big misconception about it. A few weeks ago I finished “The Fault in our Stars,” because I HAVE to read the book before I see the movie. 🙂
can’t wait to start some of these. especially If I Stay. i’ve been seeing movie commercials for it, so i need to begin!
Haley – It’s really good, just get ready to be hit with some EMOTIONS! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
I just started “Eleanor & Park,” and am excited since I’ve heard so many good things about it!
I just finished The Glass Castle, which I know is a few years old, but somehow I hadn’t read it. It is so good though! I am glad I finally did!
I recently finished up Gone Girl and started on If I Stay. Thanks for the great recomendations, can’t wait to add them to the list!
Love it! The last book (or series, rather) I finished was The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare – love, love, love it!
The last book I read was “The Vacationers” by Emma Straub. I thought it was a really great one and had a good theme.
Thank you so much for these book recommendations! I read this with my library’s online catalog open in another tab so that I could request books as I went along. 😉 Will be checking out your blog and passing it along to some of my fellow bookworm friends.
I last read “Damn Few” by Rorke Denver…it’s about his experience as a Navy SEAL and the philosophy and programming behind the SEAL training process (a far cry from YA fiction, haha!). It’s really fascinating and inspiring book, and as a military daughter/sister, it made me that much more appreciative of our armed forces and particularly our special forces and all they do to ensure that we have the strongest military in the world.
The last great book I read was The Rosie Project! Such a cute and different kind of love story!
The last book I got sucked into was “The Fault in Our Stars” — I read it in less than a day! I’m currently making my way through “The Count of Monte Christo” — it’s slow going, but I love it!
I recently read The One and Only by Emily Giffin and loved it. She’s a great writer and writes such fun and light books for reading.
Reconstructing Ameila. Check it out!
I just finished One Plus One, and it was AWESOME!
I just finished the vacationers, I was not impressed.
Must read the book before seeing the movie. I recently finished the Divergent series and loved it. I am almost finished with the Vampire Academy. I want to read The Fault in Our Stars next.
this is a great idea! i’m slacking on my book-reading lately, due to moving states, changing jobs, and buying a house recently! but i’d love to check out some of the books in this post.
I just finished Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. So good!!
50 Shades!
The Rosie Project is a great book that I recently read for my book club!
I just finished reading “The Fault in Our Stars” which made me cry hysterically on public transportation in NYC. What a beautiful story and so well-written…kept me hooked from page one. Eleanor & Park sounds right up my alley!
Just read Gone Girl & Dark Places and got sucked into them both quickly – I am reading Sharp Objects next. I absolutely love Gillian Flynn’s writing style!
Ahhh…I love reading, but recently got stuck on a book I hated and just refused to give up. I am now reading Inferno by Dan Brown and am loving the fast paced puzzle as always.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette was one of my fave summer reads!
great suggestions! I love If I Stay, but I thought the sequel, Where I Went was even better!
I just finished No Rules by Starr Ambrose. It was outstanding.
I just finished Water for Elephants… time to watch the movie!!
I absolutely loved Gone Girl — can’t wait for the movie to come out in October!
I am a book worm myself! There really is nothing like it. The last good book I read was And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini. I loved his book The Kite Runner, and this one was just as an amazing story. I think its worth a read! Now I am on to Quiet:The Power of Introverts in a World that Cant Stop Talking.
night road by kirstin hannah! so good!
The two books that I have read that stick in my mind are Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and All You Could Ask For by Mike Greenberg. Both are excellent books that I would highly recommend them!
This is great. I’ve read quite the ya arrangement this year but the fault in our stars was my favorite.
Reconstructing Amelia
Very excited about this give away! Definitely a book worm 🙂 my
Favorite book so far this year is “Brain on Fire” . Can’t wait to check out your suggestions!
I just finished reading “The Selection” by Kiera Cass and loved it! On to “The Elite”
Paper Towns!
The book I am reading right now is great! Never Look Back, by: Clare Donoghue
Oops I accidentally commented with this on your post from yesterday…sorry! 🙂
I LOVE books! what is so funny is I used to HATE reading and now it is just so relaxing! In our alumnae book club we have read 2 books that i just couldn’t put down, even though they are not typical reads for me.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and the Under the Never Sky series…AMAZING
I just added “Eleanor + Park” and “On the Fence” to my Good Reads list. Thanks for the recommendations– I am reading addict!