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 “The Fault in Our Stars”. Definitely a tear-jerker but I love quotes and this book had so many to live by. I’m definitely going to try Lisa’s suggestion next of “Eleanor and Park”!
I’m currently trying to finish the Divergent Series and then Fault in our Stars…I’m a little (lot) behind!
I finally read the Borgias
This post is right up my alley, I love reading Young Adult novels! I love that they are fast and I find them really interesting and fun. I have already read Eleanor and Park and If I Stay this summer! Love the giveaway 🙂
I just finished reading White Oleander by Janet Fitch. It was recommended to me by a friend and I absolutely loved it. I ended up reading it twice!
I recently read a book called Modoc and absolutely loved it! One of those books you can’t put down.
I just finished Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews, she is one of my all time favorite authors. I’m new to your blog, but a total book worm, so excited to follow along! I’d love to win this giveaway!
I recently just finished Gone Girl! Sucked me in and kept me hooked the entire time!
I read many great books this summer, The One and Only, Attachments (loved this one!), Me Before You (think A Fault in Our Stars all grown up), Side Effects May Vary, The First Husband, A Hundred Summers (MY FAV this summer) and If I Stay! I also read The Vacationers and We Were Liars but didn’t really care for either of them.
Excited to read your recommendations.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Best. Book. Ever.
I just read “This is Where I Leave You” which was VERY adult but a really good book. I also loved “The Rosie Project”. For YA I am currently reading “If I Stay”, “Wonder” and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”. I have been on a huge YA kick lately so I’m very excited for your suggestions!
I LOVED Still Missing by Chevy Stevens.
The Fault in Our Stars
I love this post! Eleanor and Park is such a great book and I’m excited to check out some of these other recommendations. One of the best YA books I’ve read in a long time is the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I recommend it to everyone!
I LOVED Eleanor and Park. I try to force people to read it too!!
The last book I read was ‘If I Stay’ . I loved it but felt no closer at the end. I guess there is another book as a sequel to it, so I may have to read that to close the void I feel.
The last book I honestly couldn’t put down was “Running for my Life” by Lopez Lomong.
The last book I read was “Mr. Mercedes” by Stephen King. But David Baldacci has some great books too!
Yessss, I love YA books! I just read Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and liked it a lot!
I read Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It is a great classic! Wonderful idea Julie 🙂
The last good book I read was Dark Places. Couldn’t put it down!
Currently reading The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. Love classics!
I recently read Fault in Our Stars and LOVED it. My book club on the other hand, sadly, did not. Oh well–more reason I need new book suggestions for myself!
Looking for Alaska by John Green
I, too, am a reader! I have read a bunch of great books this summer. One of my favorite beach reads was The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. Thanks for all the great suggestions!
I just finished 1st to Die by James Patterson! It was a great read!
I’m just finishing up the Game of Thrones series. Cant put it down!
The Island!!so good 🙂
I am a kindle lover. I received Fahrenheit 451 as a gift from getting my MA degree from a friend who wrote “I hope this reminds you that the real thing is always better than Kindle.” I loved the classic Fahrenheit 451 and the fell and smell of the real book. 🙂
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. I can’t recommend it enough for my fellow professional ladies out there!
I don’t know if this really counts since it’s more of an adaptation, but I have been loving the Shakespeare’s Star Wars series by Ian Doescher. It’s essentially the Star Wars movies written as if they were Shakespeare plays, and the first two are fabulous. I flew through them, and have the third one waiting for me.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyers — I totally neglected my family for 3 days because I could not put it down!
I listened to the book The Goldfinch while packing/moving/unpacking and really enjoyed the story!
I’ve read a lot of great books this year! My favorite so far would have to the Fault in Our Stars! I also enjoyed 5 People You Meet in Heaven, and The Guardian. Thanks for the great book suggestions! 🙂
I have to agree… Eleanor and Park is a GREAT novel!
Fault in our stars & the Husband’s secret!
I just finished an advanced copy of The Secret Place by Tana French. It’s the perfect book for adult fans of YA and crime fiction!
Eleanor & Park has been on my to-read list for a while, thanks for the good review on it.
Last book I read which was great, “Let’s Discuss Diabetes with Owls” by Sedaris. Love his writing and sense of humor.
I’m currently reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I read Gone Girl and loved it! I also read Sharp Objects and found it okay, but predicatable. So far, Dark Places is right in the middle.
The Vacationers was very enjoyable. The Goldfinch is next on my list!
Loved One and Only by Emily Giffin!
outliers!
Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts
I loved Eleanor & Park and I’m excited to check out the other books you recommended – thank you!
Last book I read was Fault in Our Stars – great read. 🙂
Last great book I read was Quiet, about the power of introverts. Last great FICTION book I read was A Tale for the Time Being. SO GOOD–would recommend to anyone! I love YA books, too.
I just got done reading I Didn’t Come Here to make Friends. If you’re a fan of the bachelor/ette I highly recommend it!
Gah I am excited to add more books to my list:) Thanks for the recommendations, my Kindle will be very happy! As for the most recent book I have read it was Reconstructing Amelia.
Just finished Kara Taylor’s “Deadly Little Sins” and am currently reading Huntley Fitzpatrick’s “What I Thought Was True”. I adore YA Fiction. Can’t wait to try “We Were Liars”.
I enjoy many types of books but young adult literature is my favorite genre by far. I ADORED Eleanor and Park, and enjoyed If I Stay as well. We Were Liars may make it on to my to-read list. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes was the best book I have read recently, a very difficult and heartbreaking subject matter but I couldn’t put it down.
I finally got on the bandwagon and read Divergent!