As a part of my ongoing book suggestions post (which should have been finished a long time ago), I apparently promised to give out my favorite Young Adult Series suggestions, but never did because I suck. Thanks for the reminder, ChiSportsGal!
I don’t feel particularly qualified to MAKE a list like this because
- I haven’t read all that much YA in the past year and a half.
- I didn’t even start reading Young Adult books until after I read Harry Potter and Twilight.
- For the most part, the ones I read directly after that had been unduly influenced by those book series.
- So my favorites are often some of the most popular, the ones you’ve read already, and nothing new.
- Also, when I love a young adult series enough, it becomes a part of my ultimate favorites list (See The Lumatere Chronicles) and no longer needs the categorical distinction.
So what in the heck is this list about anyway?
It’s the young adult series and books that stand out to me. There is something special about these books that goes beyond the tropes that @broodingYAhero loves to skewer. (Sidenote: go follow!!!!) I’m including my favorite series also that wrap up beautifully and make me swoon and feel happy and want to hug things.
My Favorite Young Adult Books (Stand-alones)
Chime by Franny Billingsley is the kind of book that you might not have heard of, but will totally surprise you with how much you love its unusualness. It’s fantasy: with themes of old clashing with new, magic mixing with industry and the newness of young love. It surprised me when I read it, and it holds up years later as a stand out.
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan doesn’t just make it onto my list for the statement or the themes, but for how completely unputdownable it is. You find yourself going on the 32-hour kiss journey with them, unable to wait or pause or give up until they do. And (spoiler alert) they don’t.
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma gets the grand prize of book that ruined me the most. It’s technically YA, but GOD DON’T EVEN TRY TO READ THIS UNLESS YOU ARE ABOUT TO JUMP INTO A KIDDIE POOL OF KITTENS AND XANAX. Horrible and heart wrenching, and how can you not rec a book like that? Honestly, I don’t like PAIN BOOKS … books that dramatize or sensationalize or capitalize on trigger issues. I have no need to rattle your bones with the mother of all non-happy-ever-afters. Forbidden is not an “issue book.” It’s a book that takes something you never thought you needed to re-think, and makes you prickly with feelings as it forces you to re-think it.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell continues to be my standard for how YA novels can turn those teen conceits on their heads. Nothing like you expect and everything you expect at the same time, Park and Eleanor are nostalgia and brand new.
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta … because there’s no one better, and this novel is everything you want a young adult novel to be. You may not love this novel, but you won’t know that until you hit the last page. You may not know where this novel is going, but you won’t regret the journey.
My Favorite Young Adult Book Series
The Graceling Realm Series by Kristin Cashore: Despite the fact that fantasy is easily my favorite genre, I think it’s really hard to it well (especially in the young adult category). Graceling gets it right … and keeps getting it right as the series goes on with Fire and Bitterblue. A believable world, an unbeatable heroine (or two) and super swoon.
The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole: OUR FAVE KC takes probably one of the biggest pop culture buttons … apocolypse (plus cannibals and zombies and natural disasters) and gives us something completely new to overshadow and encompass it all. The Arcana Chronicles are inventive, strange, surprising, dangerous, HOT and did I mention HOT? She builds a world that is ancient and contemporary and gives us a love triangle that we can truly get twisty about. And it’s NOT OVER YET.
Angelfall by Susan Ee … I almost hesitate to put this on my list because as a debut novel, Angelfall was incomparable, and as a series, was slightly disappointing. But I can’t NOT include it because the story still wrecks me, and I loved the first book so much.
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand: I see over there in the Teen section, looking at all those angel trilogies and wondering if they are at all worth your time. Let me help you: they aren’t. Except Unearthly. Perfect hero. Perfect amount of drama. Perfect ending. LOVE LOVE LOVE. #BeholdTuckerAvery
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare … because ok, I like the Shadowhunters books, but these are on a whole other level, and I like making Nikki think that steampunk is a thing, and because Will-Tessa-Jem is the greatest love triangle of all YA time.
The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater: These were some of the first YA books I read after Twilight, and I couldn’t help but compare the werewolf aspect to what I was used to with the OG JORTS WOLFPACK. And well … Jacob Black has got NOTHING on Sam Roth.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: If you’re looking for mythos and irrefutable love and tragic circumstances and star-crossed love … you can’t get any better than this series that begins with, “Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.” I will defend Akiva and Karou until the end of time as one of the greatest YA love stories that was ever written.
You guys … there are MANY MANY MORE. This list was, in it’s original form, TWICE as long as it is now. I had to take a weed whacker to it, and I’m not happy about it. But then again, it’s not like we aren’t constantly recommending young adult novels to you, so you won’t be without for long.
In fact, be sure to check out our Boozy Book Club this month, as we read two favorite YA authors: Leigh Bardugo (read Heidi’s review of Six of Crows) and Rainbow Rowell. A live hangout is coming your way next week.
What are your favorite YA novels and series?
