Here we go.
In no order.
(Format guide: print is a regular book with pages. E-book is an electronic book. Audiobook is a book you listen to on CD. e-audiobook is a digital audiobook you can listen to on a digital device).
1. 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
As soon as I read the opening chapter of the 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, I was hooked. It will send shivers down your spine but you can't stop turning the pages. If I had to put these in order, 5th Wave is probably my favourite read of the year. You agreed with me - It won Top Novel in the summer. Basically Earth is invaded by aliens and the remaining few survivors have to decide how to fight back.
Read if you like: action packed books and don't mind creepy aliens.
2. Invisibility by David Levithan and Andrea Cremer
Having read and adored books by both these authors, I was fairly certain I would like this one. I like it when I'm right. Basically Stephen is born invisible. No one has ever been able to see him until Elizabeth. As they race to defeat the curse, they find out a lot about each other and themselves.
Read if you like: romance, magic and smart protagonists.
(get it in print | audiobook | e-book | e-audio )
3. Eye of Minds by James Dashner
James Dashner has this unique ability to creep me out. Eye of Minds is less creepy than Maze Runner but still. The man has a gift. Eye of Minds is a futuristic hacker thriller involving murder-solving teens. It's pretty awesome and I'm interested to see where this series is going to go.
Read if you like: the Maze Runner series, action, and don't mind sci-fi.
(read it in print | e-book. Listen in audiobook | e-audiobook )
4. Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
This is second in a series, so definitely read Raven Boys first. But if you've read Raven Boys, you'll want to pick this up. Deliciously dark and full of magic, unrequited love and great characters. I'm not going to tell you the plot if you haven't read the first one, but this is almost as good as the first.
Read it if you like: Holly Black, magic curses, cute boys.
(get it in print or audio)
5. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Another sequel! This book just kept getting better the longer I read it. It surprised me and delighted me and I just really enjoyed it. Read Cinder first, but basically it's a futuristic fairy tale mash up. Scarlet's main character is based on Little Red Riding Hood. This one almost won Top Novel this year, so watch out!
Read it if you like: strong lady characters, quick-moving plots, and a sprinkle of romance.
(available in print | audiobook | e-audio)
6. Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten
Something a bit different - a modern day teen story (no robots in sight) in which Adam meets Robyn at an OCD group meeting. He immediately falls for her but even as he tries to get better he realizes that he may be bringing Robyn down with him. This one was sort of aching and heart breaking but oh so good. If you like your books a bit more realistic, this one may be for you.
Read it if you like: realistic teens, real issues to work through, a bit of humour sprinkled throughout.
(read it in print)
7. The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Oh gosh I loved this book A LOT. If you were to tell me what it was about - a jock who gets into a car accident and has to give up his popular jock status, I probably wouldn't have been interested but a couple people recommended it to me and I loved it. It has John Green-esque banter but the main character is not really a John Green character. He is used to being rich and the popular guy on campus. Despite that, he's really likeable and the whole book is full of interesting characters.
Read it if you like: John Green, witty characters, endings that are a bit different and unexpected (not in a bad way though)
8. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
This book is on a lot of people's lists with good reason. It's a misfit love story that sucks you in and really makes you feel for these characters. It tackles something that a lot of books don't deal with - the serious, every day poverty that a lot of people are living with. It broke my heart a little bit but I really loved it anyway.
Read it if you like: books that hurt a bit, romance, quirky characters
The premise of the book is simple - two people are trying to break the Guinness World Record for kissing. The controversy? It's two boys. This book is actually based on two boys who did this but what makes it interesting is that instead of focusing on those two boys, those two boys are really just the face of boys and girls everywhere who are being persecuted for who they love. So the story has a whole bunch of threads that sort of wraps up together in the end. It's neat. I really liked it.
Read it if you like: romance, books that are a bit more serious and political
(get it in print | audiobook | e-book | e-audiobook)
10. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
This year it seems like there were a lot of older teen books. Books where the character is 18 or 19. Basically university or college aged. Of the few I read this year, I liked Fangirl the best. It was quirky and romantic and easy to relate to, especially for those of us who are introverts. Basically Cath goes to university with her twin sister but after fighting, they barely see eachother. While Cath gets swept up in her own world of fanfiction, Wren is going off the rails and drinking every night. As you may guess from the cover, there is also a boy and what a boy he is!
Read it if you like: university stories, fandom, romance
(get it in print | audio | e-audio )
That's it! But first a couple special mentions to..
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman which I read and LOVED this year but was published in 2012 so I didn't include it. If you like fantasy, grab this one for sure.
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman which I'm listening to on audiobook right now and LOVING but since I'm not finished it, I decided not to include it. Still, if you're into science fiction like Across the Universe, pick this one up.
What did you love this year?
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