Top Ten 2014 Books So Far

Time for another mid-year check in point! Hard to believe 2014 is more than half over already.

So many good books this year. I've actually read more adult books this year than I have in the past few years. But I will focus on young adult for this list. You can definitely tell that I've been on a contemporary kick. 7 of the 10 books are contemporary. One of the paranormals feels contemporary most of the time.

Top Ten Young Adult Books of 2014 So Far:

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10. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

There is a time and place for hard-hitting, depressing issues novels. And there is a time and place for books that are designed simply to make you happy. Let It Snow is one of those happy books. Three, impeccably written novellas.

9. Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

Being Sloane Jacobs is a must-read when you're looking for a book that has a strong sense of fun and will also bring a guaranteed smile to your face. It is predictable and unrealistic, but this is the book you read when you want both those qualities. It is well written, with lovable characters, and a heartwarming story.

8. The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

If you haven't read the Blood of Eden series, you should put down whatever you're reading and pick it up. Julie Kagawa does with vampires what she did with fairies - turn the genre on its head and perfect it. The Forever Song is a good ending to a series I treasure.

7. Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Breathe, Annie, Breathe continues Miranda's streak of wonderful novels. You always know what you're going to get in a Hundred Oaks book, but I also always manage to be a little bit surprised. This is a perfect feel-good summer book and also a perfect book for runners.

6. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The Name of the Star is a deliciously dark paranormal. Full of suspense. Ghosts and murders. Plus it's set in London and at a boarding school. What more could you want?

5. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

The perfect summer book features the beach and/or a road trip. Since You've Been Gone has elements of both! Plus, self-discovery, friendship, and romance. It's all around delightful.

4. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars is a perfect combination of enchanting writing, intriguing characters, forbidden romance, and a suspenseful plot. The wonderful writing kept me glued to the page, and I loved both Lilac and Tarver.

3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park really is a stand-out novel. It hits every note of a teenage romance with all its ups and downs, without feeling melodramatic. Eleanor and Park are characters you come to love and care for, despite their flaws.

2. Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Something Real is a hard hitting, realistic look at the downside of fame and at a severely dysfunctional family. And yet it is immensely readable. It manages to be funny, sad, touching, uplifting, and infuriating without feeling maudlin. One of the most compelling contemporary fiction books I've read in a long time.

1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Read We Were Liars. Don't look up anything about it. Just pick it up. It's a beautiful, heart-breaking book that stays with you long after you finish the last page.