Favorite YA Books of 2017 (so far)
Happy Monday friends! It’s been two weeks since we got from Europe (did I tell you we went to Europe for two weeks in May?) and I’m ready to jump back into the blogging world. Even though I was busy planning for our trip, I’ve still managed to read some great books (just updated my 2017 reading page!). Surprisingly, I’ve read some great YA books. This isn’t surprising because YA books aren’t good, but because I just been anxious to read YA books lately. That has changed! Today I want to share some of my favorite YA books of 2017 (so far).
Favorite YA Books of 2017
I haven’t been very excited about YA novels in the past few years. They just haven’t been what I opt to pick up in this season of my life. However, this year has shown me that when done right, YA novels are great. I’ve started reading more YA books and am excited when I find ones that are beautifully written and sometimes can transcend their “YA” genre. I wanted to share some of my favorite YA books that I have loved this year so far…
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
If you read one book this, I highly recommend this one. Not as YA book, but as just a great book. This book is about a teenager named Starr, who witnesses her friend get shot by a police officer. In terms of subject, this is on point for issues we are currently dealing with in our society. But more, what I found particularly poignant was the exploration of identity, of trust, and of relationships as Starr tries to navigate her world after what she experiences. This book is phenomenal and I cannot recommend it more highly.
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
I checked this book from the library not knowing what to expect. I began reading in Europe, because I figured it would be a light, YA novel I could quickly read. HA! I got a lot more from this book. The novel focuses on two characters, Violet and Finch. These two characters could not be more different, but somehow find their way to each other and have an incredibly intriguing relationship. This book explores relationships, family relationships, mental health, and love. I laughed and cried and loved this book.
Everything, Everything by Nicole Yoon
Ooooooh, this one. I loved it. After I read a few YA novels, I was super into this one. Plus, the movie just came out and there was a lot of hype about this book, so I went in with high expectations. Personally, I loved it. It centers around Madeline, who is basically a bubble girl. And she falls in love with the boy next door. But how do you date someone when your a bubble girl? Oooh, I was all in on this. Plus, there is a pretty great twist ending. If you go in knowing this is a more typical YA novel, I think you’ll enjoy!
A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
I will admit this – is this 100% a typical YA series. And I loved it. It had all sorts of great aspects – a great female protagonist, a love triangle, travel between dimensions (oh yeah!), and so much more. The main character is Marguerite, who comes from a loving, if not entirely “normal” family. Her parents are physicists, who are trying to figure out how to travel between different dimensions. The books opens with the murder of Marguerite’s father, and suspicion that a close family friend did it. And off we go! This was a quick read. This was my favorite of the three book series. I loved this!
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
I just finished this book on Saturday. I saw it at the library and picked it up on impulse because it was endorsed by the author of All The Bright Places. It was a short read, about a girl Amanda and her secret. Amanda is (SPOILER) transgender, and the book explores her experience working through transitioning from being a boy to girl – by navigating relationships with others and figuring out her identity. I got so caught up in Amanda’s journey and her world. I highly recommend reading, particularly if you liked This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel.
