Thursday 1 January 2015

My Favourite YA/NA Books of 2014

Happy New Year to you all!
I hope you’ve had an amazing Christmas; spent with all the people that you love and care for. I also hope Santa was kind and brought you all the books you desperately wanted to read.
For some reason I didn’t get any books… Perhaps my family think I have enough already…Lucky for me the wonderful people in publishing have kept me up to date with the latest releases.
Last year wasn’t my best year for reading. In fact, it was downright abysmal. According to Goodreads I’ve only read 42. I know that I’ve actually read more than that as I’ve just scrolled through my reviews for last year and found quite a few that I didn’t  add on Goodreads. So I roughly read around 50 books. Still not a fantastic amount, when you compare it to the year before when I read way over a hundred books. To be fair, last year was rather busy. I started a new job and I wrote a whole book! As well as writing two first drafts of others, so reading did take a bit of a back seat. However this year I hope to read a lot more.
Trying to come up with a list of my favourite reads has been quite tricky. I’ve loved a lot of books. However I really only wanted to pick a few, so this is my Top Ten YA/NA books of 2014.
1) Far From You by Tess Sharpe.
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I adored this book! This book wins the Number 1 spot hands downs. I could not put it down. I thought I was reading one story and then before I knew it, I found myself hurtling down a different route. This book crosses over so many genres yet had you engrossed right from the start.
2) Banished by Liz De Jager
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This was one of those books I was really nervous about reading. I know Liz quite well as she used to be a very influential book blogger, so I was worried about whether I would love this book. I don’t know why I worried, because it was AMAZING! The plot was intense and intricate. The descriptions so well written it was very clear how much research the author had carried out. And let’s not forget the kick ass heroine!
3) Trouble by Non Pratt
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This is how you write about sex for teenagers! Let’s not shy away from it, because we all know that quite a lot of them are doing it! This book is frank, real and is the kind of  book a lot of teenagers want to read. I can’t wait for Non’s next book.
4) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
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I started loving this book because of the New England feel. I ended up loving it because the final chapters blew me away. I did not see the ending coming! I know a few people have said it was a bit slow, but I really enjoyed it the whole way through.
5) Dead Silent by Sharon Jones
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I am a little sad about this book, because at this moment in time, I’m pretty sure there are no plans for any more books featuring Poppy and that upsets me. I really loved Poppy, even though she had a habit of turning up around a murder. I love her even more knowing that she resembled a younger me. I am really excited to see what Sharon Jones brings out in the future.
6) Come Back To Me by Mila Grey
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I had an inkling that Sarah Alderson could write New Adult and I was right. Writing under the pseudonym, Mila Gray, Sarah writes this rather emotional charged story that deals with an extremely topical situation. Sarah has shown she can turn her hand at anything.
7) Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
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One of the most romantic reads I’ve ever read. Seriously. I was a mess when I finished reading this book. And Ridge! How can you read this book and not love Ridge???
8) Say Her Name by James Dawson
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Who doesn’t love the story of Bloody Mary? James Dawson brings to life one of those stories that we’ve all told to frighten each other. Recently crowned Queen of Teen, James has shown  what a versatile writer he is.
9)  Salvage by Keren David
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This was the first book I’d ever read by Keren David and it definitely won’t be my last. Keren has shown she isn’t frightened to tackle difficult subjects and take the reader on an emotional journey.
10) The Walled City by Ryan Graudin
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What an amazing debut. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat, as time runs out for all of the residents living in the walled city. This book was refreshing and different. I can’t leave out what an amazing setting for a story too.
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So that’s my Top Ten Favourite YA/NA books of 2014. I intend to write a post about my favourite MG  books too over the next couple of weeks.

4 comments:

  1. Great list! I really enjoyed Banished. I also really need to get back to Trouble and finish it. Like a fair few books this year, it kept getting pushed to one side for other books (for no particular reason...)

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    1. I hear you! I still have quite a few from last year that need to be read. Hope you had a good Christmas and New Year, Darren.

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  2. What a great list and more than half of these books are by British authors! Have you thought about joining the British Books Challenge? :)

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  3. Totally agree on Far From You, it was my favourite YA book this year as well!

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