Katy Upperman, Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, and Alison Miller, hosted this interactive blogfest in 2011, 2012, and 2013 with the hope of highlighting favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements. They’re hosting it again, and dedicating this week to promoting awesome young-adult books!
Today’s the last day of the blogfest: Best in Show. Here are my picks from the books I read in 2014*:
Favorite Cover: Open Road Summer by Emery Lord. It’s beautiful, and it captures the summer season and dreamy mood of a road trip. Plus, the couple on the cover are married in real life!
Cutest Couple: Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae. I’m not going to spoil anything by naming names, but I loved the sweet, thoughtful romance in this gem.
Most Likely to Succeed (Pick a Printz Winner): A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier. This book is amazing. The historical detail, the timeliness of the topic–and the very strong and brave female protagonist. I loved it.
Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime: Pointe by Brandy Colbert. I am generally not someone who reads an entire book in a 24-hour period, but this one I did. I really, honestly, could not put it down. It’s heartbreaking and powerful.
Romance Most Worthy of an Ice Bath: One, Two, Three, by Elodie Nowodazkij. Swoonworthy!
Best Breakout Novel (Favorite Book by a Debut Author): Push Girl, by Jessica Love. But Push Girl has the distinction of being a really great contemporary YA that also has an important message. It’s so well done, and I can’t wait for Jessica’s next book.
Best Old-Timer (Favorite Book Published BEFORE 2014): Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson. A beautiful story that takes the characters and world from Peter Pan and makes them entirely new. I think about this one a lot, and it’s been months since I read it.
Most Likely to Make a Grown Man Cry: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson. An impactful story about family, addiction, PTSD, and love.
Sleeper Hit (Novel So Awesome I Wish It’d Been Hyped More): Hostage Three by Nick Lake. Technically, this published in late 2013, but I read it in 2014. An intense thriller/survival story that delves into socio-political issues, with well-developed characters and a compelling voice.
Favorite Outlier (Best 2014 Picture Book, MG, NA, or Adult Novel): I loved Yes Please. It was the self-help book I didn’t know I wanted to read. Amy Poehler is my hero.
Create Your Own Superlative!: Since I was lucky enough to read some 2015 ARCs this year, my superlative is: 2015 Book You Want Everyone to Read. And I’m picking The Forgetting by Nicole Maggi, which pubs in February.
*As a 2014 debut author myself, I know a few authors on my list. I admit to being a little biased–but that doesn’t change the fact that these are all great books!
What were some of your best 2014 books?
Just read the description for THE FORGETTING and added it to my TBR list. Sounds great! That is completely adorable about the cover models for OPEN ROAD SUMMER. 🙂 I completely forgot about TIGER LILY in the pre-2014 category. Honestly, there were a number of fantastic reads I could have slotted in here. (I went with REVOLUTION which was so, so good!)
Oh, I loved REVOLUTION, too!
I’ve been wanting to read Yes Please 🙂
It’s not the book I was expecting, but still very good!
Aww, thank you so much Rebecca! xoxo
I’m reading Yes Please right now and I’m loving it so much!
Amy Poehler is just so great.
Oh, TIGER LILY… How I adore that book! I’m so glad you’re joining us today, Rebecca, and thanks for mentioning A DEATH-STRUCK YEAR. I haven’t heard a lot about it, but now I’m itching to pick it up. And congrats on your own 2014 release… Can’t wait for THE SUMMER OF LOST AND FOUND in 2016!
I think you’d really enjoy A DEATH-STRUCK YEAR! And thanks 🙂
That’s exactly how I felt about Yes, Please as well! I learnt so much. So funny as well, which you might expect but it didn’t feel forced. I’ll definitely be purchasing copies for various birthdays and such like.
It’s such a great book to give as a gift!
I keep hearing about TIGER LILY and how amazing it is. That books needs to move higher on my TBR list apparently!
It’s so good!
I really want to read Yes, Please by Amy Poehler. I’m on hold at the library for the audiobook, which she reads. I can’t wait!
I kind of wish I had listened to the audiobook instead of reading it–I bet her delivery is hilarious.
Yes please to YES PLEASE!!! Every time I see it in a store, I want to indulge. And love all of your other choices! So glad you could join us again, Rebecca!
It was so nice to blog again! I need to be better about that in 2015.
Awww! So glad you think Tonio and Nata´s romance is worthy of an ice bath :))))))) And I have to set more time aside for reading. I´m adding lots of books after this blog hop!
Same for me–so many new titles to read. 🙂