Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know that January is half over and we should have posted this a month ago, but we figure it’s never too late to recommend some of our favorite 2017 books. If you haven’t read any of these yet, add them to your 2018 TBR list immediately!
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
It’s incredibly hard to end a series on a high note, but that’s exactly what Schwab did with the final Shades of Magic book. Kell and Lila will forever be one of my favorite OTPs. They are pretty much everything, even though these books aren’t strictly speaking romances. Scwhab also makes readers fall in love with Rhy and Alucard who have their own points of view and character arcs. Even Holland is sympathetic in this last book. There aren’t enough words to explain why this is one of the best fantasy trilogies I’ve ever read, so if you enjoy the genre, stop right now and start reading Schwab’s work. –Sandie
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
As I said in a professional review — what “a poignant and powerful story about three adopted teens separated by circumstance but brought together in love.” It’s the kind of book that sticks with you. There aren’t as many stories about adopted children as you think, but this one is a winner. Grace, Maya, and Joaquin work their way into your heart as they discover that they’ve got bio siblings and how different their lives have been from one another. Each character grows and connects in a powerful way. I especially related to Grace, and particularly appreciated her sweet, slow-growing romance with Rafe. –Sandie
Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Historical fiction for the YA set at its finest and most humorous, I have to admit that I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and the writing has a sassy witty edge. The core trio of characters break traditional gender roles and blur the lines drawn between genders and class throughout the book. Lee manages to tackle tough issues like homophobia, ableism, racism, and abuse through narration that is sassy and humorous without making a mockery of the need for acceptance of diversity of all kinds! I cannot wait for the second installment! –Keely
The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo
The Language of Thorns is a rare entry in YA literature being a book of fairy tales, myth and folklore. They are everything stories of this nature should be: dark, brooding, filled with twists and turns and gruesome as well as gorgeous characters. These stories will captivate you and remind what it is to hear a fairy tale for the first time. Beyond the stories, this volume is GORGEOUS. Each story is printed in color with illustrations that decorate the margins of the stories as well as full images at the end of each one. Get it for yourself or someone you love and enjoy every moment spent between the pages. –Keely
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
This book y’all – THIS BOOK – it is so hard to put down. If you enjoy fantasy I urge and compel you to pick this one up. The world is unbelievable in its creation and creativity. The characters – THE CHARACTERS – are jump off the page fully fleshed beings. I literally have to put my bookmark (quitter strip) in a chapter or two from where I pick-up and tell myself firmly to stop or I would read all night. And then I’d pick it up and start again. Don’t miss this one by Laini Taylor. –Keely
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
In the future, there is a company that tells you when you’re going to die, and an app that will match you with a Last Friend if you don’t want to spend your final day alone. Rufus and Mateo get the call on the same day and are paired up by the Last Friend app. What follows is a marvelous and at times heart-wrenching coming-of-age story that has so many important things to say about how we connect with people and how we choose to live our lives and how nothing is quite as random as it seems. –Cassie
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
I wanted to add a fun contemporary to the list, and this one fits the bill; it’s an easy read but more substantial than you’d expect from a romantic comedy… as a bonus Albertalli writes about the DC area, where I live, and in particular a neighborhood I’m in all the time (Takoma Park). She did a wonderful job of not only capturing what it’s like to be a plus-sized teen, but also what it’s like to live in the super liberal DC suburb. I love main character Molly Peskin-Suso and her entire family. Read this book! –Sandie
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