Yesterday we posted a Top 10 of Backlist Books we read this year. Now it’s time to show you our 17 favorite young adult books that we read that were published this year. Both of us read some amazing books this year.
Candyce
Here is my top 17 and in no particular order. If we have a review on the blog, you can click the link of the title!
1. They Both Die at the End -Adam Silvera Such a beautiful and heartbreaking book. I never expected to like it as much as I did. This author managed to get me to connect to the characters in a way I didn’t imagine with a book that takes place in less than 24 hours. I can’t wait to read more by him!
2. Severance – S.G.D. Singh This whole trilogy was amazing, so we have to repeat ourselves yet again. You need to read these books, haha! The author is so sweet and she made choices that not many authors dare to make! Definitely a unique take on fantasy.
3. Eliza and Her Monsters – Francesca Zappia This book had me in tears a few times and Eliza was relatable in some ways. Being a fangirl is so relatable, haha. I loved how her comic turned out to be so popular, but no one knew it was her. Wallace was such a sweet character as well. The comics added something extra to this book. It sucked me into the world even more.
4. All the Things We Were – Kayla Tirrell One of my favorite contemporary books this year. All three were really good. Fast read with some interesting characters. The last one I think is my favorite, but they all gave me the feels, haha. The fact that the author is so sweet, made these books even better as well.
5. Autoboyography – Christina Lauren This was such a beautiful book. Autoboyography shows us how hard it can be when who you love goes against your religion. We learned more about the religion without it being over the top and Christina Lauren made you want the characters to get their happy ending. This book had me in tears quite a few times. The idea of a class to write a book in, is actually a really interesting idea. More schools should do that. I also had a fangirl moment after I published my review. Christina Lauren retweeted my review, haha.
6. If There’s No Tomorrow – Jennifer L. Armentrout This author has never disappointed me and used a subject you don’t see much these days. I don’t want to say too much, because I think it’s good going in this book blind. It gives more of an impact that way. This book was so beautiful, but heartbreaking. I cried a lot while reading this. I related to the main character though, she was reading books that sound a lot like ones I love, haha.
7. Follow Me Back – A.V. Geiger This book appealed to me after I read about it. After a friend had read it and was really enthousiastic, I knew it had to be good. I read it in one sitting basically and couldn’t put it down. This whole book is told through tweets, police reports, texts, etc. A really interesting way to write a story. And the ending! Wow! I can’t wait for the next book to be published.
8. Tower of Dawn – Sarah J. Maas I know a lot of people were sceptical about this book and didn’t understand why Chaol needed a whole book. I didn’t know what to expect either, but I loved it. Everything we learn about the world around them and even about Chaol was really amazing. We get a whole other side of Chaol and understand him more after. This is definitely a mustread before the last book will come out.
9. Queens of Geek – Jen Wilde Fangirls and a convention are a good combination to make me want to read a book, haha. I liked that the two best friends were so different: one was popular, an actress/vlogger and not shy, the other is a bit insecure and has autism. This makes things a bit more difficult at time. While they’re at the convention a lot happens that makes them both do things out of their comfort zone and realize they can do more than they realize.
10. The Valiant – Lesley Livingston To be honest, this book wasn’t on my radar at first. I picked it up, because I was going to meet the author this year and wanted to read books before then. This is quite a pleasant surprise and a different take on warriors. I read this book pretty fast and have already ordered the second book coming out in January.
11. The Upside of Unrequited – Becky Albertalli After loving Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda I wanted to read more by this author. This book was really good and pretty cute. The main character was a bit dorky, but in a good way. While trying to figure out what she wants and dealing with growing up she goes through a lot. It’s summertime and when her twin sister falls in love, things go differently than expected. Their family is also a positive thing in this book, they seem like so much fun.
12. Always and Forever, Lara Jean – Jenny Han After loving the first two books, I needed to see what would happen to Lara Jean. The first two books were cute contemporaries and so was this one. The author didn’t disappoint. I think Lara will be relatable to a lot of teenagers getting ready for college and realizing their life is about to change in a big way. The first book is becoming a movie. I can’t wait to see it.
13. Wonder Woman: Warbringer – Leigh Bardugo After reading Six of Crows and the first book in the Grisha trilogy, Leigh Bardugo became a favorite author. I love her writing style. I love superheroes and didn’t know much about Wonder Woman. This book was a pleasant surprise. A good mix of action and humor.
14. Warcross – Marie Lu My first book by Marie Lu and after reading this it won’t be my last. This book was so good. I love the concept of gaming in the real world. With the way technology is, I can see something like this happening in the future. Some things about this book were a bit predictable, but I can’t wait for the second one.
15. One Dark Throne – Kendare Blake Isabelle got me to read Three Dark Crowns at the beginning of this year and I’m happy she did. I love the world Kendare Blake created. I even think that this book was better than the first. A few things at the end disappointed me a bit, but that won’t stop me from reading the next books.
16. A Court of Wings and Ruin – Sarah J. Maas This was one of my most highly anticipated books this year. After the cliffhanger we were given in A Court of Mist and Fury, the waiting for this one was brutal. I loved how the story was built up to the end. A few things were disappointing in the end, but I’m happy we finally got this story. I’m looking forward to the novella we are getting next year.
17. Geekerella – Ashley Poston The combination of a Cinderella retelling, a convention and a fandom had me interested from the start. I love the way the author combined these things. It was a fast and cute read and we got our happy ending.
Isabelle
There are quite some books that Candyce and I have in common for this list, oops! I will list those we have in common first and will them continue with the rest 🙂 So it turns out we have 12 books in common haha! I will go through them pretty quickly before talking about the last 5 on my list <3
Tower of Dawn – Sarah J. MaasÂ
This might be my new favourite Sarah J. Maas book, even though I don’t like Chaol at all I absolutely adored this book. The world gets expanded and is once again so interesting and so detailed. We meet new characters and get a better understanding of old characters. All in all an amazing read
Warcross – Marie Lu
I was a bit hesitant to start this one, the hype was getting crazy and I didn’t really like the Legend series by Marie Lu. However I saw the beauty of a hardcover for a decent price so I decided to get it. Pretty soon after I started reading it and let me tell you, THE HYPE IS REAL! I adored the world, liked most of the plot twists, definitely didn’t see one coming, great characters and loved reading about them playing the game!
One Dark Throne – Kendare BlakeÂ
This was one of my highest anticipated reads this year! I loved Three Dark Crowns last year and read it in a day. I had no clue where the story was going to go in this one after the cliffhangers we ended book one on. I finally decided on a favourite Queen and loved how unexpected everything was in this second book. Excited for the novella coming out this week and the next book!
 Severance – SGD Singh
This series is such a hidden gem! I hope you guys aren’t sick of us raving about it yet haha. I think it says enough that it made both our top 17’s for this year. This was an epic conclusion that made me scream, cry and also laugh. So may bold choices, amazing character building and an interesting world.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean – Jenny HanÂ
I loved the original duology, it is probably my favourite contemporary series, so was a very excited to learn there was a third book coming. I pre-ordered it and read it so fast. This was another one that made me both laugh and cry (happy tears, sad tears, loving tears) and made me feel nostalgic as well. I wish we got Lara Jean: The Colllege Years, I would pay good many for it haha.
 They Both Die At The End – Adam Silvera
Another one I was a bit hesitant about, but after reading (and loving) another Adam Silvera book I knew I wanted to read this one. I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did since it all takes place during one day. However I did love it and even though the title spoils the ending I kept hoping for some kind of miracle haha. I loved the little chapters in between with other people’s POV, it was all people you get a brief glimpse of from the main characters view and I liked how you got to see a bit more of them and their story. It showed how everyone has their own story and we all touch each other’s story, even if it’s just in a small way.
A Court of Wings and Ruin – Sarah J. MaasÂ
Another highly anticipated read! A Court of Mist and Fury was AMAZING and I got really high expectations for this one. Unfortunately they weren’t completely met, even though I did very much enjoy the story. After reading Tower of Dawn I did feel like this one was more dissapointing since ToD was so so good. But like I said, I still really liked this one and I’m excited to see what other stories we’re getting in this world.
 The Valiant – Lesley Livingston
An unexpected favourite! I got this one in a book box and wasn’t super interested in it to be honest. However, Lesley came to the Netherlands and a friend of mine LOVED the book, so I figured I would try it as well. I am SO happy I did try it, since I really liked it a lot. I loved the setting, the plot twists, and the main character. Very happy we’re getting a second book.
The Upside of Unrequited – Becky AlbertalliÂ
Another unexpected favourite. I got this one in the goodiebag we got at the event I met Lesley Livingston (among others). Since Simon got so many great reviews I wanted to try this one and I was in the mood for a contemporary read (not something I say often!). Turns out I loved it, the main character was super relatable and it was a cute and fun and a bit of a dorky story. Exactly how I like my contemporaries.
 Geekerella – Ashley Poston
I’m surprised as to how many contemporaries made it into my top 17 list! Here’s another one I loved, this one was mostly cute. This book didn’t bring any surprises, apart from how much I enjoyed it. But it was super entertaining, I flew through it, and it was simply a cute read.
Eliza and her Monsters – Francesca ZappiaÂ
This was a tearjerker for sure! I loved how relatable it was, the bits of webcomic in between some chapters, and the feels it made me feel. Not really anything surprising happened but all that did happen was done so well. It made me put all the writers other books on my wishlist.
 If There’s No Tomorrow – Jennifer L. Armentrout
Another book I read because I was going to meet the author haha. Candy already warned me about bringing tissues along for the ride luckily. I definitely needed those! I cried all my tears, or at least that’s how it felt. A very emotional read with an important message.
So here are the 5 books that made my top 17 that aren’t in Candyce’s!
History Is All You Left Me – Adam SilveraÂ
My first Adam Silvera book, I read this on the plane to Los Angeles and finished it in one sitting. People might’ve thought I was a bit weird, sitting there with my phone in my hand and crying have of the flight… An amazing and very emotional read. I loved the little bits about the Santa Monica pier, and then visiting that pier shortly after.
 The Last Namsara – Kristen Ciccarelli
Two of my friends were RAVING about this one big time so when I got it in my November Fairyloot I picked it up immediately. I get why they loved it so much! The world was amazing, I love reading about dragons and this one had the addition of the Old Stories that was wonderful. While I figured out the main plottwist, there were quite some I didn’t see coming, that’s a big plus in my book! Loved the relationships in this story and how our main character wasn’t perfect at all.
Our Dark Duet – Victoria SchwabÂ
I love me some Victoria Schwab books, and we got two series finales this year! I was excited and scared at the same time, since this were going to be the first finales I got from her. No need to worry! I loved Our Dark Duet, it was a perfect finale to This Savage Song. I would recommend it to every fantasy lover but think it’s also something contemporary lovers might enjoy. It’s all about what makes you human and what makes you a monster and I am all for that!
 A Conjuring of Light – V.E. Schwab
I loved the Shades of Magic series more and more with each book and this last one was amazing! There was so much going on and there were quite some twists I didn’t see coming. This world is so interesting and the characters are amazing. There were some things left open at the end and I think it’s great we’re getting another series set in this world. I can’t wait to see where we are taken with that one!
 Because You Love To Hate Me – AmeriieÂ
I don’t read that many anthologies (or any to be honest) but I was interested in this one as it has some of my favourite writers and some of my favourite booktubers. I know some of these writers write amazing villains or anti-heros so I was very interested. I didn’t like all the stories equally but I don’t think there were any I really disliked. I loved some of them, enjoyed others. The bits the booktubers wrote were very different, I did love, like, and dislike them haha. It reads quite fast as the stories were all around 20 pages. Might try some more anthologies from now on.
These are our favorite young adult books published this year. What are some of your favorites? Did we miss any?
Sooo many on my TBR and Isabelle your last five a few were on my list to