The 17 Best YA Books Of 2014

From dystopian to romance, these young adult books stole our hearts in 2014. *Ranked in no particular order*

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1. Cress, Marissa Meyer

Macmillan

Published: Feb. 4

Amazon Review: 4.8/5 stars

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book 3)

The Lunar Chronicles is a wonderfully addictive series, and the third installment does not fall short. Each book focuses on a fairy tale and a new character, and this is about an isolated genius girl named Cress (Rapunzel). The stories are all interconnected and all three girls (Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress) find themselves fighting together against the Lunar Queen. The book is thrilling and utterly captivating, keeping us impatiently waiting for Winter.

2. Isla and the Happily Ever After, Stephanie Perkins

Penguin Group

Published: Aug. 14

Amazon Review: 4.5/5 stars

Series: Anna and the French Kiss (Book 3)

In this spellbinding and swoon-worthy romance novel, Isla and the Happily Ever After is a perfect read for those who don't mind breaking down into an emotional mess. The third installment of Anna and the French Kiss, this story follows Isla and Josh, a young couple who met at school in Paris, and the struggle of falling in love at an early age. The characters are honest and realistic while maintaining a fairy tale-like essence that will keep you up all night. The novel also includes cameos from Anna, Etienne, Lola, and Cricket, and the ending will leave you in a puddle of joyous tears.

3. The Infinite Sea, Rick Yancey

Penguin Group

Published: Sept. 16

Amazon Review: 4.2/5 stars

Series: The 5th Wave (Book 2)

The Infinite Sea continues Cassie Sullivan's fight to survive in a world of alien attacks and a human race rid of its humanity. The first book was highly hypnotizing and the second isn't any different. It's impossibly entertaining and you won't be able to put the book down!

4. We Were Liars, E. Lockhart

Random House

Published: May 13

Amazon Review: 4/5 stars

Cadence comes from old money, and every year, she spends the summers in Cape Cod with her two cousins and a friend named Gat (the four "Liars"). But one summer, Cadence suffers a mysterious accident with no recollection of the memory, and spends the next two years trying to piece it back together. The ending is the best part, so DON'T SPOIL IT FOR ANYONE.

5. The Queen of the Tearling, Erika Johansen

HarperCollins

Published: July 8

Amazon Review: 4.1/5 stars

Series: The Queen of the Tearling (Book 1)

The first of a series to come, Queen of the Tearling has a Game of Thrones meets Snow White and the Huntsman kind of vibe. Set in the future with a medieval-type setting, the story follows a 19-year-old girl named Kelsea and her path to taking the throne which is rightfully hers. She acquires magic necklaces, learns the harsh truth of what her mother was, and finds herself fighting for a kingdom controlled by an evil Red Queen. The movie rights were purchased before the book was even published, and Emma Watson is set to play the lead.

6. Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson

Penguin Group

Published: Aug. 28

Amazon Review: 4.8/5 stars

Jacqueline Woodson shares her childhood experience of growing up African-American in the '60s and '70s through powerful, vivid poems. You get a glimpse into a child's perspective of finding her place in the world, and also finding her voice through writing. Absolutely spectacular!

7. Ruin and Rising, Leigh Bardugo

Macmillan

Published: June 17

Amazon Review: 4.6/5 stars

Series: The Grisha Trilogy (Book 3)

The Grisha Trilogy follows an orphan girl named Alina, who discovers she has incredible powers and can potentially rid the world of darkness. This is the last book in the series and you'll see if the Sun Summoner can retrieve more power and bring the Darkling down. It's a thrilling journey!

8. These Gentle Wounds, Helene Dunbar

Flux

Published: May 1

Amazon Review: 4.8/5 stars

This debut novel follows a boy named Gordie, who grew up in an abusive home in his formative years. One day Gordie's mother drugs him and his two siblings and drives into a river, Gordie being the only one to escape. The story depicts PTSD from the perspective of a teenager and the emotional struggles accompanied by survivor's guilt. It's a dark YA book, but very interesting.

9. The Young Elites, Marie Lu

Penguin Group

Published: Oct. 7

Amazon Review: 4.1/5 stars

Series: The Young Elites (Book 1)

If you liked the Legend series by Marie Lu, you're bound to enjoy her newest series. In the Young Elites, a plague ravages a town, and the survivors are ostracized due to the unique markings they've acquired (facial discoloring, oddly tinged hair, missing eye, etc). But in addition to their scars, some have obtained mysterious and powerful gifts. It's wildly entertaining and the world-building is superb!

10. Pointe, Brandy Colbert

Penguin Group

Published: April 10

Amazon Review: 4.5/5 stars

Theo, a 17 year-old girl, is determined to be one of the few African-American professional ballet dancers. Her life is getting better, but when her best friend Donovan returns after four long years with his kidnapper, everything changes. She can tell the truth or keep her shameful secret, but whatever she decides will have consequences. This debut novel is dark, mysterious, and heartbreaking.

11. Red Rising, Pierce Brown

Random House

Published: Jan. 28

Amazon Review: 4.6/5 stars

Series: The Red Rising Trilogy (Book 1)

If you like books similar to Hunger Games and Ender's Game, then Red Rising is right up your alley. Society is divided and color-coded, with the lead, Darrow, designated as a Red, the lowest caste. He has been made to believe that he and his fellow Reds have been making the surface of Mars livable for future generations, but when he finds out they've been fooled, he infiltrates the Institute and competes for his life and the future of civilization against the best of Society's ruling class. This debut novel is gripping and heart-pounding, leaving readers anxious for the next one.

12. Just One Night, Gayle Forman

Penguin Group

Published: May 29

Amazon Review: 4.6/5 stars

Series: Just One Day (Book 3)

The first book in the series, Just One Day, is about an American good girl named Allyson "Lulu" Healey and her one life-changing day in Paris with Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter. Her quick romance comes to an end when Willem suddenly disappears, but she is determined to find him. The second book, Just One Year, is their year apart from Willem's perspective, and Just One Night is the final chapter to their story as they finally reunite. It's a conclusion that readers will look forward to!

13. Dreams of Gods & Monsters, Laini Taylor

Hachette Book Group

Published: April 8

Amazon Review: 4.5/5 stars

Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Book 3)

This trilogy comes to a remarkable conclusion with Dreams of Gods and Monsters, the story of two worlds on the brink of war. The evil emperor brings his army to the human world, and star-crossed lovers Karou and Akiva reunite in alliance against their common enemy. The ending is deeply satisfying to even the most hardcore fans.

14. Noggin, John Corey Whaley

Simon and Schuster

Published: April 8

Amazon Review: 4.3/5 stars

Travis Coates was alive once, and then he wasn't. His head was chopped off and shoved into a freezer in Denver, Colorado, but come five years and it's been reattached to a different body. This coming-of-age novel is hilarious and peculiar, but so intriguing. Kind of reminds me of Unwind (also a good book)!

15. The One, Kiera Cass

Harper Collins

Published: May 6

Amazon Review: 4.6/5 stars

Series: The Selection (Book 3)

The third book of the Hunger Games-meets-The Bachelor-type series, The One follows a girl named America Singer and her quest to find love and fix a nation. She's stuck in a love triangle and must choose between a prince and a childhood romance, all while facing the realities of war. While the plot could have been more developed, it's still an easy and addicting read.

16. Love Letters to the Dead, Ava Dellaira

Macmillan

Published: April 1

Amazon review: 4.3/5 stars

The story is about a girl named Laurel who was asked to write a love letter to a dead person for a class assignment. She soon finds herself writing endless letters to celebrities, artists, and other people of importance, revealing secrets about her friends, family, and the abuse she suffered when her deceased sister was supposed to be protecting her. If you like The Fault in Our Stars, this will be a good novel to add to your list. Just read it!

17. Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Maggie Stiefvater

Scholastic

Published: Oct. 21

Amazon Review: 4.6/5 stars

Series: The Raven Cycle (Book 3)

The third Installment of The Raven Cycle, Blue Lily continues to mesmerize. For the first time, Blue Sargent has found a balance. She has trusting friends with a group she belongs to and the Raven Boys have taken in her as one of their own. But what she learned is that things can fall apart quicker than they're built. The book is complex, heart-stopping, and a true page-turner!

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