If I read a book worth recommending, I write the review as soon as I finish. After I’ve read five or six good books, I put together a new book review post. As I was prepping this post, I realized that all but one of the books are by authors I have previously read.
Every aspiring novelist longs to write a well-loved book. Yet once an author writes one good book, the pressure is on to write another. When I pick up a new book because I know the author, I expect it to be as good or better than any I’ve already read. Sometimes the new novel meets my expectations, and sometimes I’m left disappointed.
These authors didn’t disappoint. You may recognize a few, and you will also notice that half of them are of the Young Adult genre. Don’t dismiss them if that’s not your usual choice; they are worth checking out. And if you have a tween or teen reader on your gift giving list, the YA novels are great options.
Unbreakable and Unmarked by Kami Garcia
Garcia is half of the duo who wrote the young adult Beautiful Creatures series, which I enjoyed. Her new series has a similar feel, with the same fantasy elements.
Unbreakable: Dangerous spirits, an ancient secret society, and a vengeful demon…I really can’t describe this book without sounding ridiculous. But like many YA paranormal books, it’s a fun and easy read that is a welcome change of pace in between my usual long, heavier novels. Teen angst and suspense set the stage for what could be an interesting series.
Unmarked: The second book in this series was even better than the first – I read it in one day. It was fast-paced, exciting, and hard to put down. The cliffhanger at the end was even bigger than the first book’s though, which is bad news for the impatient reader who wants to know what happens next RIGHT NOW.
This is also a great series for tweens and teens – it will keep their interest while maintaining a PG rating.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
This novel tells two parallel stories that eventually meet. Marie Laure, blind since age 6, flees Paris with her father as it is occupied by the Germans during World War II. Werner, a German orphan, wins a spot at a military academy due to his talent with building and fixing radios. As Werner becomes immersed in the Nazi regime, Marie Laure lives with her great uncle on the Brittany Coast.
While the pair’s paths eventually converge, Doerr weaves his tale slowly and meticulously. Whenever I think I am done reading these WWII novels, an author takes a new approach and I am once again drawn in. Werner and Marie are young children when it begins, and only sixteen when they meet. The perspective of innocent youth forced into inescapable situations was a new one for me, and the writing is superb.
Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer
Wolitzer wrote The Interestings, a much touted novel that I didn’t love as much as everyone else seemed to. But she is a good writer, so I wanted to read her newest book, which is a YA one. Jam is a teenager sent to a therapeutic boarding school when she can’t resume her normal life with her boyfriend no longer in it. She and four other students discover the world of Belzhar when they begin writing in journals, and in this world she is with Reeve again.
Teen angst and broken hearts can get old, and Jam annoyed the hell out of me initially. But things get interesting and a bit complex. This book is a unique mix of YA with just the smallest hint of fantasy, and I think that teenagers in particular will relate to the struggles and loss that the five students experience. If you love YA, you’ll like this book. If you don’t, the strong writing and mature tone makes it a good one to try.
A Sudden Light by Garth Stein
This novel by the author of The Art of Racing in the Rain is an strange mix of genres. Fourteen year old Trevor is the narrator, and he recounts the summer he and his father returned to the family estate to sell the land and put Trevor’s grandfather in a home. Throw in a sister with suspicious motives for some drama and mystery, and then toss in a family ghost for some more mystery and a bit of fantasy. It may sound odd, and it is. But it works.
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
I was so excited to read this sequel to The Rosie Project; I received an advanced copy from Net Galley. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, the shine has faded a bit. Spoiler alert: Don’t read on if you haven’t read The Rosie Project.
Don and Rosie have been married for ten months, and now she’s pregnant. Of course this rocks Don’s world, and he manages in his own unique way. But it gets a little tiresome, and Rosie’s presence in the story has stagnated. I still recommend the book if you loved The Rosie Project, but don’t expect to love it as much.
Atlantia by Ally Condie
I was a big fan of this author’s YA dystopian Matched trilogy, so I grabbed this stand alone novel as soon as I could. Atlantia is a city built underwater, to escape the polluted air of Above. Rio is a teenage girl born in Atlantia, who has wanted to be Above her entire life. Instead, her twin sister chooses to go Above, leaving Rio behind. As she attempts to uncover the mystery of her mother’s death and the secrets her aunt has been keeping, Rio must find her own voice to protect Atlantia and the people she loves.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it for tweens and teens as well as adult YA fans. I have read quite a few dystopian YA novels, and the plots tend to be similar and predictable. This book, however, is more original than many in its genre. Its focus is on the characters instead of the state of the ruined world. While not award-winning literature, Atlantia is an entertaining read.
I hope you found a book or two to add to your to-read list; there are plenty more where these came from! Check out my comprehensive list of book reviews for more suggestions, and look for my 2014 wrap up in late December or early January. Now, tell me what you’re reading!
OMGOSH,
I read the Rosie Project over the summer! LOooooooooVED IT.
On my way to order the new one! I had no idea. Thanks, Dana.
My pleasure Kim!
I love YA novels, but I’ve haven’t found anything that looked good recently. Thank you for sharing this list, there are a few I’m excited to dive into!
My pleasure, Farrah. On my book review page I list books by genre, so you can always check out the other YA books I’ve read. Thanks for visiting!
I haven’t read or heard of any of these! Which is AWESOME. I am pinning for later because I need a good fantasy to just let my mind meander. I love that you are my YA loving twin!
I love it too. YA is underrated, but a good YA read is so good to balance out heavier literature. Plus I’m just not that deep.
I always enjoy your book recommendations…I will definitely check out the Meg Wolitzer one, as I enjoy her a lot!-Ashley
Thanks, Ashley – glad to know someone finds these useful!
Always love to hear your thoughts on books! I listened to All The Light We Cannot See and wish I had read that one instead. I have Meg Wolitzer’s on my list. And listening to The Rosie Project now. It’s good! Clever story.
I really should start listening to books. I usually read while I walk the dog, but when it’s cold out my fingers get numb even in gloves. An audio book would be more pleasant!
Love your reviews Dana! Thank you for introducing me to so many new ones.
My pleasure, Nicki! I hope you find at least one that you love.
You have great recommendations here! Atlantia, Belzhar and A Sudden Light sound the most intriguing to me. I hope to carve out some reading time soon!
I hope you can find the time, Ana. Atlantia and Belzhar are fast reads.
I recently bought The Rosie Project and am looking forward to reading it 🙂
I think you’ll like it – let me know!
All the light we cannot see is on my short list!!
I hope you love it, Allison!
I am saving this post for when I am done reading all the books I have yet to read already!! They all seem sooooo very fascinating and I love that you take the time to share them with us, Dana. I haven’t heard of many of them!!
Just come back whenever you have time to read, and click on Book Reviews on the menu bar. Then you’ll get a list of ALL the books I’ve reviewed. Because that’s not overwhelming at all. 🙂
I’m so sad to hear that about The Rosie Effect, although I kind of guessed it. Some characters are made to be left where they are. I’m reading a racing/training book right now but I’ll be delving into some lighter stuff soon and I always like to be prepared with a list 🙂 I know you can relate.
I definitely can relate 🙂
I’m so glad you are reading so much because I know you love it. I think I wouldn’t mind one of the historical fiction ones. I tend to like real life stories on TV so it makes me think maybe one day I’ll get into books like that one day. There were a few here that seemed pretty interesting.
Have you read Unbroken, Brittnei? It’s an amazing true story – I think you would like it. It’s coming out as a movie, but I always read a book first.
I have the Rosie Project and the Rosie Effect on my Nook just waiting to be read!!! That is the only one from your list that I’ve heard of – I will have to check out the rest!!
You’ll breeze through both of those books, Kim – enjoy!
I’ve just started All the Light… and I am loving it.
Yay! I hope you continue to love it. It’s a finalist for GoodReads best of 2014 in historical fiction, and well deserved.
what interesting choices in books, have to look into these. I’m reading Fly Away Home and not really liking the characters at all, I may need to move on.
It took me a long time to realize that it was okay to bail on a book. There are just too many great ones out there to waste time on one I don’t like!
I so need to still read The Risie Project and admit my reading the past few weeks has been pretty much at an all time low since having both girls sick. I have a book to actually read and review in the week or so, but after that I do hope to get back to reading more again. Thanks for the suggestions slways though 😉
I know it’s hard to read when life gets in the way – hope everyone is healthy in your house now!
Hmm.. Atlantia seems fascinating! A Little Mermaid like! Ok, it probably isn’t at all because they’re humans, and not mermaids. I want to read it!
Not really Little Mermaid like, although Rio does long to live out of the water. Now I’m singing Part of Your World in my head…