The Nicest Guys in 2010s YA

Who Were the Nicest Guys in 2010s YA

This post was originally written in 2012 and I am editing it nearly eleven years later. What a difference a decade makes!

Just think back for a minute to the 2010s in YA, when YA bad boys were in. 

Controlling behavior toward women was sexy. 

Cinnamon rolls were just a food at the mall.

The Duckies of the world still usually didn't get the girl.

You with me? 

Here's my (2012) vote on the Nicest Guys in 2010s YA.

Original post:

Nice guys don't finish last!  They're the ones who offer a shoulder to cry on after the bad boy breaks the girl's heart ... and then swoop in and grab her.  

Here's my list of my Top Ten Nice Guys in YA! Highlighted titles take you to Goodreads.

10. Quentin "Q" Jacobsen from Paper Towns by John Green. He'll do anything for Margo. Anything. Break into buildings. Break into SeaWorld. What a guy!

  

9. Christian Ozera from the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, is such a great guy. And he makes meatloaf. 

8. Sam Weston from Speechless by Hannah Harrington, is the adorable kind of nice guy with rumply hair and glasses. He's smart. And he can jump out of windows.

7. Rollins.... Does Rollins have a first name? If anyone knows, please tell me in comments. Anyway, Rollins is the best friend of Vee in Slide by Jill Hathaway. He writes a 'zine called Fear and Loathing in High School. 

6. Jem Carstairs from the Infernal Devices series by Cassie Clare. Jem's an enigma. I mean, I haven't read The Clockwork Prince yet, but Jem's a great guy so far. He's self-sacrificing, brave, kind... 

5. Cricket Bell is such a quirky guy. He's tall and lanky, he's kind of shy, he invents stuff. He's the classic guy next door. Oh, and you can find him in Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins...

4. Lend. I'm not sure what his last name is either. Do nice guys often have only one name? Lend, from the Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White, is a man of mystery. He's an artist and a shapeshifter, so he can look like any guy he wants.

3. Tucker Avery from the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand. Tucker's a real live cowboy. I mean, who can resist that?

2. Sam Henry from Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally, otherwise known as Henry. (See, I'm onto something with the one name theory!) Henry's another best friend of the heroine character. He definitely deserves his own happily ever after. 

1. Dexter Jones from This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen. Dexter is a musician -- he's in a band called Truth Squad. He's a little clumsy, kind of goofy, and completely sweet. He has this old smelly dog named Monkey. Just writing this makes me want to go visit him in the book!

Hi, it's 2023 Jen!

Hoping you enjoyed this little trip down 2010's YA memory lane!