My Favorite YA Books of 2013
For the next few Fridays, I'll be showcasing some of my favorite books of 2013.
These are books I've read in 2013 and that came out this year. (Everyone makes his or her own "best of" rules, and these are mine.)
I have a hard time choosing, but my general criteria is that the books have to be memorable and well-executed, books that stay with me even if I've read them six months ago, books that I'd happily re-read again. I divide my choices into sub-genre categories, because for me, it's easier to compare that way.
My Favorite YA Contemporary/Realistic Books of 2013
All three books I chose had music themes, which was completely unintentional!
Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
Country music, sister rivalry, second chances, this book has it all.
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
A girl with mental health issues finds solace and friendship in music.
The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr
A talented teen pianist struggles with balancing her music with her life.
My Favorite YA Historical Fiction Books of 2013
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
In the early 1900s, a girl struggles with grief, an epidemic, and paranormal longings.
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
Back to the convent!
Tarnish by Katherine Longshore
What were YOUR faves of 2013???
E&P, TSWSYL and DT were some of my very favorites this year too!
ReplyDeleteLoved all those!
DeleteI loved Perfect Chemistry by Simone and TFIOS by John Green
ReplyDeleteAhhh. TFIOS. I didn't read that this year, but it's a great book!
DeleteRose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, SO GOOD! and for contemp? THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. no competition. ;)
ReplyDeleteI liked Rose Under Fire, but Code Name Verity is still my favorite of the two.
Deleteme too, i had Eleanor & Park as my favorite this year. It took me long time to move on from Park and his playlist song.
ReplyDeletefor YA historical fiction, i choose Between Shades of Gray as my favorite. though it was first published in 2011 but i just had it this year and it's awesome.
BSoG was a very powerful book - I read it a couple years back!
DeleteContemporary Romance:
ReplyDeleteDancing with Paris - Juliette Sobanet
The Final Note - Kevin Alan Milne
And about historical romance,this year I haven't read very much :D(shame on me)
I read WAY less historical this year -- not sure why that is...
DeleteMy favorite Historical Fiction I read this year is The False Prince and The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielson. I love this trilogy and can't wait for the 3rd book come out. i love the main character and the plot. Favorite Contempoaray is Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin. The plot is different and I love the writing. I recommend these books.
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about that False Prince Series and would love to read it. Golden Boy sounds amazing -- I've seen that on a lot of professional reviewers' best of list.
DeleteGreat picks-whenever I see Eleanor and Park, I am happy! That's what I'm giving my friend for Christmas (last year she got Code Name Verity for her b-day and Seraphina for Christmas and loved them so I know she appreciates my taste in YA books.)
ReplyDeleteShe's lucky -- how nice to have someone read all the books and then pick out the best!
DeleteGreat picks! Eleanor & Park is a favorite of mine as well as Tarnish. I also enjoyed A Hundred Summers (adult historical fiction) and These Broken Stars.
ReplyDeleteI used These Broken Stars as a pick in my Favorite Debuts of 2013 Giveaway!
DeleteMy favourite contemporary book was The Moon & More by Sarah Dessan
ReplyDeleteThat was not my favorite of her books, but Sarah Dessen is one of my very favorite contemporary YA authors.
DeleteThe only historical book I read this year was Dark Triumph..and that was really good, so I'll choose that one.
ReplyDeleteLOVED that one!
DeleteMy favorite contemporary was An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. I loved it! MY favorite historical was The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. Strictly speaking it's not all that historical but I still consider it that since they ride horses and live in castles. Check them out!
ReplyDeleteI love John Green's books. And I've heard that The Thief series is amazing!
DeleteI loooved Eleanor & Park also.
ReplyDeleteI don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I listened to Life After Life by Kate Atkinson on audio and it was really cool. It was also 1 of the 2 not YA books I read all year :)
I love historical fiction! I have never read any Kate Atkinson, but my husband is a big fan of her books.
DeleteI haven't read any historicals this year, but I loved Hopeless by Colleen Hoover and I started the Sentinel books by Jennifer Armentrout this year and they blew me away! I also really enjoyed Frigid, Easy, Orgin, Wait for You, The Keep and Faking It!
ReplyDeleteI need to get caught up on the JLA books --- she writes them so fast, I always feel behind!
DeleteEleanor & Park and in the Shadow of Blackbirds are the only two you mentioned that I've read but I loved them too! Such great reads.
ReplyDeleteThey were!
DeleteYA contemporary was definitely Eleanor and Park
ReplyDeleteYa historical-The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
Great picks!
DeleteMy favorite contemporaries this year were Wait for you, The Darkest part, The Distance between us, Grab your pole series... I havent read anything historical this year. Thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteI liked the Distance Between Us. Have not read the "Grab Your Pole" series but that title makes me laugh...
DeleteBlackmoore A proper Romance was really good I thought <3
ReplyDeleteWill have to check that one out!
DeleteI loved Eleanor and Park also. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was great!
DeleteMy favorite historical was non-fiction, it often is. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI need to read more non-fiction! Jon Meacham was at BEA signing that book, but his line was really, really long….
DeleteYA contemporary: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
ReplyDeleteYa historical: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Both of those were so good .. so sad too!
DeleteHaven't read any of your contemporary picks but I read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell at the beginning of the month and hated it, I also quite disliked dark triumph, even though so many people i know loved it. Difficult to know who will like what!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good weekend ☺
That's so funny :) Yes that's what makes discussing books so much fun!
DeleteMy favorite contemporary for this year is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and my favorite historical is No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean. Thank you for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read much historical romance this year and need to read more in 2014!
DeleteI loved My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, for me it has historical set-up with a contemporary heroine. :)
ReplyDeleteThose are very cute books!
DeleteMy favorite contemporary novel this was If He Had Been With Me. I still haven't read Eleanor and Park and Fangirl even though I bought them months ago
ReplyDeleteAh…. IHHBWM was so sad!
DeleteFavorite contemporaries this year: Thief by Tarryn Fisher, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Left Drowning by Jessica Park and Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
ReplyDeleteGlad you loved The Goldfinch -- I bought that for myself and can't wait to read it.
DeleteMy favorite books are The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling and Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore & The Help by Kathryn Stockett :)
ReplyDeleteI got scared away from CV and BB by the reviews -- glad to see that you loved them :)
DeleteIn the Shadow of Blackbirds and Tarnish were both historical fic favourites for me as well! I also loved Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein and The Caged Graves by Dianne Salerni. As for contemp, I adored Kasie West's The Distance Between Us!
ReplyDeleteCaged Graves -- love that title. I need to check that one out!
DeleteFangirl by rainbow rowell
ReplyDeleteI went back and forth and back and forth between Fangirl and E and P for this list. I should have put them both on there!
DeleteMy favorite contemporary would have to be Eleanor and Park, Just One Day, If I Stay, and Anna and the French Kiss. My favorite historical fiction I read this year would be The Book Thief, the Gemma Doyle Trilogy and The Diviners.
ReplyDeleteJust One Day was very very close to being on this list! And I can't decide what genre the Diviners is… it's sort of historical-paranormal-suspense.
DeleteMy Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
ReplyDeleteGreat choice!
DeleteFavorite contemporary - Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell and If You Find Me
ReplyDeleteby Emily Murdoch. Favorite historical - Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers, Belladonna by Fiona Paul and Nobody's Slave by Tim Vicary.
Thanks for a giveaway! :)
I put If You Find Me on my best debuts of 2013 :) Loved that one!
DeleteI had to do some searching on goodreads and i have seen some that were on my wish list to get but i havent read any. I also have a few in my to be read list but i havent read any of those yet..so i dont have a favorite (or at least not to my knowledge--some genres confuse me too much)... thanks for the giveaway!!!
ReplyDeleteYes -- so many books are mixed genres these days. Next week I'm doing Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Paranormal together because two or three of those are so often blended together in one book.
DeleteI really liked The fault in our stars and I was emotionally touched by This song will save your life!
ReplyDeleteBoth of those were great!
DeleteI loved Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed that one, though DYT is still my favorite of those books!
DeleteMy favorites are Eleanor and Park, crash into uou and Just One Day
ReplyDeleteFavorite historicals, I read The Bronze Horseman and I loved
Haven't heard of The Bronze Horseman and will have to check that out!
DeleteCrash Into You is my fave contemporary of 2013 :)
ReplyDeleteKatie McGarry is a great contemporary YA author.. I got to meet her and she's also the sweetest person ever.
DeleteHow To Love by Katie Cotugno.
ReplyDeleteAh… if that book had a different ending it might have made it on the list.
DeleteMy favorite contemporaries were Eleanor & Park and Pivot Point
ReplyDeletePivot Point might make it on my fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal list. Not sure yet..
DeleteMy favorite contemporary read this year is Hidden by Catherine McKenzie.
ReplyDeleteWill check that one out!
DeleteContemp.: The Impossible Knife of Memory, Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, Golden, and The Moon & More,
ReplyDeleteHistorical Fic.: Lady Thief, Waterfall, and Dark Triumph.
THE BOOK THIEF was my favorite historical.
ReplyDeleteThings I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally was my favorite contemporary novel this year. :D
ReplyDeleteI loved Beyond Comtrol by Karice Bolton.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway.
Ryver
Favourite historical book this year was A Song for Summer by Eva Ibbotson
ReplyDeleteMy favourite historic book that I read this year was The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsey. Favourite contemporary...umm, do you have all day? lol I read SO many amazing contemps this year but the first that pops into my mind is Just One Year by Gayle Forman.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of good contemp this year. The Diatance Between Us, Just Like Fate, and for paranormal/historical I loved the Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm getting Eleanor and Park for Xmas so I can't wait to read it ^_^
Here's one I'm sure none of you has heard of, "I, Walter". Wow, it was a great book set in the 1500s. Hard to put down. Author is Mike Hartner. Must read...Go take a look at it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of contemporary books this year but I'd say my favorite is Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett :)
ReplyDelete- Farzy @ Books Keep Me Sane
Favorite Contemporary was The Fault in Our Stars and Falling for You,i haven't read any historical YAs but a few romances and out of those my favorite was Prince Charming by Julie Garwood :)
ReplyDeleteHistorical:
ReplyDeleteDark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Contemporary:
Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt
Dear Cassie By Lisa Burstein
Take Care Sara by Lindy Zart
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
ABSOLUTELY ADOREEEEEED In the Shadow of Blackbirds too! And I read Art of Lainey and I just <3
ReplyDeleteIn The Shadow of Blackbirds was also my favorite, for contemporaries though I finally got around to reading Anna and the French Kissed and loved it!
ReplyDeleteI loved Unravel Me and Fangirl (Contemporary)! Happy Reading Jen
ReplyDeleteMy favourite contemporary book were Eleanor and Park also and Fangirl both by Rainbow Rowell. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Boleyn King
ReplyDeleteFunny, I was just thinking I would put together a post like this. I thought splitting it up would be a good idea too! Maybe I'll just do mine YA one day and adult another day instead.
ReplyDeleteFangirl I think would be a favorite contemporary. For HF I agree with Dark Triumph and In the Shadow of Blackbirds. I believe I gave them both 5 stars. I really need to dig through what I read and refresh my memory for the books earlier in the year.
Was Tarnish a sequel to something? I guess I'll go look that up, don't worry about replying!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Oh, and This Song Will Save Your Life is on my TBR!
I loved Maid of Secrets (historical) and Crash Into You (contemporary) + many, many more!
ReplyDeleteSo, I don't read a ton of contemporaries or historicals, but 2 of my favorite book this year were a contemporary and a historical. I love love loved My Life Next Door and The Madman's Daughter. I think both Huntley Fitzpatrick and Megan Shepherd wound up on my autobuy list now.
ReplyDeleteBrynna
I don't really read many historical, but for contemporary, my favorite would be Golden by Jessi Kirby!
ReplyDeleteNeysa @ [B.O.O.K.L.I.F.E]
I really liked Eleanor and Park and Golden by Jessi Kirby :)
ReplyDeleteI read mostly dystopians but read and loved 11/22/63 by Stephen King which is his take on JFK's assassination, time travel and other King-ish stuff! Dark Triumph is definitely on my TBR list - can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteSuz Reads
My favorite contemporary book that I read this year was probably Lola and the Boy Next Door, the sequel to Anna and the French Kiss. I loved this book! It was a little darker than Anna and the French Kiss though. I really want to read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell though.
ReplyDeleteI read mostly sci-fi/fantasy, but I did read Fangirl this year and LOVED it! So much.
ReplyDeletePush the Limits was the best this year!
ReplyDeleteContemporary- I LOVED Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Such an incredible book!
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't think I've read too many historical books, but Belladonna by Fiona Paul was quite good :D
I loved the Sea of Tranquility and the Boyfriend App. And for historical, I thought Belladonna and A Darkness Strange and Lovely were amazing.
ReplyDeleteGrave Mercy was one of my favorite historicals and Eleanor & Park for contemporary.
ReplyDeleteGrave Mercy was my favorite historical I think I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Fault in Our Stars and Dark Triumph!
ReplyDeleteI read Grave Mercy this year, and I loved it! :)
ReplyDeleteI think the best contemporary book I have read this year is Point of Retreat. Seriously, Colleen Hoover was an extremely brilliant character!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite historical was definitely Dark Triumph.
ReplyDeleteI didn't read many historical fiction books this year but I read The False Prince and it was so great!I recommend it to anyone who still hasn't read it
ReplyDeleteMy favorite contemporary was Eleanor & Park. Rainbow Rowell has been such a revelation this year! I've read all 3 of her books now and she fast became a favorite. Historical would be Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. It was such an amazing finish to the series.
ReplyDeleteI loved the On Dublin Street series by Samantha Young and a historical book I read and loved this year was Then Came You by Lisa Klyepas and another by Jennifer Ashely; The Madness of Ian Mackenzie
ReplyDeleteI adored This Song Will Save Your Life, too! It was mindblowing. I didn't read a lot of Historicals...(naughty me), but I should read more next year!
ReplyDeleteI simply love Anna and the French Kiss because... Anna+St. Clair=PERFECT MATCH
ReplyDeleteMy Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick..it was amazing!
ReplyDeleteDark Triumph was an excellent historical fiction novel! As for contemporary, I really really loved The Beginning of Everything and Dangerous Girls!
ReplyDeleteI also loved In the Shadow of Blackbirds! And I really liked Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, and Starstruck by Rachel Shukert : )
ReplyDeleteMy fave I read this year is "Falling into you" by jasinda wilder. I fell in love with the story, the characters, I cried, I experienced the whole novel with the main character
ReplyDeleteMy favourite contemporary is Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone. Absolutely stunning!
ReplyDeleteI read and loved Eleanor & Park., the whole perfect chemistry series and life love and lemons. I haven't read any historical fiction yet this year, but there's still a little time for me to squeeze one in.
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt, Crash Into You by Katie McGarry! :) I love everything about the book.
ReplyDeleteBeckie @ Bittersweet Enchantment
I LOVED Grave Mercy + Dark Triumph (I just read Grave Mercy this year) and E&P. Also: Winger by Andrew Smith, My Family for the War by Grace Vorhooeve (I know I got that name wrong - released in English last year), Crash into You by Katie McGarry.
ReplyDeleteI read the River of Time series this year and loved it! Highly recommend it!
ReplyDeleteOh my favorite historical was probably Burial Rites. And my favorite contemporary read this year was The Sky is Everywhere. I haven't read any of those you listed yet, though I've been meaning to! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Contemporary this year is If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch, but that is on the heavier side. I really loved In The Shadow of Blackbirds on the historical side!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite historical read this year was Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer, it was excellent!
ReplyDeleteFor contemporary, I loved The Sea of Tranquility, Hopeless, If I Stay/Where She Went, The Book of Broken Hearts, The Sky Is Everywhere, Going Too Far, Easy, and Golden. (I read a lot of contemporary this year, apparently! Haha)
ReplyDeleteFor historical fiction, I loved Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, Sirens, and Violins of Autumn.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes!
ReplyDeleteQueen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headly was an amazing alternative historical. SO glad I read it!
ReplyDeleteSo I have been terrible this year at keeping track of what I read--but the contemporary books that I have been working through very steadily are the Stephanie Plum books and the Kinsey Milhone books (I am not sure I have gotten to the part of either series that would really be considered contemporary--but I will get there). I also know they are not YA but I tried. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite YA Contemporaries this year were Dare You To and Crash Into You.
ReplyDelete