My Favorite Young Adult Reads. (Part One)
After a reading slump of a few years (my job was too hectic), I got back into a reading habit in 2019. Since then, I have read many books of various genres, but Young Adult (YA) remains my favorite. Now, YA is a really broad genre, with many specific sub-genres. My favorites are the ones with complex protagonists, a compelling story, and lots of character growth (self-reliance.) I like reading romance in these novels, but I don’t like the drama in these main-plot romance books.
When a YA book’s main genre is romance, the initial part is always fun to read for me. There is chemistry between the characters, and they are just beginning to develop feelings. But when things are just about to go well, there is conflict. Miscommunication, the introduction of other love interests, forbidden love – these are just not for me.
Instead, I like seeing protagonists face and fight internal conflicts such as insecurities or disabilities. Or cope with external factors such as discrimination or losing a loved one. During their journey of self-discovery, if they meet a supportive potential partner, it’s a big bonus. But I’m not a fan of stories where the protagonist is saved by their partner. I strongly believe that character growth comes from self-reliance with support from loved ones.
I would love to read books like the ones below by more Indie Authors. If your book is similar to these and you want ARC reviews or recommend me to buy it, do so using the form here.
Now, let’s move on to the completely spoiler-free list of my favorite reads on my Goodreads bookshelves.
Note: These are in no particular order. I love all of them. Follow me on Goodreads if you want to read more of my honest reviews.
1. Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
I love the bisexual protagonist of this book, Darcy, who is secretly an “Agony Aunt” at her school. Her life changes when her secret is leaked to Brougham, who agrees not to tell anyone about her identity as long as she helps him with his love life. Many stories have a similar plot, but this one stands out because it deals with sensitive topics such as biphobia extremely well. This book was a real eye-opener for me and a must-read for everyone.
2. The Façade by Judy Corry
Before you point this out to me, I know this is a romance novel. But it is so much more. Mack and Cambrielle are adorable together. And since I’ve promised not to give spoilers, I will not elaborate on this book’s heart-wrenching plot. But I will tell you that the author has handled the subject phenomenally, and it moved me to tears. I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a meaningful and emotional read.
3. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Good Girl Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
I loved the first two books in this extremely popular YA mystery novel series by Holly Jackson. Pippa Fitz-Amobi is a dream protagonist. She decides to investigate a local closed murder case as a school project because she feels the real killer is someone else. She is strong, sensitive, and extremely intelligent. I’m not saying another word about these two books because I don’t want to spoil them for you. However, I will say that I didn’t guess any of the plot twists. Go and grab a copy of these books right now. I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I did.
PS I’m not at all a fan of the third and final book in the series. That’s why I haven’t mentioned it. (If you’re curious, you can read my full review with SPOILERS and rants on Goodreads here.)
4. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney
Quinn is keeping a lot of secrets from her family. She’s scared they’ll be leaked when her journal goes missing. Now, she has the choice to tell her parents the truth or try to find the person threatening to reveal her secrets. I love how the author has handled the character growth of our protagonist, Quinn, in this book. It’s appropriately paced and believable. Check this book out, and I’m sure you’ll be rooting for Quinn throughout the story like I did.
5. Made in Korea by Sarah Suk
I loved both the protagonists in this book and their backstories. Valerie and Wes are business rivals in their school but face similar challenges. They both stress about their futures and are worried about disappointing their parents. It’s doubly heartwarming to see both Valerie and Wes grow as individuals and closer to each other. If you like a strong female lead who is a go-getter, a sweet male lead who is silently ambitious, and a warm fuzzy relationship between the two characters, you will love this story as much as I did.
6. How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
I can rave about this book for pages together, but I will try to keep it short. Moon has always been the “ugly” twin and hides behind her influencer sister, Star, though Moon is equally talented. Their mother and their friends favor Star over Moon making her insecurities worse. However, as the story progresses, Moon realizes her self-worth and learns to love and accept herself for who she is. Along with Moon, I love Santiago, the male lead whose character growth arc is equally compelling. And the bonus is, of course, Moon’s and Santiago’s amazing chemistry… (One scene is not PG13, but if you’re not a fan like me, skip it. But please don’t let it stop you from reading the book.) Go grab a copy of the book now. You will not regret it.
7. She Gets the Girl by Rachel Lippincott and Alyson Derrick
You can call me a hypocrite for including this queer rom-com, but I loved this one. Yes, it’s got cliché tropes. But the writing is so amazing that I was hooked! I loved the main characters and their relationship. This one is just too cute not to be included on this list.
8. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
This book proves that a YA story does not need romance to be loved by everyone. Friendship will do. I loved this novel so much that I was speechless after reading it. If you see my review on Goodreads, it simply says, “Wow… Just Wow!!!” Frances has no friends in high school because she spends all her time studying until she meets Aled, who gets her. Together, they embark on a journey to find themselves and, more importantly, be true to themselves. I could relate to Frances and Aled in many ways and remembered my dark times as a high school student. This story really resonated with me.
9. It’s Not Me, It’s You by Stephanie Kate Strohm
This book’s genre is supposed to be comedy, but it’s so much more. Avery and her potential prom date publicly break up just before the event, leading her to decide to reflect on her dating behavior. Was she the reason none of her previous relationships worked out? This is the most unique book on this list because it’s written in the form of interviews with various characters. Their statements and Avery’s counter comments are laugh-out-loud hilarious. But as I got to know Avery, I fell in love with her. This one is perfect if you’re looking for a breezy holiday or beach read.
10. K-pop Confidential and K-pop Revolution by Stephan Lee
These two books are eye-openers about the cutthroat K-Pop industry. Candace cannot believe it when she is selected as a K-Pop idol trainee. But when she starts training in Korea, she realizes that being a K-Pop idol is much harder than she thought. The author boldly illuminates the hard-hitting truth behind the K-Pop industry’s glory and glamor. These celebrities need to pay a huge price for their fame. Despite moving readers, the two books are filled with heartwarming characters and a strong protagonist that will capture readers’ hearts with her never-give-up attitude.
I have many more favorite YA books, but I will include those in a future post. Have you read any of these? What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments.
