Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 YA Releases I Meant to Read But Didn’t Get To

TopTenTuesdayTop Ten Tuesday is a list created by the book loving crew at The Broke and The Bookish. Every Tuesday is a different topic and everyone is invited to join in the fun. Let’s do this!

Like most voracious readers, I never have time to read all the books I’d like to, so putting together this list wasn’t tough. Hopefully I’ll get to read these 2014 releases in 2015. Better late than never!

1. THE YOUNG ELITES by Marie LuBookCover-YoungElites

I loved the action-packed but thoughtful Legend series and am just as excited about Lu’s latest saga of complicated characters in a dangerous dystopian world.

2. THE WINNER’S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski

I enjoy high fantasy chock full of secrets and deadly stakes (like this book is supposed to be) and am intrigued by the concept of a general’s daughter buying a slave and falling in love with him. Admittedly, that story will be tough to pull off (please no instalove!), but I’m hoping the rave reviews are right about this novel.

3. HALF A KING by Joe Abercrombie

A disabled prince battles to regain the throne he never wanted. Sounds like everything I want in a book – action, adventure and a tortured main character coming told terms with himself.

4. THE TRUTH ABOUT ALICE by Jennifer MathieuBookCover-TruthAboutAlice

This is a story about a “Alice the slut” told from the POV of those around her. Even though I’m many years out of high school, I’m still fascinated and horrified with how the rumour mill and the opinions of one’s peers can destroy a girl’s reputation. Therefore I want to read this book.

5. PANIC by Lauren Oliver

This book is supposed to be scary. I hope all the hype is true. Scary YA is hard to find.

6. GLORY O’BRIEN’S HISTORY OF THE FUTURE by A.S. King

I loved Please Ignore Vera Dietz even though I’m not usually into contemporary YA. This just proves that A.S. King is a brilliant writer. Now she’s written a book with a paranormal / fantastical twist. I can’t wait to read this! Luckily, I don’t have to wait because it’s already 2015.

7. THE WALLED CITY by Ryan Graudin

In this innovative and adrenaline-fueled novel, the teens come together in a desperate attempt to escape a lawless labyrinth before the clock runs out. Well damn! Sign me up!

8. THE PERFECTIONISTS by Sara Shepherd

This is a revenge mystery that explores female friendships. Reading books about psychologically abusive gal pals (like Beautiful Malice and Lessons From a Dead Girl) has become something I do. So let’s give this novel a whirl.

9. SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE by Marcus SedgwickBookCover-Afterworlds

A book within a book about coincidences and a blind girl – sounds original and intriguing.

10. THE TYRANT’S DAUGHTER by J.C. Carleson (contemporary political thriller)

When her father is killed in a coup, Laila and the remaining members of her royal Middle Eastern family are exiled to an American suburb. This is written by a former CIA officer. How can I not want to read this?

11. AFTERWORLDS by Scott Westerfeld

UGLIES is one of my favourite book series. Of course I want to anything else by Scott Westerfeld.

Okay, I know, that’s eleven, but I couldn’t decide which book to cut so they all made the list! Here’s to happy catch-up reading in 2015!

Author: Heather Jackson

Heather is a freelance screenwriter, game writer, and novelist based in Toronto. For more, visit her website at heatherjacksonwrites.com or follow her on Twitter @HeatherJacksonW

18 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 YA Releases I Meant to Read But Didn’t Get To”

  1. Oh, you absolutely must read The Young Elites <3 Marie Lu is the BEST. That woman is a genius, I swear.

    You have some great books on this list! I really enjoyed Afterworlds, but I don't know so much about Panic. Like you, I was expecting something super gripping and chilling, but it didn't quite live up to that. It was interesting enough, but some parts were predictable and just overall ehh :/ Hopefully you have a better time with it than I do~

    1. Thanks, Connie! Marie Lu is the best! I’ll try not to get excited about PANIC – you’re not the first to warn me it’s not as scary or gripping as advertised. Thanks for you great list too! I’m going to check out PRISONERS OF NIGHT AND FOG. I’ve never even heard of it! But if I love it as much as I loved CODE NAME VERITY, it’ll be a winner.

  2. I also wanted to read The Winner’s Curse and The Young Elites but never got around to them. And I’m interested in Afterworlds, but all of Westerfeld’s books, besides the Uglies series, have been hit or miss for me.

    1. I’ve heard that about Panic, but left it on the list just to see. Your list is great! We seem to have the same taste in books. I have to admit I was disappointed in We Were Liars (I guessed the ending early on). Curious to know what you think.

    1. I just got Afterworlds from the library. It is a brick! Huge! But I’m going to dive in this weekend. Enjoy your books too! Bad Half looks very interesting. I’ll add it to the list.

  3. I’ve just read about The Truth About Alice on another blog and it sounds incredibly intriguing. After checking on Amazon it turns out it doesn’t even get released here in the UK until this summer.. nooo!

    Great list, hope you enjoy working your way through them all! 🙂

    1. The Truth About Alice is sitting on my nightstand right now! It’ll be the first on the list I read. I’m also going to add “The Girl From the Well” from your list – I’m always looking for a good, creepy read!

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