Popular YA books are usually where we look for reading material. Young adult books rise to fame quickly and the entire YA reading community gets really into those stories. However, those books aren’t always the best.
It might be because of the author, the hype from the plot, or the publicity, but the books come into the eye of the public before we decide if they are any good. You occasionally find a terrible book. It happens! But sometimes, those popular books are amazing! The books on this list have surpassed my expectations. Check them out!
1. Throne of Glass (By Sarah J. Maas)
Throne of Glass is the first book in a series by Sarah J. Maas. It involves a young convict who is taken out of prison to compete in a competition. If she wins, Celaena will become an assassin for the king and eventually earn her freedom. She is fighting for her life! She won’t survive the prison again. To make matters worse, the rest of the competitors are out for her which quickly becomes obvious when competitors start dying.
The plot in this book was really original and unpredictable, which explains why it is one of the most popular YA books. I spend most of the book on the edge of my seat! It has a powerful female lead, some mystery, and a little romance too. This book does have some moments that make it for an older audience, but it is a book worth reading. If you are looking for a good book, I highly suggest it!
2. Illuminae (By Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff)
Illuminae tells the story of Kady and Ezra, her ex-boyfriend. When their planet is attacked for its resources, the residents board ships to escape. The problem is that they are being chased. The corporation that attacked them can’t leave any witnesses behind. The ships, however, aren’t safe either. The people in charge are keeping information from the passengers. Kady hacks into the system to find out what’s going on. She discovers some serious problems with the ship and its passengers that could be just as threatening as the corporation chasing them.
All I can say for this book is WOW! I’m normally not a big fan of science fiction, but this story was hard to put down. It is incredibly creative. Instead of writing in the normal fashion, the book is a bunch of files put together chronically to make up the plot of the story. My friends are probably getting annoyed with how often I suggest this book, but I love it so much! If you want to read it too, check it out at this link!
3. Cinder (By Marissa Meyer)
One really popular YA book is Cinder. It is a retelling of Cinderella. Cinder is a cyborg living with her stepmother and two step-sisters. She is a renowned mechanic, which brings the crowned prince right to her stall. He needs her to fix his android that has sensitive information about the missing lunar princess. Because cyborgs are treated as lesser beings, she keeps the secret of her “accessories” from him. But keeping secrets never ends well.
Cinder was great! I loved the original take on Cinderella. Because it is based on a well-known story, the plot is a little predictable, but the story is still worth a read. While you’re at it, if you want to read the rest of the series, you can find it here! I don’t normally get through series (it’s a fault of mine), but the Lunar Chronicles is one of the few series I can read over and over again. Every book starts from a different perspective and introduces new characters. So good!
4. The Selection (By Kiera Cass)
Next up, we have The Selection. America Singer is entered into a competition to marry Prince Maxon. Thirty-four other girls are in it to win it, but America didn’t want to leave her boyfriend, Aspen, behind. Yet, when she gets to know Prince Maxon, feelings start to develop. Now, she has to compete for his hand in a competition that was never easy, to begin with. Of course, other complications leave her questioning everything.
This book is full of romance! The competition gives you enough suspense and action to keep the plot moving. If you are looking for a romance book with royalty themes, this is what I would suggest. The rest of the series is just as compelling!
5. Renegades (By Marissa Meyer)
Renegades starts with a girl named Nova, but she is no ordinary person. Nova is a villain with supernatural abilities. When the villains need someone to infiltrate the Renegades, the superheroes, Nova offers up her services. However, when she joins the Renegades, she meets Adrian, a boy who believes in the Renegades’ mission. And he has a secret of his own. As they get to know each other, the lines between villains and renegades start to blur.
As one of the popular YA books, I decided to pick it up a while ago. I just recently read it, and it was so good! I originally bought it because I love Marissa Meyer’s writing. Unsurprisingly, Renegades convinced me once again that Meyer is an amazing writer. I couldn’t wait to read the rest of the series, so I immediately went out to buy it. The series was not a disappointment!
6. The Darkest Minds (By Alexandra Bracken)
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken starts with the world falling apart. Children are dying, but the ones that survived are suffering too. They developed abilities that caused the government to fear them. Ruby has one of the most dangerous abilities. She ends up in a camp called Thurmond where they imprison and punish the children they fear. Once the secret of her abilities gets out, she needs to escape. Outside of Thurmond, she meets some other children running from their own camp. To survive, they need to get to East River, a safe area run by kids. However, what they hoped would be their saving grace isn’t what they thought it would be.
The Darkest Minds was an amazing read! Ruby is a really compelling main character. She needs to overcome all of her insecurities caused by her past. Along the way, she learns about real friendship and maybe even love. If you are looking for a great book about teens fighting for their lives with their abilities, you are looking in the right place!
7. A Court of Thorns and Roses (By Sarah J. Maas)
In A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre kills a fae in the form of a wolf while hunting. To pay for her sins, she needs to live in the faerie lands for the rest of her life. Her captor, Tamlin, isn’t always welcoming, and his face is always covered with a mask. Feyre hates living in his home and fears for her family that she was forced to leave behind. Eventually, she discovers why Tamlin and his home appear to be so guarded. They are cursed! And Feyre wants to help.
The last of the popular YA books on this list is A Court of Thorns and Rose (ACOTR). Sarah J. Maas, the queen of young adult fantasy, strikes again! This beauty and the beast retelling is enticing in the best way. Feyre and Tamlin go from enemies to lovers, but they need to fight to be together. The story can be a little dark at times, which makes it so good! It is a highly recommended read. (And the sequels might just be better than the first book! You are going to want the whole series!)
There you have my list of popular YA books that exceeded my expectations! Each and every one of them is amazing and definitely worth a read! Have fun reading and tell me in the comments how you feel about the books!
