I thought I’d go over my favorite YA books that I read in 2017. (These aren’t necessarily books published in 2017.)

E. Lockhart tops the list with her Ruby Oliver Series. The four books (plus the prequel in Not Like I’m Jealous or Anything) are so good—funny while dealing with some significant issues. See the review for the series or the one for Not Like I’m Jealous or Anything.

Next comes One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus, which is clever, fast-paced, and has more depth than I expected from a thriller. See the review here.

I really enjoyed Unbecoming by Jenny Downham. It also delves deep into the complicated life of a teenager but has extra layers dedicated to her mother and grandmother (both of which are interesting despite the fact that this is a YA book). You can see the review of the book for more. The other book by Downham that I read this year, Before I Die, also makes the list. This is a gut-wrenching book about, well, dying. I reviewed it here.

Lockhart shows up again again with The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, which was technically a reread in 2017, but I think that counts. Frankie’s a fantastic character who takes something to the kind of extremes we’ve all probably wanted to go to at some point (but have been too chicken). The review is here.

One last that I’d like to mention is The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth. This is a seriously long book about being a lesbian in a harsh, not-understanding place. But it digs deep and keeps you interested. See the review here.

 

A Bonus

The view from my dining room window on Christmas day:

I swear there didn’t use to be so many of them. Clearly, they’re multiplying.