Today’s topic for those participating in Armchair BEA is: Best Books of the year (so far) and most anticipated titles for the rest of the year. Let’s get started!
Best Books of 2011: Early Favorites:
1. Chime by Franny Billingsley – Lovely, inventive and original. Chime is a stand-out with strong characters and a magical story. Loved it!
2. The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder – A strong, contemporary story told in verse that’s full of heart and emotion.
3. Delirium by Lauren Oliver – Heart-wrenching and beautifully written. A love story set in a dystopian society where love is forbidden.
4. Divergent by Veronica Roth – One of my favorite dystopian books since The Hunger Games. Filled with heart-stopping action – I couldn’t put it down.
5. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab – The Near Witch is deliciously eerie and captivating, with a suspenseful fairytale quality.
6. Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal – Well-written and compelling coming of age book set in 1980s New York.
7. Strings Attached by Judy Blundell – Beautifully told 1950 era New York coming of age book about a struggling dancer who gets caught up with the mob.
8. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand – Recommended for those weary of Angel-centered books. This is the best of the bunch.
9. Where She Went by Gayle Forman – Just as good, if not better than If I Stay. Loved Adam’s voice and the unexpected way the story unfolds.
10. Wither by Lauren DeStefano – Fast paced and disturbing dystopian book centering around 3 sister wives. A dramatic and fascinating read.
The back half of 2011 looks to be amazing with lots of great new releases to get excited about. These are a few I’ve heard are at BEA that I would be seeking out:
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Crossed by Ally Condie
Fateful by Claudia Gray
I’m sure there are tons more books at BEA to get excited about. What are you looking forward to reading this year? Do we have any 2011 favorites in common?
I must get my hands on ‘Chime’ — I’ve heard great things about it recently.
LOVE Delirium, Divergent, Where She Went, & Wither.
Oh Bloodlines. *sigh* I already have it pre-ordered, and I’m definitely insanely jealous for those getting a copy this week. There are probably tons of books people are getting this week that I will weep with envy over (okay not quite, haha), so I try not to think about them. =b
Thanks for dropping by to comment on my ArmchairBEA post. 🙂 Yep, Chime was a pretty unique read. I have copies of Chasing Brooklyn and Far From You by Lisa Schroeder and I hope to read them before I tackle my e-galley of The Day Before. I’ve only read one novel in verse so far but I’m interested in others.
love your books you chose! i’m a GFC follower of your blog now! we have some similar choices!
mine are mostly dystopians! check out my list and follow me back?! =]
http://lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/
Great books! glad your giving some love to Strings Attached I really liked that book 🙂
Awesome list! I just started reading The Near Witch and am intrigued, so I’m glad to see it show up as one of your favorites. I definitely want to check out Where She Went. If I Stay is one of those books that I just CAN’T imagine having a sequel, but I keep hearing amazing things about Where She Went, so I need to pick it up!
Oooh you’ve read The Near Witch already? Can’t wait for that one! I keep hearing good things about Chime, too. And yep, I’m looking forward to the continuation of Cassia and Ky’s story in Crossed!
I would LOVE to read “Chime”. Read and LOVED “Where She Went” and “Wither”. Dying to read “Divergent”. Thank you SO much for sharing your list with us! 😀
I have seen Withered and Delirium on so many best of lists! I need to read them and soon!!