Top Ten of 2014: Adult Romance

In no particular order, here are my favourite Adult Romance books I've read this year. . .

CONTEMPORARY:

1. Grace Grows by Shelle Summers (Sweet, smart, emotional, swoony, sexy. Also: heroine in publishing, hero's a rock star)
2. Lead by Kylie Scott (Speaking of rock stars... I love this series, and this book is probably my favourite of the bunch)
3. Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven (This is like an NA/contemp romance hybrid, and I adoreeee it. Stage actors meet in drama school)
4. Back to You by Priscilla Glenn (A wonderful second chance romance type of story)
5. The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins (I went on a Kristan Higgins binge this year, so I had a hard time narrowing it down. I chose this one because I love the idea of it being so right with the supposedly wrong guy)

HISTORICAL:

1. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (I mean, I could have filled this whole list with the Bridgerton books, so congratulate me for cutting it down to two. Again, love the idea that you can be so wrong about who you think is right for you)
2. To Sir Phillip With Love by Julia Quinn (Absolutely love a romance started in letters, and love even better that the hero is completely unappealing at first)
3. The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley (This whole series is wonderful, but this was probably my favourite. Tortured hero re-meets a plucky heroine with whom he has massive chemistry)
4. A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James (No suprise, I also had an Eloisa James read-a-thon, and there are so many I could have chosen. I loved the redeeming of Villiers, and how the author didn't make him suddenly perfect)
5. Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas (Love this whole series, but absolutely adored the mistaken identity and SWOON of this one)

Top Ten of 2014: Speculative YA

In no particular order, here are my favourite Speculative Young Adult books (fantasy, dystopia, etc) I've read this year. . .

1. Shimmer by Paula Weston (This doesn't come out until June 2015 in North America, so you better believe I imported it from the UK. That's how much I adore this series)
2. Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers (What an epic end to an amazingggg trilogy. Romantic, fantastic, and hopeful)
3. Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead (Adrian 4ever!! In all seriousness I have loved every book in this series and they just keep getting more exciting. Must reads!!)
4. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski (So deliciously written! Epic world building and very complicated relationships abound)
5. Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau (This series is so freaking good. You can see hints of other dystopian tales, but the author makes the world all her own)
6. Three by Kristen Simmons (This is a hugely underrated series, and Three is a perfect conclusion to the trilogy)
7. Lady Thief by A.G. Gaughen (THIS BOOK. This book!!! Talk about underrated. I adore everything about this book, except maybe that gut-wrenchingly painful part)
8. In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken (This is another fabulous ending to a wonderful trilogy. One of my faves!)
9. A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray (A wonderful start to a series filled with parallel worlds and parallel versions of characters. Exciting and romantic)
10. The One by Kiera Cass (This series drove me crazy, and yet I ADORED it, too. Even if some things felt convenient, I really loved this conclusion to the trilogy)

Top Ten of 2014: Contemporary YA

To those who celebrate, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Blessings to you and yours at this crazy, but beautiful, time of year.

In no particular order, here are my favourite Contemporary Young Adult books I've read this year. . .

1. Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross (Kind of Friday Night Lights-ish, except with baseball. Coach's daughter falling for the new star player)
2. Rites of Passage by Joy N. Hensley (This book made my feminist self seethe with how the cadets treated the first females at the school, but it was also SO GOOD)
3. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (What is there to say?! Sheer perfection, artistic beauty. Must read!!!)
4. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins (Long awaited, highly anticipated, and well worth the wait. Lived up to every dream I had for it)
5. Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally (Miranda has never disappointed me. Her books are complete must-reads for contemp fans. Smart and romantic)
6. Behind the Scenes by Dahlia Adler (I am such a glutton for Hollywood YA type stories, and this one is superb)
7. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson (Morgan's books are MUST READS. An absolutely charming book about friendship, romance, and family)
8. Open Road Summer by Emery Lord (What if Taylor Swift was your BFF and you fell in love with her opening act while on tour with her for the summer? That's practically what this book is. EPIC)
9. Something Real by Heather Demetrios (Chloe has grown up as part of a family reality show, so all she longs for is anonymity. This one has a slow burn romance, complicated family dynamics, and a "unputdownable" quality to it)
10. After the Storm by Marie Landry (More people need to read this author because she is fabulous. Emotional and swoony)

If you'd like even further recommendations, be sure to check out my Contemporary YA Recs Shelf on Goodreads.