Today’s Top Ten Tuesday Topic is Technically “Popular Books that Lived Up to the Hype,” but since I’ve really only been paying attention to new releases of books for a few months now (in fact, I missed the fact that my favorite author had a book coming out last year until after it was out), I can’t tell you which books were hyped and which books were not. So… I will be posting the top 10 most popular YA books (according to the Goodreads YA by year lists) from the last 5 years that I loved.
As usual, if a book is part of a series and multiple books of a series are eligible for this list, they will be listed together. And as always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
10. Our tenth book to make the list is Summer Days and Summer Nights, which I just finished a little over a week ago. It was the 26th most popular book on the Goodreads YA list of 2016. If I were to redo this list in a couple of months it probably wouldn’t make the list (since there are a lot of books that were more popular that I have yet to read) but today it makes the list.
9. Number nine on the list is The Wrath & the Dawn, by Renée Ahdieh. Since I haven’t read The Rose and the Dagger yet, only this book makes the list. The first week of June was a Renée Ahdieh week this year, as I read this book on June 3rd and immediately read Smoke in the Sun on June 4th (I was so excited because it arrived a day early, LOL). Renée Ahdieh is the first of two authors to have to books (or book series) to make this list.
8. The second author to have two books on this week’s list is Marie Lu. All three books in the Young Elites series were fairly popular on the Goodreads YA lists (The Young Elites was #14 in 2014, The Rose Society was #11 in 2015, and The Midnight Star was #15 in 2016).
7. Lazlo might have a Strange name, but Strange the Dreamer was a very popular book, and I loved it as well. I can’t wait for Muse of Nightmares later on this year, but since that one hasn’t been released yet, it’s not eligible for this list.
6. Warcross is the second Marie Lu book to make this list. It was the 6th most popular book on the Goodreads YA list of 2017, although it was my #1 book from last year. Since I haven’t read Wildcard yet, it’s not eligible for this list, although I’d be willing to bet a year’s salary that I will like it once I get to read it this September.
5. Caraval was the fifth most popular book of 2017, and it comes in on today’s list at number five. Since I still haven’t read Legendary, that book does not make today’s list, but chances are I will probably like it once I get the chance to read it.
4. Number four on today’s list is the other Renée Ahdieh book, Flame in the Mist. Because I also loved Smoke in the Sun, that book also places here. Flame in the Mist was the fourth most popular book of 2017.
3. Veronica Roth’s Carve the Mark was immensely popular last year, coming in at number three on the Goodreads list as well as on today’s list. I also loved The Fates Divide, so that also gets a spot here on today’s list.
2. Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes books get the number two spot this week. A Torch Against the Night and A Reaper at the Gates also share this spot. The first two books in this series were both number 6 on the Goodreads list in 2015 and 2016, but A Reaper at the Gates is number 3 on the 2018 list, which is why it ranks so high here (in case of a tie, the newer book wins out).
1. I just finished Red Queen on Saturday, so it barely makes its debut on this web site by only a few days. It was the second most popular book on the 2015 Goodreads list (#1 was Winter, which I haven’t read yet), and so it makes top spot on this week’s list. I have not read any of the other books in this series yet, so this is the only one in the series that is eligible for this week’s list.And that’s this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, tracking the most popular YA books released in the last five years that I have read and loved. Have you read any of these? What is your favorite popular YA book?
I liked Summer Days and Summer Nights mainly because it was cool to have so many YA short stories, and I enjoyed trying a few authors I had not read yet. And Wildcard I am definitely looking forward to! Warcross was so fun!
Greg recently posted…Top Ten Books That Lived Up To The Hype
I liked that part of Summer Days and Summer Nights a lot myself. I became interested in the book because of the authors that I recognized, but I liked getting to see what the other authors were like too.
My boy loves video games, and I asked him if he wanted to read Warcross earlier today. He said he was interested… then I thought, good thing I bought a second copy of Warcross (I bought it for Life After Legend) because I’d hate to lend out my only copy… even if it stays in my house! I always get nervous when I lend my favorite books.
Woah, the Wrath and the Dawn is a gorgeous cover!
I think this is the newer cover. The one at my library was different, and it was a little boring.
I think a lot of hyped YA books are fantasy or something non-contemporary and those are the ones I tend to read the least, so I don’t always go for hyped books. haha I do own Summer Days and Summer Nights AND Strange the Dreamer and hope to read those soon though.
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…A Picture Book Review: Go to Sleep, Little Creep
Just looking at the 10 most popular YA novels on Goodreads from 2018, I think you’re right.
I hope you like Summer Days and Strange the Dreamer. I thought they were both pretty good.
Red Queen has been on my list for a while now. One of these days I’ll get all these books read!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
Now I have to wait for the rest to become available at the library…
I read half of these, and they were wonderful. I don’t need hype to get me to read Marie Lu – I LOVE her! But, I am glad I took a chance on TWatD, because it was really beautifully written.
Sam@WLABB recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Believe the Hype!
I found that one because I loved Flame in the Mist so much. Now I just have to read the sequel at some point!
I haven’t read any of these, but several of them are on my TBR list. I’m glad you liked them!
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Books That Don’t Suck
It’s hard sometimes to get to all the books. Even if you REALLY want to read them!
I love The Wrath and the Dawn so much. I’m so happy to see it on your list. I must pick up Warcross.
I don’t think I’ve seen The Wrath & the Dawn on any other list yet, but it was a really good book!
I liked The Wrath and the Dawn too. I still have to also read The Rose and the Dagger
Last I checked there wasn’t a waiting list at my library for The Rose and the Dagger, yet I still haven’t read it yet. So many books, so little time, right? And the books that I have on hold at the library and ARCs that I’m reading for my blog are taking priority at the moment because I only have a limited time to read those.
Ahh I really want to read Strange the Dreamer and this list makes me want to even moreee!!! Happy reading 🙂
Kay Wisteria @HammockofBooks recently posted…Top Ten Popular Books That Lived Up To The Hype!
And Muse of Nightmares comes out in a few months too!
I have yet to read Young Elites but I added it after reading and loving Warcross! Can’t wait for Wildcard to finally release.
I pre-ordered the book in April, before they even had a cover reveal! I have two books coming on September 18th, but I’m reading Wildcard first.
I’ve read and loved An Ember in the Ashes and am working on book two. Some of your other books are on my TBR. I’m especially looking forward to Caraval. I’ve heard so many good things about it!
Crystal @ Lost in Storyland recently posted…10 Books that Lived Up to the Hype
I hope you like it. I’m waiting for my turn to read Legendary from my library now!
I haven’t read “Red Queen,” but really want to. It looks interesting, and I don’t read much fantasy-esque fiction. Also, yay for “Warcross.” Loved the fast-paced, easy to follow plot. One of my favorites!! 🙂
Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland, Brooke.
You’re welcome!
Wildcard seems to be one of the most anticipated books of the fall, it seems.
Caraval was a great read. I hope Legendary will live up to it.
Annemieke recently posted…Four Reasons to Pick up this Middle Grade: The Many Worlds of Albie Bright
Hopefully! I keep hearing good things about it at least!