Most Anticipated YA Novels of 2014

What are the most anticipated YA novels of 2014? We take a look at the seven hottest books that will be coming off the presses this spring.

You guys, 2013 was an awesome year in books. We had the thrilling conclusion to the Divergent trilogy, Allegiant, with its jaw-dropping climax. We met Rainbow Rowell’s incredible talent with her bestsellers Eleanor & Park and Fangirl. We were stranded on a deserted planet with These Broken Stars, got in rugby fights with Winger, followed the debate team fun in The Beginning of Everything (aka Severed Heads, Broken Hearts to those of you outside of the US), and realized the consequences of reality TV with Reality Boy. It was, by all accounts, a great year for young adult literature.

However, the YA novels of 2014 are looking to be a pretty good bunch, too. Favorite series will come to conclusions, with The Selection trilogy, The Lunar Chronicles, Shatter Me, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Under the Never Sky, and the Mara Dyer Trilogy finales all topping the Goodreads list of 2014 releases. Other series will continue (The Testing, Pivot Point, The Madman’s Daughter, and Taken are notable). But what about all those other books? The new series? The standalone novels? The books by debut authors? There’s a lot to weed through when it comes to forthcoming books. That’s why I’ve compiled my list of YA novels that I think are going to top the charts in 2014. Each book is linked to its Goodreads page so you can go ahead and add it to your “To-Read” list. 

Here are my top picks for YA Novels of 2014:

3 New Series/Trilogies in 2014

1. The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

Release Date: June 10

The Murder Complex controls the state and assassinates those who get their way. Meadow has been trained to survive, to kill to protect herself and her family in a world where murder is all around. So when Meadow meets Zephyr, neither realizes that he’s been programmed by the government as a killer. Why have they met? And are they safe?

2. Alienated by Melissa Landers

Release Date: February 4

Cara Sweeny is going to host the first alien exchange student. In her house. Every day. It’s supposed to a cultural experience, like any other foreign exchange. But Cara finds herself falling for her attractive, human-like house guest while everyone else at her school has grown increasingly fearful of earth’s connection with this new race. When Aelyx reveals the true purpose of his tenure on earth, Cara might not just be protecting her heart – she might be protecting her whole planet.

3. Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Release Date: April 22

Set in pre-World War II Munich, Prisoner of Night and Fog is a historical mystery starring the fictional niece of Adolf Hitler. Gretchen Müller learns more about the mysterious circumstances surrounding her father’s death and the inner workings of the National Socialist party. However, she also falls for a handsome Jewish reporter and begins to question everything she’s been brought up to believe.

 

…and 4 New YA Novels of 2014

1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Release Date: May 13

E. Lockhart is no stranger to critical acclaim, and it looks like We Were Liars will continue that trend. This is the story of four wealthy friends known as The Liars. Early reviewers of the book have strongly suggested that readers forgo further description and jump in blind to the story, so I can’t say any more that that. But be warned – though this is a suspense novel, it’s also a tearjerker. Bring your tissues.

2. Panic by Lauren Oliver

Release Date: March 4

Panic is a game played by high school seniors in a small town. The stakes are high, and the rewards are amazing. The novel focuses on two of the players: Heather, who discovers her inner fearless competitor, and Dodge, a boy determined to win. Romance sparks between these two, but they still must play the game in order to win their ticket out of their dying, boring small town.

3. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Release Date: March 18

Sixteen-year-old Alice creates a bucket list when she’s diagnosed with leukemia, because her chances of surviving the cancer are slim. She decides to right all the wrongs in her life (sometimes in vindictive ways) before she goes. But when Alice goes into remission and is given a second chance a life, she must face all the decisions she made to get back at those who had hurt her – and face the budding romance with her friend and accomplice, Harvey.

4. Noggin by John Corey Whaley

Release Date: April 8

When Travis Coates died, he thought that was it. Game over. But surprisingly, he wakes up to find that his head has been attached to someone else’s body. In this wacky book, Travis must assimilate to his new life five years in the future, with someone else’s family and girlfriend, as he also wrestles with a body that’s not his own.

There are some great books coming out this year, and not enough time to ever read them all. But these highlights should give Bookkaholics a good starting point for that next great read. Of course, we also want to know which books our readers are anticipating in the new year. Have a forthcoming title you want to share? Leave your thoughts in the comments!