Time to announce the August Sizzling Book Club selection! This month's pick is Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry.
The summary: No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with “freaky” scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.
But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.
Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.
This book has been receiving a ton of early favorable reviews, and let me tell you, they are all right. I have some majorly sensitive hype-allergens, but I sincerely think this book is worth your time.
Pushing the Limits is powerful, emotional, and incredibly well done. And if I describe it to people, outlining the plot and the conflict, invariably they say, “This sounds like the most bleak and miserable book ever.” The characters, Echo and Noah, have lived through some truly awful experiences, but there is such joy and resilient hope in how they discover one another that helps to balance the pain and sadness they both feel. This is not an easy book, but it is worth experiencing both as a YA novel, as a romance, and as an example of truly skilled writing.
The rebate is on now, so if you buy at ARe, you'll get 50% back in eBook Bucks if you use code SBTBARE at checkout. This book is $14.99, so 50% rebate is a good thing. Plus, if you have coupons to use, load 'em up, because Harlequin is all good with coupon usage. You can also find this book in print at all the places where print books are sold, including Goodreads | Amazon | BN.
I'm still working on setting up the Book Club Chat, so stay tuned for that announcement.
However! I do have some digital and print copies to giveaway!
Leave me a comment and tell me the best YA novel you've ever read (and your preference of print or digital) and I'll pick five winners who will receive a print copy, and five who will receive a digital copy. I am serious about passing this book along – so bring on your “Oh my gosh this rocked my world” YA book recommendations. (I'm secretly hoping that once you read this book, it'll also be among your favorites).
Standard disclaimers apply. I'm not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Must be over 18 and wearing a Corinthian leather jacket to win. Call before you dig. Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear. Failure to adhere to these disclaimers may cause one strangely long hair to grow out of your forehead. No guarantees on hair color. Comments will be open for 48 hours. Good luck!
I really hope you'll try this book and join us for the chat – we will have a LOT to talk about.
Best YA series I’ve read and am constantly re-reading would be Millie Trillie by Lisa Yee: Millicent Min, Girl Genius, Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time and So Totally Emily Ebers. One more novel would be The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause. I would prefer print copy if possible.
Does anyone here remember the Susan Sand mysteries? I found a couple in the series in a used book store when I was a teenager, and have never found any since. I remember loving how they felt so much smarter, less cloying than Nancy Drew. Not sure if the literary taste of a 14-year-old is to be trusted though…
Caridad Ferrer’s WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE is awesome.
(print is my first choice, but I’ll take e if that’s the only way to get the book)
YA fiction is my favourite! At the moment, Poison Study stands out – it’s definitely worth a read. And I’d love a digital copy.
Pennington’s 17th summer (and the other books in the series), an oldie but a goodie. Digital would be great.
Does the Anne of Green Gables series count as one book? Please?
And more recent books- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is always on my nightstand.
If there was room on any shelf in my apartment I wouldn’t say this but- digital.
Does Judy Blume’s Forever count as YA? It’s about teenagers, but I’ve never heard it referred to as such. I’m sure many people here have read it, but seriously, that book is as relevant today as it ever was because it’s just so real. No instalove, no dickish guy with a weird name who bosses girls around but everyone loves him anyway, no heroine who’s clumsy just so she can fall into the dickish guy’s arms. I could go on and on. I love that book.
Digital please.
Best book, hmmm, not sure, I really like books in a series. I read Tamara Pierce’s Protector of the Small and L J Smith’s Secret Circle serieses as a teenager and loved them.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Both of these books just blew my mind; two fully realized possible future worlds that draw you in and make you care deeply about the protagonists, both of which are very bleak in many ways. But there is hope. There is always hope. (I hate books that are hopeless and depressing. If I want hopeless and depressing, I’ll watch the news. Or the election coverage)
Sorry – there was a duplicate copy of this entry up for a few minutes. My bad – or the database’s bad, I’m not sure. Either way, we’re back to 1 entry… and a very expensive comment thread because I’m going to want to read all the books I haven’t read yet.
I’m not sure if they’re YA or children’s or what, but the best “non-adult books” I’ve read are the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.
It’s a tie between Poison Study by Maria V. Shriver and Fire by Kristin Cashore. Both are my all-time favorite books EVER! I love well-written YA literature, and I feel like that genre explores some really interesting themes and alternative lands without getting pegged into the “Science Fiction” or “Paranormal” holes as much as adult literature.
Love Maria V. Snyder!!
The books by Megan Whalen Turner really made me happy. King of Attolia is my favorite.
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. Every time I reread it, I still think it’s awesome. I picked it up while I was cleaning my bookshelf recently and got sucked in and was halfway through before I remembered I wasn’t supposed to be sitting on my floor reading a book.
When my all time favorite book Tam Lin by Pamela Dean was re-released, it came out as YA. I’m not sure that actually is a YA though, since the original release was fantasy.
I’m always re-reading my favorite YA books – probably the best one I have read recently (my mental rule of thumb is if I’ve re-read it since the first time) is Jaclyn Moriarty’s Feeling Sorry for Celia.
[ebook, please]
The best YA novel I’ve ever read is Sarah Rees Brennan’s Demon Lexicon. Magic, demon’s, incredible world building, a kick-ass female protagonist, and Brennan manages to make you laugh out loud on one page and cry the next. It’s the first book of a trilogy, and all three books are awesome. *steps down from fangirl soapbox*
Print preference, por favor.
I loved Robin McKinley’s Hero and the Crowm and The Blue Sword and All of the Anne of Green Gables series. Another favorite is The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin.
I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s so I’m a bit jealous of all the YA dystopian novels being published today. For a long time my favorite book was “This Time of Darkness” by H.M. Hoover.
Digital
Oh my. My tbr pile just got a whole lot bigger!
Maybe not the best ever written…but absolutely a favorite: SLOPPY FIRSTS. That whole series actually.
Most recently Gayle Forman & Jandy Nelson have rocked my YA reading world.
My favorite YA book is “Sword of the Rightful King” by Jane Yolen—I’ve read it at least a dozen times, probably more, and it’s always fantastic.
Digital!
One of my favorite books is Beauty by Robin McKinley. It’s a lovely retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. And I second the recommendations for Maria Snyder. I liked both Poison Study and Touch of Power by her.
Print, please.
My TBR pile is already leaning ominously from all of the books in it. These suggestions might bring on its complete collapse:) My current YA favorites? Across the Universe and its sequel A Million Suns by Beth Revis. Loved them. I couldn’t put down the first one and the second one had a plot twist I didn’t see coming (then again, maybe I don’t read enough sci-fi). The most unusual YA I’ve read lately? Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel. I can’t decide if I love it or if it had too much over the top wtfery.
Prefer print but would happily take a digital copy.
“The Sky is Everywhere” by Jandy Nelson is just wonderful. If I win, digital please.
I really enjoyed the My Blood Approves Series by Amanda Hocking.
Robin McKinley’s Sunshine
Also want to reinforce the recommendations Megan Whalen Turner’s series (my favourite is the second book, Queen of Attolia) and the Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. Both are simply wonderful.
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta is my favorite. If I win, print please.
I have heard so many great things about this book! Please enter me in the giveaway – my top preference would be a print copy, but a digital copy would be just awesome, too.
My favorite-ever YA novel is Sarah Dessen’s JUST LISTEN, which again has a really wonderful romance.
I’m going to have to go with “Forever” by Judy Blume, too. I haven’t read it in years, so I don’t know how it would stand up today, but it really touched me back in the day.
The Vampire Academy series is my fave. Rose and Dimitri rock!
Digital
My favorite YA is The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting!
I would love a print copy if possible 🙂
I’ve been eager to read this since Jane talked about on one of the podcasts a little while back!
I have a few all time favorite YA books, I don’t think I can name just one. Sarah Dessen’s The Truth About Forever really captured that in-between time of being a child and being an adult, and there are passages from that book I love so much I have them memorized. Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak is another favorite, and it’s definitely an emotionally wrenching read.
I also love Jennifer Echols’ Going Too Far, which is another book that really puts its finger on the pulse of what it means to be not quite an adult but struggling to be mature enough for what life is demanding from you.
I also want to chime in on the recommendations for Megan Whalen Turner’s series (The Queen of Attolia is my favorite, but read The Thief first!). There are moments in those books when, the first time I read it, I was so wrapped up that I found I was holding my breath.
(And my preference is digital!)
Hard to pick just one! Probably Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen. But really, all of her books are good (I’ve almost read them all!) and I also love Jennifer Echols. Her books are great as well.
I would love a print copy! But can accept digital as well.
My the most ‘wow’ YA book I’ve ever read is ‘Speak’ by Laurie Halse Anderson. It’s a beautifully written novel about a very touchy subject and thus has made it’s way onto the top 100 most banned books, which boggles my mind.
The set of books I go back to the most is the Damar series by Robin McKinley (and really anything by her. Her writing style is really special.).
Far and away the greatest YA novel I’ve found was Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief.” When you tell people you’re reading a young adult novel about the Holocaust narrated by Death… they are understandably skeptical. But it’s a beautiful story that tells heartbreaking vignettes about those touched by horrific events but also conveys Death’s matter-of-fact view of those events – all in the context of a young girl that Death notices stealing a book one day. A permanent fixture on my book shelf.
(I’d love a print copy)
Slammed by Colleen Hover is my FAV YA novel this year right now. AHHH, so good 🙂
I would LOVE a digital copy OR a print copy!
The Changeover – Margaret Mahy. Read it first when I was about 12 and still re-read it every year since then 🙂
I couldn’t possibly pick a single favorite (can anyone?), so I’ll just go with some not already mentioned above…
Kelley Armstrong’s Darkness Rising and Darkest Powers series
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
(I prefer reading digital, but I suppose it would be more responsible to request paper, so I can put in my classroom library when I’m done ;))
Melina Marchetta’s books. they rock and change my world.
Personal favorites include (On the) Jellicoe Road (because it has Jonah Griggs and Jonah Griggs is my ultimate hot teenage guy). And The Piper’s Son (though I guess it would fall into what people are now calling New Adult) this is very much a story about a broken family trying to piece itself together and about Love.
On the lighter side there is Meg Cabot, of course. Particularly Mediator and 1-800 Where R You series.
Paranormally, I love Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy trilogy, The Ghost and the Goth series by Stacey Kade and this little known series called Bard Academy by Cara Lockwood. Oh, and Kelley Armstrong’s Darkest Powers.
There are more, I’m sure, but I don’t want to make this super long.