In 2017, the YA authors really brought their A-game. Their ideas were bold, their characters were complex, and the risks they took paid off. Yes, last year was the year of YA for me, and as a result, these are the books I'm most excited to read in 2018.
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy
Due out in the fall, Mackenzi Lee's sequal to her debut, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, is sure to entertain. The first book introduced us to Monty, an English royal in love with his best friend Percy and unenthused about what his life is supposed to look like. But when Monty, Percy and Monty's sister Felicity embark on a Grand Tour of the continent, danger and mystery ensue. This sequel stars Felicity, who is a brilliant girl and break out start from the first novel. The online blurbs boast of "travel, pirates, and a science-girl gang." I cannot wait.
The Case for Jamie
When Brittney Cavallaro's first book came out, I'll admit I was skeptical. There are so many different versions of Sherlock Holmes, and very few of them are exceptional. But A Study in Charlotte delivers. Jamie Watson is the great-great-great grandson of THAT Watson, and Charlotte Holmes is the great-great-great granddaughter of THAT Holmes. The two meet at boarding school in Connecticut, and immediately people start dying. Their chemistry is powerful and destructive, and Charlotte might be my favorite Holmes depiction since Cumberbatch. The Case for Jamie is the conclusion to the Charlotte Holmes trilogy which is set to be released in March, and I'm certain the series will end with a bang.
On the Come Up
I'll be honest: I don't even really know what this one is about. The brief summaries I've seen mention that the main character is an aspiring rapper and it's set in the same location as the last book. What I do know is that it comes out in May and it's written by Angie Thomas, who penned The Hate U Give. This was easily the best book of 2017 for me. The story of Starr and the community of Garden Heights is something special, and once you pick up this book, you really can't put it down. Thomas writes beautifully; her sentences are maximum impact and her dialogue is pitch perfect. If you haven't yet, go ahead and give it a read. Then put On the Come Up on your calendar. This is something you should not miss.
