YA Books I Loved That Didn't Get A Lot of Hype

My book case is a complete mad-house because I have an obsession with buying books. Seriously, I probably have a couple hundred books, if not more, on there. Some of them I haven't read yet, while others have been read more times them I care to admit to. So, when I was at Borders yesterday rummaging around their 'Going Out of Business' Young Adult Section I couldn't help but to notice a lot of my favorites still sat on the shelves. The I started thinking, "why don't people love these books like me?" The only answer I came up with in my brain was that maybe it was because people have never heard of them. Let's face it. Some books are hyped so much they are everywhere you turn, while others you only hear about from book bloggers and word of mouth.

Now, I'm talking books published by the big time agencies here too, not just independent ones. I know that the way books are advertised stems back to how big of a deal was made on the book and all that, but sometimes I find I liked the less-hyped books better.

My long-winded point is, I thought this would be a good time to share some books I have recommended to people and sometimes they've never heard anything about the book and/or series.


The Touch Series:

I loved this one for the romance and the plot. I just had to figure Ben out and Cameila was an awesome main character. I loved the whole mystery in this book. The newly released Clarity actually reminds me a lot of this series, so naturally I loved that one too.

Book One: Deadly Little Secrets

Plot:
Some secrets shouldn't be kept...


Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

From the best-selling author of Blue is for Nightmares comes a story of paranormal romance that's sure to be a thrilling and chilling teen favorite.



Book 2: Deadly Little Lies

 

Book 3: Deadly Little Games



The Dark Guardians Series:

Rachel Hawthorne is hands down one of my favorite authors. I can count on any novel I pick up from her to leave me with that warm and gooey love-sick feeling. Each Dark Guardian novel is first person tense told by a different girl in the overall plot of the series, which is a great spin to a YA series. So, each book is fresh with a new love story while the main plot moves along. This is her paranormal series that I totally love. It makes me sad when people say they've never heard of her or this series. If you haven't read it, you are truly missing out on a great YA paranormal romance.


Book 1: Moonlight



Plot:

I see him and knows what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.


KAYLA is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying-and thrilling-gene that will change her life forever.

LUCAS is dangerous, gorgeous ... and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.

As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny

Book 2: Full Moon



Book 3: Dark of the Moon



Book 4: Shadow of the Moon

 Giving Up the V:

I love gritty, true Contemporary Young Adult Fiction. When authors let go and really let their inner-teenager shine through, a book becomes spectacular. I felt like Spencer was a real girl and I was concerned who she was going to give it up to. The secondary characters in this book blew me away. It takes a lot to make your minor characters stand out in a way that the reader will care as much about them as you main character. The Duff actually reminds me a lot of this one, because the dialog is true to teens.



Giving Up The V



Plot:

Spencer Davis just turned sixteen. But unlike most hormonal teenagers who seem obsessed with sex — like her entire crew of friends — Spencer just doesn't get it. She'd rather wait for the right guy and the right moment. But that moment may be arriving sooner than she'd thought.


Enter Benjamin Hopkins, a new transfer student who seems to have his eyes on our V-card-carrying heroine. He's gorgeous, funny, suave, athletic, and capable of making Spencer's knees wobble with a single glance. Spencer has never felt this way about anyone before, but is Ben truly V-worthy?

Tell me, are there any great series out there that YOU love that people don't know about?? Shout-out and share with us. Maybe, we'll love them too.