A new year is upon us, and y’all know what that means: NEW BOOKS NEW BOOKS! (And all the 2013 goodies that you may have missed. And the ones from 2012… and 2011… and 2010… )
But when FYA HQ started brainstorming ALL TEH BOOKS that we’re looking forward to in 2014, there are just SO.FREAKING.MANY. Wayyyyy too many for merely one list to cover. Which is why we came up with TWO lists — one for standalones and new series (i.e. the one you’re about to read right now), and another for series and companion novels.
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Title: Grasshopper Jungle
Author: Andrew Smith
Publication Date: 2014 February 11
Official Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Austin Szerba interweaves the story of his Polish legacy with the story of how he and his best friend, Robby, brought about the end of humanity and the rise of an army of unstoppable, six-foot tall praying mantises in small-town Iowa.
To make matters worse, Austin’s hormones are totally oblivious; they don’t care that the world is in utter chaos: Austin is in love with his girlfriend, Shann, but remains confused about his sexual orientation. He’s stewing in a self-professed constant state of maximum horniness, directed at both Robby and Shann. Ultimately, it’s up to Austin to save the world and propagate the species in this sci-fright journey of survival, sex, and the complex realities of the human condition.
Why I’m Excited:
This book sounds HILARS. (And if it’s anything like Andrew Smith’s last book, Winger, it def. will be.) I mean, what other blurb contains the phrase “self-professed constant state of maximum horniness”? And just look at that cover! (Bonuses: Polish culture! Bisexual love triangle!) -Mandy W.
Title: Everyone Dies in the End
Author: Brian Katcher
Publication Date: 2014 March 15
Official Blurb:
Sherman Andrews is going places. At seventeen, he’s been accepted in the Missouri Scholars Academy, a summer college program for the academically-oriented. He is determined to become an award-winning investigative journalist. Sherman has had a ten-year plan since he was eight, and is determined to make something of his life, unlike his low-brow plumber father or his absent mother.
While doing some research, Sherman comes across a photograph of four men, dated 1935. When a little digging reveals that three of the men were murdered shortly after the picture was taken, Sherman’s interest is piqued. He soon uncovers Depression-era records of deaths, disappearances, and cover-ups on an almost unbelievable scale. Too late, Sherman realizes that the organization responsible is still around, and they do not appreciate outside interest. They’re prepared to take drastic measures to keep him quiet, even if it means shutting him up permanently.
After narrowly escaping from a well-planned assassination attempt, Sherman must decide if he wants to flee for his life, or risk everything to become the reporter he’s always wanted to be. There are only two people he can trust to help him. One is Charlie, the cute, chubby student librarian at the historical society, who might have her eye on Sherman for another reason. The other is Denton, a wild-eyed conspiracy theorist. He claims that the organization is led by a shadowy man who died in 1966…and 1935…and 1864. The fact that Denton has been forcibly committed to the local mental hospital is just an unfortunate misunderstanding.
As the trio continues their investigation, they uncover things that have been buried for eighty years–often literally. They begin to suspect that something evil is about to reappear. And Sherman, with his dictaphone, his ironed socks, and his ten-page resume, may be the only one who can prevent a tragedy.
Interspersed with flashbacks to the original 1935 adventurers, Everyone Dies is a light-hearted coming of age story about love, growing up, and what it’s like to be buried alive.
Why I’m Excited:
FYA resident dude Brian is releasing a new book, YAY YAY YAYYYY! -Mandy W.
(Seconded by Brian, For Reasons)
Title: The Edge of Falling
Author: Rebecca Serle
Publication Date: 2014 March 18
Official Blurb:
Sorrow can be seductive—but can hope triumph over heartbreak? A dark and searing novel from the author of When You Were Mine.
Caggie never wanted to be a hero, but some things are decided for us. Growing up among Manhattan’s social elite, Caggie always had everything a girl could want, including a storied last name. But after saving a girl from the brink of suicide, Caggie becomes infamous, and now all she wants is to be left alone.
After all, she’s still reeling from the death of her younger sister last January, the subsequent destruction of her relationship with high school boyfriend, Trevor, and the way in which her family has since fallen apart.
So when mysterious Astor appears on the Upper East Side, he just might be the rescue she needs. But what is he hiding? As life as she knew it begins to unravel, Caggie realizes Astor’s past may be as dark as her own. And in a world in which she’s been branded a hero, Caggie will soon discover that no one can save you…not until you save yourself.
Why I’m Excited:
Here at FYA, we’re huge fans of Rebecca Serle, and if her new novel is even half as compelling as When You Were Mine, we’re in for the emotional ride of our lives. -Sarah
Title: The Here and Now
Author: Ann Brashares
Publication Date: 2014 April 08
Official Blurb:
Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.
Thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking, The Here and Now is a twenty-first-century take on an impossible romance. Ann Brashares’ first novel for teens since The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.
Meet seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.
Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. But everything changes when she falls for Ethan Jarves
Why I’m Excited:
Once upon a time, I devoured Ann Brashares’ Sisterhood series (even, ahem, the one that never happened). And now she’s coming out with a time travel romance, WHAT WHAT. Say no more, mon amour. -Mandy W.
Title: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #1)
Author: Jenny Han
Publication Date: 2014 April 22
Series: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Official Blurb:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.
Why I’m Excited:
Jenny Han has a new book! And the premise is BRILLZ amidst the sea of indistinguishable contemporary romances. Plus, POC cover model (and in jorts?!) FTW! -Mandy W.
Title: We Were Liars (We Were Liars #1)
Author: E. Lockhart
Publication Date: 2014 May 13
Series: We Were Liars
Official Blurb:
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.
Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.
Why I’m Excited:
If FYA had a locker, it would most certainly contain a shrine to E. Lockhart, the author of one of the greatest YA novels of all time. Naturally, when I heard that she was releasing a new book, I got on that shizz like white on rice. After devouring it over the course of two days, I sent the following blurb to the publisher:
Like a shard of glass, We Were Liars glitters and shines, then cuts deep. E. Lockhart has truly outdone herself with this masterful, darkly mesmerizing portrait of a fractured family ruined by the excess of wealth. Humming with rich descriptions and razor-sharp intelligence, the story of Cadence Sinclair Eastman will both inspire and haunt readers for years to come.
You better believe this will be an FYA Book Club pick because I need to convo about it PRONTO. -Sarah
Title: Landline
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publication Date: 2014 July 08
Official Blurb:
Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble; it has been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.
Maybe that was always beside the point.
Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect him to pack up the kids and go home without her.
When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.
That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts…
Is that what she’s supposed to do?
Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?
Why I’m Excited:
Not YA. But Rainbow Rowell, so obvs. -Mandy W.
(Seconded by Megan)
Title: Armada
Author: Ernest Cline
Publication Date: 2014 October 07 2015 July 14
Official Blurb:
Zack Lightman is daydreaming through another dull math class when the high-tech dropship lands in his school’s courtyard-and when the men in the dark suits and sunglasses leap out of the ship and start calling his name, he’s sure he’s still dreaming.
But the dream is all too real; the people of Earth need him. As Zack soon discovers, the videogame he’s been playing obsessively for years isn’t just a game; it’s part of a massive, top-secret government training program, designed to teach gamers the skills they’ll need to defend Earth from a possible alien invasion. And now…that invasion is coming.
As he and his companions prepare to enter their ships and do battle, Zack learns that the father he thought was dead is actually a key player in this secret war. And together with his father, he’ll uncover the truth about the alien threat, race to prevent a genocide, and discover a mysterious third player in the interplanetary chess game he’s been thrown into.
Why I’m Excited:
Ernest Cline’s debut Ready Player One is still one of my favorite novels from the last few years. And one I don’t hesitate to recommend to anyone looking for a super fun read. So I am a little more than excited for his second novel to release late in 2014. The plot of Armada reads something like a mix between The Last Starfighter and Ender’s Game and I cannot wait. -Megan
Title: The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Publication Date: 2014
Series: The Young Elites
Official Blurb:
I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.
Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.
Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.
Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.
It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.
Why I’m Excited:
No pub date — WHY NO PUB DATE?! -Mandy W.
So which standalones and series starters are you looking forward to in 2014? Let us know in the comments! And stay tuned for the list of our most anticipated sequels and follow-ups!
