5 Young Adult Book Series Starters to Fill Your Weekend
By: Hidden Gems on December 1, 2020
If this season of life has you wanting to curl up and binge-read a new series, you’ll love this list of young adult book series starters that were favorites among Hidden Gems ARC readers. Each is great in their own way, with all the elements that make YA addicting, so don’t blame us if you find yourself spending a whole weekend plowing through these series.
The Acceptance by Ramona Finn
The Hunger Games meets Divergent in this epic first book in the GEOS trilogy. Currently in the top 50 Teen & Young Adult Dystopian ebooks on Amazon, Finn writes a story in which humanity is on the brink of extinction. After being nearly wiped out by a deadly virus, Earth’s population was saved only by the genius of Farrow Corp. Now, the scientists in Farrow’s Labs work tirelessly to search for a cure to the genetic plague that has left the remaining population hiding below ground.
“This was a mind blowing suspense of a read,” Andrea says in her 5-star review. “The drama and the sitting at the edge of your seat kind of feeling sucks you right into the story. The decisions that had to be made and the aftermath of the decisions that were made just made for such a great read. Some parts I really wasn’t expecting but was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. It was well written and had a great storyline. I would definitely recommend this.”
“The story was filled with action, drama, suspense, twists and so much more. It was a good story that keeps you reading,” writes Dani M. in her 5-star review. “The story had a strong well written plot with strong characters. The characters’ journey wasn’t an easy one, they had many ups and downs. I’m looking forward to reading more.”
Throne of Silver by KB Anne
Full of paranormal activity with touches of other supernatural influences and enough adventure and mystery to keep you turning pages, Throne of Silver kicks off the Silver Fae young adult book series. If you like Linsey Hall, CN Crawford, Chandelle LeVaun, Leia Stone, Michelle Maddow, McKenzie Hunter, and Jaymin Eve, you’ll love this highly addictive YA series from KB Anne.
“Definitely hooked from the first page,” writes Davina in her 5-star review. “The personality that Star holds keeps you addicted to know her story and the many secrets that are slowly being revealed as she fights for a normal life and grows before your eyes in her now new reality. The plot carries detail, humor, mystery, suspense, romance and a supernatural conspiracy that had me anticipating what more is in store for Star, Christian and their growing crew as twist after twist hits you throughout the story and you just have to find out. Diving into book 2 as soon as I can.”
“I loved this book!” Ketty F. explains in her 5-star review. “It has a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance, and just enough supernatural elements to keep everything interesting. Starr and Christian have more in common than they think, what we see is barely scratching the surface of what there is to learn about these two as well as what is happening to them.
Starr is the perfect example of a girl next door. She is brilliant, athletic, has great friends and is getting her school resume beefed up for a good school. Boys are not a problem for her, getting to and from practice, getting high test grades, and getting into the summer leadership program are her focus; she gets into that program, it is smooth sailing into whatever school she wants. But really, that’s just the beginning of the end.
Surprise surprise, she aces the test and gets into the program, however, it is not the program she thought. Instead of a leadership program she was hoping for, she is drafted into a super-secret Organization to be trained as an assassin. Wanting nothing to do with it, she is on the run. If things couldn’t get any worse, Christian, the Goth boy who rolls his eyes and brushes her off at every chance, is now here to play her knight in black leather.”
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
With over 150 Amazon reviews, and an average 4.6 star rating, Esme’s Wish was an absolute hit amongst Hidden Gems ARC readers. When fifteen-year-old Esme Silver objects at her father’s wedding, her protest is dismissed as the action of a stubborn, selfish teenager. Everyone else has accepted the loss of Esme’s mother, Ariane—so why can’t she? But Esme is suspicious. She is sure that others are covering up the real reason for her mother’s disappearance—that ‘lost at sea’ is code for something more terrible, something she has a right to know.
“If you love mythology and folk lore, you will love this book. It is however more then a whimsical tale,” says Bookdragon Nin in their 5-star review. “Elizabeth Foster has created complex, multi-layered characters who have intense and diverse feelings running the emotional gamut. Esme is coming of age after the disappearance of her mother and remarriage of her father. The mother/ daughter bond, loyalty/betrayal and temptation/self sacrifice are some of the themes examined. Adventure, suspense, friendship, magical gifts and buried secrets abound in this captivating read. Eager to read more about Esme, Daniel, Lillian and Esme’s mother in Esme’s Gift.”
Louise L. writes in her 5-star review, “First class read. I was so fortunate to be by a fireplace in a comfy chair with a cup of tea, no deadlines, and this book in my hand. Read from cover to cover. Lost in Esperance. Unlike with so many books I come across, this gem was captivating, very well crafted and void of writer ego. Foster clearly cares deeply and has taken the time to value mine. Beautiful descriptions of an enchanting world. And never long-winded. I am a mature reader and I never read fantasy. But I will read this series. I want to know what happens to Esme and her friends and family. I want to know what happens to the people of Esperance. I want to ride Foster’s magic carpet.”
New Kid in Town by Jacky Gray
New Kid in Town kicks off the Bryant Rockwell young adult book series and is described as a pitch-perfect blend of drama and romance for fans of 10 Things I Hate About You and Glee. This YA story is snappy, eclectic and edgy. An enjoyable read which will appeal to anyone with a sense of humor and an ear for the ironic.
A Reader’s Favourite reviewer writes, “A well written teenage romance that reminded me of my own high school days. Jacky Gray showed all the details of the high school experience – the fun, jealousy, ugliness, petty fights, and true friendship. Jacky did not skip out on the details either; each character has their own unique personality that makes them seem so realistic that I felt like I could actually befriend the trio of girls myself. The romance elements fitted perfectly with the plot and were the right balance of lust, love, and friendship. The plot itself was just right for a teenage romance in that it was mostly straightforward and did not detract from the romance of the characters. I personally found myself enjoying the book and wishing that I could have read it when I was in high school!”
“Oh, this gave me all the feels!” writes KT Booklover in their 5-star review. “New Kid gave *such* a convincing depiction of mercurial teenage relationships and that dreadful sense of hope and fear combined around transforming friendships into relationships when you don’t quite dare take the plunge in case your feelings aren’t reciprocated.”
Traitor by Melissa Ragland
The House of Lazerin is filled with secrets – the kind that end in ruin. Within the castle’s marble halls, secrets are currency and new courtiers are a form of sport. Her mother’s unconventional lessons keep Elivya one step ahead of the competition, but playing the game of courtship is not without its risks. The capital is full of spies, and some are playing for much higher stakes than hearts and reputations. A single misstep can destroy a noble House – or a nation.
“Exquisitely written with perfect timing and realism, Traitor is an absolutely epic start to what is guaranteed to be an engaging series,” gushes JoLea A. in her 5-star review. “Melissa Ragland’s stunning first novel Traitor is addictively good. It sucked me in and kept me up reading till all hours of the night. Then the first thing I did in the morning was open this book. Elivya is a heroine a reader can admire and relate to. She possesses the perfect balance of determination, weakness, and grace. Ragland’s character development is masterful. A must-read.”
“From the first moment that I started reading, I was instantly hooked,” writes Shelley V. in her 5-star review. “This is not my usual genre but the story was so well-written with an intelligent voice that I could not put it down. The author takes you along on an emotional journey with the main character Elivya. At the beginning of the book, the author also provides a breakdown of the numerous houses and a map of the territory which was useful in keeping things straight. I am not a fast reader so this took me longer to read than most mostly because of the intricate world in which this story takes place. This story has it all and I look forward to reading more.”
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