Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish
This week’s topic: Top Ten Underrated Authors/Books in X Genre
I chose a genre near and dear to my heart that I see myself as pretty well read in — contemporary YA. Yeah no surprise to my regular readers right? Now some of these authors might be popular here in the book blogosphere but I realize how many AMAZING authors don’t get nearly enough recognition. I love sooo many of the super well known authors and think they are so deserving of the attention but here are 10 authors that I think should be WAY more well known than they are.
* I tried to pick authors that have had books out for a while rather than some underrated new-ish authors which I have SO many of those!!
1) Jessi Kirby: NO SERIOUSLY. How is she not more popular?!? Her books are so awesome and perfect for Sarah Dessen fans! In order of my love for them: Golden (this book!!), Moonglass and In Honor. Seriously, I am DYING for her next book to come out next year and I just can’t comprehend how she isn’t more well known. A definite favorite author of mine!!
2. Corrine Jackson: If there was ever a gem I read this year…Corrine’s book If I Lie was definitely it!
3. Trish Doller: Trish is certainly popular here in the book blogging world but I won’t be satisfied until she becomes a household name!! She is one of my FAVORITE authors and you need to read Something Like Normal and Where The Stars Still Shine — both of which made me cry and were 5 stars reads for me.
4. Laura Buzo: Okay, so she’s an Aussie author and her one novels that I liked (Holier Than Thou) isn’t even published here but you should know about here in America. Her book Love & Other Perishable Items (also know as Good Oil in Australia) is PHENOMENAL. Very very character driven book and not a huge plot but I loved it SO MUCH.
5. Leila Sales: I haven’t yet read Leila’s other books (PLANNING ON IT BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE I TRUST LOVE THEM) but based on This Song Will Save Your Life…I don’t know WHY she isn’t more popular. One of my favorite books of last year and one of my favorite contemporary books ever!
6. Courtney Summers: No seriously she is brilliant…the world needs to know her more than they do now! Also, love following her on Twitter.
7. Sarah Ockler: Her book, Twenty Boy Summer, got major buzz because of some people trying to ban it but she’s such a solid writer in the contemporary YA space that I’d really like to see her other books get more recognition especially The Book of Broken Hearts.
8. Robin Benway: I’ve made it my mission to get everyone to read Audrey, Wait (it seriously made me create a WTF-why-is-this-not-more-popular shelf on Goodreads). It’s hilarious and fun! And her new series (first book: Also Known As) is really fun, too! Robin Benway is one of the only authors to make me laugh as hard as I did when I read Megan McCafferty’s Jessica Darling series!
9. Daisy Whitney: Her book When You Were Here was brilliant and did NOT get nearly the attention it deserved! Very emotional and beautiful book! And I have her other book The Mockingbirds on my shelf which got rave reviews from people I trust when it came out!
10. Siobhan Vivian: Whether it’s her contemporary books or her series she co-writes with Jenny Han…Siobhan Vivian deserves WAY more attention. Not That Kind Of Girl is a book I want to give every teenage girl!
So tell me…who are some authors you think are completely overrated in the contemporary YA genre that I should check out??
Chrissi Reads says
Great list Jamie. I have only read Golden by Jessi Kirby, but I can’t wait to read more from her after reading it. I like Sarah Ockler too, although I’ve only read two of her books so far. I definitely need to check out Courtney Summers, I’ve heard such good things about her books.
Nobody@The Story Goes... says
You have so many authors here that I am dying to read! I love This Song Will Save Your Life and In Honor which I think are the only two books you mention that I’ve read! So obviously I need to listen to your list. =)
Ebony @ Daring Damsels says
Wonderful post, Jamie! I love the way you set your TTT posts up every week.
I am sad to say that I haven’t read any of these authors. Yet. I do have plans to read Jessi Kirby (Golden), Trish Doller (Where the Stars Still Shine), Leila Sales (This Song Will Save Your Life), Sarah Ockler (#scandal) and Siobhan Vivian (Burn for Burn). So, that’s something. I’m also going to have to add Laura Buzo to that list, now that I know she’s an Australian author.
Also, just saw that you’re reading The Piper’s Son – can’t wait to see what you think!
sarah/appifanie says
I’ve read all the Siobhan Vivian books and I feel alone in the world!
Also love all the Robin Benway. And Leila Sales Past Perfect is adorable.
Mel@thedailyprophecy says
Leila Sales: This song will save your life, yes! I adored this book and it gave me all these feelings. Very impressive story.
Courntey Summers: I’ve only read her This is not a test and was blown away by it.
Jessi Kirby: I’m interested in trying Golden 🙂
Cait @ Notebook Sisters says
I’ve only read This Song Will Save Your Life! I didn’t even know she’d written other books until recently, but now I want to read them all because OH MY GOSH she’s amazing! I definitely think she’s underrated. 🙂 I’d also love to read Trish Doller eventually. Here’s my TTT!
Erin says
Oh, I’ll have to read some more of these authors.
I absolutely adore Sarah Ockler. I’ve been hooked on her since I read Twenty Boy Summer. It was amazing, so amazing that I need to buy myself a copy of it because I read my sister’s copy. I’ve read all of her books now except for #scandal because I can’t find it anywhere!
Christina says
I love this list! I’m always looking for new contemp authors so I will have to check some of these out.
Andi says
Corrine Jackson is super underrated. Not enough people talk about that book. I think if she had another out it may help some, but there needs to be more buzz. And Sarah Ockler is one of my fave contemp writers ever!
Great list!
Tara @ Running 'N' Reading says
Thanks for sharing, Jamie! I always find some new names via your lists, and today is no exception; I do really like Siobhan Vivian. Have a great day and thanks for the link-up!
Sarah @ What Sarah Read says
YAY…more Contemporary YA authors to discover! I have read (and adore) Trish Doller, Leila Sales and Sarah Ockler so it stands to reason that I would love the rest of your recommendations as well!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives says
This is the second time I’ve seen When You Were Here on today’s TTT lists! I guess that means something 😛 I always pass it at Barnes and Noble; maybe one day I’ll finally pick it up!
Emily says
Totally agree about Courtney Summers! I love her novels!
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert says
I agree with you on 7/10 of these and that’s only because I haven’t yet read the other 3. Sarah Ockler, Corrine Jackson, and Jessi Kirby especially deserve more love. Great list!
Jennifer @ Feminist Fairytale Reviews says
I haven’t read any of these authors though that isn’t too surprising since I don’t feel very well read when it comes to contemporary YA. Jessi Kirby, Siobhan Vivian, and Sarah Ockler sounds like authors I need to try soon. Thanks for sharing!
Alexa says
I have Audrey, Wait on my shelf somewhere I should really read it. I also own a Kirby book and a Sales book so I need to get reading!
Great list!
Melanie says
I completely agree with you on Not That Kind of Girl! It made me do some serious thinking after I read it.
Cassie @ Happy Book Lovers says
I love Jessi Kirby so much! Moonglass is one of my favorites, and on top of that, it’s just a beautiful book that I love. I haven’t read In Honor, but it’s on my list for sure, and Golden. OMG. YES.
Cassie @ Happy Book Lovers
Danielle @ Love at First Page says
I love Sarah Ockler, Trish Doller, Jessi Kirby, and Robin Benway – so, yay! Great choices! Maybe I should have included Golden on my own list? It’s definitely a book that deserves to be talked about more.
I haven’t read any books by those other authors; I guess I’ll have to change that!
Great choices, girl.
Tori @ Bookish Affairs says
Oh man I’ve been seeing Jessi Kirby around lately and I’ve been meaning to get around to her books but just haven’t picked one up as of yet. This is definitely an incentive to do so! I really need to read This Song Will Save Your Life as well. It looks SO good. I have Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler but haven’t read it or Twenty Boy Summer. Ahh, my TBR is just getting longer and longer!
Dana @ The Nerdy Journalist says
I cried like a baby when I read both Something Like Normal and If I Lie. The narration in both books really spoke to me. I felt sad and angry and absolutely torn. A book that can make a reader feel that way is the mark of a phenomenal author.
Stephanie Allen says
The Mockingbirds and If I Lie are two of my favorite books EVER, and this is coming from someone who reads mostly fantasy. (But seriously, though READ THE MOCKINGBIRDS.) I’ve also loved both of the Sarah Ockler books I’ve read so far, and I’ll definitely be reading more from her.
Rowena says
Yes….to all of this. Ever single one of them.
veena singh says
oH! do check out Ryan Ringbloom. He “Fast” and “Flaw” series are just amazing! I wonder why her books are not famous. But I guess self-published authors have it tough! I have not read any of the authors in your list. Will check them out too. 🙂