The Official 2014 Clear Eyes, Full Shelves List of Awesome

Each year, we here at Clear Eyes, Full Shelves put together a list of books that stood out to us over the last twelve months as particularly full of awesome.

You can find previous installments linked in our Reading Lists section right over here. 

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The vivid free verse of this middle grade novel is unforgettable. 

Guest Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols 

No one writes smart, relevant YA romance like Jennifer Echols. I loved the complicated, disagreeable main character she created in Tia. 

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Sex Criminals Vol. 1 by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky

This volume is hilarious, filthy and very, very smart. 

Amazon | Goodreads

Fake ID by Lamar Giles

Giles' YA thriller had one of the most memorable voices of the year--I can't wait to read his next book. 

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

#scandal by Sarah Ockler 

We thought this was a smart feminist take on high school culture and a world that makes it awfully tough to be a girl. 

Amazon | Goodreads

It Felt Like a Kiss by Sarra Manning

This is effectively a companion novel the my beloved Unsticky, as the main character works for Vaughn from Unsticky. I kind of adored it. 

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Here's Looking at You by Mhairi McFarlane

Mhairi was a favorite new-to-me author in 2014 and I read her other two books as soon as I could get my hands on them. Her work has great wit and lots of warmth.

Amazon | Goodreads

Worthy Brown's Daughter by Phillip Margolin

Sandra loved this historical mystery set in in Oregon. 

Amazon | Goodreads

The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing by C. K. Kelly Martin

This quiet little book is full of emotionally resonant moments that linger.

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

This is a fascinating look at marriage, secrets and community. 

Amazon | Goodreads

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Ng's novel about an interracial family in 1970s Ohio was on a ton of best-of lists this year and the praise is so very deserving. 

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Indecent Proposal by Molly O'Keefe

Molly's books will always appear on this list, I'm pretty sure. Between the sheets is a fake relationship/marriage of convenience story and it goes in wholly unexpected directions, in the best of ways. 

Amazon | Goodreads

Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker

Sandra loved this unique southern gothic tale, which was her favorite debut of the year.

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

While a lot of readers felt like this installment of Perkins beloved series wasn't as magical as the two earlier novels, it ended up being my favorite. It's infused with a passion for art and pairs a couple of introverts, both of which made my heart happy.

Amazon | Goodreads

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Funny, smart and beautifully-designed, this is my favorite celebrity memoir since Mindy Kaling's Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me. 

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

The Bridge from Me to You by Lisa Schroeder

Small towns, big dreams--this little book filled the FNL-sized hole in my heart this summer. 

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

I double dog dare you not to cry while reading this book. 

Podcast Interview | Amazon | Goodreads

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

The unexpected spinoff of Maggie's Wolves of Mercy Falls series ended up being my favorite in the series--it's almost a contemporary, too, except for the werewolves.

Amazon | Goodreads

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Boys #3)

It's ridiculous how good this series is. Ridiculous.

Amazon | Goodreads

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

This dystopian-esque piece of literary fiction celebrates the arts and is a fascinating piece of writing, weaving together disparate storylines. 

Amazon | Goodreads

Blightborn (Heartland #2) by Chuck Wendig

This crazytown series is such fun and has some of the most creative swears in this business. Get these books on audio--trust me. 

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Ms. Marvel Vol. 1 by G. Willow Wilson

This series about a Pakistani-American teenager with superpowers fighting crime in Jersey City is my new favorite thing. 

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

This was on everyone's list and it's on ours too--it's a beautiful memoir that can't be missed. 

Amazon | Goodreads

The Infinite Sea (The Fifth Wave #2) | Clear Eyes, Full Shelves

The Infinite Sea (The 5th Wave #2) by Rick Yancey

The second installment in this creepy alien invasion series wasn't as fast-paced as the first, but I loved the slow feeling of doom looming large in this novel.

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

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