Friendly reminder to keep discussions positive and respect each other's opinion.

The most popular book of an author puts them on the map and gives them opportunities. But sometimes, popularity doesn't equate quality, and their magnum opus is actually something that might've flown under the radar. Here, in my opinion, are some examples:

1. Adam Silvera

Most Popular Book - They Both Die at the End

Actual Best Work - History Is All You Left Me

This is in no way to say that TBDATE is bad. Beyond being my gateway to MLM YA, it's a profound look at death and how it could become a wake-up call to live your best days before they're gone. It has a beautiful message, and I loved how it tied all the seemingly unrelated narratives. It embraces both the beauty and cruelty of the end of life. Also, Mateo was such a great character, and Im sure a lot of shy and soft spoken teens felt represented, like me.

However, I think Adam Silvera should've gotten his big break with History Is All You Left Me. I can not STRESS how much pain, anguish, and literal trauma this book caused me. The premise is simple: A boy mourns his ex-boyfriend's death. But the way it describes grief is so deep and shattering that you will definitely feel like you're the one who lost the love of your life, too. This is one of the few novels that truly shows how messy grief, rage, privilege, love, longing, and trauma are altogether. The heroine isn't perfect, and honestly, someone I would avoid irl, but that's exactly why he was unforgettable. This doesn't deserve to be reduced to a YA book because its the rawest look on something so human. I will always remember that one Goodreads review of a 40 year old man who couldn’t stop thinking about the book. 

2. E. Lockhart

Most Popular Book: We Were Liars

Actual Best Work: Family of Liars

Granted they're from the same series but I needed a few examples and the ones I thought of aren't YA anymore. We Were Liars was very atmospheric, captivating, and mysterious. Although it fell flat in my numerous re-reads, the writing style really carried it. And that M. Night-style twist was pulled out of the rabbit's hat that it tilted between good and bad until now. Still, I understand why it was popular. There's not many books where the plot twist is literally in the MC's thoughts.

Family of Liars, on the other hand, is exactly what I expected going into We Were Liars blind. It's darker, twister, bloodier, more summer, and more intense. It balanced the gothic tone with the more contemporary characters. There's more lying and more family drama. I like how the twist here slowly unraveled rather than dumped like in the first book. >! The twist being that we were in the anti-hero's POV the entire time and Carrie was not a hero, and she wasn't really sure if she was killing her sister or Pfeff !< I'm honestly interested in seeing this adaptation even if I didn't watch the first season because I never really imagined Josh Dallas as the partiarch lol.

A YA author's most popular book VS their actual best work?