Paola says:

The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld is pretty good.
It’s a YA series similar to The Hunger Games in the way that it depicts the way the world would be was it governed differently.

Megan says:

I know that a lot of people have probably recommended it, but you really should read the Percy Jackson books. There is a lot of Greek mythology similarities (Percy is pretty much taking the role of every major Greek hero) but it is done great. As someone who has read The Odyssey, I didn’t find it too boring or unoriginal. In fact, I couldn’t put it down.

P.S. I am kinda biased, I pulled out my signed copy of the book in the middle of the movie because I was so depressed that it was being messed up so bad.

Gaby Sosa says:

Yes, Paper Towns, I was going to recommend this book too. It’s a story about teens but it’s a smart story, unlike many others out there. It isn’t only fun but it also makes you think about a lot of things in your life which you propably never wonder about. It’s a great story that’ll make you smile, laugh, cry, think. It’s just great.

PS: I can’t believe you haven’t seen Lord of the Rings! Even if you don’t like it, as a staff member of two major fantasy book series you should know, it’s not as if you’re reading the books, those movies are so well made that there’s no need but you definetely should at least watch the movies.

Jamie says:

I agree as well The Mortal Instruments series. I couldn’t put it down. There are also two books by Kristin Cashore called Graceling and Fire that are really good. They don’t have to be read in order. The only thing connecting them are that they take place in the same world (just a few years apart) and are related by one character.

Katti says:

Book recommendation: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It’s an amazing story, set in Nazi Germany and narrated by Death (cool or what?!). It’s very emotional and beautifully written.

I don’t recommend Percy Jackson, I found it quite boring and unoriginal.

Pamela says:

You’ve piqued my interest with this Keurig coffee maker- I’ll definitely be checking it out next time I’m in Costco or Target!
As for book recommendations? You shouldn’t have asked- sorry in advance for spamming your blog with a rather long comment!

“Dispatches From the Edge” by Anderson Cooper
Absolutely AMAZING autobiography- gives great insight not only on his entire life but also on what exactly was going through his head during some of the more pivotal stories he’s covered as a reporter.- I was enthralled the entire time I was reading it and couldn’t put it down.

“High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby
Probably one of my favorite books of all time. If passages like: “What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?” intrigue you, DEFINITELY pick this one up.

“Looking For Alaska” by John Green
You could probably pick up ANYTHING by John Green and end up loving it but I specifically recommend “Looking For Alaska” because it’s my favorite- deals with love, loss and growing up/experiencing life in general.

Madison says:

HI Andrew!
Since to you like Harry Potter, and Twilight, I have one of the best series in the world for you. It’s called Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. The first book is called The Alchemys, the second is the Magician, and the third is The Sorceress. The fourth comes out May. They rank just as high as Harry Potter. I hope you enjoy them!
-Madison

Melissa says:

I definitely second the Percy Jackson series, and absolutely would also recommend the Mortal Instruments. They were very near Harry Potter ranking, in my opinion, I couldn’t put them down, even the second time. The Percy Jackson series is written for younger audiences, but I still found it entertaining. I enjoy Greek mythology, and Rick Riordan put a great spin on it.
I would also recommend the author L. J. Smith. She wrote the Vampire Diaries series, the one far better than the CW tv show based on it. My favourite series of hers is the Night World series, which also has a little bit of everything, though mostly vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters (oh my!). The were originally published in the 90′s and have recently been republished as the final book is coming out this year. She also wrote a series called the Secret Circle, about witches and, more recently, Dark Visions, which is my second favourite of her books.
Sorry, my rambling is done now.