The Best Of: Books That Defined My Teens #5

Some of the books I’ve talked about in this series are probably a bit embarrassing to admit liking, but I was a teenager, so that’s fine. Well, I think it is anyway.

The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward

Firstly, yes I am aware that the photo is not of the first book in the series. However, it was the only one I had available so let’s pretend it is.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone talking about this series and honestly, I loved it. The Potion Diaries is about alchemy which is pretty cool anyway, but when Samantha encounters different ingredients throughout you get a little description of what potions it is used for and what it does. This element was definitely what made this series interesting for me.

Basically, the entire concept of this book was interesting. I’ve always really enjoyed stories about alchemy and potions and this series is a great YA pick for those.

It has its moments of intense drama and from what I can remember the characters are great. If you are looking for a fun series that is pretty quick to read then you should definitely think about checking out The Potion Diaries.

Goodreads synopsis: When the Princess of Nova accidentally poisons herself with a love potion meant for her crush, she falls crown-over-heels in love with her own reflection. Oops. A nationwide hunt is called to find the cure, with competitors travelling the world for the rarest ingredients, deep in magical forests and frozen tundras, facing death at every turn. Enter Samantha Kemi – an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Sam’s family were once the most respected alchemists in the kingdom, but they’ve fallen on hard times, and winning the hunt would save their reputation. But can Sam really compete with the dazzling powers of the Zoro Aster megapharma company? Just how close is Sam willing to get to Zain Aster, her dashing former classmate and enemy, in the meantime? And just to add to the pressure, this quest is ALL OVER social media. And the world news. No big deal, then.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

This was possibly one of the first book series that I really got into. I remember being absolutely obsessed with this book. Like so much that I’ve read it about three times. I was still quite young when I read this, I definitely was not a teen yet, more like a tween (that’s a thing right?).

The plotline of this was so interesting to me and it seems that even to this day I am still just as interested in the boarding school trope. I didn’t read the final instalment of this until years after the first few but wow was it a great storyline.

I know a lot of people really don’t like this series now, but I think it will always have a special place in my heart. Maybe I will also re-read this at some point to see if it actually is as good as I thought back then.

Yes, I have seen the movie, and yes it was awful. But let’s not dwell on that.

Synopsis: There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce—and goes out of his way to make that very clear—she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret… even if it kills her.