Last week, I posted about my favorite one-off YA novels. But in reality, my favorite stories are usually the ones I get to spend more time in. These series have worlds I dreamt about, characters I fell for, and stories I spent months thinking about.

I even wrote journal entries about them (back when I used to document my entire life in word docs) and will insert embarrassing pieces of the ones I wrote from when I finished each series. Get pumped!

The Hunger Games

May the odds be ever in your favor.

The Hunger Games is a weird one. I barely knew it existed until the first movie was set to come out. I was so focused on Twilight at the time that I needed the push to get into a new obsession. Ironically, while seeing Breaking Dawn Part 1, I fell in love with The Hunger Games trailer and bought the books right away after friends urged me to. (I’ve always been the type that has to read the book before the movie, so it made sense.)

I like to say that Twilight started everything for me in terms of my writing and love of movies, but The Hunger Games doubled down on that. (Especially when those films were actually good… phenomenal in my opinion, actually.)

Let’s just say all three of the novels I’d go on to write had some connection to the series. I can’t thank Suzanne Collins enough for building the world of Panem and giving me such an amazing fandom to be crazy about for so many years… and counting.

Journal Entry: “I wish it wasn’t over. I wish I had just finished Catching Fire and was beginning Mockingjay. I shall still reread those last few lines until they don’t make me emotional. (Which would actually be upsetting if they didn’t make me emotional anymore…. so strike that! I’ll limit myself to like once a week.)” — Jan 9th, 2012 (I had the final quote of the series on my whiteboard for years…)

Favorite Quote: “What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses.” — Mockingjay (can you tell I’m #TeamPeeta?)

Delirium

After reading The Hunger Games, one of my favorite pastimes became sifting through the YA section to find new worlds to dive into.

And since I had read Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (s/o to my previous blog post), I decided her series was the best choice.

While not as action-packed as a Hunger Games or Divergent, this series’ strength lies within its crazy unique concept. Love is considered a disease in the world of Delirium, and at 18, everyone gets a procedure to cure it. Right before our main character is set to get it, guess what! She falls in love.

When it comes to quotes, there are like a million quotes I am obsessed with in this series. I can’t get over how great some of them are. All the props in the world to Lauren Oliver.

Journal Entry: “This trilogy really changed me. The true focus is that people should have the freedom to choose: who to love, when to love, and how to love. So I cry and I cry, rereading the last paragraph over and over, not truly believing that it’s over…” — April 16, 2013 (God, so melodramatic)

Favorite Quote: “Take down the walls.” — Requiem

Divergent

This series feels so similar to The Hunger Games in many ways. That’s probably why I (and so many others) adore it. I wish the movies were on par with THG though. (Or anywhere close, lol.)

I fell in love with the idea of being Dauntless, as you can see by my journal entry below. I also fell for the fantastic protagonist, Tris, as, unlike Katniss, she is much more active in her resistance against the government. Also… that ending is much crazier.

I think it gave me the confidence to write the ending of my novel the way I did to be honest.

Journal Entry: “Out of the three major trilogies I’ve read and have fallen in love with, this is the one that has made me yearn to be in it the absolute most. I want to be Dauntless. I want to be friends with all the characters who are left, and I love how they all come from different factions, different lives. I may be in my bed right now, but I’m currently on top of Hancock, about to zip-line, about to fly like a bird.” — Dec. 19, 2013 (wow, that is so eloquent… I’m proud of myself) 

Favorite Quote: “Life damages us, every one. We can’t escape that damage. But now, I am also learning this: We can be mended. We mend each other.” — Allegiant 

Honorable Mentions

Matched

Like Delirium, this one features an apocalyptic-like world where love is only acceptable if it’s with the person you “Match” with in a Divergent-like ceremony.

Favorite Quote: “In a story, you can turn to the front and begin again and everyone lives once more.” — Reached

The Maze Runner

This iconic one I didn’t think I would like at first–as I’m a sucker for a female protagonist–but I fell in love with Thomas and the story itself right away. Personally, I have a soft spot for the original book above the rest of the series, mostly because The Glade just feels like home.

Favorite Quote: “Just follow me and run like your life depends on it. Because it does.” — The Maze Runner

Gone

Gone is a series I started when I was in middle school and finally finished in college. It’s definitely aimed at younger readers, but you watch the characters grow for so long that they become family. The characters were my favorite part I think, as Sam and Caine are just the best.

Favorite Quote: “Superpowers don’t always make you a superhero.” — Hunger

Thanks for reading. 🙂