Hi there gorgeous people! Welcome to this year’s The Best Book I Ever Read, I can’t believe that this is the third year.
This feature was inspired by Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” where chefs and restaurant owners explain the best they’ve ever ate from a certain type of food.Each week we will feature a group of bloggers and other book lovers that will give you their choice of the Best Book they’ve ever read in a certain category. I hope you get a lot of recommendations and that you comment with your own recommendations 🙂
Today’s category is Sci-Fi!
Liza
I think I started reading sci-fi about three years ago or so and thus far these are some of my favorites. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, I found the mix of Titanic and Pride & Prejudice endearing. Red Rising (and Golden Son too) by Pierce Brown is an incredible, epic story of love, and the power of the mind to do what’s right for others before what’s right for yourself.
Bee
While I could easily put Illuminae in this spot, because WHOA THAT BOOK, I really feel the need to throw the spotlight on Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Also, someone else picked Illuminae already. No, but really. RPO deserves to be picked for this category because it’s one of my all time favorite books and it’s just so fantastic. Yes, I loved Ernest Cline’s other book Armada immensely as well, but RPO still has my heart the most. Especially because I NEVER thought I’d love it. This is not a book that screams BEE, at all. But I adore it. I adore the characters, I am hugely impressed by all the pop culture references the author worked into this amazing story and managed to never once make it feel boring to me. It was so interesting on so many levels and I urge all of you to give it a shot because it’s SO, SO worth it, especially if you’re a nerd and love video games.
Alyssa @ Eater of Books
Alienated/Invaded/Starflight by Melissa Landers
This was surprisingly difficult for me to choose, because I tend to read and enjoy a lot of YA sci-fi. I’ve been enjoying Landers’ books, and so her Alienated series and Starflight series would top my list of best sci-fi!
Melanie @ Rabid Reads and Hot Listens
The Martian by Andy Weir
No question about it. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I was pretty much forced to read this book by another blogger friend and I’m so glad she got me to listen to it. This is not a book that I would’ve picked up on my own. Mark Watney is a great character. You just can’t help but root for him. If you haven’t read (or better yet listened, because the narration is phenomenal), I highly recommend it. The movie isn’t bad either.
Marianne @Boricuan Bookworms
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
This uniquely written space opera novel is written in a peculiar way that really captures your attention. It was 600 or so pages but they felt like nothing because the story was absolutely amazing! Can’t wait for the sequel! 🙂
Eva @ All Books Considered
Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins
I got lost in the world, in the descriptions, in the language. If you’ve ever lived in the Southwestern U.S., ever visited, ever cared a single shred about it — you must read this book.
Do you read sci-fi? Why or Why not? What are your favorites? Have you read these?

- {Liza Reviews} Re-reads Her Favorites - July 13, 2018
- {On a Personal Note} Liza’s Updates - July 9, 2018
- {Liza’s News and a Goodbye of Sorts} - April 30, 2018
Twitter: Crazyfor_YA
Science fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I completely agree with all of these choices! I am so glad to see Ready Player One on this list too. I think it is really underrated for how amazing it is. I did not think that I would like it, especially since I am not much of a gamer and my 80’s pop culture knowledge is limited, but I really enjoyed it. Obviously, I adored Illuminae and it deserves its spot on this list. I have not read These Broken Stars or Red Rising, but I am working on it!
OMG YES TO ALL OF THESE. I am a huge sci-fi fan and these are definitely some of my favorites as well. These Broken Stars, Starflight and Illuminae are absolutely amazing. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous choices! <3
Twitter: Liza
Thank you so much Zoe!
Yay, thanks again for including me! Lots of new ones on this list for me to pick up!!
Twitter: Alyssa Susanna
I am super happy to say that I have read most of these, and really enjoyed them! I need to read The Martian though. =)
Thank you for featuring me, Liza!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Twitter: Liza
Thank you Alyssa for always being such a good sport 🙂 I haven’t read The Martian, but I really enjoy the movie.
I really would love to dive into Red Rising and the series! I use to read only sci-fi and fantasy before getting into YA and lately I’ve been craving those epic reads. Great Picks!! : )
Twitter: Liza
I’m reading the last book of the Red Rising trilogy now and that’s the perfect way to describe the experience: Epic.
Twitter: mlsimmons
I really want to listen to Ready One Player and Red Rising (and series). I plan to get to those sometime very soon. I’m not sure about Illuminae, for some reason I have something in my mind that I read a review that made me not want to tackle this book, but I can’t remember what it was off the top of my head. I do keep seeing it come up, so I might have to try it.
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
RPO has a great narrator for the audio! 😀
Twitter: Liza
I listen to Red Rising and loved it!
I am ashamed to say I haven’t read the Martian but I did see the movie. I would have to say my favorite sci-fi author is the late Monica Hughes. Her sci-fi was probably for YA but wonderfully made. You could try her Keeper of the Isis Lights (it was written in the 1960s) or her Ring Rise Ring Set among others. I would also recommend Will Hubbell and his Cretaceous Sea and later Sea of Time as time travel romances. They have genetic engineering, time travel, dinosaurs and romances.
Twitter: Liza
I saw the movie too and it was awesome! I’ll need to check on Monica Hughes Nathan, thanks!
You really should. She wrote many short stories mainly sci-fi but there was also one contemporary YA one I really loved (but I can’t remember the title; I read it years ago). She deals with climate change, space colonies, genetic engineering, racialism and more. You won’t be disappointed, even if many of them were written some time ago.
Twitter: The Infinite Limits of Love
I’m not too big on sci-fi to be honest, but I loved Illuminae, Starflight and These Broken Stars. They are all great series! 🙂
Twitter: Liza
It seems like you have read the best 🙂
I’M SO ASHAMED I HAVEN’T READ ANY OF THESE. I did read Alive by Scott Sigler which was pretty good, if you’re interested 😉
Twitter: Liza
Thanks for the recommendation and there’s nothing to be ashamed off!
I LOVED RPO and The Martian. I don’t read a lot of Sci-Fi but those two were amazing (and great on audio!) I still need to pick up Illuminae.
Twitter: Liza
I have a copy but haven’t read it either 🙁