Indie YA (NOT fantasy/paranormal)

Amanda Brice's Codename: Dancer is indie YA (and contemporary) with no paranormal or fantasy elements. It's a fun read but also has a mystery in it and a bit of romance. http://www.amazon.com/Codename-Dancer-Spevak-Mystery-ebook/dp/B004WPOK7S

You might also check out Gwen Haye's So Over You. http://www.amazon.com/So-Over-You-ebook/dp/B003JBI0QS/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Also Gwen Haye's Butterface. http://www.amazon.com/Butterface-ebook/dp/B003IPCF5C/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

I'm a big fan of Laurie Halse Anderson ("Wintergirls" and "Speak") as well as Han Nolan ("Born Blue".)  If you can stand a little fantasy, I'd also recommend "The Book Thief".

Since I see you are also an animal lover, try Brute Heart if you don't mind a little sex and some adult language.

Cross My Heart is both indie and contemporary. I stayed up until 2 AM reading it. I highly recommend it!

http://www.amazon.com/Cross-My-Heart-ebook/dp/B004S7MLWQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311100282&sr=8-1

Awesome! Thanks everyone!

I've read both Cross My Heart and So Over You and second the recommendations for both of them. 

I recently read and loved Tammara Webber's Between the Lines. I will warn you that it's written in first person present tense from alternating points of view--something I generally HATE--but I was really glad I stuck it out. It didn't take long for me to get used to it, and it was a really fun story. I tried it on a whim and couldn't put it down.

Grr...I didn't read the subject well enough. You wanted *indie* recommendations! Sorry about that!

Try "Ain't no Sunshine" by Leslie DuBois http://www.amazon.com/Aint-No-Sunshine-ebook/dp/B00408AYJU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1311107949&sr=1-1

Besides, it's free

As a YA Indie Author myself I have to say that I LOVE when readers are specifically looking for Indie stuff.  We definetly appreciate your support

When I want a quick light read I always enjoy Melanie Marks  and she has a lot of great novella length options for 0.99.  Always sweet and funny but still with a dramatic twist that will make you think.

Well, I've only read one YA, but actually really enjoyed it. It was Forever Mine by Elizabeth Reyes. I'm definitely not the YA age, but I could still connect with the story and it brought back some memories of high school.

I second So Over You by Gwen Hayes, really good book!

Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine was one of the best short stories I have read this year.

April Brookshire has an interesting YA book about an assassin called Young Love Murder that was pretty good as well.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire is awesome, although some consider it YA I actually don't think it is. I think it is more realistic fiction. Her Providence series is pretty good too but paranormal.

Jason Letts has quite a few good YA books, his new dystopian Suspense and his Powerless series.

Check out MLPMom's sig line (about two posts above this one) -she has a blog and I've noticed quite a few YA reviews there. 

I was paying attention when you said you're not really looking for fantasy or paranormal, but if you liked Hollowland, you might want to consider Amanda Hocking's other books, despite their genre.  When I find an author I like, I tend to enjoy all of their books, regardless of where they happen to be shelved.

MariaESchneider said:

Check out MLPMom's sig line (about two posts above this one) -she has a blog and I've noticed quite a few YA reviews there.

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Awww thanks Maria!

In the Authors' Cafe, there is currently a thread about MG/YA authors. All those participating publish YA indie fiction. You could check it out here:

http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,87977.0.html