The Top Ten Bad Boys in 2000s YA
Who do I think were the Top Ten Bad Boys in 2000s YA? I am here with my list of Y2K YA Bad boys!
Who are the Top Ten Bad Boys in 2000s YA?
Just to be clear, I don’t mean bad guys. A bad guy is a villain, a sociopath, the kind of person you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.
And the early 2000s YA was full of bad boys doing shady stuff, like watching women sleep, acting controlling, and generally being alpha-holes.
I’m looking for the bad boy who a lovable rogue, a charming scoundrel, the kind of guy your mom warned you would break your heart. If you like a Book Boyfriend who is on the bad boy side of things, this list is for you!
Because I review YA, here are my TOP TEN YA BAD BOYS…
10. Kaiden Rowe from Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins.
This guy is in a band. He has a British accent. But don’t underestimate his bad boy credentials — he’s also a fallen angel, son of the Duke of Lust.
9. Cassel Sharpe from the Curseworkers series by Holly Black. Yeah, Cassel is a bookie. He has those scary powers. Comes from a crime family. But he just wants to do the right thing.
8. Will Herondale from the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. Yeah, he seems rude and arrogant, but you know that’s a defense mechanism…
7. Travis Stephenson from Something Like Normal by Trish Doller. Travis, just home from Afghanistan, has been through a lot. Still, even before he shipped out, he did some jerk wad stuff. Now that he’s back, more of the same. But deep down, he really is a good guy who is there for his mom, his friends, his country and his girl.
6. Kaleb Ballard from Hourglass by Myra McIntyre. Lily slaps him the first time they meet. But he’s had a hard time, what with his parents in a coma and stuff. He drinks too much, but he’s definitely redeemable.
5. Tobias “Four” Eaton from the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. Yeah, Tris slaps him and he deserves it. But he’s just trying to pretend he doesn’t like her so she’ll be safe.
4. Kenji Kishimoto of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. What can I say? I can’t resist a guy with a sense of humor. You call him arrogant, I call him sarcastic. Edgy. He better be in Unravel Me!
3. Jonah Griggs from Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. Tough cadet. Tough competitor. Soft guy underneath.
2. Wesley Rush from The DUFF by Kody Keplinger. Wesley is a player, a smartass, and thinks he’s all that. Where’s the charm, you ask? Just read the book.
1. Adrian Ivashkov from the Vampire Academy series and the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead. Poor Adrian. Ditched by Rose, tormented by “spirit,” he drinks and carouses to hide his pain. His good looks and quick wit make him the most charming and irresistible kind of bad boy.
Who are YOUR Top 10 Bad Boys in 2000s YA? Tell me in comments!
Keiro from Incarceron. Actually I'm not really into bad boys, I think they're too annoying and immature 🙂
thanks for the giveaway!
That's fine. You can vote on the nice guys next week!
I've never read Incarceron!
I do agree with a couple of yours…like Will, Weasley and Adrian. You just got the right reasons! I would add Daemon from the Lux series…cause who can resist a guy like that? Hot, selfconfident, a bit arrongant and witty but ready to protect his family.
*smacks head* Yep, I forgot him…
bones from the night huntress serie ^^,, ( not really a boy still^^)
thank you a lot
I haven't read that series!!
And yeah, I think a bad boy doesn't have to be under 21 either!
Definitely Adrian! He's my absolutely favorite bad boy <3
He is the best!
Love bad boys. Four is definietly on my list and I'll add Caleb Becker from Leaving Paradise and Perry from Under the Never Sky.
Agree with both of those!!
Excellent list! Depending on my mood it's between Kaleb and Four, right now a little more Kaleb cause I kind of wanted to smack Four in Insurgent. I really like Cassel too, I love that he is a bookie!
I have a huge soft spot for Cassel. I still haven't read Black Heart!!
Fab list and definitely some great picks but I'm going to throw in an oldie but a goody…or rather baddy that ironically enough by series end turns out to be fairly good. Anywho, if your not TOO confused…I'm adding Julian from THE FORBIDDEN GAME trilogy by LJ Smith
^_^ (thanks for the chance!)
Have read Vampire Diaries but never that series. I'll have to check it out!
My favorite fictional bad boy is "Adrian Ivashkov"! 😀
Behind that bad boy facade,he had a good heart.Really,who can resist him??
Thanks for the international giveaway!!
I gotta go with Will he's soo tormented and snarky but underneath it all he's such a sweety
Dying to read Clockwork Prince. It's on my nightstand…
Love those bad boys!!!! I like the nice guys, too, but the bad ones are just so much fun to love! Here's my top ten:
10. Jason from Meant to Be (due out in November)
9. Bones from the Night Huntress books
8. Alex from LA Weatherly's Angel series
7. Cassel Sharpe from Curseworkers
6. Noah Hutchins from Mara Dyer
5. Tod Hudson from Soul Screamers
4. Jack from Blood Red Road
3. Will Herondale from TID
2. Raffe from Angelfall (he's a new addition :P)
1. Adrian Ivashkov from VA/Bloodlines
Wow, that was a hard list to narrow down. And I'm constantly adding new finds, too…not that I mind. 🙂
Wow — thanks for making a whole list.
10, 9, 8, 2 — not familiar with those guys… yet.
Hmm so hard to choose. I'm, like, going through my mind all my favorite series and which guys were in them. Haha. Ummm Patch, from the Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick
I haven't read that book in what seems like forever, but I'm sure he qualifies!
I have to go with Tod from the Soul Screamers.
I'm behind in that series, but definitely!
I don't usually like the bad boys but I do like Wesley in The Duff…I also like reformed bad boy Wes from The Truth About Forever. He has a shady past but is now a very good guy.
Wesley is SO bad!! Ooh, other Wes. Next week, we should do the nice guys…
YES! Will and Aiden!!! My favourites. 🙂 Oh, and BONES from the Night Huntress series. He's pretty badass, too.
Clearly I need to read that series!
Probably Jace from TMI! I loved some of your picks though, Adrian and Four specially 🙂
Great picks! Kaidian from Sweet Evil is definitely a bad boy 😉
He is!!!
I am so blanking on "bad boys" right now. Hmmm Patch from Hush, Hush…Logan from Mythos Academy (he's kind of a jerk at first, if I remember correctly).
Four is definitely a good bad boy LOL
Logan is a great idea. Forgot about him…
Hmmmm…I love so many…
1. Jace TMI
2.Patch-Hush Hush
2.Tod-Soul Screamers
I will stop there..I dont want to overload you LOL
All good choices!
I want to read the Curseworkers series so bad! I must get my hands on those books. I didn't know it was a guy POV until a few months ago.
I adore Wesley and Kaleb. You consider Four a bad boy?? I don't know the other boys 🙁
If he needed slapping, yes, I do 🙂
Clearly, I live in a box… because I STILL haven't read any of these books!! I know…crazy right?!
But I do love a YA bad boy and if I had to choose going on your descriptions, I'd go with Adrian Ivashkov. There's something about him! 😉
Good choice!!!
Probably Jace, but I don't really consider him as a 'bad boy' anymore.. Or maybe Daemon from the Lux series? (:
Sorry but I can't no consider Travis from Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, because really is super hot, even if I can contemplate Kaleb from Hourglass!
Why Four is a bad boy?
I have not read Beautiful Disaster….
I do think Four is a bad boy, at least in book one. But it seems that there's some debate over him…
Ohhh, mine would be Noah Cleybourne from the Buchunan Series by Julie Garwood. I love him!
Haven't read that series, but I'll have to check it out!
At the moment, it's Daemon! But I am reading (Finally) Sweet Evil so that might change as far as favorites go!
Daemon is a pretty good choice!
Well, no hard choice here: 100% Adrian Ivashkov!!! Can't wait to read him in Bloodlines and The Golden Lily!
Yes, you've got to read those. He's in fine Adrian form 🙂
I need to read most of these still! But I do agree with Adrian from Vampire Academy. I'm still early in the series, so I was just introduced to him in Frostbite. He's definitely an attractive bad boy!
He's fantastic!
I definitely have to agree with Adrian (and Jonah and Will too)! I liked Adrian in Vampire Academy, but in Bloodlines I totally fell in love. He gets my bad boy vote.
He seems to be the favorite!
Who doesn't love a bad boy, right? There are some fine ones in YA but these are my top 5 picks:
1.Jace from the Mortal instruments
2.Will from The Infernal Devices
3. Adrian from Vampire Academy
4. Patch from Hush, Hush
5. Noah from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Good choices!
Adrian Ivashkov!!! Yes!!! I really like him!!! It's just sad he and Rose were, let's say not meant to be (according to the story)… I was really sad when Rose's happy ending was with someone else… I love Adrian!!! *Sigh* Thank you for this!!!
I know. Poor Adrian….
Definitely Adrian. Always Adrian 🙂
Thron of Glass and Something Strange and Deadly both book so amazinng!
They are!!!
Definitely Will Herondale!!! Gah! I'm super excited right now just thinking of Will. Need to dig my TBR pile for Clockwork Prince
I need to read that too! Before CW Princess comes out!
My favorite bad boys is currently Adam Vader from the Endless Summer series by Jennifer Echols. He has ADD, is a smart Alec, a dare devil, and has been madly in love with Lori for years. He is her best friend, loyal and would do anything for her. However, he's always getting the both of them into trouble!
Jennifer Echols does write some good bad boys. Grayson from Such a Rush was a runner-up on my list…
Travis from Beautiful Disaster !
Have not read that one!
I have yet to read the books you listed but am stoked to get my hands on them! My fav. bad boy as of this moment is Patch from the Hush Hush series. I loved how at first I couldn't put my finger on wheter he was out to harm Nora or protect her, was he the good guy or the bad guy… Love his character!!!
That's true!
Kaiden and Wes are definitely my favourites! 🙂 There so sexy haha
Kaiden is quite a character!!
If were just talking YA. Then gotta go with Adrian and I'll throw Patch in there as well. He had some pretty bad boy moments.
Non YA: Bones and Barrons!
I've got to check out this Bones guy!
Adrian definitely tops my bad boy list. Though Daemon takes a close second. And you know what? Damon Salvatore takes third. Book not show. He's so BAD in those first couple of VD books. You gotta love him 😉
I read those VD books so long ago….
I love a bad boy so this is a hard decision but off the top of my head i can only think of adult fiction so that puts me at Eric from the Sookie Series and Vishous from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Of course, looking through the list, I have to agree Adrian is a great choice! Oh yeah and I am sure it's more clouded cause I watch the show but Damon from Vampire Diaries. LOL
Adult fiction choices are fine. I just did YA guys because that's what my blog focuses on…
I'm definitely picking Travis.Something Like Normal was awesome and I loved him 🙂
He seemed like a real guy to me and I loved that!
Not entirely sure that he's my favourite "bad boy," but he's one that I can think of from a book that I've read recently: MICHAEL GRAVES from ALONE IN THE CLASSROOM by Elizabeth Hay! Great giveaway! Thanks!! 😀
have not read that book, but I'll look it up!
Oh girl, you know that I am ALL about a bad boy, LOVE them:) Love that you included Cassel,Kaleb, Wesley and Four. I guess Travis is a reformed bad boy, but he seems like just a sweetheart in Something Like Normal:)
Who would I add to the list? Alex Fuentes from Perfect Chemistry, Cole St. Cair from The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series, and Marcus Flutie from the Jessica Darling series. I'm sure here are more but those are the ones I think of first! And two of the three are in a band, because band bad boys are THE BEST. Oh, how about Adam from Where She Went? Add him to the list too! Love this topic!!
What? A sweetheart? You forget that scene in the BBQ restaurant. Harper should have dumped a drink over his head.
But good additions. Ales, yes. Adam is a good guy turned bad boy turned good guy, so that's really cool 🙂
Vishous from JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood. He is super intelligent, sarcastic, and deadly! Love him! THanks!
Got to check those books out 🙂
I agree with you on Will Herondale. I would also say Decebel from The Grey Wolves Series in Out of the Dark by Quinn Loftis.And for the adult books, I would definitely add the Black Dagger Brotherhood guys on there too. But that is over 18. Thanks for such a great giveaway!
Characters from adult books are fine! I'm getting some great ideas for new stuff to read!
Will Herondale !!!!!!!!
Dying to see what bad boy stuff he gets up to in book two!
I really loved Darius from Soulbound. Nothing like a surly dude with a secret wielding a sword. In the adult book land, Jericho Barrons from the Fever Series is my man, but he is pretty naughty.
Thanks for Freebie Friday!
Don't know either of those!!! Jericho, huh? Great name.
Four, Daemon from Lux series…definitely will be checking out some of these others though.
Yes, everyone has come up with some great ideas!
I would have to say Patch from the Hush, Hush series. He is a sexy hot fallen angel with a bad boy exterior.
– Beckie
He is a popular choice!
I would have to go with Kaidan from Sweet Evil or Patch from Hush, Hush. Thanks for the giveaway!
I can see that you like the fallen angels 🙂
I think my favorite bad boys are Will from The Infernal Devices, Kaleb from Hourglass and Noah from Pushing the Limits. Also glad you mentioned Travis from Something Like Normal, I love the book!
Wasn't Something Like Normal amazing? I'm doing a review series and including that!
I love Cage York from Because of Low and while it lasts. He is beyond yummy, I like my bad boys with a little bit of an ooey gooey nice boy center. haha
Of course — the good heart is key. At least for me 🙂
I absolutely LOVE Four from Divergent! I cannot wait to read Insurgent and find out what happens!!
Thanks for the giveaway!!
Hope you get to read it soon!
I think I prefer Tobias "Four" Eaton.
He's a popular choice!
I agree with all your choices but I have to say Four and Adrian are my favorites 🙂
Why, thanks 🙂
Adrian from VA of course!! And Eric from Sookie Stackhouse.. <3 him!
I miss our Summer school 🙁
My favorite is Will from the Infernal Devices. Thanks for the chance to win!
I'm ready to read more about him!
Ohh that's hard. So many! Probably Jace from City of Bones…though, he does get better as the series goes on. 😉
Nice giveaway!
I'm behind in that series!
Ohhh that's a hard one! Probably Wll from Infernal Devices or Adrian from VA
I think those are two of the most popular choices!
Adrian Ivashkov is number one favorite- no doubt.
Cheers!
Love his sense of humor!
From your list, I definitely like "Four"/Tobias. 😀 He's awesome. But one that isn't on your list is Lord Greco from the River of Time Series by Lisa T. Bergren. Absolutely love him. 😀
I haven't read that series – yet!
Of course Adrian is number 1 right? 😀
For me, a nice bad boy is Saxon from the Brenna Blixen novels by my favorite indie author Liz Reinhardt. You should check out that series.
I will check those out!
I love me a bad boy!! Cassel, Will, and Four I totally agree with. I also really love Jace from The Mortal Instruments and Noah from Pushing the Limits.
Noah — he never seemed that bad to me. He was so devoted to his brothers…
I seem to agree with the majority– Adrian!
Yea — Adrian!
Well, there's Jace from TMI, and of course, Will, and OMG Logan from the Mythos Academy series!
Can't believe I forgot Logan!
Travis Maddox from Beautiful Disaster, definitely!
Haven't read that but a few others have mentioned him.
Ah! Tiger Lily! I am jumping up and down in excitement right now! I have so many favorite bad boys. Like you, one of my favorite ever is Kaiden Rowe. The Son of Lust can't not make the list! I also love Daemon from the Lux series and all the boys from TID and TMI series! Cassandra Clare knows how to write them! <3 I thought Kenji was insanely awesome and wish he played a bigger part in Shatter Me, so I'm hoping he does in the next installment in the series and Four is indisputable. He deserves a place up there! I have to say Noah from Pushing The Limits makes my list as well! <3 As does Lucas from Easy by Tamara Webber!
Another Kenji fan 🙂
Adrian is not a bad boy! A little drinking and smoking to control spirit is hardly a bad boy. My favorite real bad boys would be guys like Warner from Shatter Me & Unravel Me. Kenji is indeed in Unravel Me and really funny but it is bad boy Warner that shows his lovable rogue side. Travis from Beautiful Disaster. I just read Easy and people call Lucas a bad boy but I wouldn't. Archer from Hex Hall but he is not a favorite. I hate him along with Will but I feel like they are more of a bad boy than Adrian. Daemon! He is a new bad boy I kind of like. Wesley Rush! Can't forget him! And Kaleb. Patch I guess from Hush Hush would be a bad boy. Four is awesome and loved that slap!
What? Adrian's bad-boy-ness is his whole appeal. The fact that you think he's misunderstood proves that he qualifies 🙂
Warner is a little too evil for me, but I haven't read Unravel Me, so maybe he shows a different side…
Wesley is almost my favorite. Just edged out by Adrian…
Yeah Warner really changes in Unravel Me. Super sweet and swoon worthy. I'm not into many bad boys but I am now into him after Unravel Me.
Honestly there is a fight over Adrian from VA and Kenji from Shatter Me. They are both just mind blowingly intriguing and both have awesome personalities in my view.
I can see that you also like the guys with the sense of humor 🙂
I definitely agree with Will from Mortal Instruments, but I'm also beginning to like Tod from the Soul Screamers series. And, I liked Loki in the Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking. Let's see, can I think of anyone else? No, that's all for now.
I haven't read the Trylle series!
Honestly, I love all your picks! But my favorite Bad Boy of all time (that I've read about so far…) is Aiden from the Half-Blood series by Jennifer Armentrout. I love him because although he may be a bad boy, he definitely knows how to sweep you off your feet!
I would also add Noah from Pushing the Limits and I still have a soft spot for Jacob Black…..
And I haven't read the Half-Blood either. And I've always thought of Jacob Black as more of a nice guy rather than a bad boy, but I can always be convinced…
My favorite is still Dimitri from Blood Promise…..I still can't believe that happened. rawr
He was pretty bad for those couple of books!
Griggs is my new favorite ever since reading Jellicoe Road!
Yay — another Griggs fan!
I love several of yours (Will, Tobias, Kaleb…). I also love Christian (although I still like Tuck the best, but I understand) from Unearthly/Hallowed, Valek from Poison Study, and Kai from For Darkness Shows the Stars. I'm sure there are others too. My favorite right now is probably Kai because I just bought and read that recently. He's from the wrong caste for Elliot and then he came back changed and aloof and definitely not someone she should love.
Christian definitely grew on me a lot in Hallowed. To me, that is a well-done love triangle! Oooh, Valek. Love him, and yeah, he is sort of a bad boy. Glad you loved FDSTS. Kai was kind of a jerk for a lot of the book!
Definitely Trent from the Hollows series by Kim Harrison! 🙂
Thanks,
Leanne
Have not read that series yet!
I definitely agree with Kaidan, Four, Kenji and Adrian being favorites of mine. But someone I need to add to the list is Warner from Shatter Me. I know, I know he's a total pyschopath, but I just think he's lonely and needs someone to love. And plus I heard he turns the charm up in Unravel Me. ^__^
You Warner fans really like your bad boys bad. I don't know if I'm on board with that, but I haven't read book two yet!
Daemon from the Lux series! And I do love me some Four!
Can't believ I forgot about Daemon…
Definitely Noah Shaw from Unbecoming of Mara Dyer!
Lots of Noah fans!
I mostly agree with your list, but my absolute number one is Daemon Black from Obsidian
Daemon has a lot of votes!
Daemon Black ,of course and Four 😀
and Noah Shaw… i can't stop choosing…
haha
You don't have to choose!!
Travis Maddox from Beautiful Disaster is a very passionate bad boy…
A few votes for Travis too. Haven't read that one.
Damon Salvatore! From The Vampire Diaries. Mhm Damon……
Also, Patch from Hush Hush.
I like Kenji okay, but I can't lie… i love Warner. BUUUUT… I'm glad that you listed my lover as number 1.
I don't know…. Warner????
My favorite bad boy is definitely Travis Stephenson. He sure is one flawed guy.
Glad he has some other fans around here!!
I love Daemon Black from The Lux series
I feel bad that I forgot him!
My favourite bad boy is Nick Ryves from The Demon's Lexicon series. He is the ultimate bad boy in my opinion. People may find him emotionless and a step away from a villain, but I think he's just misunderstood :P. Hehe. On the morality scale, I'd place him at "morally ambiguous" :P. Will Herondale is a close second though, I love him so much!
I read book on in Demon's Lexicon and really enjoyed it!
Thanks for the giveaway Jen! I definitly agree with Adrian being on this list! So does Dimitri! :)) I need my hands of Throne of Glass! 0_0
Dimitri went a little too bad for me, but I know that others agree with you! How's school going????
I felt like such a bad book reader because I was like who? who? who? until I got to 4, 5 & 6 because YES! YES PLEASE!!! For me "Four" is pretty peak on the list but hey this just means I have more 'book boyfriends' to look forward to!
Just in case, <3 Throne of Glass!
It's fine — I haven't heard of some other people's picks either. I only did YA and I tried to pick all different sub genres …
Love Kaidan, Will, and Adrian from your list! Yesterday I would've chosen Will, but this morning after reading the 1st chapter of Sweet Evil in Kaidan's POV, I'm choosing Kaidan!
Kaidan is a very unique guy!
Such good books.. O__O
Kaiden, Kaiden, Kaiden *swoon* Wait- he is British?? *swoon x10* I just got Sweet Evil in the mail today. I can't wait to start reading it!
Will, Kaiden, Tobias, Jonah, Adrian… I definitely agree with half of that list. I would probably add Daemon to it, by the sounds of his personality.
Here's my list in no particular order:
1.) *Jace from the Mortal Instruments
2.) *Patch from Hush, Hush
3.) *Daemon from the Lux Series
4.) Will from The Internal Devices
5.) Tobias from Divergent
6.) *Kaidan from Sweet Evil
7.) Jonah from Jellicoe Road
8.) *Adrian from the Vampire Academy
9.) Iggy from Maximum Ride
10.) *Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries
The *'d ones are my top favorites. XD
LOL I thought he was British. Maybe I just made that up in my head!!
Great list!
Damon Salvatore from Vampire Diaries
Damon has a bunch of fans!!
Ooh…I do love fictional bad boys!!
My top three are Adrian Ivashkov, Kaidan Rowe, and Daemon Black. I could sit here all day choosing my faves but I should stop:D
It was really fun to pick!
Will Herondale of The Infernal Devices and Daemon Black of The Lux Series! No one beats a bad boy with a sense humor. Those two, infuriating at times but will leave you laughing and swooning and wanting for more! Also Ash from The Iron Fey Series 🙂
Yay for sense of humor!
Adrian Ivashkov from vampire acdemt + bloodlines and Kaiden Rowe from sweet evil would be my top bad boys too.
Very popular choices!
academy sorry also forget Daemon from the Lux series….. i don't know how i could.
🙂
There is a huge difference between bad boys & bad guys. I did laugh.
I have to go with Bones from The NIGHT HUNTRESS series by Jeaniene Frost.
Everyone loves Bones. I need to check this guy out.
LOVE your definition of bad boy and bad guy! They should put that in the dictionary! 🙂
And I honestly think Kaidan would be on top of my list- hello, British drummer bad boy! 😉 And then Adrian, of course, because who doesn't love him? And yeah, Jace, Cassel, Cole (Everneath), Hale (billionaire thief from Heist Society!) and Will, too of course… And my mind is now strangely blank, because i love a lot of good guys (boys?) too! 😉
Thanks for the epic giveaway! You know, I'm almost wishing that I won't win, because I don't think I'll be able to choose between TOG and SSAD! 😛
So you think he's British too? I thought so.
Cole — yeah, he's a little bad
Hale — I might put him on my nice guy list. I don't think of him as bad!
Oh, I do love me some bad boys. They're just adorable with their temper, snappy remarks, and scowls ~ 😛
And ugh, I feel so behind. Almost all of them are unfamiliar to me D: I'll probably save this list for later, I need to catch up.
Now, lemme see.. currently, I'm loving Will Herondale ♥
And I do remember loving Damon Salvatore before I stopped reading The Vampire Diaries ~