Tag: Jenny Han

My Favorite Summer Contemporary Books

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summercs.jpgContemporary books set during the summer time are among my favorite types of books. There’s just something about them that makes me want to run to the beach or spend days by the pool (which I end up doing 99.9% of the time)! Listed below are some of my favorite contemporaries set during my favorite season.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson– Frankly, any of Morgan Matson’s novels are great summer contemporaries, but I do love Second Chance Summer the most (even though it caused me to cry A LOT). After they receive devastating news, Taylor and her family decide to spend one last summer together at their lake house in the Poconos Mountains.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares– The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants will always have a special place in my heart because it was one of the very first YA book series that I read. All of the books in the series take place during the summer, with the pants traveling between Carmen, Tibby, Lena, and Bridget throughout their various locations. If you’re also looking for some summery films, I definitely recommend checking out this series’ film adaptions as well.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick– My Life Next Door isn’t just about a summer romance, as it really incorporates family (which I often adore in most if not all young-adult books that I read). Samantha Reed wonders what it’s like to be a member of the Garrett family, her loud and messy neighbors, until she starts dating their son, Jase. Jase and the Garretts embrace Samantha into their family, and Samantha finds herself not only in love with Jase, but the whole family.

The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy by Jenny Han– I marathoned Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty series last summer and I’m still so happy that I did. While there’s some different vibes from her To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series, Jenny Han again proves that she’s one of the queens of young-adult contemporary, writing about Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad’s summers at their beach house. This series has had some really pretty cover changes, but I recommend getting the 3-book bindup from Target (bargain+super summery cover).

The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord– One of my recent favorite summer contemporaries, The Names They Gave Us follows Lucy’s summer working at a summer for troubled kids and teens. Lucy is struggling herself, between her mom’s cancer coming back, her recent break-up with her longtime boyfriend, and trying to connect with her faith as her mom’s health gets worse. The Names They Gave Us is a great summer contemporary for its setting and its emotion-filled plot. I have a full review here.

What are some of your favorite summer contemporaries? Share in the comments!

The Book Cake Tag

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If there are two things that I love in this world, it’s books and cake. I was inspired by the release of Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han to do the book cake tag this week! Lara Jean is the ultimate baker, and in my opinion, she should have her own Youtube channel dedicated to baking . I’d be the first subscriber for sure! The Book Cake Tag was created by Booktuber suddenlylorna, I love her creativity with this tag!

Flour – A book with a slow start but really picked up later

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson. I actually DNF’ed this book when I first read it because of its slow start. ’m so happy that I gave it a second chance because it’s a great summer contemporary.

Butter – A book with a rich plot

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. I’ll Give You the Sun is just so beautifully written, following the perspectives of twins Noah and Jude. I love how the plot interwove between Noah and Jude,  I was completely memorized by this book.

Eggs- A book that you thought was going to bad, but was actually quite enjoyable

The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian. I was a bit skeptical of reading The Last Boy and Girl in the World because of the mixed reviews I saw on Goodreads. I ended really enjoying this story, and it made me consider what I would do if my town went underwater!

Sugar- A sugary, sweet book

In honor of my inspiration for the tag, P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han. I loved this book so a bit more than To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before because it put an even bigger emphasis on the Song sisters and Lara’s life. Lara also bakes some cakes that I wish came along with the book.

Icing – A book that has everything you enjoy

Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Cinder has it all– action, humor (hello, Iko!), romance, politics, fairytale retelling, and more. I definitely recommended picking up the entire The Lunar Chronicles series if you haven’t already, as these elements are incorporated throughout the entire series.

Sprinkles- A book series that will pick you up when you’re feeling down

The Anna and the French Kiss series by Stephanie Perkins. Contemporaries are my go-to reads when I’m feeling sad, and between these books’ gorgeous covers and cute romances, Stephanie Perkin’s series is sure to please.

Cherry on Top- Your favorite book this year

Vicious by V.E. Schwab. I cannot stop thinking about this book about two college roommates turned arch nemesis (I have a full review posted where I have all the fangirl feels), and V.E. Schwab recently announced that a sequel is coming out in 2018! Prepare the rereading!!!

What would your perfect book cake be made of? Share in the comments below!

 

 

 

My Most Anticipated Spring Releases

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From standalones to series finales, there are so many YA books coming out this spring. I’m anticipating all the fangirl feels this season!

Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz– A YA retelling, Melissa de la Cruz’s Alex and Eliza follows the fateful night Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler meet at the Schuylers’ ball. Being the massive Hamilton fan that I am,  I’m excited for this book to come out on April 11,yet I’m a bit skeptical. I’m not sure if we really need a YA retelling of how the couple met, similar to how we “needed” a young adult version of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J.Maas– Since A Court of Mist and Fury reaffirmed my belief that Sarah J. Maas is the queen of fantasy, I cannot wait to get my hands on ACOWAR (Sarah said that this abbreviation is quite fitting to the story). I don’t know what to expect in the final book of this Beauty and the Beast retelling turned retelling of Hades and Persephone turned I don’t know what else yet. ACOWAR comes out May 2.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han– Oh, the series finale that will cause all the tears. I’m so happy Jenny Han decided to add another book to her To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. This book perfectly captures love and family-relationships, and there’s so much baking! With her father’s wedding, high school graduation, and college all on the horizon, Lara Jean has some big decisions to make about her future and of course her relationship with Peter. Always and Forever, Lara Jean better colem with Kleenex on its release day,May 2.

Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab– Our Dark Duet is the final book in Victoria Schwab’s Monsters of Verity duology. This Savage Song, the first book in the duology, was my the first Schwab book that I’ve ever read and I’m absolutely obsessed. The duology takes place in Verity, a city divided by monsters. We follow Kate, the daughter of a man who the monsters are even afraid of, and August, who just wants to prove that he’s more than the monster everyone thinks he is. While I’m sad that the series is ending on June 13th, I can’t wait for Augustus and Kate’s story to continue in Our Dark Duet.

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen– Sarah Dessen, the queen of YA contemporary, comes out with her thirteenth novel on June 6th. Once and for All follows Louisa, the daughter of a wedding planner. Having been to more weddings than most people will in their lifetimes, Louisa is quite over the whole happily ever-after thing. Ambrose is determined to get Louisa out of her funk, especially when he begins to develop feelings for her. Mixed with humor, love, and weddings, Once and for All sounds like the perfect summer contemporary.

What books are you most anticipating this spring? Comment below!