Top Ten Contemps You Must Read

Tuesday, January 17, 2012






Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.
Top Ten Books I'd Recommend for Someone Who Doesn't Read Contemporary:

1. Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar - The name says it all. This book is so raw, so emotional and so powerful that I cried for at least three chapters straight. There's a beauty in the stark honesty of this one.

2. Between by Jessica Warman - I don't care if there was a bit of predictability to this one. It's so beautifully written, and there is power behind the words. I loved it in its entirety.

3. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - This one, though triggering, is amazing. I wouldn't recommend it to those necessarily recovering from an eating disorder because I saw a lot of tips I probably should forget, but it's incredibly powerful.

4. Losing Faith by Denise Jaden - It grapples with issues I haven't really explored before in YA fiction, and the reality of it is beautiful...and dangerous. It's complex and phenomenal.

5. Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles - I've said it time and time again that this book is incredible. The story of Maggie and Caleb leaps from the pages with raw emotion and complexity. I really wish there wasn't a sequel because it didn't live up.

6. The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin - Written as a letter from a brother to his younger sister, this one was heart-wrenching from start to finish, and though I wasn't sure how I felt about it right away, I continue to re-read it to this day.

7. Stay by Deb Caletti - The author certainly knows how to paint her characters in a light that is so real that you feel you know them. I loved this book, and though I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, I have a very worn out copy on my shelf now.

8. Dark Song by Gail Giles - I'll be honest - this one isn't for the faint of heart. It's brutal, and it's a story of addictive personalities, rebellion, lies and abuse (both emotional and physical). Part of me loved it, and part of me felt physically ill. That's the beauty of it.

9. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler - I put this one off for so long because I thought the title sounded slutty, but it turned out to be a beautiful story of overcoming loss and tragedy. It was a bit blunt, but it was real, and it was rich.

10. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers - I was on the fence about this one for a long time. It's a fast read, but it's intense. It's definitely nothing like I've ever experienced before, but the story of bullying is relevant, and it's powerful.

20 comments:

  1. I have Some Girls Are and Between on my tbr list. I've been interested in reading Wintergirls.

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  2. I'd add Jellicoe Road to that. If for no other reason than the beautiful writing. Also Sky is Everywhere. And Stephanie Perkins' books. I still need to read Raw Blue.
    Wintergirls is definitely a must. I think it's good for people to read who have had eating disorders, because it's comforting to know other people share your mindset...but triggers galore! As we've discussed before.

    BTW...are you planning to go to BEA?

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  3. I haven't read a single one of those :/

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  4. Great list! I totally agree with Wintergirls and Twenty Boy Summer! Loved those books! :)

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  5. I don't read a lot of contemporary novels, but this all sound very good!

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  6. Wow, I haven't read any of those!

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  7. Ooh I haven't read any of these yet so thanks for the recommendations!

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  8. Just added all of them to my "To Read" list (except Wintergirls, Some Girls Are, and Twenty Boy Summer, which I've already read--looking forward! And I hate the title of Twenty Boy Summer; it did a good book a serious disservice. Not that I mind slutty, but it presented both the plot and tone of the book as things they really weren't.

    Love love love Courtney Summers--Cracked Up to Be is one of my favorite YA books. Her MCs are just so different from everyone else's, it's incredible. Simone Elkeles's Perfect Chemistry is another fun one.

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  9. One of my reading goals this year is to expand my reading experience into new genres and such and Contemp is at the top of that list. I'm gonna have to bookmark this so I can get all of these on my reading list!

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  10. Great list! And great description of each book. I added these books to my list. Thanks!!!

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  11. Wintergirls is one of the most powerful books I've ever, ever read. Gosh, that book is intense.

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  12. Cool list. I'm ashamed to admit I don't think I've read any of these.

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  13. As always, awesome list. I haven't read all the books but the majority I have and I totally agree! I can't believe I forgot Laure Halse Anderson!

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  14. I love so many of these! Twenty Boy Summer and Some Girls Are especially. I couldn't finish Wintergirls, actually--it was just too heart-wrenching. I loved it, but I couldn't read it.

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  15. You always have such great selections. I love Twenty Boy Summer and Wintergirls...there are some others on your list I still need to read!

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  16. I had Raw Blue on my list as well. It's an amazing book

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  17. Wintergirls was really, really good. The rest I haven't read, but they're on my to-read list!

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  18. I haven't read all the books you've listed, but I've read most of them & some of those books simply are completely and utterly amazing. AWESOME list.

    And it makes me SO happy that you did Contemporary! :)

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  19. Loved this list!!! There are some awesome book on there!

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  20. I totally agree with Raw Blue! I have Leaving Paradise on my shelf waiting for me to pick it up but I'm happy to see it here, I'll have to try to read it soon.

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