It has been spring for about a week now, and honestly, the weather is going crazy! There are rainy days, followed immediately by supper sunny ones, and a thunderstom is predicted to come too. Ugh! But back to the point, I can’t wait for longer days, flowers to bloom, and of course, spring break! During the school year, I hardly ever have time to read so I am hoping to make some progress on my 70 book goal over the break.
Often during spring and summer time, I find myself gravitating towards lighter, more fun contemporary books. I figured that now would be the best time to share some of my favorite YA contemporaries! These are all on the shorter side which means that you can make a dent in your TBR.
All of the descriptions and covers are from Goodreads.
Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Seventeen-year-old Megan Harper is about due for her next sweeping romance. It's inevitable—each of her relationships starts with the perfect guy and ends with him falling in love . . . with someone else. But instead of feeling sorry for herself, Megan focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theater, and fulfilling her dream college's acting requirement in the smallest role possible.
So when she’s cast as Juliet (yes, that Juliet) in her high school’s production, it’s a complete nightmare. Megan’s not an actress, and she’s used to being upstaged—both in and out of the theater. In fact, with her mom off in Texas and her dad remarried and on to baby #2 with his new wife, Megan worries that, just like her exes, her family is moving on without her.
Then she meets Owen Okita, an aspiring playwright inspired by Rosaline from Shakespeare's R+J. A character who, like Megan, knows a thing or two about short-lived relationships. Megan agrees to help Owen with his play in exchange for help catching the eye of a sexy stagehand/potential new boyfriend. Yet Megan finds herself growing closer to Owen, and wonders if he could be the Romeo she never expected.
In their fresh and funny debut, Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka break down the high school drama to find there's always room for familial love, romantic love, and—most importantly—self-love.
This was such a wonderfully written book! I loved the settings of the books and Brooke and Heath's dynamic throughout the book. There were only a couple of things in this book that bothered me. The reason that Jason committed the murder was so unsatisfactory, especially considering all that I had learned about his character. The book's description makes it seem as if there is this big plot twist, but for me, it wasn't. Yes, it was a surprise, but I don't know if it was life-changing. *You can read my full review here!*
Even If I Fall by Abigail Johnson
When Brooke encounters Calvin's younger brother, Heath, everything changes. Her brother, alive but gone; his brother, dead but everywhere. Soon, they're meeting in secret, despite their families' inevitable disapproval. In the place of his anger and her guilt, something frighteningly tender begins to develop, drawing them ever closer together
But when a new secret comes out about the murder, Brooke has to choose whose pain she's willing to live with--her family's or Heath's. Because she can't heal one without hurting the other.
This was such a wonderfully written book! I loved the settings of the books and Brooke and Heath's dynamic throughout the book. There were only a couple of things in this book that bothered me. The reason that Jason committed the murder was so unsatisfactory, especially considering all that I had learned about his character. The book's description makes it seem as if there is this big plot twist, but for me, it wasn't. Yes, it was a surprise, but I don't know if it was life-changing. *You can read my full review here!*
Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
The day of the last party of the summer, Claudia overhears a conversation she wasn't supposed to. Now on the wrong side of one of the meanest girls in school, Claudia doesn't know what to expect when the two are paired up to write a paper—let alone when they're both forced to try out for the school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
But mandatory participation has its upsides—namely, an unexpected friendship, a boy band obsession, and a guy with the best dimpled smile Claudia's ever seen. As Claudia's world starts to expand, she finds that maybe there are some things worth sticking her neck out for.
Foolish Hearts was the first book that pushed me into reading contemporaries. I got it in a book box and immediately picked it up. My favorite thing about it was that there were some absolutely laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout. It also was a lot less cringe-inducing than I was expecting. Upon reading the synopsis, I had thought I was able to predict the whole entire thing. Thankfully, this was not the case; of course, there were completely predictable points, but others were pleasantly surprising.
Perfect Harmony by Emily Albright
Pippa Wyndham is a top cellist―she’d never settle for anything less. Determined to get into the nation’s most prestigious music college, nothing’s going to stand in her way . . . Until her senior year of high school when a new guy from a fancy New York conservatory transfers to her school.
Declan Brogan’s cocky, and he knows how amazing he is at the cello. He has every intention of knocking Pippa out of first chair and showing her who really belongs on top. Forced together when assigned a duet, their personal competition and mutual dislike transform into a teasing friendship.
Torn between her childhood crush and the boy who threatens her dreams, Pippa finds herself at risk of losing her best friend, her future, and the boy who makes her heart melt. Struggling to make things right, Pippa discovers that sometimes the thing you want the most doesn’t always end up being the thing you need.
Like many other books on this list, many things are completely predictable, yet still so utterly cute. With this book, however, my favorite part is how detailed it was. This book includes lots of moments where the MCs are playing their cello and there are parts where the cello playing felt very authentic. Albright included lots of cello terminology and habits, including tying hair back so it didn't get caught and waxing the bow.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.
Need I even add a description/ my commentary? It is probably my most favorite contemporary book on this list! I love the characters, the storyline, and the movie (which probably shouldn't count as a reason, but TATBILB is cast really well). I'm in love with the story as I am a hopeless romantic! The other books in the series are also good, but I didn't like them as much.