Sunday 14 May 2017

My Favourite Contemporary Reads


Hi guys! Today I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite contemporary reads! Did you guys enjoy any of these? Let me know <3

This Adventure Ends 



Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.


I read this one last year, and utterly adored it. The characters, the dialogue, the romance; it was all just so perfect. I really need to read Emma Mill's other book, First and Then, becuase I'm sure it will make this list too.








It Ends with UsSOMETIMES THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU IS THE ONE WHO HURTS YOU THE MOST

Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She's come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up - she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily's life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He's also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily, but Ryle's complete aversion to relationships is disturbing.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan - her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

This one is so dark and really terrfying at times, so I really would only recommend it for older readers. But the story is so important, and it gripped me from beginning to end.




 

Dangerous Girls
 

Spring break. Aruba. Swimming, sunshine, and drinks. Lots of drinks.
It’s supposed to be the best time of Anna’s life. Perfect.
But then Anna’s best friend is found brutally murdered.
And as the local police begin to investigate the gruesome crime, suspicion and evidence unfathomably point to one person—Anna.
Now trapped in a country not her own, Anna must fight for her freedom and prove her innocence. But as she awaits the judge’s decision, it becomes clear to Anna that everyone around her thinks she is not only guilty, but dangerous.
Very dangerous.

And when the truth finally comes out, it’s more shocking than anyone could have ever imagined…


 
This one is a dark contemporary thriller and I loved all the twists and turns. One of my favourite dark reads.








The Upside of UnrequitedSeventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love—she’s lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny and flirtatious and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.

There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker Reid. He’s an awkward Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?
sister?



This was my most recent read and OH MY GOODNESS IT WAS SO CUTE. If you like cute love interests and great families and cookie dough (who doesn't love cookie dough?), you'll love this book.






My Life Next Door
"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

 
Possibly my favourite contempary book of all time. The family aspect in this one is so beautiful!







Things We Know by HeartWhen Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake.



This one is heart-wrenching and incredibly beautiful. The characters feel so real and I just love them all.


To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)



Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her.

They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her, these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

 


Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn, #1) I preordered this one way back in 2017 and I was so not disappointed! The family dynamic is beautiful, the story swoonworthy, and the characters believable. I really truely feel like Lara Jean is a close friend. I also adored the sequel, but I've yet to read the final book in the trilogy.

P.S. Another favourite has to be Burn for Burn, also by Jenny Han! This trilogy is so underated.








Second Chance Summer From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak.

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.


Morgan Matson is such an amazing contemporary writer. This one is so beautiful, as are her other releases: Since You've Been Gone and Amy and Rodger's Epic Detour. 



 


Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1) Can Anna find love in the City of Light?

Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's less than thrilled when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year.

But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new people, including the handsome Étienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken —and Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's waiting for?



 I only included the synopsis and cover for the first book in this series, but I am absolutely obessed with every single one. I reread this series every year and somehow it always takes me away to a different city, with characters I love. If you haven't read these, remedy that ASAP!






Rebel Belle (Rebel Belle, #1) 

  
Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.


 This one is just such a fun, cute read. It's silly and funny and just a great time.  

 

 



Fangirl 


 A coming-of-age tale of fanfiction, family and first love

CATH IS A SIMON SNOW FAN. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan... But for Cath, being a fan is her life--and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.

Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath that she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...and she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?


I can honestly say, I have never related more to a character than Cath. Rainbow Rowell depicted social anxiety so well for me and I adored the story.  



 



The Devil You Know 
Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.

A road trip fling turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.



Another fab contemporary thiller. It's so short, but I was on the edge of my seat every minute, wondering how it was going to end.








Speak The first ten lies they tell you in high school.

"Speak up for yourself--we want to know what you have to say."

From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication.

In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.


Last but certainly not least: Speak, by Laurie Halse Underson. This book is so so important and I learnt so much. It's heartbreaking and incredible. There's a reason why this one is a YA classic.


 Have you guys read any of these ones? Any you're looking forward to reading? Let me know in the comments <3

Love,

 

40 comments:

  1. That cover on the first one, loveeee it!

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    1. I knooowwwww... it might be my favourite cover of all time.

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  2. I really really need to read The Upside of Unrequited, I've heard so many amazing things and cannot wait to get my hands on it!

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    1. IT'S SO GOOD. I haven't had such an instant favourite in ages. Let me know what you think.

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  3. I read a bunch of these, and I agree, they are fabulous reads. Second Chance Summer was a tough one. I cried so much, my eyes were all crusty and swollen, but it was a beautiful book.
    Sam @ WLABB

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    1. I know! I read it a couple of years ago and I very nearly cried (that's saying something, I never ever cry at books). It's such a touching book.

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  4. I absolutely loved Things We Know By Heart---I feel like that's one that got mostly overlooked, so I'm happy to see it on your list!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. It's such an underated book - so heartwarming and sweet. I'm so glad you liked it too!

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  5. Can you believe that I have only read one of these books? I thought My Life Next Door was okay. I do have Rebel Belle, Fangirl, and Colleen Hoover on my TBR list though.

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    1. Let me know what you think of all the others when you read them! I think you'll like Fangirl particularly!

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  6. AHA OMG THESE ARE SUCH GREAT PICKS! A lot of the ones you've mentioned are some of my favs too such as this adventure ends and fangirl which are such cuties! Lovely list! <3

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    1. AWWW, thanks so much Anisha! *blushes* Yay, someone else who loves This Adventure Ends, I feel like it's so underappreciated. <3

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  7. I've heard good things about Dangerous Girls and I definitely want to read it. I like a good YA thriller. And I loved Fangirl- probably one of my favorite YA books. Cath and Levi were awesome and I wanted a spinoff book about Reagan. :)

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    1. Me too! Reagan is such an interesting character. Let's hope Rainbow writes one one day!

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  8. I don't read much contemporary - but I adored Anna and the French Kiss. I've also been meaning to read something from Colleen Hover for ages! I may just be checking out a few other books on your list too *Sigh* My poor TBR pile is ever growing!

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    1. Meeee toooo. So many books, so little time :)

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  9. I don't read a lot of contemporaries but I have read Anna and the French Kiss (and I didn't like it at all!) Fangirl was AMAZING! And I have seen To All the Boys I Loved Before mentioned a lot. I need to add that to my TBR :)

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    1. Oh no, I'm sad you didn' like Anna! But that's the amazing thing about the book community, meeting lovely people with different opinions. I hope you love TATBILB! :)

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  10. I am a contemporary junkie and I honestly can never get enough of them! You have so many of my favourites listed here and I am nodding my head all over the place. Dangerous Girls is one that has been on my TBR for a while and I can't wait to read it. Thanks for sharing these. <3

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    1. Awww, thank you so much! I'd love to hear some of your contempary recomendations, we seem to have really similar reading tastes <3

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  11. I've read a fair few of these too and OMG LOVE THEM SO MUCH. Dangerous Girls pretty much smacked me in the face but I loooved it. And Cath from Fangirl has got to be the most relatable character ever, right?!? <3 I also loved To All The Boys and eeep I'm so excited to read the sequels. I just ordered the final book. 😍

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    1. Me too! I'm rereading them this week so that I can read the final book. I hope you love it! <3

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  12. Ah, I've only read Speak and Fangirl but I ADORED both of them! It's been quite a long time since I read Speak (I think I read it in middle school), but I remember crying a lot??? WHO KNOWS IT WAS MIDDLE SCHOOL. Cath from fangirl is kind of my spirit animal, like, I relate so hard core.

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    1. ME TOOO! Rainbow Rowell writes anxiety so so well. I said thank you to her when I met her at a signing last year, because it felt amazing to see my anxiety portrayed so well.

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  13. Great List Megan! Unfortunately I had to put aside To all the boys [reading slump] but I hope to get back to it soon. I didn't like It Ends with us as much as I though I would BUT I JUST GOT THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUIRED from the library whohooooo

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  14. So many brilliant books on the one list! I think my favourite was Dangerous Girls as well, it was absolutely thrilling and I still haven't found a book that's kept me on the edge of my seat the way Dangerous Girls has. I absolutely adored Anna and The French Kiss. The Paris atmosphere was so, so lovely and one of those books that I bring out every Valentines Day for a reread as well. Wonderful list Megan, going to check out a few of the other titles <3 <3

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    1. Awww, thanks so much Kelly. YES - Dangerous Girls is so good, right? That ending KILLED ME ^-^. And Anna and the French Kiss - one of the cutest books EVER. <3

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  15. Oooo, such good recommendations! Contemporary is definitely not my thing but I've had success with quite a few. My Life Next Door, the To All the Boys series, This Adventure Ends - all of those worked for me. I also LOVE Kasie West's contemporary novels - all of her books are really good. Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols and Speechless by Hannah Harrington were awesome. Ahhh, maybe I don't hate contemporary as much as I think I do. :D Great post!

    Have a lovely weekend, Megan. =)

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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    1. Aww, thanks so much for your lovely comment, Alyssa! I really need to try a Jennifer Echols novel. Which one would you recommend? <3

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  16. I'm not a big contemporary reader, but I see some favorites here !I Have Rebel Belles but haven't read yet, I need to!

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    1. I bet you'll love it! Let me know your thoughts! <3

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  17. Some great ones - I totally agree with Anna and the French Kiss, Speak, Dangerous Girls, and Fangirl. I have so many contemporary favorites - Simon Vs. the Homo-Sapiens Agenda, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Ballads of Suburbia, and many more. :)

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    1. I NEED to read Simon, I'm sure I'll love it :)

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  18. I'm a big contemporary reader and I LOVE THIS LIST!! So many of my forever favorites up there. I adore Fangirl, My Life Next Door, all the Steph Perkins books, Burn for Burn & the Lara Jean books.

    Speak is SO a YA Classic. I always say, if you're just starting out in YA Contemporary, that one is a MUST!!

    And Dangerous Girls is my fave EVER YA Mystery/Thriller.

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    1. AHH Michelle! We love the same books! I'll need to get all my future recommendations from you. <3
      YES YES YES to all of those titles!

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  19. I'm not really into contemporary books (but I've been trying to be!!) so I'm always on the hunt for good contemporaries. Thanks for the recs! =D (Side note: I CAN'T WAIT to get my hands on UPSIDE bc Becky Albertalli is my FAVORITE!)

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    1. It's so good! After reading it, all I wanted to do was curl up my bed, eat cookie dough and reading it again <3

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  20. 'Anna' is, without question one of my all-time favorites. LOVED the humor and characters. (Now I just need to read the rest of the series.) I've only started Jenny's (had to stop because of review books), but it seems like it'd 110% be a "me book," so I cannot wait to return to that world.

    Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland, Megan. :)

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    1. AWWW, Thanks Rissi! I adore Anna so much too, and I hope you love Jenny Han's books <3

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