Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Would Recommend
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week we get to customize the top ten a bit. The prompt is “Ten books I would recommend to someone who doesn’t read X.” If you guessed I’d be filling in X with Contemporary YOU WIN! :)
Ten Books I Would Recommend to Someone Who Doesn’t Read Contemporary
1. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
I’m sure there are many people who do not read contemporary because they don’t find the topics in contemporary fun to read about. Catching Jordan is unique in that it is totally focused on sports; a great gateway for someone interested in that topic!
2. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Not only is this one of my very favorite contemporaries, it also has little scrapbook pages and music playlists to give a reader new to contemporary a different kind of experience.
3. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway
Robin Benway shows the world how to write from different points of view and still make each character their own person. This one technically isn’t totally contemporary, but the base of it is, and could be considered a cross-over :)
4. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
Many readers immediately think of a love story when they think of contemporary, and that’s not always true. Courtney Summers is a master of emotion with this story about mean girls and what bullies can do.
5. Crank and Glass by Ellen Hopkins
Not only am I recommending a contemporary, but a contemporary in verse! Ellen Hopkins shows another side of contemporary with these stories based on her daughter’s life. And her ability to write in verse is phenomenal.
6. Kiss It by Erin Downing
More of a “traditional” contemporary, but Downing’s story shines and her writing keeps you interested from the first line.
7. The Truth About Forever or Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
It would be a crime to not include a Sarah Dessen on this list. She is classic contemporary, and I’ve never been let down by any of her books.
8. How Not to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
Sara Zarr is another contemporary author who I find to be extraordinary. This is her latest release and may be my favorite of hers so far.
9. Sean Griswold’s Head by Lindsey Leavitt
Think you may like a good old contemporary story but aren’t sure? Lindsey Leavitt has all the makings of a contemporary in a fun story about a girl who writes about the back of a boy’s head as part of her therapy.
10. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
An exceptional story about a violinist about to perform in the biggest competition of her life – against a boy she may be falling in love with.
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I definitely don’t read enough Contemporary YA. Thanks for the recommendations!
Candice recently posted..Hello caller. I’m listening.
Twitter: booksandwine
I’ve read 7/10 of these books and agree with your assessment of all 7! So, I suppose that means I have to hurry up and read: Catching Jordan, How To Save A Life, and Kiss It!
YAY CONTEMPS! Also, it really does not shock me that you chose this topic :-D
April Books & Wine recently posted..Top 10 Audiobooks For Virgin Ears
I think you would love Kiss It, it’s more PG13 than a lot of contemps and I think you would find the situations hilarious
Such a good list — still have to try Sean Griswold!
Anna recently posted..Top Young Adult Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books
Twitter: ForLoveandBooks
I have How to Save a Life and Catching Jordan both high on my TBR list — both sitting on my night-table actually. The rest? I need to add to my wishlist!
Check out my Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday!
Jac @ For Love And Books recently posted..Top Ten / Teaser Tuesday
Catching Jordan has a companion novel coming out at the end of this year too! So once you read that you get to look forward to it :)
I’ve been meaning to read Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour forEVER. And it was such a treat to see Robin Benway on this list. I really like her :)
Katie recently posted..Barnes and Noble is My Library
I still have to read Audrey, Wait! But I’m excited to :)
Twitter: MelanieFoust
I agree with a lot of these. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour was one of my favorite books last year.
I’ve got a copy of Kiss It on my shelf. It sounds fun.
Melanie recently posted..Teaser Tuesday: Jessica’s Guide to Ruling The Dark Side
Yay another Amy & Roger fan! I seriously love it.
I am a huge contemporary fan and I agree that there is no way anyone could leave Sarah Dessen off a list like this. And you listed my absolute favorite book by her, The Truth About Forever. There are a few on this list I have never heard of. I am going to have to look into them.
Joni recently posted..Book Trailer: Tempest by Julie Cross
I think The Truth About Forever is my favorite too! But I read Just Listen more recently and I wasn’t sure if that made my new favorite, so I decided to list both :p
Twitter: trippingbooks
I love so many of these books! Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour is one of my favorites, too. (Bonus points for having a main character with my name!!)And I was so pleasantly surprised by how great Sean Griswold’s Head was! Virtuosity is one of the books that I NEED to get my hands on soon. Will hit up my library ASAP for that one! Huzzah for contemporaries!
Amy @ Tripping Over Books recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday (10)
Yayayay! So happy you get to read Virtuosity for the first time, it’s so great.
I never used to read very many contemporary novels but I love them now! Now you just added a few more for me to check out. Thanks!
Amanda @ Reading For a Living recently posted..Top Ten Tuesdays: Books I’d Recommend To Someone Who Doesn’t Read Vampire Books.
Love this list! I really want to read Catching Jordan and Virtuosity. I have This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen on my tbr pile, but everyone’s favourite always seems to be The Truth About Forever so I’ll have to check that one out too!
Thanks for stopping by! :)
Hollie recently posted..Top Ten Books I’d Recommend to People Who Don’t Read YA.
I haven’t read all the books you mentioned but I did have Amy & Roger’s, Sarah Dessen, Sara Zarr, and Virtuosity on my list!
Kailia recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday {25}
Yes yes!! Amy & Roger <3 <3
All of these titles are new to me (so many books…). I’m just amazed at how many good writers are out there! The Some Girls Are one sounds really interesting.
Zo recently posted..top ten books I’d recommend to someone someone who doesn’t read. . .
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour has been on my TBR for a while now. It looks so cute. I tried listening to Crank on audio once, and I couldn’t get into it. Maybe I need to actually read it.
Laura C. recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Recommendations
I’m currently reading sci-fi and the classics, and don’t give much thought on YA books. I’m gonna give them a try someday though and let’s see! :)
One of my goals this year is to read more YA, and your list is giving me some promising titles to add to my TBR pile. I just brought home “How to Save a Life” and am really looking forward to it. I also read my first Sarah Dessen a few weeks ago – amazing!
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Twitter: LStrongin
While I haven’t read all of these yet, I definitely agree with the ones I have! Some Girls Are and How Not To Save a Life were great reads.
The one I just started tonight is shaping up to be a pretty good contemporary, too–The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard.
Smiles!
Lori
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Some great recommendations here. I’ve heard fabulous things about Virtuosity.
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