Book Haul

Happy Monday!

This past weekend, I bought a few books that have been on my radar for a while. So yes, my bookshelves are losing space at an alarming rate. At this point, I'm pretending that I don't need to invest in another bookcase - which is a blatant lie.

This past weekend, I also decided that I'm going to invest more of my time and my creativity into my blog and my Goodreads account because a) blogging is a passion of mine, b) blog work is something that I'd like to be able to incorporate into my career, and c) Goodreads is an amazing community that I'd like to grow into while applying that growth to my own blog, as well.

I also hope that you all like the aesthetic/layout changes that I made to my blog, over the weekend. The minimalistic aesthetic vibes wonderfully with my personal tastes. While the aesthetic is minimalistic, I wholeheartedly plan on continuing to give the content on this blog, depth and qualities that will generate thought provoking conversation.



Title: What Happened to Goodbye
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young Adult; Romance; Contemporary; Women's Fiction; Chick Lit
Goodreads Rating: 3.97/ 5 stars
Pages: 402 (Paperback)
Publisher: Speak
Published: April 9, 2013 (Original publication: 2011)

Summary: Following her parents' bitter divorce as she and her father move from town to town, seventeen-year-old Mclean reinvents herself at each school she attends until she is no longer sure she knows who she is or where she belongs.

Sarah Dessen is the author who made me fall in love with contemporary novels and romance novels. I'm a romantic, but a romantic who has zero tolerance for puppy love; toxic NA love; instantaneous love; and most YA love centric novels. But, Dessen isn't your typical YA author. She possesses a wonderful amount of depth and insight, that she isn't afraid to utilize. Dessen also doesn't sugarcoat anything. She's honest and authentic; particularly when it comes to love. Obviously, (I hope it's obvious, anyways) no one and no relationship is perfect. But our imperfections shouldn't keep us from experiencing the beauty and joy of love and being in love, and everything in between.

I'm ecstatic to be getting back into Dessen's work and to be revisiting her novels that were and are the highlights of my contemporary and romantic reading. I'm also incredibly disappointed that I most likely won't be able to meet Dessen on her 2017 summer book tour/promotion for her upcoming release, Once and for All . For any of you that may be interested, here is a link to the dates, times, and locations for the book tour: Dessen book tour 2017 .




Title: Anansi Boys
Author: Neil Gaiman
Series: American Gods #2
Genre: Fantasy; Fiction; Urban Fantasy; Mythology; Science Fiction; Humor; Adult; Contemporary
Goodreads Rating: 4.0/ 5 stars
Pages: 368 (Paperback)
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Published: January 22, 2008 (Original publication: 2005)

Summary: God is dead. Meet the kids.

Fat Charlie Nancy’s normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn’t know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother. Now brother Spider is on his doorstep—about to make Fat Charlie’s life more interesting . . . and a lot more dangerous.

Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors - the man is ridiculously talented. I read the first book in this series, American Gods, about three years ago. Although it was confusing at times and somewhat all over the place, it was a fantastically engaging read. It was an instant page turner because you were dying to find out what else Gaiman had up his sleeve.

The second that I got wind of American Gods being adapted by Starz for a TV series, I wanted to reread American Gods and finish the series. The TV series is only three episodes in and Starz has already signed it on for a second season. So far, the show is fantastic. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season will play out. The second episode, "The Secret of Spoons", introduced viewers to the god, Anansi. It was a phenomenal performance by Orlando Jones. It left me on the edge of my seat, dying to see more of Jones.

I believe that watching the show and reading the book simultaneously would be the easiest way to best understand and retain the material. I highly recommend reading the series and checking out the show! Here is a link to the trailer for the show: American Gods .

Title: Everything I Never Told You

Author: Celeste Ng

Genre: Contemporary

Goodreads Rating: 3.77/5 stars

Pages: 292 (Paperback)

Publisher: Penguin Books

Published: May 12, 2015 (Original publication: June 26, 2014)

Summary: Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet . . . So begins this debut novel about a mixed-race family living in 1970s Ohio and the tragedy that will either be their undoing or their salvation. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee; their middle daughter, a girl who inherited her mother’s bright blue eyes and her father’s jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue—in Marilyn’s case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James’s case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the center of every party.

When Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together tumbles into chaos, forcing them to confront the long-kept secrets that have been slowly pulling them apart.

I've been wanting to check this book out for a while now, and not because of the buzz it's been generating. I'm always on the hunt for books that will serve as a personal compass for my journey towards better understanding myself. I'm a firm believer in books coming into our lives for (generally) unknown reasons at particular moments. And many of those books will allow us to better know who we are and what we want and need in life.

Title: In a Dark, Dark Wood

Author: Ruth Ware

Genre: Mystery; Fiction; Thriller; Suspense

Goodreads Rating: 3.64/5 stars

Pages: 352 (Paperback)

Publisher: Scout Press

Published: April 19, 2016 (Original publication: 2015)

Summary: Sometimes the only thing to fear…is yourself.
When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone in the woods.

The mystery/crime fiction/ thriller/suspense scene has been doing a superb job of holding my interest. One of my top favorite bloggers, Abby, the blogger behind Crime by the Book , recommended this book a while back, and I'm finally getting around to it.

Title: Macbeth

Author: William Shakespeare

Genre: Plays; Fiction; Classics; Literature; Theatre; Tragedy

Goodreads Rating: 3.88/ 5 stars

Pages: 336 (Paperback)

Publisher: Barnes and Noble Shakespeare

Published: January 25, 2007 (Original publication: 1606)

Summary: The only Shakespearean tragedy that has a villain as its hero, Macbeth presents a stark and disturbing view of the psychology of wickedness and guilt. The editor, Jesse M. Lander, draws on the early modern literature of witchcraft and demonology to provide an illuminating context for the play.

When you're a fan of Shakespeare and you have to create a power point about Shakespeare and his work, and then present said power point in a literature course, you're bound to want to read more Shakespeare - on your own time.

Title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Author: Betty Smith

Genre: Classics; Historical; Fiction

Goodreads Rating: 4.24/5 stars

Pages: 493 (Paperback)

Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics

Publication: January 18, 2005 (Original publication: 1943)

Summary: The American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century.

I  finally purchased this beloved classic.

I have yet to purchase the following book, but I plan on doing so in a bit. It's a new publication by a budding author, that you can purchase from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. It is available as both an e-book and in paperback format.

Title: Strange Fate

Author: Jessica Miller

Series: The Guardians #1

Genre: Romance; New Adult; Paranormal; Fantasy

Goodreads Rating: 3.89/5 stars

Pages: 436 (Paperback)

Publisher: Self-published

Published: January 31, 2017

Summary: Olivia thought she was doomed to spend eternity in purgatory. A punishment worse than death for saving an innocent that was destined to die. Stopping death was against the rules and breaking those rules had consequences. The higher powers decided to give Olivia a second chance to redeem herself with a new charge, little did she know this particular charge would truly make her work for her redemption and lead her back to the person she risked her life to save.

Oliver had everything going for him. A girlfriend he cared for deeply, a best friend who was following him to college and the chance to start his life. That was until one night he ran into the girl he’d been dreaming about since he was five. The beautiful blonde who saved his life thirteen years ago. Oliver can’t believe she’s real and can’t seem to stay away from her, but their reunion isn’t coincidental. Fate has brought them back together for a reason. There is a war brewing between good and evil and destiny has chosen the only two people who can keep the balance and save the world from self-destruction.

Will Oliver and Olivia be able to stop the world from diving into darkness or will they be too blinded by their own inner demons to survive what fate has in store for them?

Sounds like the best of both worlds for the reader who loves a side of romance with his/her paranormal and fantasy reads. Miller is highly appreciative of honest and thorough reviews. If you do check this book out, don't forget to hop onto Goodreads, Amazon, and/or Barnes and Noble's website, and leave a review!

Let me know if you spotted any favorites or any books that you've been looking forward to reading.

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.

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Book Haul

First book haul of November.

My first and possibly last book haul of November, since Christmas is right around the corner. But whether this is the last haul of the month or not, I'm quite pleased with my selections from this past weekend's purchase. Book buyer satisfaction aside, I'm also more than happy to say that there are a series of similar running themes throughout each of these books. In light of the U.S. presidential election, the awful fallout, the amount of hate and ignorance that is still rooted within the country, and the saddening realization that there are many who are unwilling to use their voice to speak out against the ingrained hate and conditioned ignorance, I decided that I needed to turn to the comfort of the written word, as I usually do as a means to calm my nerves. Which is where my recurring theme stems from: characters who aren't afraid to challenge the conventional, government, religion, racism, prejudice, sexism, hate, and ignorance. I wanted authors and novels that addressed despair and greeted "the dark days" like an old friend, all while keeping hope propped up on their shoulders. I believe that hope and divine timing are just as indispensable in a novel as they are in life. Fiction is more than fiction; it's a parallel to reality, a means through which to come to terms with reality and to come to understand and plan for a way to create a better future. To grow in the face of adversity. Without further ado, a few novels to put life, compassion, humanity, humility, courage, and empathy into perspective. (Click on the titles for direct links to the books. The summaries that are below are the summaries provided from Goodreads).

• The Betrothed ~ Alessandro Manzoni

          Set in Lombardy during the Spanish occupation of the late 1620s, The Betrothed tells the story of two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, prevented from marrying by the petty tyrant Don Rodrigo, who desires Lucia for himself. Forced to flee, they are then cruelly separated, and must face many dangers including plague, famine and imprisonment, and confront a variety of strange characters - the mysterious Nun of Monza, the fiery Father Cristoforo and the sinister 'Unnamed' - in their struggle to be reunited. A vigorous portrayal of enduring passion, The Betrothed's exploration of love, power and faith presents a whirling panorama of seventeenth-century Italian life and is one of the greatest European historical novels.

• The Crucible - Arthur Miller

         (Reread for me).

         Written in 1953, The Crucible is a mirror Miller uses to reflect the anti-communist hysteria inspired by Senator Joseph McCarthy's "witch-hunts" in the United States. Within the text itself, Miller contemplates the parallels, writing, "Political opposition... is given an inhumane overlay, which then justifies the abrogation of all normally applied customs of civilized behavior. A political policy is equated with moral right, and opposition to it with diabolical malevolence."

          In the rigid theocracy of Salem, rumors that women are practicing witchcraft galvanize the town's most basic fears and suspicions; and when a young girl accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, self-righteous church leaders and townspeople insist that Elizabeth be brought to trial. The ruthlessness of the prosecutors and the eagerness of neighbor to testify against neighbor brilliantly illuminate the destructive power of socially sanctioned violence.

• The Stranger - Albert Camus

        Through the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd." First published in English in 1946; now in a new translation by Matthew Ward.

• Veronika Decides to Die - Paulo Coelho

        Twenty-four-year-old Veronika seems to have everything she could wish for: youth and beauty, plenty of attractive boyfriends, a fulfilling job, and a loving family. Yet something is lacking in her life. Inside her is a void so deep that nothing could possibly ever fill it. So, on the morning of November 11, 1997, Veronika decides to die. She takes a handful of sleeping pills expecting never to wake up.       
         Naturally Veronika is stunned when she does wake up at Villete, a local mental hospital, where the staff informs her that she has, in fact, partially succeeded in achieving her goal. While the overdose didn't kill Veronika immediately, the medication has damaged her heart so severely that she has only days to live.

         The story follows Veronika through the intense week of self-discovery that ensues. To her surprise, Veronika finds herself drawn to the confinement of Villete and its patients, who, each in his or her individual way, reflect the heart of human experience. In the heightened state of life's final moments, Veronika discovers things she has never really allowed herself to feel before: hatred, fear, curiosity, love, and sexual awakening. She finds that every second of her existence is a choice between living and dying, and at the eleventh hour emerges more open to life than ever before.
In Veronika Decides to Die, Paulo Coelho takes the reader on a distinctly modern quest to find meaning in a culture overshadowed by angst, soulless routine, and pervasive conformity

• Dawn - Elie Wiesel

         Elisha is a young Jewish man, a Holocaust survivor, and an Israeli freedom fighter in British-controlled Palestine; John Dawson is the captured English officer he will murder at dawn in retribution for the British execution of a fellow freedom fighter. The night-long wait for morning and death provides Dawn, Elie Wiesel's ever more timely novel, with its harrowingly taut, hour-by-hour narrative. Caught between the manifold horrors of the past and the troubling dilemmas of the present, Elisha wrestles with guilt, ghosts, and ultimately God as he waits for the appointed hour and his act of assassination. Dawn is an eloquent meditation on the compromises, justifications, and sacrifices that human beings make when they murder other human beings.

• To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

          The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

          Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos.

• The Relic Master - Christopher Buckley

         The year is 1517. Dismas is a relic hunter: one who procures “authentic” religious relics for wealthy and influential clients. His two most important patrons are Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony and soon-to-be Cardinal Albrecht of Mainz. While Frederick is drawn to the recent writing of Martin Luther, Albrecht pursues the financial and political benefits of religion and seeks to buy a cardinalship through the selling of indulgences. When Albrecht’s ambitions increase his demands for grander and more marketable relics, Dismas and his artist friend Dürer conspire to manufacture a shroud to sell to the unsuspecting noble. Unfortunately Dürer’s reckless pride exposes Albrecht’s newly acquired shroud as a fake, so Albrecht puts Dismas and Dürer in the custody of four loutish mercenaries and sends them all to steal Christ’s burial cloth (the Shroud of Chambéry), Europe’s most celebrated relic.

         On their journey to Savoy where the Shroud will be displayed, they battle a lustful count and are joined by a beautiful female apothecary. It is only when they reach their destination that they realize they are not alone in their intentions to acquire a relic of dubious legitimacy. Filled with fascinating details about art, religion, politics and science; Vatican intrigue; and Buckley’s signature wit, The Relic Master is a delightfully rich and intelligent comic adventure.

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded!

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- Anisa

Book Recommendations for New Readers!!!

 

Hello friends!

So I was catching up with an old friend the other day and we made a stop at the café in the Barnes & Noble near us, and of course I couldn't leave the store without dragging her down a few of the book aisles with me. And of course, I just couldn't leave a book store empty handed! (There is a post on my Instagram featuring the book I just picked up. And the links to all of the social networking sites I post on are located here: http://bookishlyautumnal.blogspot.com/p/contact.html ). 

Anyways, as we were talking and flipping through books, she mentioned that she had an interest in reading books but wasn't sure where to start or which books are worth the investment. And that got me thinking and wondering about how many individuals are out there, who would love to pick up a good book but aren't sure where to start. So I decided that I would make a post every so often featuring a list of titles that would be perfect for "New Readers"!

These titles that I'm picking are books with wonderfully written plots and diverse characters, but extremely relatable. I think that the largest turn off for "New Readers" when it comes to reading is when you stumble across a book that everyone is ranting and raving about, but not matter what you do you just aren't able to get into the plot or identify with the characters because you jumped into the hypothetical deep end of the literary world before getting comfortable in the shallow end. Reading is fun and amazing, but especially when you have the proper reading experience to make your own inferences; being able take whatever message the story has presented, and are able to make it your own.

Okay, so here we go! In no particular order, my first set of book recommendations:

1. Crank ~ Ellen Hopkins (Crank #1)

In Crank, Ellen Hopkins chronicles the turbulent and often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on her own daughter, and the "monster," the highly addictive drug crystal meth, or "crank." Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and ne'er-do-well father. While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank.

So anyone who knows me and my reading habits, knows that I am a diehard fan of Ellen Hopkins' writing. The woman is downright amazing. While her writing is deep, complex, and full of ugly truths that most would love to turn a blind eye to, her writing also possesses a great pace. Nothing about her wording is choppy or forced, which in my opinion is the best way to be able to lose yourself in a book. I highly, highly, highly recommend any book by Ellen Hopkins. However, I think that Crank is the best introductory to Ellen Hopkins.

2. Along for the Ride ~ Sarah Dessen

Up all night.

Nights have always been Auden's time, her chance to escape everything that's going on around her.

Then she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac, and he becomes her nocturnal tour guide.

Now, with an endless supply of summer nights between them, almost anything can happen...

Sarah Dessen is the equivalent of Judy Blume and every fantastic Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul entry, ever written. Her writing is a true homecoming. Refreshingly simplistic and honest, Sarah Dessen will have you questioning ever emotion you have ever felt before you even reach the middle of the book. Similarly to Ellen Hopkins, anything and everything Sarah Dessen has ever written rightfully deserves a place on your shelves. However, while her books do not need to be read in any particular order, Along for the Ride is an excellent place to start.

3. Forever ~ Judy Blume

Katherine and Michael meet at a New Year's Eve party. They're attracted to each other, they grow to love each other. And once they've decided their love is forever, they make love.

It's the beginning of an intense and exclusive relationship, with a future all planned. Until Katherine's parents insist that she and Michael put their love to the test with a summer apart...

When this book was first published (1975), it brought about a gargantuan sized cloud of controversy and upset. Forever is such a gem of a novel for so many reasons. Judy Blume managed to touch upon the topic of adolescent sex, finding yourself, mental illness, family stress, the great stressors of debating upon a structured higher level education or going on a journey to invest in yourself. This book is a work of practical artistry that everyone needs to give a chance at some point in time during their lives!

4. My Life Next Door ~ Huntley Fitzpatrick

"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.

I'm rarely ever feel inclined to pick up a contemporary romance, but when I do it is after careful deliberation. My Life Next Door is a heavy read from within, but well cushioned by plenty of fluff and humor. It's the perfect summer read; and provides the most exemplary vision of what it means to live through a summer that feels more like a lifetime than three months. I'm not one to believe in young love having the potential to be one's lasting love, but Huntley Fitzpatrick has written a wonderful tale of boy meets girl and the inevitable love that follows suit.

5. Thirteen Reasons Why ~ Jay Asher

You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret. . . is to press play.

Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her.

Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes-- and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.

All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town. . .

. . .and what he discovers changes his life forever.

Nothing that I could ever say about this book would do it justice. By far, one of the best books I have ever read concerning suicide and unknowingly allowing a dear friend to slip from out of your grasp, and out of life.

6. Hope Was Here ~ Joan Bauer

When Hope and her aunt move to small-town Wisconsin to take over the local diner, Hope's not sure what to expect. But what they find is that the owner, G.T., isn't quite ready to give up yet - in fact, he's decided to run for mayor against a corrupt candidate. And as Hope starts to make her place at the diner, she also finds herself caught up in G.T.'s campaign - particularly his visions for the future. After all, as G.T. points out, everyone can use a little hope to help get through the tough times... even Hope herself.

Joan Bauer is another amazing writer who has the ability to spin tales into truth. You won't be able to willingly put any of her books down! Easily, readable within a day.

7. Losing It ~ Cora Carmack (Losing It #1)

Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible - a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

Like I said before, I'm not a huge fan of contemporary romance or the NA genre, but throw in a hot British, literature professor and I'm down.

8. Pretty Little Liars ~ Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars # 1)

Three years ago, Alison disappeared after a slumber party, not to be seen since. Her friends at the elite Pennsylvania school mourned her, but they also breathed secret sighs of relief. Each of them guarded a secret that only Alison had known. Now they have other dirty little secrets, secrets that could sink them in their gossip-hungry world. When each of them begins receiving anonymous emails and text messages, panic sets in. Are they being betrayed by some one in their circle? Worse yet: Is Alison back? A strong launch for a suspenseful series.

Listen, before you pass any judgement just give the book a chance. Either you'll be disappointed or you will have discovered a new favorite.

9. The Perfectionists ~ Sara Shepard (The Perfectionists # 1)

In Beacon Heights, Washington, five girls—Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker—know that you don’t have to be good to be perfect. At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they realize that they all hate Nolan Hotchkiss, who’s done terrible things to each of them. They come up with the perfect way to kill him—a hypothetical murder, of course. It’s just a joke...until Nolan turns up dead, in exactly the way they planned. Only, they didn’t do it. And unless they find the real killer, their perfect lives will come crashing down around them.

If you liked Pretty Little Liars, you will definitely like The Perfectionists. Easy reading filled with plenty of mystery and entertainment.

10. Glass Houses ~ Rachel Caine ( The Morganville Vampires # 1)

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Will she be able to face the town's terror or will she drown like everyone else?  

Just enough paranormal and just enough reality to make a story about vampires believable. If you hated Twilight, you will love this!

11. White Hot Kiss ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout (The Dark Elements # 1)

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Paranormal romance is the way to go, particularly within the arms of the crown prince of Hell.

12. It's Kind of a Funny Story ~ Ned Vizzini

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life - which means getting into the right high school to get into the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.

That one book that let's you know that you have zero reason whatsoever to apologize for a mental breakdown.

13. Clean ~ Amy Reed

You’re probably wondering how I ended up here. I’m still wondering the same thing.

Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva have one thing in common: They’re addicts. Addicts who have hit rock bottom and been stuck together in rehab to face their problems, face sobriety, and face themselves. None of them wants to be there. None of them wants to confront the truths about their pasts. And they certainly don’t want to share their darkest secrets and most desperate fears with a room of strangers. But they’ll all have to deal with themselves—and one another—if they want to learn how to live. Because when you get that high, there’s nowhere to go but down, down, down.

I recommend everything and anything by Amy Reed, however Clean is the best way to break the surface. After you read Clean, you will understand the importance of finding yourself and striving to remain true to yourself, forever. Addiction is an ugly thing, but the underlying problems that instigated the addiction are even more awful and heart wrenching.

14. Maybe Someday ~ Colleen Hoover ( Maybe # 1)

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

The way Colleen Hoover writes contemporary romance makes it hard to dislike the corny romantic situations.

15. Trylle: The Complete Trilogy ~ Amanda Hocking

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn't long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

One of the better YA (Young Adult) paranormal/adventure stories.