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.
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!
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
