A Few Good Reads

Now that the holiday season is upon us, it’s the perfect time to curl up next to the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree and enjoy some good books—or maybe keep one tucked in your purse so you can sneak in some quality reading while waiting in those long shopping lines! Whenever you find the time, here are a few good YA titles you may want to check out…

MY LIFE NEXT DOOR – Huntley Fitzpatrick

From the jacket: 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 night Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything. 

This book is wonderfully refreshing. In addition to making me smile and laugh out loud at times, Fitzpatrick perfectly captures the complexity of large families and sibling relationships. A novel about family loyalty, true love, and tough choices, it is filled with characters that seem like people you would know in real life.  

BEFORE I DIE -- Jenny Downham

Premise: Sixteen-year-old Tessa is dying. But instead of shivering in bed scratching sad words onto her wall, she decides to get busy living, which means checking off every item on her bucket list before it’s too late...

I haven’t highlighted so many lines in a book since college. Downham's writing is intense and poetic, and the story itself is enough to make you weep. This novel puts you through the ringer, but leaves you thinking hard about living in the present. (Before I Die is currently being adapted into a movie titled "Now is Good" starring Dakota Fanning and Jeremy Irvine--check out the trailer here!) 

JELLICOE ROAD – Melina Marchetta

From Amazon: Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

This is the first book I’ve ever read twice in the same month. It's that good. Because I’m not typically a mystery reader, I did find the beginning a bit confusing / frustrating. However, the rest of the book was so amazing that I had to read the whole thing again just so I could catch the nuances I missed the first time around. Also, I couldn't stop thinking about these awesome characters! The three WHYA ladies who've read the book wholeheartedly agree: Jellicoe Road is an all-time favorite!

So, what's on your literary wish list? Have you read any good books lately?