YA Books You Need to Read This Summer.

Even in Paradise.

Even in Paradise is about an unexpected summer, unconventional true love, and fancy beach parties full of dancing and champagne under the stars.

Read this book if...

-You liked The Great Gatsby and stories along those lines.

-You like summer love stories that aren't cut and dry exactly like you would expect.

See it on Goodreads.

Paper Towns. 

Paper Towns is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The characters are hilarious, and it manages to be entertaining and light-hearted while at the same time covering the deep issues of figuring out who you are and what you want.

Read this book if...

-You like John Green. Really, that's the only reason you need.

-You plan on seeing the movie this summer.

-You like unique adventures.

See it on Goodreads.

We Were Liars.

It's so hard to talk about this book without spoiling things, but I will say it's a summer read that will keep you on your toes. You'll either love it or hate it, but I say it's worth a read either way.

Read this book if...

-You like mysteries that aren't just about figuring out who the murderer is.

-You like YA novels with sophisticated prose.

See it on Goodreads.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

Sometimes you need to switch up your light-hearted summer reading and read something that really makes you think and ask yourself a lot of questions. This book will do that. 

Ps: This book has nothing to do with summer, except that the first time I read it was on a cruise in the middle of the ocean. So it makes me think of summer, even though the setting is in fall and winter. 

Read this book if...

-You like coming-of-age stories.

-You saw the movie. The movie was great, but the book is incredible.

-You're in the mood for a summer read that isn't just light and fun.

See it on Goodreads.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series. 

I'm a sucker for reading books that make me nostalgic during the summer. This one will do that for sure. The older I get, the more I appreciate true friendships, and that's what this book is all about. 

Read theses books if...

-You like books that focus on the ins-and-outs of friendship

-You have a little bit of wanderlust.

See the first one on Goodreads.

The Truth About Forever. See also: Every Sarah Dessen book, ever.

Sarah Dessen is my favorite author, and her books are the BEST for summer reading. If you want to get real wild and crazy, I say you should try and read all of her books this summer. They're that good.

Read this book if...

-You like flawed characters you can relate to.

-You want a book that you will miss the second you finish it.

-You want to get lost in a summer that isn't all about happiness and having fun.

See it on Goodreads.

Happy to be Alive, Because.

Read this book if...

-You like to read my blog.

-You like summer stories set at the beach.

-You think sometimes the best love stories are those that have to do with friendship.

Learn more here.

Summer reading is my favorite, so I'm sure I'll have several more posts like this. Cheers to days by the pool losing yourself in a good story!

What's on your summer reading list? 

4 Books I Read in February & Whether or Not You Should Read Them.

This month is shaping up to be pretty full of books, so I thought I'd go ahead and write about what I've read so far!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Plot: Lara Jean copes with breakups (and non-breakups) by writing her heart into a love letter, addressing the envelope, and then hiding it under her bed to never be seen by anyone else. Until one day, all of her letters get mailed. She's left to deal with the fact that all those boys have seen all those letters full of things she never said. (read the full plot here)

Favorite quote: "This is our life; there's no use in asking what if. No one could ever give you the answers. I try, I really do, but it's hard for me to accept this way of thinking. I'm always wondering about the what ifs, about the road not taken."

My thoughts: This one was full of quirky characters, which I loved. I read this book in one afternoon, curled up with a blanket and some tea and getting lost in the world of a seventeen year girl who knows absolutely nothing and absolutely everything about love. It was adorable.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan 

Plot: "Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers are about to cross paths. From that moment on, their world will collide and lives intertwine." (read full plot here)

Favorite quote: “When things break, it's not the actual breaking that prevents them from getting back together again. It's because a little piece gets lost - the two remaining ends couldn't fit together even if they wanted to. The whole shape has changed.” 

My thoughts: This one is weird because I went into it 1) Not knowing anything at all about the plot, and 2) expecting to love it, because John Green, duh. And while I didn't love it at all, and think I actually kind of disliked it, I've found myself thinking about it and almost missing it since finishing it. But I think that's due to the fact that the characters were so well-created. I just wasn't a huge fan of the storyline.

Should you read it?: Nah, not if there are other books on your list.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Plot: Mia is headed to the Hamptons to spend the summer with her cousins, but she quickly realizes she doesn't fit in with them anymore. She's getting ready to settle into a lonely summer when Simon comes along, who also doesn't fit in anywhere. They join up in their loneliness and help each other experience new things over the course of a memorable summer. (read full plot here)

Favorite quote: “If you stay on the sidelines of the here and now then your future will only ever be a pale version of a dream you never had the courage to experience.” 

My thoughts: I went from pretty disinterested, to vaguely interested, to no just no. Not a fan. It had some good elements; I just wasn't a fan.

Should you read it?: No.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty:

Plot: "Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret." -via Goodreads

Favorite quote: “None of us ever know all the possible courses our lives could have and maybe should have taken. It's probably just as well. Some secrets are meant to stay secret forever. Just ask Pandora.”

My thoughts: Since this book follows three story lines, at first I felt like I was reading three different books. It did take me a couple of chapters to get into it, mostly because it was very different from what I normally read. But then little things started weaving the stories together, and it got so good. It was a love story and a regret story and a mystery and it was fascinating.

Should you read it?: Yes!

What have you been reading?

5 Reasons You Should Absolutely Go See The Fault in Our Stars

Whenever something is surrounded by as much hype as The Fault in Our Stars  has been, there appears a whole tribe of people who instantly become too cool for it.  Who will boycott it due to it's immense popularity.  I'm still trying to figure out how depriving yourself of something you might really enjoy simply because so many other people enjoyed it makes you cool, but that's a talk for another day.

Until then, here are five reasons why you should not join the tribe of boycotters and why you should absolutely go see The Fault in Our Stars. 

1.  To be reminded that you have a pretty dang good life.  Sometimes we can get really down and out over things like flat tires or the size of our paycheck.  It's good to put yourself in a place where you're able to get out of your head and realize that your life with flat tires and small paychecks is actually pretty amazing in the grand scheme of things. 1a. It will also remind you that even if you have problems, life can still be good.  Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that if a cancer-ridden teen can find a way to be happy, so can you.

via

2.  It will make you remember how good love can be.  And as you leave the theatre, you will promise yourself that you will settle for nothing less than extraordinary, beautiful, life-changing, eternal love.

via

3.  It's a real-life story.  I cannot tell you how many times I've heard some variation of this in the past year or two:  "Why does every movie have vampires or zombies in it?  Why can't there just be normal movies again?"  Well, here you go.  A movie with humans that are 100% human and no extra-terrestrial creatures.  So go see it.

4.  It's really freakin' beautiful.  John Green writes in a way that is almost poetic, and that really flows over into this movie.  It's full of lines so beautiful, you're going to want to have them tattooed on your body.  You probably shouldn't.  But if you do, send me a picture. 

via

5.  You're supporting YA literature.  As something chasing the dream of making it as a YA author, I love the idea of supporting other YA authors.  And while you may think that this movie doesn't really need any support because obviously John Green has made it huge as an author, I think it still counts.  Sarah Dessen (also a YA author) tweeted on this subject:  "A rising tide lifts all boats."  If you want more YA movies--hello, who doesn't--go see this one!

But please, for the love of everything that is good in this world...READ THE BOOK FIRST.

Are you planning on reading/seeing The Fault in Our Stars?