Contempo-May Reading List: Things That Make You Go Swoon

In honour of nearly passing out with swoon upon reading Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (read my review HERE!), I thought it was time to indulge my secret literary passion: LURVE. We're talking all the silly, soppy, possibly unrealistic stuff, the literature we live vicariously through when we are single and lonely. The books that make our hearts thump, the authors who make us gaze wistfully at the stars. 

This reading list is a little different, as well as suggesting titles to you, as in my previous reading lists, I will also be recommending whole entire authors to you, because there are some that really specialise in books of the romantic nature, and if you're into it, you'll probably want to read all of it. 

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So in no particular order, I present to you, Things That Make You go SWOON!!!

1. Stephanie Perkins

This lady has only written two books so far, and they have both nearly killed me by making my heart yearn. Death by yearning. Upon finishing Anna and the French Kiss, which I read in one day, I very seriously started thinking about how I could bunk off work and get myself to Paris PRONTO. These books are hardcore swoon. Read them both, but not too quickly, because then they will be over that that will make you sad. 

2. Simon Elkeles

Oh my. Prepare to fan yourself down like a French courtesan and blush blush blush, because soon you won't be able to think of anything but the big, bad Fuentes brothers. Each book in the Perfect Chemistry series features on a different brother as they find love with girls, often from the other (the right) side of the tracks. Chaste, teen erotica at it's best (as in, they actually don't feature that much sex, and what there is, is pretty tame, but I betcha there is some dirty fan fiction out there). 

3. Jennifer Echols

 I swear, it even looks like these books are blushing. Giant loved up faces with dreamy eyes. We're talking real, proper, old-fashioned American love stories here. The kind you want to read whilst lazing on a beach, the waves lapping on a nearby shore. The epitome of guilty pleasure. 

4. Jennifer E Smith

I'm only including one book by this author, mostly because I know NOTHING about the other books, and this one is seriously swoon-worthy. It's a proper private fantasy, falling hopelessly in love with the boy you just so happen to sit next to on a flight to London. Indulge and enjoy this one!

Read my review HERE!!!

5. Jandy Nelson

She's only written one book! And it broke my heart! I wore flouncy dresses and listened to twirly, romantic music for days after reading this. It's all sorts of sad and wonderful and the language is SO PRETTY. Plus there are snippets of letters and poetry all the way through, and the UK edition is particularly beautiful. Please write more Jandy, PLEASE!!!

6. Sarah Dessen

Admittedly, Sarah Dessen's books are more about the issues than the swoon, but they are perfect teen chic-lit reading. And another admission (don't hate me) but I have NEVER read a Sarah Dessen. I suppose this makes me a bad book blogger/bookseller, but I know how popular her books are, and I know that they mean a lot to tons of readers out there. I also know that no reading list specialising in swoon and heartache would be complete without her.

7. Sara Zarr

Another one I haven't read yet! I'm so sorry! But I am aware of the near-classic status of this book and that Sara Zarr is another one of those authors that has become classic YA reading. Her book How to Save a Life comes out in the UK later in the year (see my Letterbox Love HERE!!!). Also, the cover of this book is really, really yummy. 

8. David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

It's not often that two totally different authors can pair up, write alternate chapters, and make me nearly die from longing. I haven't read Nick and Norah (YET) but Dash and Lily has to be one of my favourite books EVER. I have Dash and Lily in hardback. I caress it sometimes and dream that I live in NYC and have a red moleskin. Read this book and you too will understand all of the feelings. 

9. Elizabeth Scott

Another author I haven't read yet, but one that keeps cropping up on certain retail websites as someone I would quite like. I WONDER WHY?!?!?! A little disconcerted about the foot fetish going on in these covers, but otherwise, an author I'd quite happily read should I need a bit of escapist high school romance in my life.

10. Lauren Barnholdt

 LOOK HOW ROMANTIC THESE COVERS ARE!!! What I love about american covers (most of them) is that you really know what you're getting, and with these books, you know you're going to be getting a GOOD TIME.

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It only occurs to me after finishing this reading list, that all the authors are American. I didn't think about this at all whilst I was compiling the list, but now that I come to think about it, I don't think there's a UK teen author that can challenge these Americans, although we do much better on adult chic lit I think. So, to clarify, I didn't compile this list to purposely exclude British authors, but it just so happens that if you are after real hot and heavy swoon, you have to look over the pond. 


As ever, I'm looking forward to your comments and suggestions,


Hugs and high fives,


Nicole
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Contempo-May Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

In One Line:  Stephanie Perkins is my favourite and my best *shoves this book in your face*

Genre: Sumptuous and Sparkly Swoon

The Gist:

Lola’s life is pretty good. She has the most awesome Two Gay Dads, lives in a gingerbread-looking Victorian house in San Francisco, the best taste in clothes with an ambition to be a costume designer and an older super-rocker boyfriend with bleached hair. Life. Is. Sweet. Until the moving truck arrives. That’s right, the Bell twins are moving back into town after two years away. One of the Bell twins is super ice-skater and super ice-bitch Calliope, the other is Cricket. *huge romantic sigh* How will Lola react when the boy next door, the boy who once broke her heart, moves back in to her life?

The Cover:

Oh God America. WHY?!?! I hate having the cover designer’s idea of what the characters look like plastered on the cover, because it ruins half the fun. Mostly because Cricket is blatantly Andrew Garfield (pre-Spiderdude) and the Lola on the cover here looks like a goggle-eyed alien wearing a black sack. Stop ruining the fantasy for me American publishers! Just STOP IT!!! 

Why You’ll Love This Book

• We’re talking super-swoon here. Love, love, and then more love, except that this book isn’t like reading some soppy chic-lit. It’s intelligent, it’s quirky, and it’s genuinely fun.
• Nobody writes a moment of heart-pounding omagod will-they-won’t-they chemistry like Stephanie Perkins. You can hear your heart actually thump at certain points. She’s an incredible writer and has an unbelievable talent for writing LURVE. 
• It makes you want to change your life, in a good way. For example, when I finished reading this I bought a watch in the urban outfitters sale which has a purple glitter strap. And I went out wearing a bowler hat and felt cool. It makes you want to be Lola, and it makes you want to fall in love.
• It’s not often that I can actually promise you a darned good time with a book, but with this one, I honestly can’t see how anyone could possibly not enjoy it. It has the highest of my high endorsements. 

Why You May Not Love This Book:

• Everything is very blatant from the outset. You know what’s coming and it’s predictable. So if you like a bit of mystery I’d stay away from this book. Then again, Lola’s best friend is well into her mystery stuff, so you might get along with her. 
• Anna and St Claire from the first book are in it!!! And whilst some people might think that’s a good thing and gorgeously cute, I kind of like not knowing what happens to characters after their respective books are finished. I like to imagine my own ending. I’m already worrying that Lola and Cricket will make guest appearances in Ms Perkins’ next novel, because I want them to stay just in my own imagination forever, like they’re mine and mine alone. 
• You’ll look out of your bedroom window and get incredibly depressed that there’s not another house with another window close by with a Cricket sitting in it. 
• This book ends. This is a bad thing. It should go on forever and ever. 
• The realisation that your life isn’t a Stephanie Perkins novel. *sigh*

The Hypersomnia Test:

Passed. Passed. Passed. Mostly because this is the kind of book that I never wanted to end. I’ve had it on my To-Read shelf since it came out in the states ages ago, and I just didn’t want to read it because I knew that once I had read it, it would be over. Ugh. I feel so empty now. This book has broken me. 

Final Verdict:

If the zombie apocalypse came and I succumbed to the ravenous hoards (because I’m slightly fat and slow at running and anti-gun so they would blatantly catch me in the first wave) then I call dibs on Stephanie Perkins brain. I want to eat it. I want to consume it. Because I’m betting that it tastes of love-hearts and bluebirds and unicorns with rainbow-striped horns. Yup. I loved this book. And I love Stephanie Perkins. To the extent that I want to eat her brains. 

Further Reading:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith (read my review HERE!)

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

To buy Lola and the Boy Next Door click HERE!!!

Contempo-May Sneak Peek!!!

There aren't many days left in Contempo-May, which has been a little hectic but a lot of fun for me. The plan was to blog either a review or a reading list every working day for the month of May, and I think I've nearly done it! My blogging rate will go down a little bit I'm afraid once June hits, but that's ok. Contempo-May has been something special and I can't do it all the time. It also means I get to read some science-fiction and fantasy - WHICH I HAVE BEEN DESPERATELY MISSING. There's a lot of books featuring witches creeping into my To-Read pile, and I'm especially looking forward to those. Also have a bit of a craving for reading about people with psychic powers. Any recommendations???

So, as Contempo-May draws to a close, here's a little sneak peek at the books I've got left to read and review:

I've also got two more reading lists lined up: one on Ultimate Swoon in honour of Stephanie Perkins - I'll be posting my review of Lola and the Boy Next Door tomorrow - and a reading list on the best Adult Young Adult books. If you have any suggestions, keeping in mind the rules of Contempo-May, then I'll be more than happy to hear them.

Hugs and high fives people,

Nicole

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Contempo-May Review : When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

In One Line: two teenage souls, looking for Something Real.

Genre: High School Heart Ache

The Gist:

Sara’s pretty certain about what she wants in life. So certain that she sends wishes to the universe in pink heart bubbles. She believes in true love and good grades and the awesome power of wishful thinking. Tobey has been in love with Sara since forever, and when she hooks up with High School Hottie and resident jock douchebag Dave, it motivates him to make some changes in his life to assure both of their happy ever afters.

The Cover:

This is a great cover. And it is definitely miles better than the original US cover:

I’d actually seen this book on the shelves and presumed it was set at an American summer camp or something. Basically that giant tree makes no sense whatsoever. So well done Scholastic UK for devising a cover that looks edgy, cool, and PINK. Because this is essentially a happy, fluffy book and deserves a happy, fluffy cover. My only concern was that my edition came with an ‘explicit’ warning sticker, and I have no idea why. It made me think I was going to get something really juicy and bad (Melvin Burgess or Judy Blume style) but there was nothing actually in the book that suggested to me that a ‘explicit’ sticker was warranted. I mean, yeah, there’s sexytimes talk and everything, but nothing too bad compared to other books out there. 

Why You’ll Love This Book

• It’s a blatant, happy, soppy love story. Nothing life-changing, but a perfect book for a lazy summer holiday.
• This is probably the best depiction of what an American High School is really like that I’ve read in ages (as if I’d actually know). And I mean you get a real feel for what school is actually like - the class set-up, the teachers, the lunch hall. There is never a time where I feel like anything is cliched, and the goings on of high school life over the few months the novel is set around is great fun to read. 
• He-said/she-said chapter alternations! I love this, I love getting to see both sides of the story, and what’s particularly fun about this book is that you get to see what our two heroes think about exactly the same event. It’s amazing to see how they interpret their different situations, and that made it quite a thrill to read at times. 

Why You May Not Love This Book:

• I like our narrators, I really do, but they just didn’t sound as distinct from each other as they could. And especially with Tobey, we’re constantly told that he is a slacker and a bit of a loser, but I think there is more ‘telling’ than ‘showing’ in this book. I always love a bit of ‘he-said’ ‘she-said’ chapter alternations, but I’m not sure that the personalities of the main characters were enough to have me hooked all the way. 
• *SPOILER ALERT* The characters get together way earlier than you think they would, which left me wondering what the rest of the book was for. I’m not sure even now. And the actual moment of the characters getting together was a bit lacking on the impact stakes. I was a little bit ‘oh, is that it?!’ 
• It’s a bit easy. Which is fine if you want a breath of fresh air between heavier reads, but I mean, this is really easy. Regular readers of YA may find this lacking compared to other stuff that’s out there. You might want to give this one to your little sister instead of reading it yourself. 
• Your copy of the book may or may not come with cheerleaders trilling 'AWESOME!' and 'OPTIMISM!' and 'HAPPILY EVER AFTER!' at you. I did not appreciate mine. 

The Hypersomnia Test:

It didn’t pass. I was on the tube and I thought I should get on with my reading but my eyes were getting heavy, so I put the book down and had a nap on my way into work. To pass the Hypersomnia Test, I must want to read the book more than I want to sleep. And sleep won this time. 

Final Verdict:

My presiding thought when I finished this book was wondering just why Ms Colasanti had written it. There is something missing, some passion, some drive, which makes this book end up feeling like just the echo of a good story. There was nothing quirky or original enough to make it stand out from other books on the scene, and I just couldn’t tell what the point of the novel was. Is it that real true love actually happens for teenagers (I know it does, but this story was a bit too fluffy and simplistic for it to stand out)?, was it that grades are the most important thing of all? Was it that it’s always best to conform to what your teachers and parents think in order to be happy? I want more drama, grit and conflict from my YA. And don’t get me wrong, I love a good fluffy read (as regular blog readers will already know) but I also like my good fluffy reads to be quirky, original, and have a bit of heat and passion. This book just didn’t do it for me. 

Further Reading:

Adorkable by Sarra Manning (read my review HERE!)

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle (read my review HERE!)

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

To buy When It Happens click HERE!!!

Contempo-May Review: Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham

In One Line:  girl writes email to her soap-star hero, and gets a reply!

Genre: High School heart-ache, with a touch of High School Musical!

The Gist:

Georgie is obsessed with a guy called Dylan. But Dylan isn’t the cute, pale and sparkly loner dude in the school canteen, Dylan is an actor on a slightly Hollyoaks sounding TV show. But no matter, because Georgie is IN LOVE. So she does what any of us would do, and sends him an email through his fan website declaring her undying passion. AND SHE GETS A REPLY! But shhhhh.... don’t tell her that it’s just an automatic response.... at least it is at first...

The Cover:

I completely dig this cover. I wish it wasn’t quite so white, but for a novel that conducts itself purely over email it’s suitably sparse and intriguing. I’m actually a fan of the original self-published cover of this book:

Even though the girl on the cover looks like she’s about twenty-one and is a model in a safe sex leaflet, I love the doodling aspect. I wish the designers had left that in. Either way, the final cover is inoffensive and I love the author font - could make good branding for any future novels by Ms Curham, don’t you think?

Why You’ll Love This Book

• The entire thing is told in emails. THE ENTIRE THING. And whilst at first I got slightly scared that this may end up feeling boring, or repetitive, or contrived, IT’S NOT. It works. It totally works. 
• The most amazing thing Ms Curham does with the email thing is that she gets the voices spot on. And I’m not just talking about normal narrative first person voices, but EMAIL first person voices. Because we all sound different in email, how we write is naturally going to be different than how we speak, but the voices in this book are managed perfectly. They feel real. You feel like you are actually going through someone’s inbox, and the fact that I found all this so believable just made it all the more of an amazing read.
• This isn’t just some fluffy little creature of a book. Oh no. This book packs some emotional punch too, and does it in a way that doesn’t feel forced or like the author ever thought ‘maybe I should do something a bit serious here?’ The whole book works as one cohesive whole, and the email structure only means you feel MORE involved with all the pain and drama. 
• High School Musical! The kids in this book are putting on a show of Bugsy Malone, and of course our narrator is a bit of a secret superstar. I love that I can live a little bit vicariously through her.

Why You May Not Love This Book:

• It’s rather tweeny compared to other books I’m reviewing as part of Contempo-May, and probably suitable for the eleven-plus crowd, which is fine. It’s the kind of book which gives you meat in it’s ‘issues’ so I’m pleased that it didn’t push any further boundaries in terms of sex/drugs etc. 
• When this book does get heavy, boy does it get heavy, much more than you’d expect for the novel that starts out the way it does. If you’re of a sensitive nature, looking for nothing more than light-hearted swoon, I’d give this one a miss. Saying that, at the same I’d also encourage you to read this book, because you can’t exist on a diet of light-hearted swoon alone. Every once in a while you need a bit of gritty meat. 

The Hypersomnia Test:

It passed! And like I’ve said in previous posts, keeping me awake on a tube journey whilst reading often has a lot to do with the pacing of the plot. The format of this book, told entirely in emails, meant you were constantly looking for the next hit, looking forward to the next reply and desperate to find out what happened next. 

Final Verdict:

This book is a perfectly formed little treat. It sticks rigidly to it’s format, and manages never to sound tired or trite. Instead of pummelling you with heartache and grit it slowly eases you in with humour so that when you do reach the tough stuff towards the end, you are fully onside with the characters and know exactly how they’re feeling. I actually think this book is pretty remarkable for a debut. I’m really jealous of Siobhan’s handling of the voices, especially within emails, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Further Reading:

Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari

Lia’s Guide to Winning the Lottery by Keren David

Falling Fast by Sophie MacKenzie (read my review HERE!)

To buy Dear Dylan click HERE!!!

Letterbox Love no.2 - Sun 20th May 2012

Here are all the cool beans I've received over the course of the past week...

Deadly Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

MacKenzie and Amy were best friends.

Until Amy was brutally murdered.

But Amy wasn't killed by a human...

she was killed by a werewolf.

Lupin Syndrome - the werewolf virus - is spreading and werewolf attacks are increasing as those infected struggle to control their bloodlust. Amy's death has turned Mac's life upset down: her dreams are haunted by Amy, and the Trackers, an extremist group determined to stop those with Lupine Syndrome, have come to her hometown of Hemlock to promote their cause by hunting down Amy's killer.

Unwilling to work with the brutal Trackers, but desperate to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate the murder herself. But the deeper she delves into the mystery of Amy's death, the more secrets she discovers lurking in the shadows of Hemlock. Secrets that should have been left untold. Secrets that will change her life forever.

Publishes: July 2012

One or Two Things I Learned About Love by Dyan Sheldon

I'd only ever had tow and a half dates in my whole life. (and I didn't count the half.)

But even though I was girl-most-likely-to-graduate-high-school-without-being-kissed, I thought thought I knew a lot about love. 

That was before I met Connor Bowden - and found out how wrong I was.

Publishes: OUT NOW

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Everyone knows how to live... be who they are... find their place. But I'm still waiting.

Jill's life lost all meaning when her dad died. Friends, boyfriend, college - nothing matters any more. Then her mom drops a bombshell. She's going to adopt a baby.

Mandy is desperate for her life to change. Seventeen, pregnant and leaving home, she is sure of only one thing - her baby must never have a life like hers, whatever it takes.

Publishes: September 2012 

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

When Harold Fry nips out one morning to post a letter, leaving his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other.

He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof or mobile phone.

All he knows is that he must keep walking.

To save someone else's life.

Publishes: OUT NOW

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Young, beautiful and deadly.

Trained as an assassin by the god of death, Ismae is sent to the court of Brittany, where she finds herself underprepared - not only for the games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death's vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

A dangerous romance full of intrigue, poison and ultimately finding one's way. 

Publishes: June 2012

So what are you most looking forward to me reading/reviewing??? 

Hugs and high fives,

Nicole

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Contempo-May Reading list: Let's Hear it for the Boys!

So much of Contemporary YA focuses on the girlie stuff - admittedly it’s what I tend to read more of. But after recently reading Geekhood by Andy Robb and Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli I thought I’d highlight the guys that are doing it for the genre. And you know what? It’s not all stereotypically staring at tits, smoking and drinking. Teenage guys have feelings too - who would have thought?! To get on this list, not only do the narrators have to be male, but the writers too. This time it’s all about the boys. 

In the interest of transparency I’m going to admit that I haven’t read most of what’s on this list, but they are all titles on my wish list, and titles I have been personally recommended by friends, booksellers and bloggers. And so I am passing on the recommends to you, testosterone and all! 

Please note that this is not a reading list 'for boys', just one highlighting the great blokey blokes doing it for YA in a genre that often seems saturated by the ladies. I encourage anyone of any gender to read absolutely everything!

1. Swim the Fly by Don Calame

This is great comic fun; a little bit American Pie, a little bit Inbetweeners. Filled with moments of excrutiating agony and surprising charm, this is a perfect Summer read for those of you looking for some light relief. 

2. Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Here I’m giving you two awesome blokey narrators for the price of one! Written in alternate chapters, this is a stunning story about two boys who have the same name, and whose lives change forever once they accidentally meet. This book also features the greatest gay YA character of all time, the magnificent Tiny Cooper.

3. The Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

One I’ll admit that I haven’t read yet, but from what I’ve heard, a story about being an outsider and learning how to fit in when you might be out of your depth. Plus it has cartoons. 

4. Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X Stork

This one has been recommended at me countless times, but I haven’t read it yet! Personally I think you should read it for the title and the name of the author alone. The premise is bizarre, but it could be one of those novels that changes the course of your life.

5. One Seriously Messed Up Week in the Otherwise Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson

Well this book definitely wins in the longest title stakes... definitely one for fans of the comedy-geek novel, exemplified by Andy Robb in Geekhood, or maybe one for people who have grown up and grown out of the Wimpy Kid novels. 

6. Candy by Kevin Brooks

A book that draws you in slowly, then hits you with dark pow! I adore Kevin Brooks, and all his books come with an awesome level of grit. Prepare to be haunted. 

7. Doing It by Melvin Burgess 

Well hello there super-provocative cover! This book looks at the ins and outs of sexytimes for boys, featuring three characters in very different situations. Frank and honest, this is a book you won’t forget about in a hurry!

8. Being Billy by Phil Earle

New on the scene and one to watch, Mr Earle grabs the first person point of view and runs away over the hills with it. A compelling and thrilling read, and partly based on Phil’s own experiences working with young people. 

9. Tamar by Mal Peet

Mal Peet is an achingly underated writer - I wish that more people would read his books. This one won the Carnegie medal in 2005, and the scope of it will absolutely blow you away. 

10. Killing Honour by Bali Rai

Bali Rai is another writer I’ve heard loads and loads about but have never got around to reading. In deciding which of his books to feature on this list, it was this one that really stood out because it’s the one I most want to read. So you should read it too. 

I'd love to hear what you think of my choices, plus your suggestions and recommendations! Let me have them in the doobree below. 

Hugs and high fives,

Nicole

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