Read With Me: Contemporary Edition
Summer Days and Summer Nights edited by Stephanie Perkins
Unrivaled by Alyson Noel
You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan
When We Collided by Emery Lord
The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub
Sing by Vivi Greene
I thought it might be fun to talk about the books I'm reading in a new little feature I'm calling, "Read With Me Wednesday's" twice a month. It's been a struggle this year, trying to juggle work, personal life, and reading all at the same time and still have some "free time" for me. So, after giving it some thought, I've decided that I'm not going to set a "how many books I'll be reading this year" goal, because it's just been too much added pressure on me and honestly it's started to suck the fun out reading. I've also decided that I'm going to read whatever feels right and what I'm in the mood to read, while still intermingling some of the ARC's I've received for review into that pile as well.
This Wednesday, we're going to be talking about "all the Contemporaries", because it seems like I've been on a really big kick with them lately. It's summer time and I love sinking into a really fun, super carefree, sweet romance or a super hyped-up, all drama, crazy ball of contemporary feels. Also, I love how diverse most of the books I'm most excited to read this summer, are. But enough of my gabbing, let's talk about these books and what I loved about them or why I want/can't wait to read them.
Currently Reading...
edited by Stephanie Perkins
I'm really enjoying this book, I'm about half way through it and I've been taking my time reading two or three stories a day or whenever I have time. It's not as strong as the My True Love Gave to Me anthology of short stories, but it's really cute, fun, and a couple of the stories has super feels. I absolutely love the short story that Francesca Lia Block wrote, it was beautiful, angsty, and super feels-y. It really gave me something to think about, to reflect on, plus is made me cry. It was just gorgeous and so far, it has been one of my absolute favorites. (Even though, some have said it just seemed pointless.)
I also really loved how adorable and cute Stephanie Perkins story was and I'm really looking forward to reading the one that Jennifer E. Smith wrote, since I've heard that it puts a positive spin on highlighting Autism and how it affects the people who have to live with it on a daily basis. If you like short stories and summer, I would definitely suggest picking up a copy and reading it, because it's tons of fun and feels-y.
I actually received a finished copy of this book via the publisher and I have to say, that despite some residual feelings, I'm actually enjoying it. It's a pretty good summer mystery, filled with all kinds of drama, various characters from different backgrounds, and different purposes that all tie into the bigger part of the story.
Again, I'm about half-way through it, and I'm really liking it. So, if you're looking for a pretty decent summer mystery, I would actually suggest you give this one a try and see how you like it.
Wanting to Read...
by Nina LaCour and David Levithan
Okay, so, where do I even begin with this book?! Because, I love the fact that it's so LGBTQ+ positive (that there are more books like this that are being written and released soon in YA), that Nina LaCour and David Levithan freaking wrote a book together, (what?!), or that the basic premise of it just sounds so amazing. I want this book to become a movie, so that I can like freaking obsess over it like crazy.
There should be more books like these, more characters and stories exactly like this one in YA. This book is going to be absolutely gorgeous and brave and full of so many wonderful things and I can't wait to read it.
"We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…"
That quote is THE WHY I want to read this book, because if the rest of it is ANYTHING like that then I know it's going to be absolutely beautiful and amazing. This is how I want to spend the rest of my summer days, reading books like these that give me ALL THE FEELS. That, and the fact that it's unlike any of the other books that she's written, that it highlights mental illness in such a raw and realistic thought provoking way just makes me want to read it even more!
This is probably going to be one that I'm going to want to physically own a copy of and not just have it on my Kindle.
I absolutely love reading books like this one, because you get to meet various characters, see how their lives crossed or intersected in some way or another, and also see the future impact that it had on them. You just get to see so many sides to each person, see their story, and how it affects them and other's around them that you can't help, but feel.
Currently Read...
Sing by Vivi Greene
I know from looking at Goodreads that pretty everyone and their mother, thinks this book is based on Taylor Swift and her life. I can't say whether or not it was or wasn't inspired by her, but I am going to say that not everything is about Taylor Swift (who, I actually kind of like btw). This story was fun, super sweet and charming, and it definitely made me laugh and cry at the same time. It actually made me feel something, it was the first book that I've picked up in the last couple of months that I actually wanted to sit down and just drown in without putting it away until I was finished. It was another one that was sent as finished copy by the publisher for review and I have yet to find the words to say how much I enjoyed it.
I just don't care what other people think, really, because until you've read it you don't really know who it's about or what it's really about. There's a little bit more there to it, than meets the eye and I felt like it was really sweet and cute and funny in all of the right ways that a summer romance and finding oneself and being brave enough to accept the changes in who you were, who you are becoming, and who you want to be no matter the odds that you'll face or the people or things that might fall away in your life. That is how this story spoke to me and I really loved it.
So, those are the books that I'm currently reading, what I want to read, and what I've read so far.
What are you reading? Wanting to read? Have read?
Let me know in the comments below!
