Hidden YA Contemporary Gems!
I am a hard-core contemporary reader, so I chose to stay in my wheelhouse in identifying those "gems" I have read. What made a book a hidden gem for me, is that I didn't recall hearing a lot about that book, and the book does not have a ton of reviews on GoodReads. We had done a hidden gems TTT back in January, and when I was conferring with Kiersten about this list, we found that we still think those books are gems. So, I may have a few repeats on this list.
Liza M Wiemer
Series: n/a
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
I am such a fan of this book! I loved the way Wiemer wove the lives of these people together, and how she slowly revealed how they were connected. The mixed format made each character's POV more unique, and I felt like it added an additional layer to the story. This was a beautiful story of seeking and needing connections to help us heal and move forward.
Sarah Daltry & Pete Clark
Series: n/a
Publisher: Smashwords
This is another pre-blogging book, and when I looked at my GoodReads review, it was simply, "Nerdy Fun". It really was. I read this book back in Feb 2014, and I still remember it being hilarious. I loved the whole way George and Katie met, the way they interacted, the whole race to level up and win the prize. It was just a fast-paced tale filled with laughs and humor.
Kami Garcia
Series: n/a
Publisher: Imprint
I expected this to blow up, but I guess Garcia's fan lean more paranormal. I was interested because I am such a Caster Chronicles fan, and this being a contemporary romance fell right into my comfort zone. I whole-heartedly enjoyed this gritty teen romance that had a touch of mystery.
Katie McGarry
Series: Thunder Road, #3
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Speaking of gritty teen romances, McGarry owns that slot in my reading life. This series was not a huge departure from the Pushing the Limits series, but it did kick it up a notch by featuring teens, who belong to a motorcycle club. I have not read too many MC book, but I love McGarry and I was not disappointed. This is the last book in the series, so I was very invested in the characters lives at this point, but a big theme that carried throughout the series was family and loyalty, and those are two things I can totally get behind.
A.S. King
Series: n/a
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
This was my first King experience, and it was phenomenal. I think I fell in love with magical realism because of King. She used the magical elements brilliantly and they were very meaningful because of that. King is a masterful storyteller, and I love her style. This one left my heart achy in a good way, and with me wanting to read more of King's books.
David Arnold
Series: n/a
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Another favorite of mine. This one totally punched me right in the feels. I loved going on this healing journey, as Vic tried to decipher his father's request, and along the way, he reconstructed his parents' love story, found a new "family", and solved a murder. From my GoodReads review: "This book was so many adjectives: sweet, funny, tender, beautiful, sad, emotional, scary (just a little), quirky, interesting, thought provoking.", and that is a decent snapshot of my feelings about this book.
Marie Marquardt
Series: n/a
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
This book really touched my heart. It's a love story, a story of redemption, and a story of survival. It was so beautiful how these two people, who were both haunted by a violent past, found each other and helped each other work through their issues. I remember shedding a whole lotta tears during the beautiful epilogue, and they were the good kind.
Adele Griffin
Series: n/a
Publisher: Soho Teen
When Kiersten and I were discussing this list, we both agreed, that this book belonged here. We are always praising this book. Kiersten read it first, and told me I had to read it, and well, it was as good as she said it was. It wasn't just the heartbreaking story, but the way it was told. It's told as a series of interviews, through which the life of Stone is assembled for us. It seemed so real, we wanted to google Addison Stone, because we thought she was an actual person. Another one I added to the favorites shelf.
Stephanie Kate Strohm
Series: n/a
Publisher: Point
This was one of my top 2016 reads. This book was so. Much. Fun! I enjoy books that use an alternate format, and this one is told as an "oral history". The interviews are interspersed with editorial comments from the MC, which had me laughing my face off. I am SO EXCITED to read the companion, The Date to Save, which comes out in September.
Wendy Brant
Series: n/a
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Every time I see a new review for this book, I do a little happy dance, because it was quite a wonderful book. I loved the concept, I loved Eva, I loved Zenn, I loved their families, and I loved this book! It was fun, witty, touching. It was about love and family and forgiveness. It made my heart so happy, and Brant tied it all up with a beautiful epilogue that left me wiping some tears out of my eyes.
These books look fantastic. I love contemporary and haven't read any of these.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope you can get your hand on at least one of these and love it as much as I did.
DeleteLately I'm not really into YA but The Lovely reckless sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteThe Lovely Reckless was a little change of pace for me with respect to YA, because it leans romantic suspense. I thought Garcia did a great job with her first contemporary book, and I really enjoyed the story and characters a lot.
DeleteHello?, Kids of Appetite and Zenn Diagram were all ones I really loved. I will have to check out some of these others now!
ReplyDeleteAll three were fabulous reads. Happy to meet another Hello? fan. I totally loved Wiemer's writing style and the story.
DeleteI really enjoyed Still Life with Torndado and Kids of Appetite. I bought Hello? but haven't had the chance to read it yet. Great list!
ReplyDeleteStill Life totally impressed me, and KOA was such a great story. Hello? is a fabulous story of the importance of connection and how things can just fall into place with one simple step.
DeleteOver this summer I became a big fan of YA contemporary. "The Lovely Reckless" is on my TBR. Hopefully, I`ll get to it soon.
ReplyDeleteCarmen / Carmen`s Reading Corner
If you like a little grittier story with some suspense, you should like Lovely Reckless.
DeleteI think I even pre-ordered The Lovely Reckless and have yet to read it. The synopsis had such a Katie McGarry vibe to me which should have had me reading it immediately. I really need to pick it up soon. And speaking of Katie McGarry, I love everything she's written and Long Way Home was no exception. I haven't heard of The Radius of Us but I like the sound of it.
ReplyDeleteThe Lovely Reckless would totally fit with Katie McG's books. I really liked it. The Radius of Us was a random pick for me and it gave me so many feels. A lovely book.
DeleteHello? and Backward Compatible both look like a lot of fun. I love that retro game style cover for Backward. :)
ReplyDeleteBackward Compatible was hilarious. It was geeky and total fun. Hello? is actually heavier, but not depressing, because people work their stuff out during the story.
DeleteNice picks! Totally new to me ones since this isn't really my genre of choice. But glad you found these gems!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I read mostly contemporary, so I thought I would stick with what I know.
DeleteI've only read The Lovely Reckless from your list, but didn't not enjoy it. The Radius of Us has been on my radar, but I haven't seen too many bloggers talk about it. Glad to see it on your list. The first book that comes to mind for hidden gems in this genre is The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera. I loved that one.
ReplyDelete*Sad Face* about Lovely Reckless. Radius of Us was so painful, beautiful, and ultimately, uplifting. Margot Sanchez is one I have been wanting to read.
DeleteI'm a huge Katie McGarry fan and loved the Thunder Road series as well! Also, I've had Hello? on my TBR for probably about as long as it's been out. I have no idea why I haven't read it yet, especially since everyone seems to love it!
ReplyDeleteI liked so many things about Hello? The format, the story, the idea of connection. It worked on so many levels for me. Katie McG is one of my faves. I loved her even more after seeing her on a panel at UtopiaCon a few years back. I will read all her books.
DeleteI haven't read any of these books on your list, but I have heard good things about many of them. I'll have to check some of these out!
ReplyDeleteThank you for checking our TTT at Owl Always Be Reading!
I am glad that at least they are somewhere on your radar now, because I really loved them.
DeleteOh wow, I haven't read any of these except for Zenn Diagram but they're all on my TBR. Sounds like I need to get busy and show them some love. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI am so guilty of ignoring older books for new ones. Once I get through this run of ARCs, I am going to request less, and try to show more love to books I own/older books.
DeleteOooh, I adore contemporary and I'm always looking for some new ones to add to my TBR. I was supposed to read Venn Diagram ages ago, I might have to make it a higher priority now. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIf you like contemporaries and sweet romances, you will like Zenn Diagram. It just left me with a bursting heart, and I love when books do that.
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