It's the end of the year, and that means BEST OF lists! I find this task difficult, but I enjoy it so much.
Top 10 of 2019 is a hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads and Ginger. Today's topic is...
Captivating Characters!
My love of a book usually relies heavily on my love of the characters. All of these books featured multiple stand-out characters, who I was naturally drawn to, and wanted to get to know better.
- Josie & Delia from Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner
- Aphra from We Are the Perfect Girl by Ariel Kaplan
- Sweetie from There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
- Emoni from With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Adam & Zayneb from Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali
- Birdie & Daniel from Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett
- Paige from Risking It All by S.M. Koz
- Kimi & Akira from I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
- Lia & Sibby from The Arrival of Someday by Jen Malone
- Remy from How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters
Have you "met" any interesting characters this year?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
I must admit, the only one I've read so far is Serious Moonlight but have so many of these incredible reads on my list and hoping to get to them soon. Aren't the illustrated covers spectacular though, bright and eye catching and love how diverse reads are finally being published with diverse characters on the cover now too. It's about damn time! Can't wait to check these out Sam!
ReplyDeleteI am a cover-ho, so I get very excited when seeing so many lovely covers together in one place. I don't know how many readers feel like I do, but it insults me, that a publisher thinks I won't buy a book with a cover featuring a POC on the cover.
DeleteI'm just smiling and nodding my head, going yes, yes, yes, yes as I scroll down your list. Adam and Zayneb, Birdie and Daniel, and Josie and Delia were definitely some of my favorites this year.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I have met so many incredible characters this year, and therefore, the category was easy to find candidates for, but difficult to limit to just ten picks. I think that's a good problem to have
DeleteSo many books on our TBR! I think that Kimi and Akira are characters that I am most excited to meet. Maybe in 2020 I will get the chance. ;)
ReplyDeleteThey weren't the only great thing about that book either. There was a beautiful exploration of the intergenerational relationships in Kimi's family, which was a highlight for me, in addition to all the fantastic descriptions of the food and sights in Japan
DeleteYep, characters will make or break a book for me, too. I still need to read Sweetie's story and Serious Moonlight from my pile.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to them. Those are two of my go-to YA authors, and they never disappoint
DeleteSerious Moonlight is so high on my TBR. I can't wait to meet Daniel and Birdie!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes! You must meet them. Their "meet-cute" is hilarious, and I cannot scream enough about Daniel. He was a beautiful unicorn boy
DeleteYes I have! Emma & Roo from The Rest of the Story, Sasha, Raquel & Elijah from The Last Wish of Sasha Cade, Ashlyn from No Place like Here and of course Quinn and Grayson from How to Speak Boy. I can't wait to discover more even more characters next year!
ReplyDeleteI always love Dessen's family, and Emma's family was very special. I have read all the books you referenced, and agree, all fabulous!
DeleteThere's Something About Sweetie and With the Fire on High are the only two I've read (and loved), and I cannot believe I haven't read Serious Moonlight yet! Shame on me! All of the others are on my TBR. <3 Characters are the bread and butter of books (for me). I have to like a character (or understand why they're unlikable) to really enjoy a book. If I HATE the MC, it's safe to assume the book will not be a winner for me.
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ☃💬
I will read a plotless story and love it, if the characters win my heart. I need to care and be invested in their outcomes, you know?
DeleteSo many new characters who captivated you! Again, a lot of the ones here are on my tbr already. I am especially looking forward to meeting Sweetie from There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon, Emoni from With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo and both Adam & Zayneb from Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali!
ReplyDeleteSweetie was so fabulous, and someone to admire. She had a lot of grace and spirit, and I appreciated her positive attitude. Emoni was doing what she needed to do, being the best mom, and still trying to achieve her dreams. She wasn't going to let what other people thought keep her from achieving. Zayneb was spirited, and I loved the way Adam pushed her to harness her passion in positive ways. She was a force, and he was just a spectacular, wonderful young man.
DeleteMy love of books usually relies on the characters too. I'm glad to see you found some great ones!
ReplyDeleteIf I cannot connect with the characters, the book really has to have a great plot, like Gone Girl or something like that.
DeleteRayne and Delilah's sounds like such a wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good! I think Zentner writes incredible books. I will always want to read all his releases.
DeleteI haven't read any of these, so can't comment on the characters, but I LOVE the covers for Serious Moonlight and With The Fire On High. 😍
ReplyDeleteBennett always has great covers, and the cover for Fire really captures, who I thought Emoni was after reading the book
DeleteBirdie drove me kind of nuts, but I loved Daniel.
ReplyDeleteI felt like Birdie had a lot of growing up to do, but that was a result of her sheltered upbringing.
DeleteI haven't read any of these yet, but several are on my list! Great picks!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my Top 10 Characters of 2019
Hope you get to some of them. They were all winners for me
DeleteI haven't read any of these yet but I do love books with great characters. I need to get my hands on the Jeff Zentner book and I really need to try Jenn Bennett.
ReplyDeleteCarole! Bennett is so wonderful! You might enjoy her series. I have read a few of the Roaring Twenties books. They are historical paranormals, but still contain all that stuff I love about Bennett's books in general. The other series is Arcadia Bell, which I have not read, and is also paranormal, which I know you like.
DeleteI love a rousing plot, but I also really, REALLY like me a good, memorable character. Emoni is certainly one. I haven't read these other books, but I'll have to check them out if they star great characters. Thanks for the recs!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, Acevedo crafts great characters. Her previous book had very well drawn characters too.
DeleteJosie and Delia are a couple of my favorites too!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great pair of friends. They were sort of magic together. They brought out a lot in one another, but also balanced each other.
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