June 9, 2012

My Favorite YA Contemporary Novels + Giveaway

Hi guys! Happy Saturday :)
Today I want to share with you a list of my favorite YA contemporary novels with a quote from the book. I have stated throughout my blog posts that I rarely pick up contemporaries, but when I usually do, it's mostly the dark, painful and/or heartbreaking types with real life issues that are sometimes too hard to stomach or are just too painful to read without bursting into tears. I'm sure some of you love these type of novels just as much as me! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a book with a nice lovely romance which you'll see in my list, that definitely has a happily ever after. <3

So without further ado...

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley || My Review
"Every time he looked at me I felt like I'd touched my tongue to the tip of a battery. In art class I'd watch him lean back and listen and I was nothing but zing and tingle. After a while, the tingle turned to electricity, and when he asked me out my whole body amped to a level where technically I should have been dead. I had nothing in common with a sheddy like him, but a girl doesn't think straight when she's that close to electrocution."
I absolutely adored this book. It became an instant top favorite. The writing is lyrical, the art work described is detailed and the characters come to life off the page. I loved Ed and Lucy <3

One Moment by Kristina McBride
"What if it's as simple as one moment? One tiny thing, like that kiss on the rocks? What if I'd kissed him a little longer? Would he be alive right now? Or what if I'd stayed with him Friday night, what if I'd been with him… wherever he was?"
This book is an emotional roller coaster. One second I was ok. The next I felt bothered, then angry, then sad, then devastated and then I was happy and smiling and then I repeated the whole process. Basically, my emotions were all over the place while reading this one. I couldn't get enough.

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma || My Review
"At the end of the day it's about how much you can bear, how much you can endure. Being together, we harm nobody; being apart, we extinguish ourselves."
Forbidden consumes me, haunts my mind up until now. It eats at my heart and takes over my soul. It has crushed me repeatedly and left me wanting more. This book truly stayed with me and it's no wonder if one of my favorites. I just can't, can't forget about this book. I always find myself going back and rereading passages like the quote above. Forbidden is magnificent.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green || My Review
"I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you."
TFIOS is just those types of books that break you and put you back together in the end. I smiled and cried and laughed and nearly died. I'm so in love with this book, I wish to own an infinite number of copies. I love Augustus Waters. Always.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins || My Review
"The first thing I notice is his hair - it's the first thing I notice about anyone. It's dark brown and messy and somehow both long and short at the same time. I think of the Beatles, since I've just seen them in Meredith's room. It's artist's hair. Musician hair. I-pretend-I-don't-care-but-I-really-do hair."

This is probably the first contemporary novel that actually made my heart swell with love. I think I've read Anna a grip of times and I still get that feeling, that sort of humming vibration that crawls all over my skin and makes me want to hold this book oh so close and never ever let it go. It's the very few and far between type of books that makes me want to read it all over again right when I hit the last sentence.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins || My Review
"There's something about blue eyes.

The kind of blue that startles you every time they're lifted in your direction. The kind of blue that makes you ache for them to look at you again. Not the blue green or blue gray, the blue that's just blue.

Cricket has those eyes."
You can't have Anna without Lola. Well, at least for me. Anna will always have a special place in my heart, but Lola was eccentric and I loved her deeply. Her story with Cricket was amazingly sweet and comforting. There is just something about Stephanie Perkins' writing that makes me want to crawl between the pages and just stay there forever. With Cricket Bell, of course. ;)

Before I Die by Jenny Downham
"I love you. I love you. I send this message through my fingers and into his, up his arm and into his heart. Hear me. I love you. And I'm sorry to leave you."
This is the first book I read that made me cry and cry and cry and each time I read it, I still cry.





What A Boy Want by Nyrae Dawn || My Review
"She laughed and I couldn't help but laugh with her. That's why I avoided her. Even in the dark, all it took was knowing those green eyes were focused on me and I was a goner."
I rarely read male POVs because I can't seem to connect or relate or I just don't like their voice or it's just not done well enough for me. But Bastian had me the second he opened his mouth. I love him, love him, love him, love him. Bastian just has this amazing presence and he makes me smile all the time.



If I Stay by Gayle Forman
"I realize now that dying is easy. Living is hard."
I loved this book. It's real and true. It makes me close my eyes and remember all of the things and people I have in this world and it makes me want to live another day.






Speak by Laure Halse Anderson
"I have survived. I am here. Confused, screwed up, but here. So, how can I find my way? Is there a chain saw of the soul, an ax I can take to my memories or fears?"
I will always love this book for many reasons. The most significant reason is because this is the book that made me love YA. It's the first YA book I have ever read and because of Speak, it wasn't my last.




Other mentionables:
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Breathe by Abbi Glines

Now that you've seen my list, what do you think? Have you read any of these? Did you love it or hate it? Are you dying to read one of these? If so, here's your chance!

Giveaway!
I need your help expanding my contemporary reads. I already have some in mind, some that I've written down on my list and some that I own but haven't gotten the chance to read. So here's the deal.. 

The Rules:
- ONE winner will win a YA Contemporary Novel of their choice from Amazon.
- Fill in the Rafflecopter below with the mandatory entry of recommending a YA contemporary novel you think I'll enjoy.
- Must be 13 years or older
- Must live in the US (Sorry guys, I'm low on $$)
- Winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to reply or I will be forced to choose another winner

Good luck and happy reading! <3 :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

78 comments:

  1. I read & really liked Gimme a Call
    by Sarah Mlynowski & Prom and Prejudice
    by Elizabeth Eulberg. Hopefully you give them a try. & thanks for the giveaway, I LOVED forbidden & feel the same way as you did.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Definitely all of Melina Marchetta's contemporary novels! Jellicoe Road, Saving Francesca, The Piper's Son, and Looking for Albirandi. They all fit the type of contemps you like to read, and plus, they're all awesome. She's an amazing writer! :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love most of Sarah Dessen's books! And they always deal with real-life problems (death, eating disorders, divorce, abandonment, etc), like you said you like :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger or Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, if you haven't read them... Or The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson!
    Thanks for the giveaway!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well as you know I can't enter lol but I just finshed Boys, bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots and it was kind of fun :) I have a couple more on the TBR list will keep you updated!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PSH! You know I'm sending you another package, so you don't even need to sweat it ;) <3

      Delete
  6. I was going to recommend "Where She Went" alas...
    (although both books devastated me for some reason the sequel destroyed me for a long time - I also kept hearing Adam and Mia in my head after reading WSW - I'm rambling but I'm still not really over it)

    I love the dark stuff too so I'm jazzed about your above list of recs. I will recommend something I read recently not even knowing it was going to be dark which led to an emotional breakdown and subsequent weepy/sad/angry review on Goodreads. You have probably already read it though as it's an older title.


    The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells
    "This is why you have to live inside each beautiful or terrible thing as it happens to you, because the present may be all you've got. And if there's more ahead, then the present is where you can really shape your future."

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't read many contemporaries either and you listed most of my favs such as Graffiti Moon, Lola and the Boy Next Door, What A Boy Wants and If I Stay. Some others I loved were also Catching Jordan by Miranda Keneally, Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols, What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, and Saving June by Hannah Harrington. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I personally liked North of Beautiful. It's on the older side, but it focuses on a girls journey to self discovery and I loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker. I just read it and thought it was a great summer read!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You have so many awesome books on this list...some I've read and loved, while many I AM DYING to read.

    Anyway, other contemporary books you need in your life-

    Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert (must.get.now.)
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky (practically my favorite book ever)
    Willow by Julia Hoban (beautiful and power and just woah)

    -Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ditto on "Prom and Prejudice" by Elizabeth Eulberg and "Willow" by Julia Hoban ^_^

    "Perfect You" and "Living Dead Girl" by Elizabeth Scott

    "Love At First Click" by Elizabeth Chandler (and I highly recommend her out-of-print books from the Love Stories series, especially "At First Sight" and "I Do"). And also her Dark Secrets series, if you enjoy thrillers (like Richie Tankersley Cusick books).

    ReplyDelete
  12. You totally must check out Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt and Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally! LOVE those two like cray!

    ReplyDelete
  13. "Keeping the Moon" by Sarah Dessen, is a really great contemporary read that deals with a girl trying to discover her beauty and "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" by Sarah Addison Allen is another really good contemp. read (although it's not exactly YA, the novel is about a teenager).

    ReplyDelete
  14. One of the best current YA contemps has got to be Wanderlove. I bet you've probably already read it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm reading Shift by Em Bailey right now, and it is contemporary, but with just a touch of something different. Also, highly recommend I Am the Messenger.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Any Sarah Dessen books:) My favorite are Along for the Ride, What Happened To Goodbye, Lock and Key, and the Truth About Forever:)
    -JennyC

    ReplyDelete
  17. Any thing by Sarah Dessen. All of her books are about real life situations and they really stick with you even after you read them. She is no doubt my favorite author :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver!!! She is a wonderful author!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would suggest My Life Next Door or Such a Rush, they are absolutely fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Those are all great choices! I'd recommend Free Fall by Mindi Scott :o)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think you'd like "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's about this anorexic girl whose best friend dies from the same thing (as I recall), and it follows the first girl on her journey to recovery. It's really good!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I recently read Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, it was a very quick read, great for summer!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Have you read Virtuosity? If you like reading stories about teens and extreme talent, you may enjoy this one.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

    ReplyDelete
  26. My two favorite YA contemps are both a little older: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta and Sweethearts by Sara Zarr.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I think you might like This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (It's my favorite of hers)!! It's not brand new, but it's just so amazing(:

    ReplyDelete
  28. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry and Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler both were AMAZING books! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm reading Never Enough by Denise Jaden now & I'd definitely recommend it. Also, pretty much anything Judy Blume. I haven't read all the books on your list, but I loved Speak & The Fault In Our Stars(even though I still can't seem to find words to review it, at least none that will do it justice). And I have got to make time for Anna & Lola. I think I'm about the only blogger that hasn't read them.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park is one of my favorites. Heart-wrenching, beautiful. Definitely recommended!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love any Sarah Dessen book, and I've heard a lot of good things about The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, although I haven't read it yet.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hmm this us hard. I love Jolene Perry books.. if they are contemp.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks so much for this giveaway! I loved My Life Next Door, Second Chance Summer, The Catastrophic History of You and Me, The Fine Art of Truth or Dare, and The Truth About Forever,.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I loved Forbidden too! I think you might like Try not to breathe by J. Hubbard.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I think you would love Easy by Tammara Webber, anything Sarah Dessen (My favorites are What happened to Goodbye, Lock and Key and This Lullaby), and Stay by Deb Caletti.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I think you would like any of Sarah Dessen's books :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. I recently read The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle and thought it was incredible. :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. My favorite YA contemporary novel is probably Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why. Made me cry so hard. I even was able to get my sister, who doesn't read much, to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Melina Marchetta's Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca are absolutely amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I recently read In Too Deep by Amanda Grace and loved it. Plus its a pretty quick read. Also, the Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han is so fun. Another one I recently read was Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols which comes out in a few days (if not already, I'm not sure on the release date). Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I recently read From What I remember and I really enjoyed that. My favorite comtempts are Thirteen Reasons Why, The Sky is Everywhere and All Unquiet Things.

    ReplyDelete
  42. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger is a good one :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. Megan Meade's guide to the McGowan boys by Kate Brian, this one is great image going to live with a family friend while your parents go abroad and the family your staying with have seven sons!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Any of Melina Marchetta's contemporary novels! Jellicoe Road is probably one of my favorite books, and judging by the contemporaries you listed I think you'd enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I really enjoyed The Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison. Absolutely HILLARIOUS, and consisting of events from a normal teenagers life. Great series. Also The Outsiders by S. E Hinton. If you haven't read it, you should. This is a book that every person in the world dhould have to read. Third, this is the one I think you will like best, is By The Time You Read This I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters. It's about a girl with past weight problems, and sheds a light on bullying and loneliness. Great novel.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald is a cute, fun read that doesn't get a lot of notice :]

    ReplyDelete
  47. Easy by Tammara Webber!! <3 this book!

    *Emily R in rafflecopter :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. I would recommend Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. Her books are beyond exceptional.

    ReplyDelete
  49. I loved The Dairy Queen trilogy! Definitely recommended!

    Thanks,
    Leanne

    ReplyDelete
  50. The Sky is Everywhere was pretty surprising!

    ReplyDelete
  51. My Life Next Door is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I like the Dark Secrets Series by AM Hudson, Tri-Realms Saga by KC King, The War of the Fae by Elle Casey, I'll stop there because I could go on and on...

    ReplyDelete
  53. ^I'd love to read that!

    And I just finished Smart Girls Get What They Want which is pretty cute :D

    ReplyDelete
  54. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Thanks for the giveaway!
    ~Shelby

    ReplyDelete
  55. Have you read Easy? Thanks for the giveaway!
    --Markella

    ReplyDelete
  56. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

    Jolene A

    ReplyDelete
  57. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

    ReplyDelete
  58. I'm a new follower. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Please check out my blog - http://bookbloggermom.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  59. Seeing as you liked If I Stay and Laurie Halse Anderson's books, I think you'll LOVE Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. It was so touching and sad, it was my favorite book of 2012.

    As for a fun, light read, I reccomend "My Life Next Door".

    ReplyDelete
  60. I loved both Something Like Normal by Trish Doller and Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    -Lori

    ReplyDelete
  61. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGary - beautiful unexpected romance!

    Keep Holding On - a book about high school bullying. Really great/easy read that deals with some important issues!

    Thanks for the giveaway. :)

    ReplyDelete
  62. I haven't read this yet, but I've got it to read and have heard nothing but AMAZINGNESS about it, so I'd recommend Pushing the Limits.(:

    Thanks for this awesome giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Lol, sorry! I entered this but live in the UK. ): you should still read PtL anyway, and good luck to everyone entering. :D

    ReplyDelete
  64. Pushing The Limits is amazing...

    Thank you for the giveaway.
    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

    ReplyDelete
  65. I just recently read All These Lives by Sarah Wylie. Loved it! I think you'll like it too :) Thanks for the amazing giveaway!!

    ReplyDelete
  66. You should totally check out Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry! I just read it last week and LOVED IT! :)

    ReplyDelete
  67. Looking For Alaska by John Green. He's just a fabulous author!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Definitely My Life Next Door! It made me cry but smile so much! And Pushing the Limits too! I can't decide between the two which one is my favorite! But definitely read both if you can! =D

    ReplyDelete
  69. My Life Next Door! It made me cry but smile too(: Pushing the Limit is an amaaazing book as well! I can't decide between the two which one I like more! Definitely try to read both of them if you can! =D

    ReplyDelete
  70. Out of this list, I really think that, Lola and The Boy Next Door would be the best choice! :D

    But I read a really great contemporary called Queen of Kentucky. It was simply fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  71. I enjoyed The Duff by Kody Keplinger,as well as all books by Sarah Dessen...

    ReplyDelete
  72. I loved "Spill Over" by Jolene Perry, "Slammed" by Colleen Hoover and "Forever Changed" by Tiffany King to name a few. You can't go wrong with any of those.:) Thanks for having the giveaway.:)

    ReplyDelete
  73. Slammed by Colleen Hoover, Spill Over by Jolene Perry, Forever Changed by Tiffany King just to name a few. I loved all of these.:) Thanks for the giveaway.:)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for leaving a comment! You rock :] <3