I’m a visitor on Mackenzi Lee‘s blog today, talking about the four books that changed my life. You should totally check it out!
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I read A LOT of books in June! Here are the highlights…
{Click on book covers for each novel’s Goodreads page.}
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland – Nantucket Blue turned out to be just what I was expecting: beachy and romantic, a fresh take on mature contemporary YA. I adore its lovely, washed-out cover, and the fact that Jenny Han blurbed it, well… that says a lot.Pick up Nantucket Blue if you’re looking for a sweet, summer read with just the right amount of depth. My full Bookanista review is HERE.
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker – A beautifully written adult novel with a unique (and scary) premise. The Age of Miracles is a melancholy sort of book, but eleven-year-old protagonist Julia is easy to relate to, and her friendship with a sweet loner boy from her school keeps the novel from getting bogged down in sorrow. A definite recommend for fans of literary fiction with a light science fiction slant.
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay – This novel is beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL. I finished it several weeks ago, yet I’m still thinking about its characters and, of course, their romance. A new addition to my Favorite Books of 2013 list. Find the acrostic poem review I wrote HERE.
Golden by Jessi Kirby – Jessi Kirby has become one of my go-to contemporary authors, a member of the same trusted group as Sara Zarr, Sarah Dessen, Gayle Forman, Sarah Ockler, and Stephanie Perkins. Golden is such a lovely story, part mystery, part romance, part road trip. Main character Parker is a joy to spend time with, and my imagination had no trouble bringing this story’s mountainous setting to life. A definite recommend for fans of contemporary YA.
Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson – A novel full of gorgeous prose, though the story itself was not so much my cup of tea. I do think people who enjoy historical fiction will like it; the descriptions of life in the 1850s are fascinating. Find my DAC review HERE.
Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller (September 24th) – I’ve got a Bookanista review planned for this remarkable novel, but for now I’ll just say: I LOVE THIS STORY. So, so much. I cannot wait for its September release because if you like contemporary young adult romance, this novel is for you. You will adore main character Callie, and you will fall head-over-heels for Greek charmer Alex. Another for my Favorite Books of 2013 list.
The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed Up World by Christine Fonseca – I will definitely have a copy of The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed Up World on hand to give my daughter when she’s in middle school. This book is all kinds of fun, and it educates girls without coming across as preachy or stiff. It reads like a conversation with a friend, not the self-help manual you might expect. My full Bookanista review is HERE.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender – Two adult novels in one month? What is my life coming to?! 😉 This one was bizarre, but I didn’t dislike it. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake‘s characters are complex and well-drawn, and the writing is gorgeous (though, I didn’t understand the author’s stylistic choice to forgo all quotation marks… why?). My issue with this story was in its conclusion. I wanted more explanation, or maybe a different explanation. I don’t know… I’m kind of torn. Have you read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake? What did you think?
Tell me: What’s the best book you read in June?
katyupperman.com 
I think GOLDEN was my fave read of the month!
I loved GOLDEN too! Contemporary YA at its best. 🙂
I also read it this month and really enjoyed it (read it on a sick day, made me feel better). Still love Moonglass the most though.
I love MOONGLASS too, but I think I might love GOLDEN even more! Jessi Kirby rocks contemporary YA. 🙂
OMG, you read all of these in June??? I am totally in awe! In June, I read Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen and Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan. Very different, but both very good.
I’ve been reading a lot on the elliptical. 🙂 I’ve heard great things about SCARLET… It’s one I’ll definitely have to pick up soon.
Sounds like you read some fantastic books this month! I’ve got every Jessi Kirby book in my bookbag from the library and I’m really looking forward to reading THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY. Also, I really love historical fiction (just read THE CAGED GRAVES by Dianne Salerni and couldn’t put it down) so I’ll have to check out STRANDS, too. This weekend one of my goals is to read **outside** so I’m crossing my fingers for good weather!
Have a wonderful weekend!
I LOVE to read outside (under the warm sun, obviously!). I just looked up THE CAGED GRAVES and it sounds incredible. Despite the fact that historical fiction isn’t usually my genre of choice, I might have to check GRAVES out. Maybe it’ll be the book to change my mind. 🙂
This is a great list of books and I haven’t read a single one yet. That gives me a lot to look forward to! I think my next read is GOLDEN, and I’m very excited about that. It sounds pretty much exactly like what I’m in the mood for. Thanks for the great recommendations, Katy. (As per usual. :D)
I hope you love GOLDEN, Jaime — I totally think you will. Have a great weekend… Happy reading AND writing. 🙂
I still need to read all of these. *bites nails* I’m trying to think of what I read this June, but it’s so hard. I can read about a book a day if I really choose to…LOL! Let’s see…I read Star Cursed which I loved, In the Shadow of Blackbirds (reviewed on my blog today), an adult novel The Art of Disappearing (need to review bc I loved it so), hmm…I started Ashes but haven’t finished it… I’m also 15% into this class, The ThornBirds (it is 700 pages long so I am reading VERRRRY slowly), ha! Have a great weekend Katy!
Now that I’ve read BORN WICKED, I can’t wait to read more about Cahill sisters (and Finn!). Thanks for recommending the series, Rachel. Looking forward to checking out your BLACKBIRDS review. 🙂
I’m waiting for my hold on Golden at the library. I’m dying to read it!
Age of Miracles was a surprise to me. I never thought I’d like it as much as I did.
You had a great month reading wise! Woot!
It was a great reading month! I hope you get to read GOLDEN soon, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 🙂
Impressive Katy and it reminds me how great the writing community is– I just adore hearing about great books all the time! It makes me want to bust my book budget yet again. What a great problem to have!
Right?! Every day I hear of another YA book I want to read. My friends have such fantastic taste! Good thing my library has a well-stocked teen section. 🙂
Oh yay, I think you and I have similar taste in books. For the most part these are all books I’ve read or wanted to read. Just put The Sea of Tranquility on my holds at the library!
Ooh, I hope you love THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY as much as I did — such an emotional book! Let me know what you think!
Oupsie – the computer ate my comment…
All those books sound AWESOME!…I loved NANTUCKET BLUE and I can’t wait to read GOLDEN and THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY…I also have to pre-order WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE because it sounds simply amazing!
You will love all three of those contemps, Elodie — I’m sure of it! And thank you for recommending DARE YOU TO… I’m reading it now and really enjoying it. 🙂
I want Nantucket Blue for the cover alone. I love it.
Me too! So pretty!
THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE is on my bookshelf right now, waiting to be read. I bought it because an author I met/admire reads a lot of Aimee Bender, so I thought I’d give it a try. I’ll have to let you know what I think when I read it!
Yes, please do let me know! It’s a beautifully written book (I found myself rereading some of the loveliest passages) and the characters are fascinating. I’ll be interested to get a second opinion on the conclusion — I’m still torn!
That’s a great list! Thanks. I haven’t heard of Golden. Looking forward to reading it.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Paige!