Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books I Want to Read by New-to-Me Authors

by Lily

I started to love reading a few years ago. There are so many books in the world that it's almost impossible to read every one, but I will always try to read as many books as I can fit into my life. I have many books on my to-read list, many of which are part of a series or by some of my favorite authors that I've read books by before. However, I think it's important to read books by a variety of authors to explore different writing styles and new stories. You might find your new favorite author, or a story that you love, or a new genre that you hadn't encountered yet. These top ten books are on my to- read list and are written by authors that I have not read before. 

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time. This is the first book in The Seeds of America trilogy. It's a historical fiction about a thirteen year old girl named Isabel fighting for her freedom. This seems very interesting to me and I can't wait to finally pick it up and learn about history from the point of view of someone who had to live through it. 

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

My friend read this book and recommended it to me. I haven't read any books by Lynn Painter yet, but I've heard great things about her writing and stories. This is a YA rom-com about a girl named Liz and her neighbor Wes. I would like to read this book as an introduction to the romance genre. 

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

I enjoy science fiction and dystopian books, so this seems like a great series. It even incorporates beloved tales into futuristic new adaptations. It is a four book series with a prequel. Each book is inspired by a different fairy tale story, with twists that you wouldn't expect. I have not read any books by Marissa Meyer but they all seem exciting and are definitely high on my to-read list. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

This book seems good, and I have heard great things about it. It has been adapted into a movie and a stage musical, showing how much people love this book. It was written by a teenage girl and shows realities and many relatable themes. This book is loved by many, and I hope to read it soon. 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is a classic loved by millions. Jane Austen is a very popular author, and wrote six major novels, although this might be her most popular of all. It follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as they first meet and eventually realize they might have initially misjudged one another. It has been turned into movies and even TV shows. Jane Austen has inspired many with her great writing and storytelling. I can't wait to start this book and read the rest of her novels as well. 

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 

This is a broad topic because Arthur Conan Doyle wrote Sherlock Holmes as a series of short stories and four novels. However, his stories have been put into collections or rewritten to fit into a single book, and read in many different formats. I would love to start reading mysteries, and I feel like the perfect way to start is with a loved classic character such as Sherlock Holmes. Many have read the stories of this famous fictional detective. It has inspired so many books, movies, and shows that many people have heard of, and enjoy The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. 

Satellite by Nick Lake 

I love science fiction and space so I'm excited to read this book by Nick Lake. A boy makes his first trip to Earth after being trained by astronauts for years while living on a space station. It's a captivating sci-fi adventure that I will surely love. 

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

This book was recommended to me by a friend who found it interesting. The story follows Salama Kassub in Syria in 2011, at the start of the Syrian revolution. She is a volunteer at the hospital, while trying to find a way out of the country before her sister gives birth. She is faced with the hard decision of whether to flee or stay loyal to her country and her family. She begins to see how it is a war but also a revolution. This is a literary fiction book with good themes. It shows her struggles and how she overcomes it. 

All The Noise At Once by DeAndra Davis 

I saw this on the Florida Teens Read collection for 2026-2027 and immediately wanted to read it. It's about a teen boy with autism named Aiden whose brother is arrested falsely trying to protect him from a bully. As Aiden tries to get his brother out of jail, he is faced with many struggles and needs to find his own voice. 

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis 

This is a historical fiction set in Chicago in 1910. Four African American Girls have strong ambitious dreams. Defying the expectations of others, they pursue challenges and seek independence and love from others. I can't wait to dive into the stories of these brave girls written by Krystal Marquis. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Romance Books I Look Forward To Reading This Year

by Enola

Romance is one of the most popular genres in books. Everybody reads some kind of romance, whether it’s a romantasy, a mystery with a side of a romance, a Christmas romance, or a rom-com. I happen to like all four. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought I’d share the top ten romance books I look forward to reading this year based on their descriptions. I mean, what better time to talk about all books romance, right?

  1. Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic based on the novel by Eiko Kadono

Kiki is a thirteen year old half-witch who chooses a new town to live in for a year as per witch tradition. She ends up in Koriko, a seaside village, where it’s a little hard to get the locals to trust her. She has a cat companion named Jiji, and she also meets Tombo, a boy her age who has a crush on her. I literally want to read this book as soon as possible.

 

  2. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Love & Gelato sounds like the perfect romantic summer read! What’s more enchanting than reading an Italian romance with some gelato by your side? I think this book sounds very cute and wholesome, and I definitely want to give it a read. The story follows Lina, who is spending the summer in Italy fulfilling her mother’s dying wish for Lina to get to know her father. But, when Lina is given her mother’s old journal, she sets out to find a secret and possibly love. 

 

  3. P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

This novel by Kasie West is a sweet and funny romance novel where high school student Lily writes down some music lyrics on her class desk only to return the next day to find someone has written the rest of the lyrics and also included a message. She becomes pen pals with this mysterious person. The more they share, the more Lily realizes that she might have a crush on him, but she has no idea who he is. I think it sounds like a delightful and romantic read. 

 

  4. Witty in Pink by Erica George

Calling all Jane Austen fans! This book is a historical romance about two frenemies. Briggs Goswick is the male lead in this story but Blythe can’t stand him. Actually, he doesn’t care much for her either. Blythe describes him as a man-child but an attractive man-child. As Blythe is busy trying to save her family’s name and fortune, she soon discovers Briggs is also financially broke. Blythe must come up with a plan to save her family from ruins. Briggs is also in a desperate need of money so they have to help each other out. It sounds like a funny enemies to lovers, which I think I’ll really enjoy.

 

  5. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Of course it’s a curse! Poor Sophie Hatter is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and becomes an old woman. Lucky for Sophie, the solution is (kind of) simple. All she has to do is head to Howl’s Moving Castle. Once there, Sophie meets Howl, who might just be her soulmate, and Calcifer, a fire demon who Sophie makes a deal with. The goal? Find the Witch of the Waste and face her head-on. This fantasy sounds like the perfect mix of friendship, adventure, and romance, making it perfect for people looking for a nice read.

 

  6. Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

I’ve seen this book quite a few times and I’ve always thought it looked sweet and wholesome. So, finally, this year I’m making sure I read it! Angelica and the Bear Prince follows main character Angelica, a high-schooler who finds herself worn out. Angelica starts to receive encouraging messages from the local theater mascot, and in hopes to discover who exactly is behind the bear costume, Angelica gets an internship at the theater. This read sounds very sweet and also sounds like a nice palate-cleanser, as it is also a graphic novel.

 

  7. My Favorite Color is Mistletoe by Eva Austin

I like Christmas books. Something about reading festive books during the holiday season with a cup of hot chocolate in hand is very magical, and I’ve heard a lot of good reviews about this one. The story follows Audrey, who is going through a breakup, and now dreading all the couple’s activities at her family’s annual Christmas gathering. She agrees to fake date Jax but soon enough Audrey realizes maybe she can find love. It sounds like a wholesome Christmas read which I’ll read during the holiday season.

 

  8. Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve been wanting to read this book. It seems right up my alley with a good mix of fantasy and romance. This book is also a Netflix series, which is great. The story follows Alina Starkov, a solider who, when her regiment is attacked, suddenly releases magic unknown to her to save them. This plunges her into a world of magic as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical elite. The only problem seems to be their leader, the Darkling, who believes she is the only one who can destroy the Shadowfold once she masters her gift. 

 

  9. Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

I really enjoyed Mint To Be written by this author last holiday season, so I’ve been wanting to give her other novel, (featuring characters from Mint To Be) a shot. The story follows Lucy Kane, who works at her mom’s coffee shop in Briar Glen called Cup o’ Joe. Unfortunately, business hasn’t been too great, but it usually gets better during the fall—or at least it did because now Java Junction, a coffee chain, just became Cup o’ Joe’s neighbor and rival. The worst part is that Jack Harper, Lucy’s crush, is the owner’s son. I think this read will be great for October. It also sounds quite funny.

 

  10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This classic novel which I’ve been wanting to read is set in Regency England and follows the rivalry, and eventual romance of Elizabeth Bennet, one of the five Bennet daughters, and the arrogant Mr. Darcy. I plan on reading it very soon. The reviews for this are amazing, and people are always recommending it.

 

This concludes my “Top Ten Romance Books I Look Forward To Reading This Year”. I hope this helped you find some books to add to your TBR. Happy reading! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Oldest (aka Earliest Published) Books On My TBR x 2!

 Two top tens written by Luke M. and Grace H.!

From Luke

As an avid reader, I have a long list of books that I want to read soon, and a lot of them aren’t insanely recent. There have been times where a book grabs my attention, prompting me to find everything there is about it, and I’m surprised when I discover that the book isn't brand new. There is an endless collection of books on my TBR list that were published a little while back, so allow me to present them, in no particular order.

My Friend Dahmer (2012)
Talk about a chilling start. To give some context, this graphic novel was made by Derf Backderf, a cartoonist and graphic novelist known for his punk-inspired art style, and serious subject matter. His debut, My Friend Dahmer, is a sort of autobiographical graphic memoir, in which Backderf chronicles his friendship with the now infamous serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, in high school. The book went on to become a bestseller and even got a film adaptation in 2017, with Ross Lynch, of Austin and Ally and Teen Beach Movie fame portraying Dahmer. It’s been on my list ever since I found out about the movie, and I can’t believe it’s more than a decade old.

The Girl From the Sea (2021)
That’s right, another graphic novel (there’s going to be a lot of them, sorry not sorry :). Written by Molly Ostertag, the book follows Morgan, a lonely teen who meets a mysterious girl named Keltie, who she ends up forming a relationship with. Considering I’ve enjoyed Ostertag’s work on TV shows like Star vs the Forces of Evil (prop design) and The Owl House (writer), I’d be intrigued to check out how her work translates in book form.

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow (2020)
It has Reese’s Book Club stamp, so it must be quality. Written by Laura Taylor Namey, the book centers on Lila Reyes, a Cuban-American girl who moves from Miami, Florida to Winchester England, and falls in love with an English teen named Orion. At first glance, I didn’t take the premise of this book seriously and honestly, a part of me still doesn’t. However, the book must have been popular as a semi-sequel has recently been published, and there’s even a feature film in development, with Maia Reficco and Kit Connor starring in it. With all that in mind, I do sort of want to give this book a shot, even though it’s not insanely recent.  

Invincible, Volume 1 (2005)
Finally, an actual retro book on my TBR, by which it’s still in the 21st century. The Amazon adaptation has been the one show that has been constantly recommended by both my friends and my search engines, but I’ve put off watching it because I like reading the original source material. Made by Robert Kirkman, the stories follow the coming of age of Mark Grayson, the son of Omni-Man, the most powerful superhero on Earth. It took a while to adapt the books into a show, but at least it makes me all the more eager to read the original series. 

Seconds (2014)
Written by Bryan Lee O’Malley, of Scott Pilgrim fame, Seconds follows the story of Katie Clay, who is head chef of a restaurant that shares the same name. One day, she obtains the ability to fix her mistakes by writing them in a notebook, eating mushrooms, and falling asleep, which ironically creates more problems. I don’t really have a lot to say about this one, but due to me enjoying the Scott Pilgrim books and a possible feature film in the future (with Blake Lively directing it), the book is pretty high on my list of books I want to read.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2019)
I chose the cover with Emma Myers on it, that should say a lot about my motives for choosing what books to read. Holly Jackson’s YA Book Prize winning story follows Pip, a 17 year old true crime enthusiast, who investigates the murders of 2 classmates under the guise of a school project. The book was named one of the best books of 2020 (still released in 2019) and has received a TV adaptation by BBC (Netflix internationally). Given my habit of reading books before watching adaptations, I prioritize reading this book soon. Also, I just realized I have 2 books on this list that have “girl” and “guide” in the title…what?

Heartstopper, Volume 1  (2019)
Now this has been really high on my list for the past few months. Written by Alice Oseman, the book series focuses on the romantic relationship between teenagers Charlie and Nick, and the ups and downs their relationship faces. Starting off as a webcomic, both the book series and the Netflix series have received critical acclaim for their likable characters and positive portrayal of LGBTQ people, giving me all the more reason to check it out.

A Whole Song and Dance (2023)
I’ve realized that a majority of my selections on this list are books that have either been adapted into movies/TV shows, or from authors I already like. Some books on my TBR though, don’t fall into either scenario, I just happened to find it one day and became interested. Written by Sarvenaz Tash, the story focuses on Nasrin, a freshman in NYU who has to battle between pursuing her dreams of majoring in musical theater and her parents' expectations of earning a business major. Oh, and a crush gets thrown into the mix. As someone who’s also stuck between pursuing a creative career and a more practical/profitable career, I felt like I could relate to the story. Hopefully one day, I’ll actually pick it up and give the book a shot.

Turtles All the Way Down (2017)
The one John Green book of the list. Written by the acclaimed author himself, the story centers around Aza, a 16 year old girl with OCD and anxiety who, along with her friend Daisy, search for a fugitive billionaire. Believe it or not, I’ve never actually read anything by John Green before, and considering that a movie adaptation was recently released, maybe it’s time I changed that.

The Hunger Games (2008)
Let’s end the list with a bang. Suzanne Collins, of Wow Wow Wubbzy fame (no elaboration look that up), struck gold when she created the Hunger Games trilogy books back in the late 2000s. For all 6 people who don’t know, The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen, who is forced to be a contender in the Hunger Games, a battle to the death hosted by the wealthy capitol, as revenge for a failed uprising. There she befriends other contenders and attempts to take down the capitol and stop this corruption. I actually own the first 3 books, and since they are so iconic, it’s about time I actually gave them a read.

From Grace

Welcome back to TBG’s Top Ten Tuesday! 

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday is a widespread trend in which book bloggers create a “Top Ten” list in response to a different topic each week.

This week’s theme is… Oldest (aka Earliest Published) Books On My TBR!!

While preparing to write this list, I was looking through my TBR on Goodreads, and I clicked the helpful feature that allowed me to sort my shelf by date published. I was somewhat surprised to discover that all ten of the oldest books on my TBR were published before the turn of the millennium. Typically, I enjoy reading novels published recently, but I’m excited to delve into some older classics that are on my TBR.

Here are the 10 earliest published books on my TBR (oldest to most recent)!

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (published October 30, 1811)

Emma by Jane Austen (published December 23, 1815)

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (published December 1847)

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (published 1878)

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (published November 1939)

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (published January 1963)

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (published March 31, 1969)

The Body by Stephen King (published August 27, 1982)

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (published November 1985)

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (published October 1, 1996)

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2023

Written by Brooke K.

Today is another Top Ten Tuesday brought to you by the WPL Teen Book Guild! Top ten Tuesdays are hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and this week’s theme is Best Books of 2023. 

From timeless books like Pride and Prejudice to recent bestsellers like The Getaway, I have compiled the ultimate list of my favorite books I read this year. These books just stand out from the rest and are 100% worth checking out. 

Happy reading! 

1. Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
2. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
3. All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

5. Scythe by Neal Shusterman

6. The Getaway by Lamar Giles

7. Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

8. A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura

9. P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

10. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak