Top Ten Tuesday: April Showers

by Elena

There’s absolutely nothing better than curling up in bed with the most charming romance you’ve ever read, with a spring shower coming down outside. And what better time to share my favorite books than during springtime? 

 

1. The Upside of Falling by Alex Light

This novel follows two teens grappling with family issues. Book nerd, Becca Hart, tells her friend she has a boyfriend to avoid embarrassment, and Brett Wells, the popular football captain, steps in to fake date Becca. As they lean on each other for support through difficult times, their relationship blossoms into something neither of them could have imagined. 

 

2. Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Jessie moves to LA to live with her father and his new wife, while still grieving the loss of her own mother. During her first week of school, she received a mysterious text from SN. They help her navigate high school and intense emotions, while keeping their identity secret. Meanwhile, she feels herself falling for her moody, quiet English partner. Will SN ever reveal their identity? Or will her silly adventures to discover who they are be all for nothing? 

 

3. The Do-over by Lynne Painter

Emilie wakes up on Valentine’s Day, only to experience the worst chain of events of her life. Unable to wait for the day to be over, she goes to bed, but inexplicably wakes up in a time loop. The day repeats over and over until she finally realizes: there are no consequences for her actions. Will she wake up the next day, or is she destined to be stuck repeating the same day for the rest of her life? 

 

4. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

America’s fattest teen, Libby Strout, and Jack Masselin, a boy with face-blindness, form an unlikely bond. Together, the pair navigates bullying, vulnerability, and everyday struggles in high school. Though they seem an unlikely pair, could they be perfect for each other? 

 

5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This heart shattering book follows the tragic love of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, two terminally ill teens. The book represents the difficulty of living with cancer, the joys of being in love, and the pains of loss and grief. 

 

6. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

A vampire and a werewolf fall in love with a human? Bella Swan is trapped in a love triangle with the two most handsome boys in Forks, Washington, but they are mortal enemies. This book (as well as its following saga) is a classic, especially among teenage girls, and for a reason. The perfect book for a hopeless romantic, especially one who loves a good romantasy filled with swoony moments, as well as moments sure to make your jaw drop and your heart race. 

 

7. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch 

Travel and romance. Who wouldn’t want that? Except Lina doesn’t want anything except to be with her mother. Unfortunately for her, that isn’t an option anymore. Struggling with the loss of her mother, she must move to Tuscany to spend the summer with Howard, the father she’s never met. Following her mother’s footsteps through her journal, will she even have enough time for Lorenzo, the charming Italian boy who offers to help her track down her mother’s past life? You’ll just have to wait and see in this perfect European love story. 

 

8. If He had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

Laura Nowlin delivers the perfect, soul-crushing, tear-jerking slow burn romance. Childhood best friends Finny and Autumn drifted apart in high school, but will they be able to make it back together, or will they just be left wondering what could have happened? 

 

9. What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

An unexpected friendship forms when Kit Lowell joins socially isolated David Drucker at lunch. Attempting to process her father’s death, David just might be exactly what she needs. Incredibly smart and yearning for Kit, he can’t believe his luck. But when things take a turn for the worse, will their friendship disappear as fast as it formed? Every novel from Julie Buxbaum is extremely entertaining, and this one is no different. 

 

10. Better Than the Movies by Lynne Painter

They’ve been enemies forever, but still, Liz needs all the help she can get. She enlists her neighbor, Wes Bennett, to help her capture the attention of her long-term crush. Somehow, though, her goal seems to switch, and she finds herself falling for Wes. This insanely viral book is popular for a reason and will make you gasp, laugh, and smile ear-to-ear. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Throwback Freebie

written by Grace H.

Welcome back to TBG’s Top Ten Tuesday! Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday encourages book bloggers to create and share a “Top Ten” list in response to a different topic each week.

This week’s theme is…throwback!!

This means that I get to choose the topic, selecting from past prompts that have already been used. I did some digging to find some old topics, and I chose one from 2020… books I read because someone recommended them to me.

All of these recommendations were ones that I really enjoyed; so take this post as my recommendation to YOU if you haven’t read any of these!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Reads of 2024

Written by Grace H.

Time for another Top Ten Tuesday, brought to you by WPL’s Teen Book Guild!

This week’s theme is… Most Anticipated Reads of 2024!!

While 2023 was definitely a great year of reading for me, I’m anxiously awaiting some new releases in 2024! Many of these are from well-known authors in the YA genre or from authors 

that have previously written books that I’ve enjoyed, but some of the books on this Top Ten List are new authors for me. I’m excited to dive into a new year of great reads in 2024!

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Holly Jackson is one of my favorite YA authors. From her bestselling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, to her most recent thriller, Five Survive, all of her books have been a hit for me! 

If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin

I have read the first book in this series (If He Had Been With Me), and I enjoyed it, so I’ll definitely be picking this one up when it comes out in February. 

The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert

This is a new author for me, but when I saw the teaser description for this book, I was drawn in. It’s a cross between thriller and mystery, with a dose of mythology as well; I immediately added this to my TBR.

Once A Queen by Sarah Arthur

This is another new author for me, and Arthur’s debut novel drew me in with its stunning cover. And with a tale of family secrets and fairy tales, I’m anxious to read what’s inside!

The Getaway List by Emma Lord

I’ve read a couple of Emma Lord’s books in the past, and when I saw that she was releasing a friends-to-lovers YA romance that takes place in NYC, I was sold!

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

As a fan of The Inheritance Games series (also written by Barnes), this was a must-read for me. My anticipation for this novel grew when I read that it gave Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibes.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé has previously written a YA novel (Ace of Spades) that I have heard lots of praise for. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m eager to read both Ace of Spades and her new release, Where Sleeping Girls Lie. 

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

Faizal is another popular YA author (We Hunt the Flame) that I have yet to read any works by. But this new historical fantasy release sounds like the perfect book for me, complete with heists and an unlikely group of heroes. 

Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris

I actually already have a copy of this book as an advanced reader copy (ARC), and I picked it up because I saw that it was marketed as Dumplin' meets Daisy Jones & the Six, which are two books that I loved. Can’t wait to read!

The Boyfriend Wish by Swati Teerdhala

This was a super fun sounding rom-com, including prank wars and magic; positively pumped to pick this one up when it comes out (right in time for Valentine’s Day!)

What books are you excited to read in 2024?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Feel Like a Harry Styles Song

Written by Helena M.

It's another Top Ten Tuesday, brought to you by the WPL Teen Book Guild!

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: the theme is a freebie, so Helena chose--

Top 10 Books That Feel Like a Harry Styles Song

1. As It Was - The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty follows Belly, her brother, and the Fisher brothers when they go to their summer house every year. Belly has always loved Conrad, but it never is reciprocated. But this summer, everything has changed. As It Was gives off the same vibe as The Summer I Turned Pretty - they both have fun, summer aesthetics.

2. Matilda - Impostor Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim 

Impostor Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim is about Ale, a Korean Argentinian, who struggles with fitting in at her wealthy predominantly white school and her home in Jackson Heights. She dreams of going to a prestigious liberal arts school with her best friend Laurel, but Laurel starts a petition against a teacher who claims Ale is a shoo-in for colleges because of her race. This book deals with the heavy topic of acceptance and racism. Matilda and Impostor Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim are very similar because they speak of not feeling comfortable or accepted anywhere.

 

3. From the Dining Table - The Night in Question 

The Night in Question is the second mystery in its series. It features Alice and Iris again, with a new mystery relating to Kennedy, Alice’s old friend. Alice is still coping with Brooke’s death and is ready to forget with a new obsession. As the mystery becomes deeper and deeper, the pair is stuck in an inescapable hole. From the Dining Table and The Night in Question are similar because they both have the same feeling of grief and melancholy during hard times.

 

4. Kiwi - The Cheerleaders

One night, two cheerleaders mysteriously die in a car crash. Then the rest of the team dies too. Monica, the little sister of one of these cheerleaders, is determined to find the truth. She is terrified of what she will find and knows it could threaten her life. Kiwi and The Cheerleaders give off the same dangerous feelings.

 

5. Watermelon Sugar - We Were Liars

We Were Liars is about Cadence and her cousins on a private island that her perfect family owns. Their island is the most magical place on Earth for Cadence because it has memories of the sun and family. But when she begins to unravel decades of injustice and terrible practices, she begins to rebel against her parents with her friends at her side. We Were Liars and Watermelon Sugar both tell tales of nostalgic fun. 

 

6. Two Ghosts - They Both Die at the End

Rufus and Orion got the call, the one that ends lives. In their world, they have DeathCast, which can accurately tell you when you die. So when they get the call, they are determined to live. They haven’t met, but fate leads them together on the famous Last Friend app. They form a connection and encourage each other to step out of their comfort zones. Two Ghosts speaks of changing personalities and feeling empty, and Rufus and Orion certainly change throughout They Both Die at the End.

 

7. Little Freak - If He Had Been With Me

Autumn and Finn have been close friends since they were little; then Autumn begins to like Finn. But he is in a relationship with Sylvie, which gives her conflicting emotions. He dies in a tragic accident, and Autumn is left to cope with his death. Little Freak is about a special girl that is unique from most people, and Autumn was certainly that for Finn in If He Had Been With Me.

 

8. Sweet Creature - Love & Gelato

Love & Gelato features Lina, an American girl who goes to Italy for her mother’s dying wish. Lina finds her mother’s notebook and begins to recreate her experiences with the help of Ren, a local Italian boy. In Sweet Creature, Harry Styles speaks about how a girl reminds him of home, just like how Lina’s mother helps her find her family history through her journal.

 

9. Adore You - American Royals

 

American Royals provides an alternate American reality where there isn’t a president, but instead a royal family. Nina and Sam, the American princess, are best friends. But Nina starts to have feelings for Sam’s brother, Prince Jefferson. Their lives are constantly on display, and Nina can’t seem to get away from the press. America just “adores” the royal family. Adore You and American Royals are similar because the characters are loved, but never reciprocated at the same level.

 

10. Love of my Life - To All the Boys I've Loved Before 

Lara Jean is a high schooler who writes letters to boys she has crushes on. But she never actually sends them. Her little sister, Kitty, sends out all of the notes after her older sister, Margot, leaves for college. It stirs up drama with her old crushes. Love of My Life is about a girl that the speaker loves, and Lara Jean almost sounds like the speaker.