Top Three Wednesday: Top Three Contemporary YA Novels

Another round of our Top Three Wednesday! Today we will be talking about our Top Three Contemporary YA novels. Who doesn’t love YA? There is this sense of comfort, of home-y feel when I am reading YA novels. And yes I do admit that sometimes I am too old for YA, but I just could not resist them, there this magnetic pull that I dare not fight. Because, admit it or not, we sometimes crave for the YA “feels”, the perfect one to read after a grueling, say adult fantasy or a dark book. YAs are truly a breath of fresh air.

 

 

1. Winger by Andrew Smith

You can check my review of the book here. This book just took me by surprise. I never had big expectations, I read it without knowing much about it. All I know is it is about a 14 year old boy in a boarding school. I have not read anything like it before so I went ahead and bought a copy and read it during the Anti Bullying Readathon hosted by Sarah on book tube and goodreads. I was not that excited to read the book since I thought I might not be able relate to it or identify with the character. But boy I was sorely mistaken. This book was a gem, I never thought I would like it this much. Ryan Dean West character was not one to miss. The book was funny and deep at the same time. I never thought I could get so much out of it. And that ending! Oh my goodness it broke my heart, I was sobbing like crazy. This is one of the best books I read in 2014. And oh there is this some kind of Looking For Alaska feel to it.

 

 

2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Ahhhh this will always be a favorite YA of all freaking time! I never thought I could love a book so much! This book kept me company when I was in the hospital taking care of my dad. And I couldn’t have picked up a better companion. The story of Eleanor and Park is not like the typical YA stories. This one right here has depth, it was not the usual immature and whiny characters we have grown accustomed reading. Now this one for me is a cut above the rest, and to this day not one YA contemporary has replaced this in my heart. What I would trade to read it for the first time again. This book introduced me to Rainbow Rowell and her brilliance. She is one of the authors I have high respect to and on my bookish bucket list is to meet her. I love the innocence in this book, that pureness of first love and also I loved that Eleanor was the representation of undervalued girls and how her character has been a relevant one in the society we live in today. Hmmm now I’m sensing a reread coming in the future! I want to meet them again!

 

 

 

3. Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson

Another book that will always hold a special place in my heart. Too bad I don’t have a physical copy! This book is about a guy who has Aspergers and a girl who helped him and the beautiful relationship that sprung from it. Gahhhddd, I cannot recommend this one hard enough! I think I have tabbed almost each page. This book was so beautifully written and after reading it you will just hug the book and cradle it for as long as you possibly could. There was sincerity, coyness and most of all – heart. I loved how this book talked about a mental condition such as Aspergers and how the characters had their flaws yet despite it, they are beautiful. This is definitely one of the best YA books out there! Amber L. Johnson is such a great writer, she weaves perfect heartfelt stories that you wouldn’t want to miss. Definitely a must read for young and adult alike!

 

So there you have it guys, another Wednesday has passed. Are you excited for the weekend, it is Valentine’s day! Where are your partners taking you? Hope you will have a great time! Till next post! Bye!

 

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Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson: Book Review

Synopsis: When it comes to love there’s no such thing as conventional.

Everyone thinks Colton Neely is special.

Lilly Evans just thinks he’s fascinating.

Once friends when they were younger, their bond is cut short due to her accident prone nature and they go their separate ways. Years later, they meet again and Lilly learns that there is something special about the boy she once knew, but she has no idea what it all means. And she’s not sure if she’s ready to find out.

When he walks through the corridor of her school the first day of her senior year, she knows that it’s time to get to know the real Colton Neely. The more she learns, the deeper she falls.

Their friendship grows into love, even as Colton does not express it in words. But one decision threatens to break down the world that Lilly has tried so hard to integrate into and she must figure out if the relationship can survive if they are apart.

Date Published: June 29, 2014

Publisher: Self-published.

No. of pages: 121 pages

Date Read: October 2014

Honest. Innocent. Sweet sprinkled with a sparkle of uniqueness.
Lilly’s voice is like no other, it was consistent, precise, it is like a voice I would love to read over and over.The way the book portrayed the characters was really amenable. There was truth and sincerity, there was coyness and heart. It was a mixture of everything amazing.

It was a breath of fresh air, it was the cold side of the pillow, it was a newly laundered bed sheets, it is a cup of tea on a cold night, it was everything that will make you feel good and then some. It was a book that celebrates life and not be bothered by the differences because in the end was the heart wants that matters.It was exhilarating as it was heartfelt.I could go on and on with endless comparisons and adjectives, but this book is just one of the best out there. It was never pretentious, it is what it is, and it was nothing short of perfect to me.

I love how the story was well thought of, I love how unconventional it is, not like those cliche type of books with one hell of a hot guy and a not-so popular girl, where the girl has dark secrets and the guy is a bad boy and they will eventually fall in love, no, it is not this book. This book is different from every book recently popping out these days. It painted love into this kind of surreal and magical way, that yes indeed love comes in different forms. It is something you would want to reread and not get tired of the whole story.

I cried and laughed, with this book I was able to reach that sense of satisfaction. Colton and Lilly’s story will stay with me to the end of days.

Can I give it more than five stars???