Sometimes, it can be pretty hard to find books that “hit the spot”. Here are a few suggestions:
SUMMER HAIKUS by SJ Pajonas
“Isa planned the perfect summer:
Tokyo and the Summer Olympics — check.
Helping her best friend prepare for the marathon — check.
Forgetting she’s in love with Masa — double check”
From the diversity, to the sweet romance, to the relationships to the haikus, everything in this story adds up without being cliché or remotely unrealistic. If you are looking for a light read that includes diversity and realism, this is the book for you.
INDIANA BELLE by John Heldt
“Providence, Rhode Island, 2017. When doctoral student Cameron Coelho, 28, opens a package from Indiana, he finds more than private papers that will help him with his dissertation. He finds a photograph of a beautiful society editor murdered in 1925 and clues to a century-old mystery.”
This one is about time travel to the roaring twenties, and finding love in the past (literally). It’s well put together and has a good mix of elements that should appeal to any type of audience. Although it’s part of a series, it can be read as a standalone, and a very engaging one too.
A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas
“Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.”
There is something very appealing about medieval fantasies, especially when said fantasies include fairies and not the usual vampires. A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of such fantasies. It’s akin to a fairytale retelling, but a very good retelling. Just make sure to have the sequel with you when you’re done reading, so that you won’t be left hanging.
STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW by Jolene Perry
“Wracked by panic attacks, afraid to talk to anyone at her new school, Joy’s got a whole list of reasons why she’s crazy. With immense courage, Joy finds friends and grows closer to her new family.”
Before Joy is discovered by child services, she has been abused by her mom and her mom’s various boyfriends. She has been neglected when not abused, virtually been on house arrest for most of her life and she is malnourished almost to the point of starvation. Stronger than You Know is a touching story about healing and moving past pain.
CINDER by Marissa Meyer
“Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness.”
This is another retelling (Cinder as in Cinderella) that is really more of an adaptation. The story can be classified as YA Dystopia, and it is one that’s hard to put down once you start reading. If you are big on world building and badass heroines, then this one’s for you.
CLICK. DATE. REPEAT. by KJ Farnham
“These days, finding love online is as commonplace as ordering that coveted sweater. But back in 2003, the whole concept of internet dating was still quite new, with a stigma attached to it that meant those who were willing to test the waters faced a fair amount of skepticism from friends and family.”
In a nutshell, Click Date Repeat is a fun read with well developed characters, a realistic storyline, and lots of humour attached to it.
Curl up in your blanket with a cup of tea this fall while you read these awesome books that are definitely worth your while.