It occurs to me that I absolutely do not highlight my favourite contemporaries enough.
Because mostly everyone saw me announce me debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes, and was like, “BUT CAIT. DRAGONS???” There are no dragons. None as far as the eye can see. But look. I will aim for dragons someday. Currently I enjoy both writing and reading contemporaries too! So obviously I’m about to pile half a hundred recommendations in your arms so you leave with your TBR weeping.
You’re WELCOME. Seriously come to my blog to suffer, but thankfully.
Also 48% of my reads in 2018 have been contemporaries! I also actually find contemporaries are way more diverse and I absolutely love that. It’s a huge reason I’m drawn to reading them so much now. Also: I like the ones that WRECK YOUR HEART or else leave you feeling soft and squishy like you ate cookie dough.
Is there an in-between of these emotions, you ask????
No. No, there is not. We are nothing if not full of violently extreme emotions on this blog ok.
Today I’m going to list my
Not necessarily published in 2018???? But this is when I discovered them!
Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I’ve Read In 2018 (I’m doing my top contemporaries since I did a recap of all my favourites in the Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag!)
1. THE WICKER KING
I CAN’T EVEN WITH MY LOVE FOR THIS BOOK OK. I’ve already read it twice. Twice. In the last 6 months, yes. I can’t be stopped. It’s about mental illness and neglected tragic boys, it’s soft and queer and uses the most INCREDIBLE mixed media combinations!! The pages get darker as the story does!! I MEAN. It made me feel things, at least…like 3 things. Maybe four. I swear, if I could only pick 5 favourite books of all time — THIS WOULD MAKE THE LIST.
(heavy breathing of intense emotion)
2. THE DANGEROUS ART OF BLENDING IN
Another HEART SMASHER. I told you I only go for the soft or the ruinous. Although this one is sweet and soft™ too. It’s about an abused boy (from a traditional religious/Greek family) who’s an artist and has the sweetest little romance and afjdsakld I hurt.
3. ALWAYS AND FOREVER LARA JEAN
OKAY HERE WE BRING OUT THE FLUFF. I adore the Lara Jean books. (THE NEFLIX MOVIE IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!!) These are actual genuine marshmallows and Lara Jean is the homey baking loveable soft Hufflepuff. Coincidentally it was so nice that it stressed me out. Is someone going to be hit by a truck??? Shot by the mafia?? Get cancer???? I was waiting THE WHOLE TIME for death so like…I was stressed ok. No mafia appeared, but I was still stressed. 10/10 Favourite series.
4. LEAH ON THE OFFBEAT
Soooo I will always love Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda the most I think!?? It caught me like the other of Becky Albertalli’s books haven’t — but Leah’s book was still good! Leah is really messy and brash and unforgiving and she’s funny. And the Blue/Simon moments killed me with cuteness. Also f/f romance and Leah is fat and there are 45939 drama kids being DRAMA KIDS. That describes everything.
Also can we get another spin-off but for Nora, Simon’s little sister?! She’s epic. AND MARTIN CAN GO FALL OFF A CLIFF.
5. TYLER JOHNSON WAS HERE
This is one where I recommend: DON’T READ THE BLURB. I didn’t and it made it much more powerful. But ajfdklsd you know how it feels to get your heart ripped out of your chest and put in a blender??? No?? If you haven’t tired it: read this book and eXPERIENCE IT. It‘s about twin brothers, #BlackLivesMatter and cinnamon boys.
6. ANGER IS A GIFT
Another #BlackLivesMatter one AND THIS IS SO FREAKING INTENSE. The way American schools are run!??? I can’t even. Are you guys even ok??? It was gobsmacking and eye opening reading about the police violence, how kids have to survive and go through it. Plus Moss is the actual sweetest of ever. Again with the adorable cinnamon boys (also queer romance and so many diverse secondary characters). This one hurts tho. Ohhhhhh it’s important.
7. THE FOXHOLE COURT
So I’ve literally just listed a ton of important and powerful books so — hI HERE IS THE ENTIRELY ADDICTIVE AND READS LIKE FANFIC SERIES. AND I FREAKING LOVE IT. I don’t blanket recommend it though? Many problematic themes (but I think it handles them tolerably) and it’s edging into NA? But like it made me read sports. (Wut wizardry.) It’s about #SquadGoals basically, horrifically messed up boys, super super slowburn romance, the kind of book you can make 9389 memes out of and just laugh and then cry. And then THE MAFIA COMES. Obviously.
8. BOOMERANG
This was one of my favourite “sURPRISE YOU’RE OBSESSED” books of this year! I got it on a whim from Netgalley and it’s so cute?! It’s about a boy who ran away from home but now he’s BACK. (And everyone thought he was kidnapped.) He’s also trying to get money to rescue his best friend (whom he looooves ok) from an abusive situation. It’s just…it’s absolutely full of heart and afjdkslad I love it. Sean is also bi and there are trees and it is 1000% NOT Australian. I think the Boomerang represents it hitting you in the heart, you reading it again, it hitting you in the heart, you reading it again– etc etc. Or that’s my life plan i’m fine how are you.
9. A TAXONOMY OF LOVE
Aww I so love this one!! It’s about Tourette’s Syndrome, which is not something I find a lot of books on! It’s super cute and has a friendship-turned-lovers-turned-omg-no-turned-enemies-turned-wait-and-see thing going on. Spencer is so freaking ADORKABLE and it follows him from like 14 to 18. Again, it has a lot of sport in it?! Wrestling?!? I would rather fling myself into a slimy pond than willingly like a wrestling book — BUT HERE I AM. WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME.
10. A THOUSAND PERFECT NOTES
OH COME ON. YOU KNEW I WOULD. So technically this is called “pride” listing my own book or something but ya know. Whatever. It’s a GOOD BOOK, BRENT. I’ve heard so, anyway. And it’s freaking pretty which I had 0% to do with, but I will take credit anyway. One thing I explored in this one is two characters being mentally ill: but how they choose to deal with it. Beck’s mum is driven by rage and violence but Beck finds friendship and a support system. Also there’s CAKE. And you can picture me crying on almost every page because edits are hell and I did so many (crying) so so many. But I love you and this book is for you ok I’m good I’m going to go be emotional somewhere else.
Some of my favourite contemporaries that I read this year:
C. G. Drews – A Thousand Perfect Notes
Angie Thomas – The Hate U Give
Jodi Picoult – Small Great Things (adult, not YA)
Hilary Reyl – Kids Like Us
Alice Oseman – I Was Born For This
Olivia Rivers – In the Hope of Memories
Josh Sundquist – Love and F1rst Sight
Alice Oseman – Radio Silence
Jen Wilde – The Brightsiders
Francesca Zappia – Eliza and her Monsters
Claire Kann – Let’s Talk About Love
Steven Rowley – Lily and the Octopus (adult, not YA)
Okay that’s 12 books.. but oh well!
I totally agree that (YA) contemporaries seem to be more diverse and I am glad we’re seeing more diversity in books. I’m currently reading My Heart Joins the Thousand by A. J. Steiger based on your recommendation. So far it’s good but I’m only on page 25, so not very far yet.
WELL I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS LIST IS OBVIOUSLY THE BEST THING EVER. 😍😍 And omggg so many books I want to read from it yet too! I LOVE Let’s Talk About Love and Radio Silence, but I need to read I Was Born For This. (And omg also Kids Like Us is underrated and amazing. 💛💛) Oh tell me how you go with My Heart Joins The Thousand? It’s a bit slower than I like, but still so so good!!
I just finished When My Heart Joins the Thousand! It was quite good! I agree that it was a bit slow in the middle, I struggled a bit with that. But other than that I quite liked the book, thanks for the recommendation!! 😀
I definitely read a lot of YA contemporary these days. I find it really compelling! I basically don’t read sci-fi anymore. I finished A Thousand Perfect Notes on Monday–you made me STAY UP LATE CAIT–and lovedlovedloved the ending. yeah, it was heartbreaking, but more importantly it was right for the sort of story you were trying to tell. This year I’ve loved Emma Mills and Riley Redgate’s book–Foolish Hearts and Final Draft are particularly excellent.
Shanti recently posted…Is it still worth reading if you don’t remember it?
Aww thanks for reading my book, Shanti!! 😊 And agreed about sci-fi haha, I barely ever touch it myself. I REALLY want to read Foolish Hearts and I own it so must get onto that!
I love contemporaries but haven’t really read much this year yet? I need to fix that! I have read Curved Horizon by Taylor Brooke, the sequel to Fortitude Smashed. Both queer (first m/m, second f/f) soulmate AU’s that deal with mental health topics like depression and anxiety. Curved Horizon has an asian-american shy demisexual goth girl with anxiety (named Daisy) that gets with a bisexual southern belle (Chelsea). All sexual orientations are used on the page and I just love it soooo much <3
I have to check out the books on this list!
Ohh those sound AMAZING THOUGH!? I should really check those out (especially keen on reading some demi rep because it’s like…hardly anywhere in YA I feel? Or maybe I’m reading the wrong books!)
I can’t wait to read ANGER IS A GIFT 😍 it’s on my summer tbr! Also, Lara Jean is perfection!! And you already know how I feel about our darling August and her dog saviour ways 🙈 hope you’re having a good day, and as always HAPPY READING!📖
YOU SHOULD IT IS ENTIRELY WORTH IT AND WE ALL LOVE SUFFERIGN. And afjdkslad I’m so so happy you love August, it honestly makes my day. 💕😍
Yeah, I also really liked Leah On the Off Beat. I ALSO REALLY REALLY WANT TO READ ATPN BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO FIND IT OR HIW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO DO SO!
I’m glad you liked Leah too!! And have you tried bookdepository.com for my book? It has free world wide shipping!!
I will try (as soon as I have money oops)!!!
That’s why I’m drawn to YA contemporary as well! It holds so much more meaning these days.
I keep forgetting to talk to you about the last Lara Jean book!
I’m actually really surprised to see Leah on your list. 😂
I’m also surprised that we only read two of these together, haha.
Yes! Feels like it has more heart and layers for sure. 😭💖💖 And I feel like so many more minority authors are getting to share their stories here whereas fantasy is slower to pick that up. (Also ohhh have you read Lara Jean?! Yes do tell me what you think!!)
I still feel bad I didn’t love Summer Bird Blue as much with you. 🙈 Clearly we need to do some more buddy reads. (Which COULD have been Felicity’s book if Harper didn’t hate me so muuuuuch.)
ATPN has to be one of my fave contemporaries of the year AHHHH. Is it bad I’ve only read A Taxonomy of LOve off this list. I think contemporaries are great but I’m sooooo picky with them haha. I really liked The SUmmer of Us, which is a fluffy YA contemporary so I I was really surprised that I fell in love with it. Contemporaries are more diverse but honestly all the more reason for fantasies to be diverse. On that note, it’s not a contemporary, (magical realism but a lot of it reads like a contemporary) PLEASE READ THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER.
AWW YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE ME CRY. YOU ARE THE BEST. ❤️❤️ Seriously though, your support has meant THE WORLD. And okay I totally want to try The Summer of Us now!
If fantasies would just hurry up and care about diversity, that would be good?! I mean, a LOT do (*bows to Ace of Shades*) but more would be good ahhh. And magical realism is also my actual favourite. Why haven’t I read The Astonishing Colour?! WHY, CAIT.
Maybe the violin in ATPN is actually an enchanted dragon but no one knows. The sequel can end with the main character completes an original composition and with the final note, The spell is broken and POW! dragon. LOL! How’s that for fan fiction. Now ATPN has fanfiction too. I’m looking forward to ordering a copy soon.
Ah haha TRUE THOUGH. (I mean, it’s a piano in ATPN, no violin, but I know what you mean.😂) But so true…I should write a sequel but with dragons and magic. *starts thinking*
This is a great post. I wish I could love contemporaries as much as you did. I’m keeping this post bookmarked for the next big book buying spree. Wanna get a few of them and see if maybe I can love them too… Also, I have your book on my ‘TO BUY’ list…
Well I definitely think these are like the cream of the crop, so to speak.😂So hopefully you enjoy some!! Maybe you could try them at a local library so you don’t have to spend money in case you don’t like them?
I’ll see if I can maybe get the ebooks, I have no problem reading them. Also, I like the books you recommend a lot, so I’m interested to see if this is the same for contemporaries…
I’m not reading as many contemporaries as I should be!!!!! I’m very picky with them but this year I’ve loved: When Dimple Met Rishi, Turtles All the Way Down, and Guitar Notes, which was really a middle grade book but I enjoyed it 😄
I can’t wait to try out some of the books on this list!! Contemporaries aren’t my favorite genre but I do like a good one. And I keep meaning to read the ‘To All the Boys I’ve Lives Before’ series! Ahh there’s too many good books!!!
There are SO many good contemporaries out there! Also a lot of annoying ones 😂 but isn’t it that way for any genre, right?! Haha. I also love Turtles and Dimple & Rishi!!
I think almost the whole world knows that I don’t really read too much contemporary. YA Fantasy eats all of my time tbh.
There are 2 books tho that made me appreciate contemporary: THUG and ATPN.
I just read THUG earlier this year ANS I JUST CAN’T EXPLAIN ITS BRILLIANCE. it’s powerful. It’s eye-opening. It’s filled with Harry Potter references. It has cute sibling relationships and adorable parents. It’s definitely one of the best books ever and I think the movie will make me cry a river but I don’t care.
Of course there’s ATPN which is written by one of the best people on earth. My views on the book aren’t biased tho because SAINTS CAIT YOUR BOOK IS SO GOOD. I already expected it to be awesome but when I finally read it, it definitely exceeded my highest expectations. THIS DRAGON IS SO PROUD OF YOU.
I still need to read A LOT of contemporaries to love the genre but I’m still keeping up with the fantasy books on my TBR. I’ve been reading fantasy for months and I’m not ready to go all-out in different genres yet. I’m looking forward to reading contemporary books tho.
This probably makes sense since you are an entirely book DRAGON.😂 But awww, I get mentioned in the same sentence as THUG?! *sniffles happily* THIS IS SUCH AN HONOUR. THUG is so so good and powerful and I’m freaking excited for the movie!!
And I’m totally not biased either but ATPN is *probably* genius. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(Also *sends you all the cake* 😍😍 THIS IS SO ENCOURAGING I CAN’T EVEN.)
I’m still waiting on my audio hold for Leah on the Offbeat to come in…. Hopefully that will be soon!
Ahh I hope it is!! I loved the Simon VS audio!
I’ve read one and a half books from this list, and I should be ashamed, lol! I started Taxonomy, but didn’t go on after a few pages for some reason. I really need to get back to it though, because Tourette Syndrome, a,k.a, yours truly’s pre teen nightmare.
I have Anger is a Gift in my TBR and I really need to read it. Plus I met the author and he was a delight! And for some reason I kept thinking that The Wicker King was a fantasy……WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
Oh I do hope you try the rest of Taxonomy!! The beginning is pretty youngish but then it feels more YA as it goes on and it’s really really good. 😭💛 I can imagine how hard it’d be to deal with Tourette’s. *sends you all the hugs*
Ohhhh I hope you like Anger is A Gift! I’m like 90% sure the editor for it is the same as Schwab’s so like !!!! we know they know how to get books looking the best they can be. 😍
Haha! the Wicker King has the same problem as The Serpent King, right?! Total fantasy titles. 😂
My favourite contemporaries are Picture Us In A Light and Far From The Tree. Also the first chapter of ATPN because that’s all I can read so far.
My favourite genre though is contemporary but with dragons.
Oh oh I have both of those on my TBR! I’m so glad you loved them then, I need to get onto these
(Also contemporary BUT WITH DRAGONS is obviously the best thing I’ve ever heard of.)
I haven’t read many contemporaries this year. I don’t know why, but I need to fix this problem. The Wicker King is on my TBR list (mostly because of the cover, TBH).I’m on waitlists for Leah and Tyler Jonson. The lists are massive because everyone wants to read them, and I’m going to be waiting forever.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Recent Wish List Additions
Ahh library lists can be the death of us.😂I think I’ve been waiting for a book for like 2 months now on the online library I’m with.😂I mean I GET that we have to wait but part of me is like “IT’S A FILE, JUST CAN’T WE ALL READ THE SAME FILE AT ONCE?!” I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work like that but my brain wishes it did.😂
*adds 9 new contemporaries to my TBR despite the fact that I usually get bored by them, but I trust Cait*
Trusting me never leaves anyone astray EVER for sure.
I’m not normally a contemporary person, and lately I haven’t been much of a YA person, but you make me want to read these!
Aww that’s a huge compliment that I’m being convincing!! 💛
This list is exactly what I needed at this time, I have way to much fantasy and sci-fi right now (I have about nine books out from the library and they’re all fantasy\sci-fi) so I know I’m going to really want some contemporary asap. I actually haven’t read much contemporary and that’s one of my goals of this year. So I’ve only finished three (not counting One Of Us Is Lying because I dnf’d that, I actually figured out the murderer in chapter one and was really disgusted by it) but the three I’ve read I’ve loved! So my favorites this year are
Eliza and Her Monsters=🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Geekerella=🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A Thousand Perfect Notes=🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (YOU WROTE ONE OF THE ONLY BOOKS OF 2018 THAT ACTUALLY EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS AND I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT!)
I really like mixing up my fantasies vs contemporaries too, right?! Contemporaries are also easier to read I think,😂so that can help be a break from devouring whole new fantasy worlds and trying to remember all the places/people/weird words. And honestly One Of Us Is Lying was not great.😂I did finish it but HATED how they handled the “murder”…argh, it was awful.
AHHH I LOVE YOUR CONTEMPORARY LIST HERE. Not because of the last one you mentioned, pfft, of course not.
(But seriously though ahhhh I’m SO FREAKING HAPPY you liked ATPN!! *sends you all the cake* Also relieved.😂I am so nervous having a book out haha.)
I’ve been religiously following your reviews for the last year or so, so obviously most of these are on my TBR 😂 And knowing the relationship between my TBR and me, I’ve read none of them.
Also, I see I Was Born For This in the background. I also see it on my shelf. I haven’t read it yet either. I do suspect that it’ll become one of my fave reads in the second half of the year, though! Along with ATPN (which has yet to arrive in mail, ahh. I know it’s called snail mail, but can this country’s post offices get their shit together, it’s been way too long)!
Mai recently posted…11 Best Books I’ve Read in 2018 (so far!)
CLEARLY WE BOTH HAVE EXCELLENT BOOK TASTE THEN. *hi fives* 😂💛💛 And oh oh I want to read I Was Born For This SO BADLY. I loved Radio Silence so like why am I procrastinating her other books?! Complete life fail here.
Eeeeep!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING ATPN THOUGH. 😍😍😍 YOU ARE BEST.
You’re definitely allowed to be proud of your own book!
I’m homeschooled, so I’m fine. I just stay faaaar away from the school system and it’s all good.
I watched the trailer for the Lara Jean movie and loved it! I might just have to watch it, even though I don’t usually watch movies based off of books.
I’m drawn to the fluffy side (like the dark side, but fluffy . . .? Yeah, that’s not as funny in type as it was in my head) of contemporary. So I love everything Kasie West. I also like I Believe in a Thing Called Love, by Maurene Goo.
The flailing over my own book is pretty much never going to stop. 😂 And omg I was a homeschooler too!! After seeing what American schools are like though…omg why doesn’t everyone homeschool and LIVE. 😳😳
The fluffy side works! Instead of dark side cookies you get…rainbow sponge cake maybe?!
I want cookies though! Maybe the fluffy side could have coconut cream pie or something.
. . .
I’m hungry.
Honestly the fluffy side should have just so many desserts right?! IT SHOULD.
Omg, I love contemporaries but I just don’t have the money to buy all the ones I really want to read ahhhhhhhh and this post doesn’t help because 50% of this list I already want to buy and the others I want to buy now. Thanks.
I did buy yours, though, and it’s also on my top 10 list haha and Leah On the Offbeat is too!!! I also think contemporaries are just so diverse and I LOVE that about them. I need more. Asap. But first I’m trying to get my TBR to be a tiny bit smaller. How does one do that, though? It just keeps multiplying.
Do you have a local library? That might help.😂I do struggle to buy the super fluffy books because even though I *like* them, I rarely reread?! So I have to be sure I’m fully obsessed first haha (which I totally am with the Lara Jean and Becky Albertalli ones!)
Aww OMG THANK YOU FOR GETTING ATPN. 😍😍😍
“These are actual genuine marshmallows and Lara Jean is the homey baking loveable soft Hufflepuff.” love this and it’s so true! :))) I have just bought this one, the last book, and I look really forward to it :))
Of contemporaries, this year that I really liked would be The Exact Opposite Of Okay and THUG
Aww yay so glad you’re going to try the Lara Jean books!!💛 Be warned: they will make you so so hungry. 😂
And THUG is AMAZING and I really want to read The Exact Opposite Of Okay too!!
Anger is a Gift sounds like something I need to read. And you’re right – the way our schools are run here is a mess. I’m thankful that one of my kids graduated this year and the other only has two years before she’s done.
This is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
It is SO amazing and I definitely recommend it!! So powerful ahhh. But omg I’m terrified of the thought of your schools after reading some of these books. 😳😳
*go to hide and whisper* I’ve only read The Wicker King
But I’m planning to read some standalone and contemporaries during summer because I really need to let down the stress. Knowing myself I’m still going to pick up contemporaries that in the end will break my heart and people will see me while a cry at the beach 😂
BUT THAT’S ARGUABLY THE BEST SO YOU’RE STILL WINNING.😂😂
I’m not really a contemporary person, except when I am. The only contemporary I can remember reading this year is The Hate U Give, which was good. Your description of The Wicker King has piqued my interest, and The Foxhole Court has been on my list for a while.
Ivyclad Ideas recently posted…How to Climb out of Your Reading Slump
THUG is so amazingly important for sure!! I’m glad you gave it a go!
I’m not usually much of a fan of contemporaries, but lately I’ve read a few really good contemporaries that I really enjoyed *goes away to re-think entire existence* One of them was your book, I loved it so much omg??!! It’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year! I also read Simon Vs. lately, which I really liked even if it was quite a lighthearted contemporary which isn’t really my style, I really loved Simon, he’s so relatable omg 😂
I haven’t actually read any of the books on your list (except ATPN, obviously) but there are a few there that I really want to check out! Since I apparently like contemporary now…. 😂
Andrea @ https://spaceshipsvampiresandsecretagents.blogspot.com/
OMG THANK YOU FOR READING MY BOOK DID I MENTION YOU ARE MY FAVOURITE THIS IS A GLORIOUS DAY CAKE FOR US ALL. 💛💛💛 *pretends to have chill but really has none* And eep yes I love Simon Vs so much! SO CUTE. I actually am liking the cute ones as a break from all the angst I read these days.😂😂Sometimes marshmallows are good. (Although in moderation hahah.)
I read SO MANY contemporaries. I basically read 70% contemps and 30% fantasy, though I think the fantasy percentage may go up in time because I am loving fantasy so much lately. Anyway. THE WICKER KING has been on my TBR list since before it came out, it just sounds so good and dark and possibly a little queer? Maybe? Unsure as of now. I was not a huge fan of the first Lara Jean book because I found her very annoying but somehow loved the second two books and am so excited for the movie!!!
*whispers* also your book was amazing and made me cry tears of rage and joy and many other emotions.
Ahhh finally a contemporary fan too! * comes to stand with you* I mean, I still do and always will love fantasy a LOT, but I really love where contemporary has been going lately. It’s so powerful and important. AJfdksafd. And yes The Wicker King is queer too! It’s more like coming to the realisation though, so they don’t talk about it until the end.
Omggg thank you for reading my book!!!!💛💛💛💛
If you get published, you should automatically be rewarded with the right to brag about your book at least 3 times per post.
I loved any scenes with all the drama kids in both Simon and Leah, because I could relate so hardcore to all of those scenarios. xD
Kate @ The Magic Violinist recently posted…10 Years and Counting
I know right?!? I’m going with this. I’m pretty much unstoppable now. PLUS it’s giving everyone a break from my constant Stiefvater flailing so people should thank me tbh.😂
The drama kids thoooough. Omg ALL those scenes were the best.😂
I feel like every time I stop by your blog, I’m hearing about The Wicker King again andddd to be honest I am so very grateful for the endless reminder to get this book sometime, it sounds REALLY WAY TOO GREAT to pass up, so thank youuuuuu for that again, Cait 😀
Always and Forever Lara Jean was such a bittersweet, adorable, cookie-filled story and I loved it so much. I’m so happy this series exists because it makes me sooo very happy <3
I'm SO HAPPY you enjoyed A Taxonomy of Love so much! I have that one of my TBR and hope to read it soon, I can't wait it sounds really like my kind of book <3 <3 <3
Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books recently posted…The Book Aesthetics Tag
It’s basically my #1 goal of this year to convince everyone to read The Wicker King.😂😂IS IT WORKING!?
And aww I love Lara Jean so much…but I was so freaking STRESSED every time she and Peter broke up (for like the 9489 time 😂). Ugh romance. It’s giving me grey hair.😂 And aww yes Taxonomy is so cute but also powerful and I just loved the disability rep so much too!!
The Wicker King is the only YA contemporary I’ve read this year. (The only other thing that even comes close to a contemporary is Bridge to Terabithia, but it was written in the 1970s so it’s basically historical fiction now. It’s also MG.)
I keep seeing people rave about The Wicker King, and now I’ve realized that my reading experience of that book was crap in comparison. Why? Because I read the e-book version. All that was there was the text, and the pictures were just slapped on the pages. There were no dark/black pages, so I didn’t really get that whole “descent into madness” vibe that people are raving about. Books that don’t translate well to e-book format really should come with a warning; if I’d known about this one, I would’ve sought out a physical copy instead.
I only have 3 contemporaries out of 36 books on my Goodreads favourites shelf. Two are MG (and one of those is a graphic novel) and one is adult. I think it’s safe to say that contemporary is not my favourite genre!
La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads… recently posted…Review – Artificial Condition
Aww I love Bridge to Terebithia!! That was like the kind of books I grew up reading…it’s no wonder I write tragic stories now. 😂 AGH! But that sucks about The Wicker King’s ebook format! I totally see how that would definitely half ruin it?! Like I love the story by itself, but the visual experience really set it apart for me. Maybe if your library has it, it’d be worth flicking through to see the art?
YES! Why is no one not talking more about DANGEROUS ART?! I read that and my heart dropped. It was so so good! There’s like a handful of people who’ve read it (you and me, plus a few others)
IT’S SO GOOD AND SHATTERED MY HEART.😭❤️❤️I feel like we all need to talk about underrated books more right!?
*scurries away to write a blog post*
I’m not a huge fan of contemporary fiction, but I decided that I needed to read something by every author that I featured in Indie e-Con this year, and a lot of my authors wrote contemporary. So I got to branch out.
Some highlights:
BOUND by Victoria Lynn. This is a story of child abuse and the welfare system, but it’s also a strong story of faith and love, and it was beautiful.
Bridgers by Angie Thomson. A contemporary retelling of the Good Samaritan. I felt that it lost steam in the second half, but it was altogether a lovely story.
Because of Austen by J.J. Franseco. A tale of bullying’s consequences taken to its extreme. The writing could have been stronger, but it still ripped out my heart and shredded it into a thousand bloody pieces.
Robbed of Soul by Lois D. Brown. A murder mystery with a side of mental health issues. Also ghosts, so it’s teeeeeechnically paranormal, but *shrug* I don’t read ghosts stories much, either, so I’m still branching out. (Weirdly enough, I have a second contemporary ghost story that I also read this year, so look at me branching out of my comfort zone.)
And then I have another one I opened up and read a chapter from last night before I reluctantly put it away because I remembered that I have other books that are Priorities, because I have Deadlines. *argh, deadlines.* You might have heard of it. Written by this C.G. Drews….
Ahh that’s awesome you’re supporting a ton of contemporary indie authors too!! Bound sounds like it was totally heartwrenching?! I should look that up! (Also I actually really like contemporaries with the slightest twist of something magical/paranormal in them?! LIKE GHOSTS.😂I don’t find many though.)
Ohhhhh this one by CG Drews sounds like iT MIGHT BE OK. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You might also try Shallows by Denver Evans, the other contemporary paranormal story I read. This one had mermaids. Ish.
WELL SO FAR, THIS BABY IS NOT OKAY. I AM LOOKING FOR BUBBLE WRAP.
Contemporaries are my fave! That’s basically all I’ve read this year. So far my favorite has been Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett. And you’re slowly but surely convincing me to read The Wicker King…… Maybe someday soon.
My basic life goal of this year is just to convince everyone to read The Wicker King.😂
This is such a great post! I got a ton of new recommendations, so thank you very much for that. Allll the love for Lara Jean and her sweet little Hufflepuff self and her adorable sisters and of course to Peter.❤️A ton of these were already on my TBR, and the ones that weren’t are now added, yay! ALSO I AM ABOUT TO ORDER ATPN FROM BOOK DEPOSITORY AND I’M SO EXCITED ALJDFIUNCADU.
Lara Jean is just THE most Huffley of Hufflepuffs isn’t she?! Also Kitty is so amazing and has zero squish and I love her so much.😂😂
(ALSO I APPROVE OF YOUR DECISION TO ORDER ATPN LIFE IS GREAT I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW AHHHH.)
GIRL, YES. Slay me with the flawless, heartbreaking recommendations. We love many feelings. Also cake. Maybe the Mafia but only if it’s fictional. ANYWAYS, did I mention slay yet? Okay, I did, just checking but seriously this is a great list and I’m absolutely swooning. We’re talking, frilly gloves to forehead, sliding sideways types of swooning. ANYWHOODLES (since I said anyways and am apparently not into myself being repetitive with words today, we love a wordsmith) I NEED TO READ TYLER JOHNSON WAS HERE. And also Boomerang sounds positively splendid (I wanted to sound fancy with my non-existent frilly gloves and swooning) so I definitely need to be checking that out.
Omg cake and the mafia and stabby-feels-breaking-storylines?! SIGN US THE HECK UP I AM SO HERE FOR THIS. And also any excuse to say “positively splendid” is a total win in my opinion.😂It’s just such a good phrase??? HIGH TEA FOR US ALL.
Top 2018 contemporaries – American Panda, You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone, Puddin, Goodbye Perfect, Starfish and It’s Not Like It’s A Secret. I’m really loving my standalone contemporaries as of late!
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Ohh I still need to read SO many of those!! I reeeally like Starfish though.
ugh yes Martin can most definitely go fall off a cliff *gags* Also Laura Jeans book are just a bundle of cuteness that I CANNOT get enough of!! (plus they make me so hungry all the time- so much good food!)
I AM DYING TO READ THE WICKER KING I CANT EVEN ahhhh!!!
Great recommendations!! I’ll be adding them all to a toppling piles otherwise known as my TBR….
I FULLY support how salty Leah was at Martin.😂Like Simon was all forgiving anyway, but heck no. I am ready to hold this grudge for 1000 years just watch me. ANd omg Lara Jean’s books were absolutely kind of cruel for how much they made me starving?!
READ THE WICKER KING. YOUR LIFE WILL BE INSTANTLY BETTER.
I REALLY WANT TO READ YOUR BOOK OKAY? It looks so gorgeous <3
EXCELLENT LIFE WISH, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS AS THE BEST WANT IN THE WORLD.
I haven’t read any of these! I am not really a contemporary person, real life is just not my jam at all, I much prefer diving into fantasy worlds, or if I am doing something outside of that, then I prefer to go historical since reading for me is my escape from the real world, so I like to go to places I wouldn’t get a chance to go to! If I do read contemporaries, I am definitely more for the darker, angstier ones, either that or they have to be really funny, but I’m not really a fluffy kinda gal. I have read precisely 6 contemporaries this year, The Exact Opposite of Okay, Moxie, Radio Silence, Almost Love, Not If I Save You First and yours, of which TEOOO was my favourite. Everything else I’ve read has been either historical or fantasy (and what I’m reading now is both-combining Jo brands!) which is pretty standard for me really. I do agree with you that contemporaries tend to be more diverse, but personally I just don’t find them as engaging or exciting as fantasy or historical fiction.
Historical and fantasy are great! Although I confess I barely read historical myself.😂
Fair, historical can be dense sometimes, I’m a history student though, so I love it!
I literally scrolled through the list to find A Thousand Perfect Notes. 😂
IT’S LIKE YOU KNOW ME.😂
Of course A Thousand Perfect Notes, it’ll be on everyone’s list this year. I also smell a potential Goodreads book of the year, we’ll be campaigning as though you’re running for President. Sadly, I haven’t read a lot of these ones yet but do have a few on my shelves that I need to move up my list. The Lara Jean series is one of them. I live for the fluff. My favourites this year, besides A Thousand Perfect Notes, have been Alex, Approximately and Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett, Tin Heart, Between Us, The Build Up Season and Small Spaces, although that’s more creeptacular.
It’s funny how dramatically our reading tastes change. I still love dystopian but are navigating towards fantasy type reads lately but will always love contemporaries. It’s just nice to be able to free those emotions that build up from time to time ♡♡♡
Aww, KELLY. 💛💛 yOU BELIEVE IN ME SO MUCH I FEEL ALL SERIOUSLY SQUISHY INSIDE. (Although, realistically, it doesn’t have a whole lot of adds on GR compared to most contemporaries 😂so I doubt it’ll be nominated for anything haha.) Aww I made your list *happy tears* And YES omg wasn’t Small Spaces the best?! Actually the creepiest.
And it is cool how reading tastes change!! Like I still am absolutely in love with fantasy, but I even gravitate more towards magical realism over epic these days.
I really need to get to Laura Jean….. I’ve heard so many people scream about it and recommend it and I was all “Oh, I’m gonna read that.” ….. and then I DIDN’T! STILL HAVEN’T! WHO AM I??? WHAT AM I?? WHERE IS IT? WHO ARE YOU??? WHERE EVEN AM I??!?!
I feel like this entire list was fluffy but with like, hidden stabbyness-ness…. I like it.
There are SO many hidden-stab-but-secretly-fluff recommendations here. I am on brand.😂😂
I need to read the Lara Jean books before the Netflix film comes out! (I loved The Summer I Turned Pretty, and the movie trailer for Lara Jean looks so good.)
I was looking at the books I’ve read in 2018 (thank you Goodreads challenge for putting them all in one easy to find place!), and there are almost no contemporary books 😂 Which is sad because I agree contemporary books are great for diverse reads. To be honest, I don’t really have a favorite contemporary book that I read this year.
…goes off to find contemporary book to read.
I completely want to read the Summer I Turned Pretty ones now! Because I love Jenny Han’s style ahhhh. And it’s so awesome we’re getting a cute fluff adaption THANK YOU NETFLIX. 😍
(Also RELATE with checking goodreads to see what you’ve read. 😂Without it, I’d have no idea what I Read this year ah hahah. Ahem.)
Lara Jean makes me feel so squishy inside, and I’m not used to it. xD
I’m not a contemporary reader, and, for the most part, if I read one, I want a story of redemption/happiness where good things (even bittersweet things) happen in the end.
I know right?! ABSOLUTELY SAME.😂 I’m used to books that are stressful and gritty, and yet here is Lara Jean…just the purest of ever. I LOVE HER.
I saw this question on an interview blog post and thought hey I wonder how C. G. Drew would answer this (Is that weird? Who cares):
If you could sit down with an author for a slice of cake and a question, who is the author, what kind of cake would you serve, and what is the first question you’d ask?
Oh and would you bake the cake yourself?
It’s not weird, haha, that’s okay to ask! I’m like 90% sure it would be a cake that I definitely didn’t make…possibly cheesecake?! And I’d pick Maggie Stiefvater!
What a fun post! My top contemporaries from 2018 include A Thousand Perfect Notes (obviously), The Someday Birds, The Art of Feeling, The Astonishing Color of After, and Starfish.
My copy of A Thousand Perfect Notes smells like fruit and ink. I don’t know why the fruit. It came like that. I read it in less than 24 hours, and of course, I enjoyed it! Then I turned around and convinced one of my best friends to read it. Beck is such a cinnamon roll! (Slight spoiler ahead for those who haven’t read it.) I hope he likes German cake because I know I do. 😉
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AWWW!! *blushes* MY DAY IS 100 X BETTER YOU ARE SO LOVELY TO ME. Very confused about the fruity smell, but we can pretend I planned for that??😂 (And honestly Beck likes any sort of cake because he is cake deprived.😂)
OK so I haven’t read a single one of these. Oops?
BUT I have just *bought your book* eek.
And I have the first Lara Jean book from the library.
So I’m getting there maybe?
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk
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In my humble (hahhhaha ahem) opinion you have CLEARLY picked the best of them all if you’ve got my book. :’) 😂😂
I love the Lara Jean books and might have to make a countdown chain to when it releases on Netflix. Squeeee!
SOoo much excitement for the cuteness that is coming to us on Netflix soon!!😍😍
I love contemporaries, but don’t ever read enough of them!!
Favorite ones read in the past year-
Turtles all the Way Down
All the Bright Places
Paper Towns
(also this is my complaint, for the who knows how many-th time, about HOW LATE A Thousand Perfect Notes is arriving!!! The post office people must reaLLY enjoy it. I know, it’s not your fault, but I WANT TO READ IT. AND I WANT IT NOW. AND IT’S FIVE DAYS LATE.)
SO WEEPING THAT YOUR COPY OF ATPN IS MISSING. 😭😭😭 The post office ATE IT clearly agh. Here’s to hoping it shows up soon?! *fingers crossed*
Also afjdkslad I love all the John Green appreciation here! I adore Turtles and ATBP so much 😍😍
I love all these recommendations so much Cait!! As contemporary trash I mean fan many of these I have read or on my tbr, thanks for the recs!
Ahhh 😍😍I’m so glad you’re a contemporary fan too!!
I really need to get to Tyler Johnson was here and Anger is a Gift, because they sound like books I would really enjoy! 🙂
My favorite contemporaries this year so far, have to be The Brightsiders (great friendship dynamics, very diverse and about the fallout of fame!), Saints and Misfits (another diverse read dealing with tough topics like sexual assault and what to do when the person is still close to your social circle) and The Nowhere Girls (apparently I like a lot of contemporaries about heavy topics, as this deals with rape culture and girls addressing that)!
Yes yes you totally do! I can’t recommend them all enough. 😍I also really want to read Brightsiders and Saints & Misfits (I actually own that one oops I need to get onto it!)
I am strangely drawn to The Wicker King (though lets be real, that might be the combination of that cover with that title).
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YOU SHOULD. I SWEAR BY ITS PERFECTION.😍😍
I actually hadn’t heard of some of these books before reading your post! I love reading YA contemporaries and I’m so excited to check out your book Cait!!! I just have all these books lying around at home that I really need to read first though because I’m pretty sure my parents are going to scream if I come home with five books again…not that I’ve done that before… I totally don’t do that lol. The Wicker King sounds really incredible and so does The Dangerous Art of Blending In. I’m currently reading Leah on the Offbeat (I know it only took me like a million years to finally get around to doing so!) and I’m loving it so much. I just have so many more books I want to read now that I’ve read your post!!!
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AWW THANK YOU SO MUCH THOUGH.😍I’m so happy you want to read my book eep! And also The Wicker King is everything so I recommend that about 3989 times per day to anyone who will listen haha.
I’m glad you’re enjoying Leah!!
OKAY SO I’VE ONLY READ ONE BOOK FROM THIS LIST AND THAT’S YOUR BOOK xD And yes, it tooootally belongs on this list ♥ On the other hand, I REALLY need to step up my reading game!!! I especially need to read Leah since I adored Simon, but I’ve been seeing mixed things about it so I’m super scared to get to it. D:
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Well since you’ve read ATPN, we all know you’ve aced the list anyway already. 😏😏😂😂 But ahhhh I hope you get to read Leah soon! I DO think it has some dubious parts but I’m all torn about it because I know there were sensitivity readers involved, that it’s meant a LOT to a lot of bi girls and I think if we can’t read about teens making stupid mistakes, then we’re kind of asking for unrealism?! SO IDK! I see both sides to the controversy!
The only one of these I’ve read is Tyler Johnson, which I really enjoyed. Oh, and yours, of course. 🙂 Need to get to the rest of these!
Well clearly you’ve read the best of them.✨😘😂
A Taxonomy of Love was one of my favorites this year. I adored Spencer and loved seeing him grow and learn to understand his TS more. I suffered so much over the years, especially during Hope’s dark period, but the love and friendship that endured just filled me with joy.
He was so cute, right?! I LOVED seeing him grow up and the change in voice/style and everything was so well done!
Some of favourite contemporaries I’ve read so far this year:
A Thousand Perfect Notes – C.G. Drews (AHHHHHHHHHH)
Foolish Hearts – Emma Mills
No place to fall – Jaye Robin Brown
Midnight Sun – Trish Cook
Attachments – Rainbow Rowell
Love with a chance of drowning (not really a contemporary but…) – Torre DeRoche
Words in deep blue – Cath Crowley
The geography of you and me – Jennifer E. Smith
Eliza and her monsters – Francesca Zappia
And I now have 9 more books to add to my TBR (thanks for that!) Can’t wait to read some of these!!
Also your book is SOOOOO INCREDIBLE!! It made me cry buckets!! One of my all time favourite books! 😭😍
WELL I THOROUGHLY APPROVE OF THIS LIST AHHHH THIS IS THE BEST. *sends you all the cake* And omg I love Words in Deep Blue so much too! I mean, what can go wrong with books about books, right?!
Also ajfdklsad thank you for saying such nice things about ATPN! 💛💛💛
Haha glad you approve! And thank you for the cake, I’ll definitely enjoy it 😂
Words in Deep Blue was so incredible!! And books about books are the absolute best! One of my most favourites is ‘So many books, so little time’, it’s great!
Aw all of these books sound amazingggggg and I love the Lara Jean series, she’s just so lovely and the story is just soooo good! Eliza And Her Monsters + Radio Silence, also have to be two of my favourite contemporaries (they’re just so gooood)! Gorgeous post, as always, Hun 🙂
Grace Louise || http://www.gracelouiseofficial.blogspot.co.uk/
Oh oh I love Eliza And Her Monsters and Radio Silence SO much too!!💛💛
I just finished Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda for the first time and I LOVED Leah. She might have been my favorite character, so a book centering around Leah just sounds like my favorite thing waiting to happen!
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Aww it’s SO CUTE right?! I’m glad you liked it and enjoyed Leah too so eeep definitely get Leah On The Offbeat when you can!!
HA the one we share is YOURS and Idk if that counts? 😂 I did like Lara Jean, but I read it awhile ago. I must read The Wicker King and Foxhole Court because I own them both and your recommendations (and Bee’s for FC!) have made me really want to read them. I know Tyler Johnson and Taxonomy of Love are also on my TBR, so more to obtain for sure!
So the only other contemporary that is technically a 2018 book (though I didn’t read it in 2018!) that I looooved (other than ATPN of course) was You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone. Fabulous. Emotionally wrecking. I think I have a pattern.
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IT COUNTS LIKE FOR DOUBLE TOO. Because clearly if someone’s read it, your taste in books is 10000% perfect, right?! :’) This works. I’m completely humble. It’s fine. But yes yes you should read The Wicker King! Don’t judge me for The Foxhole Court lmao it’s so trashy and yet I still love it. 😂😂
Ohhh I need to read You’ll Miss Me!! I own it and everything.
I’ve only really gotten into contemporaries this year because apparently being a male + reading contemporaries with romances (x in public) = wow what a scandal let’s judge him because he obviously doesn’t relate to the main character in that book with anxiety MATHS AND LOGIC GO HAND IN HAND. Clearly I’m quite salty about this and human judgement.
My top 3:
1 Eliza and her Monsters. (Yaaaaas my queen Frankie Zappy —great nickname, IT’S FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE— when my library get’s Made You Up is the day I sing from the heavens.
2 The Serpent King. (Travis… WHHYYYY!!!
3 The Rest of Us Just Live Here (The OCD rep is on point)
Btw, I can’t find ATPN in any stores, so… RIP
Ahh I’m so glad you’re reading contemporary anyway and pfft @ what people think. Honestly no one should judge anyone for reading?! And it’s so ridiculous that people act like books aren’t for everyone. Of course they are!
And afjdskla I love all those 3 you listed SO MUCH. 😍🎉🎉Have you tried Made You Up by the same author as Eliza?! LOVE HER BOOKS SO MUCH.
(Also depending on what country you’re in, ATPN might not be in stores! It’s only being printed in UK, AUS, and NZ. But bookdepository.com has free shipping!)
I like contemporaries, but more in the summer time 🙂 Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda is one of my favorite books. I love Simon and Blue.
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Aww Blue and Simon are the BEST. I totally agree!
I LOVE reading contemporary YA books, they’re my favourite! I really liked your book, Cait. Now I just need to read the rest of these (especially the Lara Jean series and Leah on the Offbeat).
Aww THANK YOU JULIE.❤️❤️ That means a lot to me afjdklafds. And also yes yes read Lara Jean and Leah sometime! They are so worth it!
Contemporary is one of my favourite genres, along with fantasy! My favourite contemporary reads this year were: If I Was Your Girl, Aristotle and Dante, Letters to the lost & More Than We Can Tell, along with Turtles All The Way Down, because John Green is just the contemporary KING.
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Ohhh love these and I’m rereading Letters To The Lost RIGHT NOW and freaking love this. I’m going to read More Than We Can Tell straight after!
My god, The Wicker King. I will never shut up about that book because it is EVERYTHING. I just love it so much?? I literally recommend it at every opportunity I can. Bless.
I bought Anger is a Gift earlier in the week because of you an another blogger! I am very excited to read it because apparently it’s brilliant so YAY.
I’ve yet to read Leah on the Offbeat but I HAVE A COPY. So it’ll happen. When I’m 45, probably.
Super keen for The Foxhole Court because apparently it is somehow like The Raven Cycle? Sign me up, please.
And your book is brill. Good on you <3
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Oh the Foxhole Court isn’t like The Raven Cycle.😂 BE WARNEd. It actually is kinda problematic, but I don’t consider it YA and I think it does handle the problematic tropes okay? But yeah be warned of that before you read. 🙊