Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Her Royal Highness
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Is there any group of people who live their lives more steeped in tradition than the royal families? I can think of few others. This book (along with its companion book, The Royals) shows just what might happen as the rules passed down which govern their lives are forced to confront modern understandings - for example, what happens when the princess not only falls in love with a commoner, but one who also happens to be another girl?

This book is a delightful twist of a common premise: what happens when if, while trying to have a normal college experience, you just happen to be assigned a princess as a roommate, become instant enemies, are thrown together in multiple ways, and just happen fall in love with that princess along the way? And, perhaps even more importantly, what happens when her family - and the public! - find out all about it?

-Katrina

Check out Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins @ the library!

The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart

Title: The Words We Keep
Author: Erin Stewart
Genre: Young Adult; Realistic Fiction

Lily is still trying to process her own feelings and reactions after finding her sister, Alice, in the bathroom hurting herself three months ago. Lily has refused to go and visit Alice while she received treatment and is startled when she is told that Alice is coming home. Struggling to keep everything together and to maintain her façade of reaching perfection in all that she does (academics, track, taking care of her little sister), Lily feels like she can't tell anyone how she really feels. This is even trickier when a new student, Micah, enters school and starts talking about his time in the same treatment center as Alice, and Lily panics that her classmates might learn that Alice hasn't been in college this year.

Unwillingly partnered with Micah when her creative writing class combines with an art class for a project that just might give Lily a chance to get a scholarship for her dream college, Lily is confronted with complete writer's block. Micah promises to help her overcome her trouble writing, and Lily begins to share her true feelings all over school under the cloak of anonymity. Join Lily as she discovers the true power that embracing - and sharing - our words and facing the truth of our own emotions.

- Katrina

Check out The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart @ the library!

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Title: The Royal We

Author: Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan 

Genre: YA Romance

Similar to the movie "The Prince & Me", the main character meets the Prince of England in college. Although the girl is American, she is studying abroad in England, and the Prince has a collection of close friends that provide both social outlets and protection for him while there, and the American is quickly a part of this crowd. Follow the drama as a romance that doesn't tick any of the upper class boxes that the Royal family looks for goes public, and see if it is able to survive!

- Katrina 

Check out The Royal We by Heather Cocks!

My Eyes Are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann

Title: My Eyes Are Up Here

Author: Laura Zimmermann

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult 

Greer Walsh lives mostly in her head. She remembers a time where she was normal, and didn’t need to hide, safe with her friends and being the smart girl. There was a time her life was more than XXL men’s t-shirts and sweatshirts, and coming home from school didn’t mean lying flat on her back braless to enjoy a moment of relief from just standing and walking and trying to control something she didn’t want or ask for.

In fact, from meeting a cute new boy, to making the JV Volleyball team, everything seems to be marred by her desire to hide what is really there, two large breasts that seemingly came from nowhere.

My Eyes are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann is one of those light books that packs a punch when it comes to a strong message. Greer is a fun character who is truly living in her head. Her fear of people looking at her breasts and not noticing her brain or anything else about her does keep her from enjoying life.

This is a Young Adult book, and it is a book I wish was around when I was a teen. I don’t want to spoil it too much, but the struggle with body acceptance is very genuine, and the place Greer ends up at the end of the book is very inspiring, even for this adult reader.

My Eyes are Up Here is for anyone who wishes their body was different, and knows that people are always defined by more than one thing.

- Katie

Check out My Eyes Are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann @ the library!

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Title: Midnight Sun

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Stephanie Meyer (Twilight series) has pulled an E.L. James and reproduced her most popular story from the male point-of-view. In Midnight Sun, the meeting of Bella is told from Edward's perspective and thus fleshes out more of his history and feelings. It is long and doesn't have as many surprises if you're already familiar with their love story, but it does add enough new material that if you are a fan of these sun-crossed lovers then you will appreciate the added nuances to their complicated romance.

- Sarah R.

Check out Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer @ the library!

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Holiday

In this holiday meet-cute by authors David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, pessimistic, Christmas curmudgeon Dash (short for Dashiel) and holiday hype-queen Lily meet through a "book of dares" she strategically places in the Salinger section of the Strand bookstore in New York. With the help of various extended family members, Dash and Lily exchange their book of dares, each time adding a new entry, and getting to know each other only through their words, and their respective holiday thoughts, anxieties and dreams. 

With a couple of surprise turns, as narrated in Levithan and Cohn's typical camp and melodrama style, this book is sure to bring a smile, even to the Dashiels of the world. Witty, smart, and fun, this Rudolph romp was recently turned into a Netflix miniseries, and also possesses two sequels, The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily and Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily, which all provide hours of NYC holiday cheer, enchantment, and humor for the hearthside reader- even if, like most New Yorkers (except for Lily's eccentric great-aunt) we Milwaukeeans must instead settle for a space heater and hot chocolate as we revel in the trials, tears, and triumphs of first love in an urban wonderland. But a boy can dream- and Dash and Lily's adventures give much to dream about.

- Adam

Check out Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Sarah Cohn and David Levithan @ the library!

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

If you're looking for a book series with outstanding world building and character development, Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series is for you. Affectionally called ACOTAR by its fans, this book series follows Feyre, a poor human, as she is forced to go into the world of fairies after "accidentally" (you decide if it's actually an accident) killing a fey disguised as a wolf. While in the fairy world, Feyre finds trouble, but also love. This series has a lot of twists and turns throughout it so you will not want to put it down!

While it is currently listed as YA, there are some serious adult themes. The newest book in the series, A Court of Silver Flames, comes out next year and you can bet I will be one of the first on the holdlist when it comes out!

- Megan

Check out A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas @ the library!

A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Title: A Danger to Herself and Others

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Genre: Young Adult

It was an accident. Hannah will be released very soon. That is what she's telling herself as she waits for Dr. Lightfoot to evaluate her. She doesn't belong in a facility for mentally ill girls. It's all a big mistake.

Agnes, her best friend and roommate at the summer program, is hurt. Bad. Sure Hannah wanted Agnes's boyfriend - after all she saw him first, but she was smart enough to work that out on her own.

Now she's locked in a small room, which is so boring until her new roommate, Lucy, shows up. Lucy makes things bearable. Lucy gets her and shares some secrets of her own.

Will Hannah come to grips with what really happened to Agnes? Will Lucy be the one to send Hannah over the edge? Read A Danger to Herself and Others to find out.

- Sarah R.

Check out A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa B. Sheinmel @ the library!

The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Title: The Mall

Author: Megan McCafferty

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult

The year is 1991, and the place to work in Pineville, New Jersey is the Parkway Center Mall. Cassie is looking forward to her last summer in New Jersey before the rest of her life starts in New York this fall. Her carefully planned out life includes her boyfriend Troy, and their futures at Barnard and Colombia. All that stands between her and her future is this summer and her job at America’s Best Cookie. Of course her day is better because it's her first day post 6-week mono quarantine.

Instead of a nice first day back into the real world, Cassie is assaulted by Cucumber Melon Bath and Body spray, delivered by Troy’s new girlfriend. To add insult to injury, she no longer is employed at America’s Best Cookie. With money for school on the line, and a summer that needs to be saved from her parents' expectations, Cassie ends up finding a job with former best friend Drea at Bellarosa, a boutique a little bit outside of Cassie’s tastes. Secret mall parties, a legend of lost money, and maybe a new crush at the Sam Goody, Cassie’s summer is turning out to be better than expected. Of course, as with anything that happens in Jersey, there is drama.

While this is a YA book, it is best suited for those readers who were teens in the 1990’s. If you ever went to a mall food court for a date, argued whether compact discs were the best way to listen to music, or participated in a mall fashion show, this is the book for you. For an extra double feature, watch Mall Rats and read The Mall by Megan McCafferty.

- Katie

Check out The Mall by Megan McCafferty @ the library!

Recommended For You by Laura Silverman

Title: Recommended For You

Author: Laura Silverman

Genre: Young Adult

Shoshanna Greenberg loves her job at Once Upon, a mall bookstore. This is good because otherwise things are a bit stressful: her moms are fighting, money is tight, and her car is kaput. The fighting she can't do much about, but her boss just announced a competition for the booksellers. If she outshines her peers, she can get the money she needs to fix her elderly auto. Enter Jake. He's new, he's curt, he's cute, and he's determined to win that bonus for himself. I don't want to spoil the fun but there's baking, a goth-couple, a store intercom shaming, a YouTube star wannabe, and even Santa puts in an appearance. You don't think one book can have all that? Read Recommended For You and see.

- Sarah R

Check out Recommended For You by Laura Silverman @ the library!

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

Title: Weetzie Bat

Author: Francesca Lia Block

Genre: Young Adult, Surrealism

"Weetzie Bat" by Francesca Lia Block is a well-loved YA cult-classic that you've probably heard of only in passing, if at all. Following the story of Weetzie Bat herself, who is gifted a genie's lamp by her friend Dirk's grandmother before she dies, Weetzie makes three wishes that come true in quick succession: having a safe place in the world to call her own, a love, or "Duck" for her friend Dirk, and a Secret-Agent-Lover-Man for herself.

Controversial at the time of its publishing for its themes of outsider identity, mixed families, single parent households/single mothers, drug use, and at the end of the book, its handling of the early years of the AIDS epidemic, "Weetzie Bat" is a lyrical frolic of a book, better suited to be read as a poetic allegory than an attempt at realism. Nonetheless, it offers readers an interesting look at the cultural shifts that have (and have not) occurred since the late 80's and early 90's.

I would say, based on the material of this book, that it's far better suited to mature adolescents in their late teens and early twenties, but nonetheless a dreamy and evocative read that can easily be digested in one sitting.

- Adam

Check out Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block @ the library!

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

Title: The Grace Year

Author: Kim Liggett

Genre: Young Adult

In this dystopian YA tale, all the girls in Garner Country must take part in The Grace Year. However, no one is allowed to talk about it or what happens during it. All they know is that the girls leave the village for a year with their magic and return without it, ready for marriage...if they return at all. 16 year old Tierney wants a life where she isn't someone's property and where the girls aren't always pitting themselves against each other. When it's time for her Grace Year, she realizes that what she was told to fear isn't what she should actually fear.
This book felt like the perfect combination of The Handmaid's Tale and The Salem Witch Trials. There's suspense, fear, survival, and female empowerment all rolled up into one amazing book. Easily the best book I've read this year!

- Megan

Check out  The Grace Year by Kim Liggett @ the library!

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee

Title: I'll Be the One

Author: Lyla Lee

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

Skye Shin is the total package: she can sing and dance amazingly. Only thing is, she's fatter than your typical K-Pop star, so when she decides to audition for an internationally broadcast competition, she knows it's going to be harder for her than most. Not only are the other competitors picture perfect, but they include gorgeous social media stars Henry Cho and his ex-girlfriend. While Skye's dad is totally on board, she is also coping with a less-than supportive mom at home who would rather Skye diet than dance. Can Skye achieve her dreams? Can she do it without losing herself in the process?

I liked this book because Skye knows who she is, and more importantly likes who she is, despite outside pressures to change. It's nice to have a protagonist that you can wholeheartedly cheer for.

- Sarah R.

Check out  I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee @ the library!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

I have been rereading some of my favorite stories, and allowing myself to escape back into some of my favorite worlds for pockets of time. It's comforting, which is especially nice in winter. This series is filled with angels and demons, vampires and werewolves, warlocks and fairies, but at its heart, it is about the love between family, the strength found in friendship, and the miracles created by putting aside differences and working together. The first story introduces Clary to a world of darkness and monsters that she didn't know existed, and leaves her to face the fact that she might just belong there more than she has ever truly belonged in the typical New York City world that she has grown up within. “What would you do if you saw something nobody else could see?” 

- Katrina

Check out City of Bones @ the library!

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

Title: A Corner of White
Author: Jaclyn Moriarty
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

The tentative connection, based only on the written letters of two teenagers, between our world and the new world of Cello is intriguing. Because these teens continue to write and share the details of their lives, both begin to gain knowledge of the other world and insight into their own. Although, as the first in a trilogy, this book spends a lot of time on world building, the big reveals at the end have me eager to read more!

- Katrina

Check out A Corner of White @ the library!