Book Favourites | July 2015.

Summer is the perfect time for reading, and I have a huge pile of unread books that I'm slowly wading my way through. I managed to read a lot in July but these are the five books that I absolutely loved and have stuck in my mind even after reading others. All of them fit into the YA category, and even if this isn't something you'd normally read, please don't be put off, every one of them is beautifully written, and each protagonist captivated me to completely different ways.

The Year of the Rat - Clare Furniss

One of the main things I look for in YA fiction is a strong but believable (typical female) protagonist, and Pearl definitely fits that brief! Her strength is offset with this really raw, vulnerable side of her that we see immediately, and you certainly feel her grief throughout the novel; I was really rooting for her. Heartbreaking, funny, and well written, this is one of my favourite books that I've read so far this year.

Unspeakable - Abbie Rushton

If you love stories that grip you immediately, this is one for you. I was pulled in straight away and it was a challenge not to flick ahead a chapter or so just to find out what really happened. As much as I loved the narrative, my favourite thing about the book was the LGBT characters. I think it's so important to create visibility, especially in books written for teenagers and young adults, and compared to other novels focusing on LGBT characters, the fact that Megan is gay isn't the main/only thing about her personality; it's just a part of who she is.

Th1rteen R3asons Why - Jay Asher

Like I said with Unspeakable, I really struggled not to skip ahead with this book! I though that the way that it was written with the tapes and the first person narrator worked so well, and the two characters voices came through brilliantly. It certainly tugs on the heartstrings and the countdown to the end of the tapes and the conclusion of the story makes it impossible to put down.

My Heart and Other Black Holes - Jasmine Warga

I first raved about this book here and after reading it for a second time this year I'm still absolutely in love with it. It was so beautifully written - it's one of those books where you read certain quotes and know that they'll stay with you for a long time after you've finished reading. Considering it's a fairly short novel, the range of emotions it makes you feel is incredible; I was crying happy tears and sad tears within about ten pages.

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

After seeing the film and loving it, I decided to read the book and was not disappointed. Although I already knew what was going to happen, it still kept me gripped all the way through, and Mia's voice comes through so much stronger in the book than it does in the film. I really love how many different types of relationships are so important in the book and each one is so well developed that you feel connected to even the minor characters.

Thanks for reading,

Tilly

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