As a bookworm/book blogger, YA contemporary novels have always been a staple in my never-ending to-be-read (TBR) list. Readers of my blog, The Lifelong Bookworm, know this! Reading contemporary is like walking and breathing in reality, and I do love stories that portray real-life situations, incidents, lessons, and feels. I easily connect with contemporary, so it’s my all-time favorite YA genre. To give you a piece of my YA contemporary-loving heart, I’m going to share with you four YA contemporary novels that made a mark in my life.
Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae
This is one of my favorite debuts from 2014 because it inspired me to have courage and believe in myself always. Here’s a snippet from my review of the book:
“Before reading Wish You Were Italian, my view of bravery and self-confidence were completely different from each other. Bravery for me was facing your fears even if you’re scared. While, self-confidence was believing in yourself in spite of the doubts and fears you have in your heart. But then I thought of bringing bravery and self-confidence together to come up with an idea for those who seek inspiration in discovering themselves: You can never be brave when you do not believe in yourself.”
The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
The Start of Me and You made me see the wonder of possibilities and new beginnings when we try new things. It’s scary to put yourself out there, but when you step out of your comfort zone, you’ll live an amazing life that you never imagined you could have.
The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi
To be different, to live in the moment, and to say YES to what makes you happy is what this book is all about. It sparked a change in me after I read it! Now, I’m a happier and better version of myself.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
All the Bright Places made me realize that there’s hope even in a world that seems dark. Darkness is a constant element in life, but when we think of the beautiful things that bring a smile to our face, brightness will come shining through.
*All book covers from Goodreads