Trends in Contemporary YA #4: Music

Trends in Contemporary YA is a feature I do on a semi-regular basis. In each post, I talk about one trend in contemporary YA, whether or not I like it, and give some examples of books for this trend. You can check out some earlier posts in this feature here.


The links will take you to the Goodreads pages.


This week's topic is: Music!


Usually, I really enjoy reading books dealing with music - I just love reading about it! My only problem is that, sometimes, you need to know too much about a certain music scene to understand what the characters are talking about, which I don't. I especially like when characters make original music, since that means you don't need to know much about any particular genre of music. And because I love when a character's song lyrics are included in a book.


Here are some examples of music-focused books I've read and loved:

Being Friends with Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

And here are some music-focused books that I have not yet read but that look great:

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

Fallout by Nikki Tate

Guitar Notes by Mary Amato

Supergirl Mixtapes by Meagan Brothers

Amplified by Tara Kelly

What do you think of books focused on music? Do you have any recommendations?

Trends in Contemporary YA #3: Male POVs

Trends in Contemporary YA is a feature I do on a semi-regular basis. In each post, I talk about one trend in contemporary YA, whether or not I like it, and give some examples of books for this trend. You can check out some earlier posts in this feature here.


The links will take you to the Goodreads pages.


This week's topic is: male POV!


This one is not so much a trend but more something I'd like to see more of. I love books with a male MC, when they're well-done and realistic. I love multiple-POV books, too, where you can read from the girl's and the guy's POV, but here I'm talking about male-POV-only books. Reading from a guy's POV is interesting - I like getting some insight into how guys think! Lately, I've seen a few more books with a male POV, but I still want more!


Here are some examples of books with a male POV I've read and loved:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

Split by Swati Avasthi

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

Freefall by Mindi Scott

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris

And anything by John Green (other than The Fault in Our Stars)

And here are some books with a male POV that I haven't read but that look great:

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Before You Go by James Preller

Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard

Winter Town by Stephen Emond

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Cracked by K.M. Walton

Break by Hannah Moskowitz

Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John

What do you think of contemporary YA books with a male POV? Do you love them, like me, or do you usually stick to girl narrators? If you've read any of the books I mentioned, what did you think? And can you recommend some more books with male MCs?

Trends in Contemporary YA #2: Sister Stories

Trends in Contemporary YA is a feature I do every once in a while, and in each post, I talk about one trend in contemporary YA, whether or not I like it, and give some examples of books for this trend. You can check out some earlier posts in this feature here.


The links will take you to the Goodreads pages.


This week's topic is: sister stories!


There are loads and loads of YA books out there about sisters, especially ones told from the younger sister's point-of-view. There are also loads about the older sister dying, and it seems especially popular to have the younger, quieter sister tell the story of how she finds out the older, outgoing sister isn't as perfect as she'd always seemed. I really like these books, but I'd like to see some more books about other sibling relationships.


Here are some examples of sister stories I've read and loved:

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

That Summer by Sarah Dessen

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

(I know this one isn't technically YA, but I decided to include it anyways.)

And here are some sister books I haven't read but that look great:

Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

The Space Between Us by Jessica Martinez

Waves by Sharon Dogar

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Irises by Francisco X. Stork

Without Tess by Marcella Pixley

Never Enough by Denise Jaden

What do you think of sister stories in YA? Have you had enough, or do you want more? If you've read any of the books I mentioned, what did you think?

Trends in Contemporary YA #1: Road Trips

I've decided to start a new feature for trends in contemporary YA! In each post, I will talk about one trend in contemporary YA, whether or not I like it, and give some examples of books for this trend.


The links will take you to the Goodreads pages.


This week's topic is: road trips!


I love books about road trips. I've loved this topic for ages, and lately, I've been seeing lots and lots of books with road trips, which makes me very happy. There's just something about two (or more) people being together on a road trip that makes everything more intense - the emotions, the romance, the fun. Well, at least that's the way it is in YA books. I love road trip books because they always make me want to drop everything and go on a road trip myself (preferably with a cute fictional guy).


These are some road trip books I've read:

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Paper Towns by John Green

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hoole

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris

And these are some road trip books I haven't read but that look great:

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown

Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

What do you think of books about road trips? Have you read any of these books, and if yes, what did you think?


Also, what do you think of this new feature?