Thursday 2 August 2012

Books I loved that you should probably read

Christmas in July took up ALL THE POSTS and so I haven't had chance to foist my opinions about good books on you for a while. Here are my favourites since last I made noise about what you should be reading.


Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1)Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great, hard-won relationship between the two mc's, fantastic world-building, excellent story. I find myself reluctant to buy into books that aren't standalones, but I loved this one and it had a satisfying ending. Bring on the sequel. (And thanks to Michelle for making me read this!)


GlowGlow by Amy Kathleen Ryan


Sci-fi! My agent recommended this one to me. It's a great example of using every opportunity to block your mc from achieving their goal to make a tense story. Another one where I will definitely be looking for the sequel.



Just ListenJust Listen by Sarah Dessen


The first Dessen book I've read. I went out and bought The Truth about Forever when I finished this. I liked the intricacies of the relationships between all the characters here. This is why contemp rocks.




Torn Torn by Cat Clarke


This is one of those thought-provoking books that made me squirm. You know what's coming, but not how it happens and you CAN'T LOOK AWAY. If you haven't read this or Clarke's first book, Entangled, you need to.



A Monster CallsA Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Heart. Broken.

This is a must read.




Any recommendations for me?



14 comments:

  1. Ruth you need to read Sarah Dessen's older work (I find it much stronger in story and characters):
    - DREAMLAND
    - SOMEONE LIKE YOU
    - THAT SUMMER (her first book ever!!!)
    - KEEPING THE MOON
    - THAT LULLABY

    I really enjoyed Glow and I am looking forward to the sequel Spark. I STILL haven't picked up Under the Never Sky.....gah I really need to that! Everyone recommends it to me!

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    1. Thanks Rachel - I'll add them on GR. And yes, do get UTNS. It's excellent.

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  2. Super, I loved Under the Never Sky, have Glow waiting on my kindle and got A Monster Calls from the library a fortnight ago (still need to get started on it). I'd also recommend Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, Blood Red Road by Moira Young and the Graceling series by Kristin Cashore :)

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    1. Thanks Katja - I have Fire and Graceling next to my bed and Blood Red Road on my tbr. I'll check Seraphina out.

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  3. Putting Glow on my TBR list right now! :)

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  4. thanks for the recommendations! I've been flirting with getting Under the Never Sky for a while. Now, I'll definitely check it out.

    One of my favorites this summer was: My Life Next Door by Huntly Fitzpatrick.

    On the not YA side, I loved Sophie Kinsella's You've Got My Number. Hands down the funniest book I've read in a long time, maybe ever. One scene had me laughing so hard I almost rolled off the couch.

    And the indie published On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves. I've read it three times since I downloaded it.

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  5. I confess I'm yet to read a non-YA book this year. I feel like I have such a lot of catching up to do with YA and I enjoy it so much, I can't bring myself to go adult. I think my entire tbr on GR is YA and I'M NOT SORRY! : D I've added My Life Next Door to the pile :)

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  6. I'm reading The City's Son right now and it's really enjoyable.

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  7. What Rachel said about Sarah Dessen! I just LOVE her books. And I'm just finishing up SECOND CHANCE SUMMER by Morgan Matson - a serious contender to Dessen and quite simply one of the best books I've read this year.

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    1. Thanks Emma. I checked it out on GR and it sounds like my kind of thing. I do love a good contemp.

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  8. Under the Never Sky has been on my list forever! I'm so glad to hear another positive review about it!!

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    1. It took me a little while to get into it, but I loved it once I did. Well worth it.

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  9. I bought Under the Never Sky ages ago and I still haven't read it. Maybe I'll start it on the beach tomorrow. :-) Just added the others to my TBR pile. Thanks for the recommendations.

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