Book Recommendation Requests > Nicole Miles’s Request

they said: " This is from the guy who wrote the Series of Unfortunate Events, but he's adopted a more mature tone for this. I love the way he tells the story of a relationship object by object. There are a lot of beautiful illustrations by Maira Kalman. It feels very intimate and sweet and sad, like drinking a cup of tea in an empty restaurant. This is from the guy who wrote the Series of Unfortunate Events, but he's adopted a more mature tone for this. I love the way he tells the story of a relationship object by object. There are a lot of beautiful illustrations by Maira Kalman. It feels very intimate and sweet and sad, like drinking a cup of tea in an empty restaurant. ...more "

they said: " A modern Alice in Wonderland- but don't let the comparison make you think it's a half-rate copy, because it's copying only in the scope of imagination. The language isn't simplified, it doesn't talk down to the reader (2 of my biggest YA pet peeves) and the surprises are delightful. I haven't read the sequels but I'm sure they're also delightful. A modern Alice in Wonderland- but don't let the comparison make you think it's a half-rate copy, because it's copying only in the scope of imagination. The language isn't simplified, it doesn't talk down to the reader (2 of my biggest YA pet peeves) and the surprises are delightful. I haven't read the sequels but I'm sure they're also delightful. ...more "

they said: " Confession- I've never read this, but I have a friend who swears by it and still holds it up as her favorite book. It's won a ton of awards.
Apparently this author wrote The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm! I did not know that! That's an old one but that was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. Confession- I've never read this, but I have a friend who swears by it and still holds it up as her favorite book. It's won a ton of awards.
Apparently this author wrote The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm! I did not know that! That's an old one but that was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. ...more "

they said: " Okay, this is sort of a YA staple but I have absolutely no idea what you've read and what you haven't. Gail Carson Levine is still one of my favorite writers. She also had a book out more recently in the same world called 'Fairest' and if you haven't read that one, I really liked it too. Okay, this is sort of a YA staple but I have absolutely no idea what you've read and what you haven't. Gail Carson Levine is still one of my favorite writers. She also had a book out more recently in the same world called 'Fairest' and if you haven't read that one, I really liked it too. ...more "

they said: " Fuck it. I'm just going to recommend it. I love Vampire Academy.
A few things about me- I looked at Twilight with complete and utter disdain from the get-go. As a child I decided I was most afraid of vampires out of any monster. As an adult I decided I had absolutely no interest in them. I've never read another series with vampires and short of 1932's Vampyr and Let the Right One In I've never liked a vampire movie. Also, in general I don't read YA books about teens who like fashion or are in ca Fuck it. I'm just going to recommend it. I love Vampire Academy.
A few things about me- I looked at Twilight with complete and utter disdain from the get-go. As a child I decided I was most afraid of vampires out of any monster. As an adult I decided I had absolutely no interest in them. I've never read another series with vampires and short of 1932's Vampyr and Let the Right One In I've never liked a vampire movie. Also, in general I don't read YA books about teens who like fashion or are in catty political power struggles within their school with popular girls or any of that. And yes, there is some of that.
But Vampire Academy is the equivalent of suddenly really wanting to watch a fun, mindless romcom and finding that wait a minute, this is actually pretty great. This has everything I want in a teen novel and actually has a few surprises up its sleeve.
Themes this series tackles other than the romance- addiction, actual female friendships, classicism, revenge, mental illness, taboo sexual behavior, the questioning of selflessness at all costs, the old "with great power comes great responsibility" business, and probably more than that. I've cried, okay? Multiple times. I said it. This may be cheesy fun but it also makes me cry sometimes.

The covers look stupid and I can't even figure out which characters they're supposed to be because they seem so disconnected to any description of who anyone is. They are not lending any credence to my recommendation. ...more "

they said: " This was one of my favorite YA series when I was younger. I reread it recently, and while it's not quite as good as I remember, the world still holds a lot of charm and interest to me. I don't know how else to describe it without that rosy glow of nostalgia. What I'm most in love with are the places that this series takes you. A palace in an oasis in the desert, a clockwork town, a towering mysterious city run with strange rules... my absolute favorite location is in the second book, but I don't This was one of my favorite YA series when I was younger. I reread it recently, and while it's not quite as good as I remember, the world still holds a lot of charm and interest to me. I don't know how else to describe it without that rosy glow of nostalgia. What I'm most in love with are the places that this series takes you. A palace in an oasis in the desert, a clockwork town, a towering mysterious city run with strange rules... my absolute favorite location is in the second book, but I don't want to spoil anything. ...more "

they said: " Another book I haven't read... but I've been meaning to get around to. Two very good friends with excellent taste swear by this series as one of the best fantasy YA books out there. Another book I haven't read... but I've been meaning to get around to. Two very good friends with excellent taste swear by this series as one of the best fantasy YA books out there. ...more "

she said: " I'm not sure if you'll like it, but in my opinion it's on the more mature side of YA fantasy (yes, it's a love story, but the romance isn't as prominent as it is in most teen novels). It starts off kind of slowly, but it's amazing as you continue deeper into the story. Also it can be confusing, as times and characters shift rapidly. I'm not sure if you'll like it, but in my opinion it's on the more mature side of YA fantasy (yes, it's a love story, but the romance isn't as prominent as it is in most teen novels). It starts off kind of slowly, but it's amazing as you continue deeper into the story. Also it can be confusing, as times and characters shift rapidly. ...more "

they said: " I don't know if you've read this, but I work under the assumption that anyone who's read much of anything has read the Harry Potter books. This is that kind of story, condensed down into one book, and much more light-hearted. Very quick and easy read, but also quite enjoyable, in my opinion. I don't know if you've read this, but I work under the assumption that anyone who's read much of anything has read the Harry Potter books. This is that kind of story, condensed down into one book, and much more light-hearted. Very quick and easy read, but also quite enjoyable, in my opinion. ...more "