YA - Contempoary

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

Have you read a YA Contemporary book that you love? Looking for recommendations of Contemporary novels? Use this thread for all your YA Contemporary talk.

[J.]

I've just discovered Maggie Dallen Senior Week Crush, and I'm loving her YA books. They are light-hearted, funny and feel-good.

If that's the type of genre you read, then you should check her out.

[heather - NightlyReading]

Thanks for the rec. They look really cute & fun!

[Liliana, YA Paranormal Lover]

So, um, I don't read contemporaries, like ever, but last year out of the blue I read because I love Janette's other paranormal books (I was introduced to her through: and ). This one looked cute and I thought I'd give it a chance, and OMG I loved! I have been reading her other contemporaries since!

This year I read the entire Pullman High series: and I also loved it!
Another cute short story:

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I love Janette Rallison and I guess pretty much anything she writes (even under her pen name C.J. Hill). I have not yet delved into other contemporaries by other authors, but I probably will... eventually ;) lol

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I don't read a lot of contemporary novels but here's some of my favourites.

A girl who can't leave her house and falls in love with her next-ddor neighbour

2 troubles kids fall in love by leaving letters to their lost loved ones in a graveyard. Love this one so much. The follow up is amazing too.

Jessie discovers her dad is a international rock star after the death of her mum and goes to live with him and his family in LA. Madness ensues. So fun to read.

[Tyler]

YA Contemporary books that i've loved (they tend to my favorites!)

Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz Etta is a bisexual black girl in love with ballet and recovering from an eating disorder. She doesn't feel like she really fits in any place. Not straight enough for straight people, not gay enough for a group of lesbians. Not tiny and white enough for ballet. Then she meets Bianca and both girls are auditioning for Brentwood, a prestigious New York theater academy. I absolutely loved Etta, she was unapologeticly herself! It was also the first bisexual rep i'd ever seen, at nearly 27 years old and having come out as bi at 13. I couldn't stop crying I was so happy!

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff 14 year old LaVaughn is determined to go college, she just needs the money to get there. She answers a babysitting ad and meets Jolly, a 17 year old with 2 kids and no one to help her. Deals with quite a lot, and is a trilogy. I fell in love with both of them and cried quite a bit!

Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz About Aristotle and Dante, 2 queer Mexican-American boys that fall in love in the 80s. I really ended up relating to Aristotle and loved the awesome family dynamics!

Since you've been gone by Morgan Matson Sloane helped Emily get out of her shell but right before what should be an awesome summer, Sloane disappears and leaves Emily a to-do list of 13 things that Emily would normally never try. I loved Emily, being shy myself in real life I ended up relating to her and it felt like a perfect summer read!

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde 3 friends, Charlie, Taylor and Jamie go to Supacon, like a comic con. Charlie is a famous youtuber (and Chinese-Australian) as well as bisexual. Taylor is on the autism spectrum and has anxiety. There are 2 romances (loved both) and one is F/F. I came for the F/F and bi rep, which I loved, but also didn't know about the anxiety rep and having anxiety issues myself really related to Taylor and loved her! Told from Charlie and Taylor's POV's.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Star witnesses her friend get killed by the police, when he wasn't doing anything wrong. Hard-hitting about police brutality and racism in America.

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate Jordan is at a boarding school for performing arts. She is an alto 2 so she's finding it difficult to find a space for her, until a spot opens up with the sharpshooters....an all-male a Capella group...so she's desperate to prove herself. She's also bisexual, and Chinese-American.

I know that's a lot but like I said, they end up being my favorites <3 And can you really have too many book recs?

Edit: I can't believe I forgot The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton! I loved that book when I had to read it in 7th grade and re-read it as an adult and saw why 12/13 year old me loved it so much! Ponyboy, Sodapop, Johnny....

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I still haven't read The Hate U Give. After seeing the trailer for the movie I really can't wait to read it.

Some more recommendations for some raw, gritty contemps I've read:
about a rich spoiled girl who gets sent to a luxury rehab facility for her cocaine addiction.

such a beautiful book about a boy who is trangender but is scared to tell his family in case they won't love him anymore. Hard hitting and so meaniingful

not really gritty but a great 'who done it?' murder mystery that had me guessing and suspecting someone different every chapter.

[heather - NightlyReading]

Stephanie wrote: "YA Contemporary books that i've loved (they tend to my favorites!)

Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz Etta is a bisexual black girl in love with ballet and recovering from an eating disor..."

I adored Since You've Been Gone!!

[Tyler]

heather wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "YA Contemporary books that i've loved (they tend to my favorites!)

Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz Etta is a bisexual black girl in love with ballet and recovering fr..."

I recently bought The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson since I loved Since you've been gone!

[heather - NightlyReading]

Stephanie wrote: "heather wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "YA Contemporary books that i've loved (they tend to my favorites!)

Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz Etta is a bisexual black girl in love with ballet a..."

I have it but have not read it yet. Maybe we could buddy read it?

[Tyler]

heather wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "heather wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "YA Contemporary books that i've loved (they tend to my favorites!)

Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz Etta is a bisexual black girl in ..."

I'm not sure how good I am with buddy reads but i'd be up for trying.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I'm currently reading and it's fantastic. Wrote via a series of blog posts it's a great book.

[heather - NightlyReading]

Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "I'm currently reading and it's fantastic. Wrote via a series of blog posts it's a great book."

it sounds very interesting Kay. I can't wait for you to finish and review

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

LOVED IT!!!
A bit slow to start but it's so so so good. Such an important message. Any female who loved YA needs to read this book. It's hilarious, emotional and just great.

[heather - NightlyReading]

Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "LOVED IT!!!
A bit slow to start but it's so so so good. Such an important message. Any female who loved YA needs to read this book. It's hilarious, emotional and just great."

I will have to add it to my TBR...and hopefully get to it within the next 10 years! LOL!!

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

HA!
I know that feeling.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

Anyone read any good contemporary books lately? Let me know your thoughts.

I'm not a big lover of contemporary at the moment but I did love which is a historical contemporary

[J.]

I just read Life In The No Dating Zone and loved it. The girl is a bit quirky, and the guy is shy but charming.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I haven't heard of that one before. Glad to hear you enjoyed it :)