Book blogger Beth met Cathy Cassidy at a teen book event recently... and Cathy asked her to recommend some YA reads for older CC readers!
Beth says:
A big thank you to Cathy for this opportunity... I unexpectedly bumped into her at an event a few weeks ago, and now this... it's crazy! So... let's start with how I got into Cathy's books. I began by reading CHERRY CRUSH, borrowed from the library, and it all kicked off from there. Honestly, I absolutely fell in love with Shay - a sweet guy who writes songs and plays guitar? Yes please! Between then and starting to read YA (Young Adult/ older teen) books, I read and adored most of Cathy's books. It became a personal goal of mine to finish them all. I could relate to or fall in love with most of the characters, which is why I love those books so much!
As I got older, I moved on to YA books and began to blog about them... blogging has become a great resource for me, allowing me to connect with other readers and talk about new releases and also those books I adored before YA.
My taste in novels hasn't really changed over the years - I love romance and contemporary and read most of those genres. It's taken me a while to find books I adore *almost* as much as Cathy's novels, but here is my list of favourites... if you're an older teen who likes CC books, try these next!
The Truth About Forever
by Sarah Dessen
Sarah Dessen's books were probably some of the first YA books I read - and I still love them today!
Cathy says:
I have read this and LOVED it. All of Sarah's books are just wonderful!
Second Chance Summer
by Morgan Matson
I cannot recommend Morgan Matson enough. She writes in a light-hearted but deep way about love, friendship and the importance of second chances!
Cathy says:
Oooh... a new author to me, I will have to check this book out!
Beautiful Broken Things
by Sara Barnard
Unfortunately, there are not many YA books out there that focus solely on friendship - which is why I loved this book so much! I would also recommend How To Be Bad by E Lockhart, if you like reading about teenage friendship (and road trips!)
Oh, and while we're here, everybody go and read Gingersnaps by Cathy herself!
Cathy says:
Love, love, LOVE this book! A great choice!
All The Bright Places
by Jennifer Niven
I fell in love with this book from the first page. It's absolutely mind-blowing!
Cathy says:
Oh my... awesome. And heart-breaking! Health Warning: please have a box of tissues nearby when reading!
The Love That Split The World
by Emily Henry
...And the 'mind-blowing' tag can definitely be applied to this book too! If you love romance with a twist (and/or time travel/ sci fi,) then here you go!
Cathy says:
Another new author to me... I will be tracking this book down soon, thanks for the tip, Beth!
There were many other authors I just didn't have the space to include here, but I'd also love to recommend authors like Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, Jandy Nelson, Lisa Williamson and Rainbow Rowell, along with many others! Looking for more YA? I write a book blog, which you can find here! Enjoy... and may your shelves forever overflow with books!
Cathy says:
Great suggestions from teen book expert Beth... I think I'll have to ask her back to do more guest blogging soon! Have YOU read any of the books above? Do YOU have any cool recommendations to make? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!
A big thank you to Cathy for this opportunity... I unexpectedly bumped into her at an event a few weeks ago, and now this... it's crazy! So... let's start with how I got into Cathy's books. I began by reading CHERRY CRUSH, borrowed from the library, and it all kicked off from there. Honestly, I absolutely fell in love with Shay - a sweet guy who writes songs and plays guitar? Yes please! Between then and starting to read YA (Young Adult/ older teen) books, I read and adored most of Cathy's books. It became a personal goal of mine to finish them all. I could relate to or fall in love with most of the characters, which is why I love those books so much!
My taste in novels hasn't really changed over the years - I love romance and contemporary and read most of those genres. It's taken me a while to find books I adore *almost* as much as Cathy's novels, but here is my list of favourites... if you're an older teen who likes CC books, try these next!
by Sarah Dessen
Sarah Dessen's books were probably some of the first YA books I read - and I still love them today!
Cathy says:
I have read this and LOVED it. All of Sarah's books are just wonderful!
by Morgan Matson
I cannot recommend Morgan Matson enough. She writes in a light-hearted but deep way about love, friendship and the importance of second chances!
Cathy says:
Oooh... a new author to me, I will have to check this book out!
by Sara Barnard
Unfortunately, there are not many YA books out there that focus solely on friendship - which is why I loved this book so much! I would also recommend How To Be Bad by E Lockhart, if you like reading about teenage friendship (and road trips!)
Oh, and while we're here, everybody go and read Gingersnaps by Cathy herself!
Cathy says:
Love, love, LOVE this book! A great choice!
by Jennifer Niven
I fell in love with this book from the first page. It's absolutely mind-blowing!
Cathy says:
Oh my... awesome. And heart-breaking! Health Warning: please have a box of tissues nearby when reading!
by Emily Henry
...And the 'mind-blowing' tag can definitely be applied to this book too! If you love romance with a twist (and/or time travel/ sci fi,) then here you go!
Cathy says:
Another new author to me... I will be tracking this book down soon, thanks for the tip, Beth!
There were many other authors I just didn't have the space to include here, but I'd also love to recommend authors like Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, Jandy Nelson, Lisa Williamson and Rainbow Rowell, along with many others! Looking for more YA? I write a book blog, which you can find here! Enjoy... and may your shelves forever overflow with books!
Cathy says:
Great suggestions from teen book expert Beth... I think I'll have to ask her back to do more guest blogging soon! Have YOU read any of the books above? Do YOU have any cool recommendations to make? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!
Under the Dusty Moon. By Suzanne Sutherland is a brilliant YA book that doesn't get enough credit. The Love That Split The World is supposed to be really good. (It's on my TBR list)
ReplyDeleteI'm a reading addict... This is my all time favourite book shortlist!
ReplyDeleteInsignia trilogy-SJ Kincaid
The darkest minds trilogy-Alexandra bracken
His darkest materials-Philip Pullman
The inheritance cycle-Christopher Paolini
The Nicholas flamel series-Michael Scott
The mysterious benedict society-Trenton lee Stewart
13 treasures-Michelle Harrison
Cardturner-Louis sachar
Ruby Redfort series-Lauren child
Runemarks duo-Joanne Harris
The genres in here range from fantasy to mythology to puzzles to sci-fi to dystopia! I cannot recommend any of these enough.
Gx
I'm not even a teen yet, never mind older teen, but I've read Second Chance Summer and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to agree with All The Bright Places. Beautiful and heartbreaking - you just HAVE to read it guys! And although they're not on the list, I suspect on her blog she mentions The Art Of Being Normal (Lisa Williamson) and I Will Give You The Sun (Jandy Nelson). I love those too! I'd also recommend More Of Me by Kathryn Evans (read it not too long ago and loved the unusual storyline) and It's Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini (which was just all kinds of relatable to me. Even if you can't relate, it's still an interesting read). Relatively serious books but really gripping.
ReplyDeleteI'd recommend anything by David Levithan, particularly Every Day and Two Boys Kissing. He has a way with dialogue that's incredibly authentic and just plain brilliant
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone for all of their lovely comments!@Kym, I'd really recommend The Love That Split The World! @Anonymous Thanks for the list :) @Hello Becca I think I read Second Chance Summer first when I was about 11...and I loved it! @Blue Whatsername Ahh All The Bright Places is amazing! And yep, I do love The Art of Being Normal and I'll Give You The Sun so much!! I'm pretty sure both of those others are on my TBR! @Caitlin Those are on my TBR, I've only read Naomi & Ely by Levithan and I enjoyed it - but I think I'll like Every Day and Two Boys Kissing even more :)
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, I am 11 now and I read Second Chance Summer about half a year ago x
DeleteOmg i wanted to get 'all the bright places' and this confirms I must read it!! But cathy's new book comes out this month so I'm saving for that... cannot waaaiiiiiitttt!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this earlier, Wonder by Raquel J. Palacio.
ReplyDelete