Contemporary YA

I'm falling in love... with contemporary YA. It's something I never thought I'd read. I grew up reading Fantasy and even once I started reading in the YA genre a few years ago, I mostly stuck to paranormal or fantasy or a book with some sort of twist. But let me tell you, there are a lot of amazing contemporary reads out there.

On Saturday I read Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. I'd heard about this book, but because it's contemp, I wasn't in a huge rush to read it. Once I started reading it though I could NOT stop. The characters were compelling, the story moving and funny. Ahhhh, it was awesome. 

Yesterday I finished the third book in Jenny Han's "summer" trilogy- We'll Always Have Summer. I loved all of these books. I had butterflies in my stomach and tears in my eyes. Again, these characters were just so memorable but in simplistic ways. These characters didn't stick with me because they're a vampire or they have supernatural powers or their touch means death. These characters stuck with me because they were real people, and so well written that they came alive.

I'm a horrible book reviewer. I've said it before and I'll say it again. But the point I'm trying to make here is give Contemporary a chance. Give it a chance because they are often some of the most touching/'moving/relate-able stories to read.

And because it's Teaser Tuesday, and I haven't started reading a new book yet, here's a teaser from We'll Always Have Summer:

Alone in my car again, I cried loud, ragged sobs. I cried until my throat hurt. I was mad at my mom, but bigger than that was this overwhelming, heavy sadness. I was grown up enough to do things on my own, without her. I could get married, I could quit my job. I was a big girl now. I didn't have to ask for her permission. My mother was no longer all powerful. Part of me wished she still could be. (page 136)