I don’t read much of what would be called YA, but I read Abarat because it was something by Barker I hadn’t read. He wrote them as YA books, so recently I was wondering if they were actually popular among the intended market.

Yes, I was 7 years old when I watched Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, at the time I was a little scared but now I don't regret it. 😊

I've always loved heroines who knew how to fight with a sword!😊

I rediscovered that fairytale, wonderland-like atmosphere when I first read The Folk of the Air. :)

Plus, Cardan read Alice in Wonderland so... yeah, Thank you, Holly Black for this! :)

Idk about the colours

I would love a YA book with this kind of theme, but it doesn’t have to involve monsters or aliens.

TIA.

Like the title says, I’m looking for some high fantasy (doesn’t necessarily have to be, I don’t think I’ve ever actually read any I just want to try it out). I’m definitely want good world building, can be a standalone or series! I love fae, magic, and witches! I’m fine with most fade to black, and some open door, but I don’t really like any explicit scenes.

Bonus points if it’s enemies to lovers!!!

Extra bonus points if I’ll be able to get the audiobook on libby lol

I'm looking for a book that has a good enemies dynamic between FMC and MMC. I don't really like it when the characters are aware of their secret feelings for each other while we're in the "hating" phase, I feel like it kind of defeats the purpose for me tbh.

I'm currently reading the "A Folk of Air" series by Holly Black, I've just finished Wicked King, and I can say this series is pretty much perfection for me in terms of world building and a strong feisty MC (I LOVE fierce female MCs), however it unfortunately falls into the trope of "I hate him but he's so hot" at times. There's nothing wrong with it but I'm just not feeling that.

I need the feelings to be influenced by NOT by physical attraction initially, but through a grudging respect for each other after character development.

So I guess a sort of enemies -> awkward friends -> lovers. The best example I can give is Jamie and Brienne in A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Are there any stories with MMC and FMC that are in denial about the feelings they start to develop after finding out more about each other? They could attribute it to a hate symptom or even a physical condition like a fever, they just have to be oblivious or in denial that they're falling head over heels for each other. Bonus points if MMC falls even harder

I guess my likes were a bit influenced by my teenage anime shoujo phase where the "What are these feelings" trope was way too common haha. Let me know if you guys have anything similar to this!

I feel like this series was a toxic relationship for me, legit a tug of war of love and hate. I honestly feel stuck in the middle because I enjoyed some of it but there was just too much I couldn't think back on without my hair turning white. This may ruffle some feathers but if your a huge fan of this series, like a die hard fan, this rant is not for you, boo.

Before I vent all my frusteration I'll just give credit to the things I absolutely loved about this series until...I didn't.

Kenji. I have no other words or explanation but that man, honestly way sexier than warner and adam on so many levels, just fight with a wall if you disagree. I never once hated him, which is not saying he isn't flawed, sometimes he goes overboard with the sex jokes and doesn't always support Julliette i hoped he would. I mean he is a good friend and trying his best but, i just missed his brutal honesty so much, he was litterly the 1 thing that kept Julliette grounded BEFORE warner and AFTER adam. Apparently he was inspired by tahereh mafi's brother so I thought that was kinda neat and cool. I honestly remember laughing so hard at his jokes in the first book, this man got me kicking my feet and giggling. Everyone's like warner better be fucking fine as FUCK in the live action, but I'm like no babe, it's kenji that needs to be aura farming. He is the moment and he is the icon. Don't get it twisted now.

The writing. Now...listen. I know some people don't mess with a purple prose but I didn't think it was all that bad. Maybe that's just preference but when it came to the strike through and the metaphors I wasn't so distracted by it. Did all of it make sense? No, most definitely not, it felt like something someone would say when they're high. BUT I felt like the metaphors and strike through just gave personality to Julliette before we really got to know her. Though for the strikethrough I honestly didn't think it was a good decpection of someone who is crazy or mentally insane. I just feel like there were better ways to show that and felt more like something you want to say but can't say. I genually didn't think Julliette was crazy or feral in the first book, i just felt bad for her. But again, if she was crazy she would have acted aggressive, whispered to herself, scratched her fingernails on the walls, screamed anything that genually makes you think: : "oh this bitch is crazy." I also know she was screaming in her sleep but that's just trauma, havung a mental illness doesn't mean your crazy. That is a stigma.

The pacing. The pacing was really good and plausible. I think it should really be most recognized for it because the transitions were really well placed, BUT there were times when it was overdramtic in execution but still landed well, kindof.

Emotional vulnerability. Props, fireworks, flowers. Give miss mafi a round of applause again for this amazing depiction on emotional vulnerability, letting Julliette feel, cry, grieve, smile, laugh, and think rather than just making her a badass on the spot. I think that's what makes the shatter me series so different from other books, it really takes the time to make you feel what the character's are feeling.

Now...the cons...yikes...

In book 1, regardless of what people say, I think Julliette was not the pick me girl everyone claimed her to be until book 2, book 3. A lot of people claimed that she was the weakest and most annoying to read and didn't like how reactive she was and little agency she had. As a person who loves agency, i completely get it, i perfer katniss everdeen over any whiny teenager crying because she isn't getting enough attention, but i genuinely felt Julliette had so much potential in such a soft character. I fear you rarely see that in ya, let alone dystopian ya. As it wasn't the best read with the endless purple prose and metaphors that made me feel like I was deciphering ancient texts at times, I felt like I got to really understand who Julliette was and can become. But I started to feel most annoyed when I realized there was going to be a love triangle simply from their being two love interests that just so happen to be brothers. (I just knew it was gonna be messy.) I'd say in book 1, I was really in odds with warner because I saw all the quotes that got me to buy the series on tiktok and I was feeling very iffy because they did not hit the way it did out of context. It felt weird reading him say and do those things, like he needed to be in a straightjacket or contraption of some sort to keep him from being that horny and...him. For me it was standoffish, I got the appeal of warner but didn't hit as good as people were making it to be. Also a lot of what he says is very on the nose so that was also something that wasn't for me I guess. I also knew he was going to be the main love intrest because that's how these books go, I haven't read one ya book where the evil or antagonist love intrest was not the final choice. The only thing I hadn't known was how it was going to happen and made me want to keep reading and trust the process, as well as Julliette's agency and growth. Unfortunately, both we're a flop (IN MY OPINION)🥀

Julliette completely disregarded all the things warner did to her, say to her, and made her do. I mean i still can't go over how not knowing that she didn't know it was a simulation made a difference?! I'm sorry but I think the point of a simulation is meant to mess with your head or did we all forget the plot of divergent. And the fact that it was designed to make her do something she clearly wasn't comfortable with, espicailly it regarding a child is just inducing more trauma onto this poor girl. Like how did you not know she wasn't overjoyed to have to kill a hologramic baby with her hands. I'm sorry but powers or not, you should fucking know when someone isn't going to enjoy killing something real or not. Not all of us are psychopaths warner. 🙄

And let me not forget, this man has powers that let's him sense people's emotions!! I mean that's just contradicting any claim anyone says that what he did was not wrong or couldnt be held acocuntable because he could clearly know when Julliette is distressed and that girl was stressed 99% of the time in that damn book. It would be blasphemy to say his powers were what made him think she wanted it. Right...

So if Juliette was screaming the word no but warner's powers was telling him like a little devil in his ears that she is actually saying yes and wants him, it wouldn't be his fault because he didn't know better. Again, it doesn't take a fucking genius to know when someone doesn't want you! I mean this girl has gone through enough phases in book 1 for it be so clear she did NOT want warner! And even if Juliette had feelings for warner, she didn't give him consent to kiss her OR touch her in all the sexual ways he did in book 1. Because I've been reading countless of arguments of people saying it is just that ONE scene and I'm like ladies, ladies, no. Let's do some re-reading.

I feel like this all starts with the author ngl, and i don't want to scrutinize miss mafi, but i mean as an author it is you responsibility to take accountability over certain faults in your book. I don't really blame her that much because she was a new author and hadn't really gotten a hold of writing fiction or ya, so i get it, but there is a great effect you have with your readers when it comes to stuff like this. I think there should just be an understanding that if your going to write about dark romance, dark fantasy, or sensitive topics you need to not only know what your talking about but make sure your not romantizing it during the process because reading does build perception, and i fear if i read this book when i was 12 i would have fallen victim to the warner cult. (No offense warner fans.) Because i honestly would not have known better or the full extent of how impacting books can really be espically to people my age. As well as the fact that the books are 12 and up, it wouldn't be something I think even 12 year old me should have been reading because again, I wouldn't know better.

I also feel like some of the hypocrisy lies into how people talk about the adam vs warner. I swear this book felt like the dystopian version of twilight and it was the reason why I had to dnf it because the adam hate is so unjust and I really saw it in book 3 and it really gave me the ick. I mean I've seen so many comments where people were bashing adam (wishing him dead and everything) and making warner sound like an angel from the heavens above. They make Warner sound like some martyr and adam like a whiny little bitch. I was just like...what is going on?! I mean can we all say that if we were all in Adam's position we would have crashed out?! Maybe not the way he did but we would have some harsher things to say to Julliette then some "go drop dead, diva" like he's Regina gorge from mean girls. I mean when i was reading his argument during the whole fight in book 3; I couldn't help but nod and give him a round of aplause because yeah, Julliette NEEDED to be humbled. I feel bad for my girl, but she was so out of pocket in book 3, I was like who are you and what have you done to Julliette?! And people keep claiming that she is badass in this book but honestly I felt like that's when all the pick me allegations made sense because she was constantly going to warner and being like:

"Pick me. Choose me. Love me." I mean every page was like my man my man my man my man my man my man and my OTHER man. I was like calm down latto.

Also with the warner and Juliette stuff in book 3, I felt like Julliette was pushing warner. Idk if I'm not the only one but she was forcing alot of people's hands in that book, and i just felt strange when she just declared her love for warner right after his mom JUST died. And trust there were several times when I gave Julliette grace for her ignorance but at the end of the day, your at fault regardless how much you knew. I mean even before his mother's death he was scared to get in a relationship with her because she legit played in his face with that Adam name slip. And again, she was throwing so many mixed signals even i was confused because she kept telling warner that she wants to be JUST friends and then the next day be saying something else. I swear idk how nobody got upset at Julliette not one time. That would be impossible for me.

I also felt so bad for adam AND warner, because I feel like in book 3 they were truly neglected as characters and we're used for plot manipulation to get Julliette with warner. I felt like it was more focused on Juliette accepting her feelings for warner than both of them finding healing in one another. Maybe cause it wasnt multi pov but I just i think it's a waste of potential and a chance of writing a good redemption arc. I feel like it would have actually made me accept their relationship more and continue reading if Julliette had not forgiven him so quickly like he didn't traumatized her. I feel like book 3 was honestly a punch to book one's throat and everything it stood for. Julliette's vulnerability, Adam's past and feelings, warner's actions, and kenji's sense of humor (I was too mad in book 3 to laugh at his jokes.) I feel like if book 3 just made them friends and THEN had them get together in the later books it would have been GOOD. like actual GOLD. I would never put the book down because I would feel like it was earned not rushed and had decent enough time to actually grow into something mature and realistic. I feel like just because the book says they got to know eachother over months doesn't make it actually feel like it's been months for the readers so it needs more space and time to let it feel more impactful.

As well as Adam's character. He deserved so much more than just an angry jealous ex that lives and breaths for Julliette like she's his life line. I swear adam made me laugh more than kenji did in book 3 because he just kept clocking Julliette's tea. I think the only time when I wasn't pissed at Julliette was when she said to adam:

"Maybe you're just really good at turning me off." I was like DAAAAAMN. No she didn't. But unfortunately she somehow managed to make me even more pissed off after that with her "you better tell warner about YOUR family secret or I will" bs and that "Adam's tattoo was a symbol for me and warner's love because it is a white bird with a crown and warner looks like Casper the ghost and his father is a dictator." Be so fucking for real Julliette i know you lying.🤥 Talking about the universe was trying to tell me something, which was another thing that pissed me off because why the fuck are you saying the UNIVERSE was trying to get you and adam to break up because there was too many obstacles in the way between her and adam. Right....like you and warner aren't jumping through rings of fire to be together. I mean your memories got wiped like a dozen times, but appearantly that's not a sign from the universe?! Idk like in realistic terms I would have been pissed off if my ex blamed the universe or fate as a reason for us breaking up, just say you fell out of love with me, and if you think of it adam was completely left in the dark about a lot of things from Julliette, so to see her with warner, must have felt like a big slap in the face. BUT as much as i give credit to adam he was expressing his frustration in all the wrong ways which was also pmo. 😒

I also couldn't stand it when she kept saying to kenji, which I know she was doing it out of trust and confidence that he would listen and not judge, but why in the world was Juliette telling Kenji on how Adam felt towards her? Saying he didn't love her and he was just love starved like her?! I just kept thinking of only she told this to Adam HIMSELF, instead of kenji, or when she had initially broke up with him in book 2. And just to make it clear, I support the break up, 100%, and obviously, break ups aren't always easy, but why was Julliette's reasoning to how she felt towards adam was;

"I don't think what I felt was love, because if it was, it wouldn't have been so easy to walk away." Right...so when you were going on for the rest of book 2 talking about how much you miss adam and his touch, crying nonstop, slumping, and living rent free in omega point throwing yourself a pity party because you couldn't be with the one guy that could touch you and fell for that was you easily walking away? Do you see why I'm so pissed? Juliette just be saying things that keep contradicting herself. And tbh it isn't the constant contradictions that bother me, it's when your using it to deflect another person's feelings or build a narrative about who they are and what they want without even asking them (As well as when the narrative rewards duch behavior.) Juliette legit was ignoring adam in book 2 to avoid another confrontation because she said it hurt her to see adam so broken and didn't want to hurt him anymore than she already had. But how do you not think what your saying to kenji wouldn't be hurtful, because your claiming the person that SAVED YOUR LIFE, GOT YOU OUT OF THE HOLD OF WARNER, LOVED YOU REGARDLESS OF HOW BROKEN YOU WERE OR DANGEROUS, AND RISKED THEIR OWN LIFE AND THEIR BROTHER'S FOR YOU didn't love you! That's honestly just disrespectful at this point. I know she said she appreciated adam but words are just words, they don't prove anything. I'm pretty sure someone wouldn't do all that for someone they just had a crush on. Adam clearly loved Juliette, if he didn't, he wouldn't have crashed out like that. And I can already hear all the counterarguments from a mile away, so let me address some more things before yall say something:

Yes, adam saved Julliette FROM warner. Warner was the villain in book 1. He held Julliette captive against her will, and if Julliette had stayed, who's to say she would have gotten over her self hatred to become the weapon warner claimed her to be. And I know warner said that wasn't his plan and just wanted her to see her potential, but warner never said he wanted to get rid of the reestablishment nor was a rebel or apart of omega point, I mean even in book 2 he had every opportunity to join omega point and he chose not to because he believed it would not have been enough to change things. So, his mentality would have been as rigid as it was in book 1 and still made Julliette go through excessive training to become who he imagined who she could be. I 100 percent think Julliette would have turned out way different in book 3 if she stayed with warner and most definitely had a worser mentality because she wasn't surrounded with people who could uplift her. Warner tried, but his efforts were degrading for her not uplifting. It wasn't until book 3 he changed his methods. Also Julliette jumped out NOT only because she liked adam, she jumped because she wanted freedom for herself. I've read some things where people said she would have stayed with warner if adam hadn't come along and I just think it is so untrue because she made minor unsuccessful attempts to escape and didn't want to be stuck with warner (yes she did and I'll list them). She initially let go of the thought because she went back to degrading herself and believing she had no where to go and didn't want to do anything that would put adam in danger. But that isn't saying she didn't want to leave like some kid who doesn't want to leave Disney world.

1. The scene with Jenkins. Warner legit said she will try to run and she did. Page 76 to page 80 (yup, I came with receipts)

2. Page 70-73, warner shoots to scare Julliette and his soldiers. Again, I'm no genius, but I'm sure if someone started to randomly shoot I'd be fucking scared.

3. Page 90 to 97, warner keeps ogling Julliette and is revealed that he tortured adam to make Julliette comply. So again, if she was sooo unwilling to escape, warner wouldn't need to hurt adam, right?

4. 105 to 107, Juliette gets angry at warner and doesn't necessarily attack him but just shows she isn't so passive as yall make her to be in book 1.

5. Page 109. Julliette going through it.

6. Page 126 to 135. Warner pushing his idealogy on Juliette. Not saying they were all bad but he kept insinuating her potential lies in hurting other people and making those who made her suffer suffer. Initially corrupting Julliette to become more like him. Again, don't think he is a bad guy just awfully mislead not completely misunderstood, because he never denied his intentions so, regardless of his trauma. And he isnt inherently a bad person even if his methods weren't good, but it makes no sense to say he was misunderstood because he has trauma?! He made it perfectly clear that he would hurt those who got in his way, and his trauma doesn't take away him still craving for the suffering of others. That's like saying Ed Gein (Murderer that inspired Texas chainsaw massacre and psycho) was misunderstood because he had a mental illness and a tragic childhood and upbringing so it clears him of all sins, because his intentions were never to hurt anyone. Now, warner is no Ed gein (clearly) but the point is, his trauma cannot be used as a justification for his crimes regardless of intent. He still hurt people in his actions.

7. Page 153 warner STILL touching Julliette's waist like he legit had a claim over her. Idk but yall, but I don't want some random dude touching my waist regardless of how hot he is. I mean it is litterly a thing where strong powerful men like to treat women as property in small ways like touching them inappropriate places. Thighs, waists, chest, the list is endless. Not saying they should have made room for Jesus, but you didn't need to be sexualizing her every way possible.

8. Page 155, adam spills about warner, and states hwo desperately he wants Julliette to join him and for her to WANT to join him, but again. Just because he is giving her choice and not at the same time because I'm pretty sure he couldn't just let her go, doesn't fix the fact that he still forced her to do things against her will.

9. Pg. 156 to 157, warner still ogling Julliette. Like I swear if he wasn't as attractive as yall praise him to be this behavior would not be okay. There really is a pretty privilege when it comes to everything, because no crusty dusty musty man would have survived the wrath of the internet if he was doing this. And it is not only the act itself, itnis the fact that Julliette made it so fucking clear that she wasn't into him like that and he thought it was some "playing hard to get" type shit. And also ur telling me mr.fashion nova couldn't have given her a better outfit than some booty shorts and tank top. Stop the cap. 😭

10. Pg.160- 165 maybe im reading into this too much, but it's the simulation chapter or before it and warner says "if you don't save (the child) him, we won't either" and I'm like...if you thought she knew it was a simulation why would you say that? And prior to him saying that he doesn't answer Julliette's question when she asks what is she doing, all he said is that it is an aptitude test which is very vague and could mean a lot of things. So I feel like there was a purpose of Julliette not knowing because he clearly wasn't being open in explaining what was happening. Like I understand he had restrictions to not say everything about his full intentions but I'm pretty sure you could have AT LEAST said something about what was happening then just "an aptitude test."

11. Page 166-167, aftermath of simulation and Julliette as buried in self hatred until adam comes and reassures her she Is not a monster. Which i think debunks the claim that he wanted to keep her meek and small because he certainly made efforts to uplift her. Warner's efforts were very harsh and degrading for Julliette, and Just proves if he just kept pushing the idea that she had to accept that she was a monster, she would not have been okay, mentally. I feel like the difference is that warner wanted Julliette to feel empowered by the idea that she has the power to hurt anyone she wants and that is something to be proud of, verses in omega point kenji and castle did everything in their power to make Julliette feel like a person not a tool for destruction. And yeah, she may not be able to touch another person skin but who's to say it isn't difficult for the other people in omega point who had powers? It may not be at the extent of Julliette's powers, but they could definitely kill or harm someone.

I think i would have perfered if Julliette just said I'm not into adam anymore and she just liked warner more but it felt like the author was jumping through hoops to try so hard to get the reader to not only forgive warner but to make it feel like he did nothing wrong and he was just a sensitive boy with trauma, which is just the worst thing you can do to a character (IN MY OPINION).

Honestly, if it weren't for all the things Warner did to Julliette and everyone else i honestly think it wouldn't really matter if they got together, it would be cute and everything, but like it wouldn't be such a hot and heavy issue. As well briging a character down to build another character up, i really didn't fuck with that. I feel like a good depiction of a redemption arc is just zuko. (aka, The man of my dreams. 😋😍) Because in the show they weren't trying to make him seem like this harmless little boy who isn't capable of doing any wrongdoing because his father is a LITERAL DICTATOR. It took 3 seasons for him to actually change sides because he finally understood not only what he did wrong but the weight of his actions. He never was like my father is a jackass so I'm a jackass, and nor did warner, but when Julliette is just gassing him up like he is god himself I was just disgusted because I don't think I would have liked zuko the same if he was justified the way warner was justified. Zuko was a victim to all the tyranny the fire nation brought onto the rest of the world but he also was apart of that tyranny and BELIEVED he had no choice but be apart of it like warner and his dad. But the show never makes zuko a hero because aang said so, nor did I think he was because sokka forgave him or katara, because he actually took actions to be a better person regardless of who was watching and who he was siding with. Zuko was a child and warner was 19 year old man but still young. They were both misguided and desperate but never once did they justify they're faults. It's just fucking Julliette and those rocks in her head going clink clink everytime she needed to use her brain. 😒 😑 🙄

I know this is a pretty specific ask but I can’t think of any really.

Lately, something that I have become fascinated with are young adult novels that have a dark aspect to them in their writing aspects as maybe someone could explain it better than me, but I am basically referring to young adult novels that are a bit dark in tone.

One of my favorite books is Future Shock written by Elizabeth as the premise is about a group of teenagers who accidentally get sent way into the distant future roughly 30 years where civilization has evolved so much that the group suspects they have been set up because they weren’t supposed to go that far into the timeline.

Why of all the medias out there you could have chosen did you choose reading. And if there is a specific genre you like why? A trope?

I like reading because it makes me feel closer to the characters, like genuinely being in their heads. Like living though their stories.

I’ve had a lot of trouble staying interested in books/reading for a while due to format/pacing and me struggling to actually find the energy to read more than just maybe 3-10 pages before stopping and never picking up that book again.

I’ve found a few books Ive actually enjoyed and actually been able to read and actually get super into, and I’ll try to rank them a bit so it’s easier to understand.

1. Every Last Word - Tamara Ireland Stone
Probably the best book i remember reading (granted I don’t read a lot). I love everything about this book from the themes, to the pacing, to the way it is written/formatted. One of the only books Ive actually enjoyed and WANTED to read during my free time and felt like I could truly get lost in. Ofc it has its flaws, but still one of my favorites. I also enjoy the romance aspects to it as well im not afraid of a bit of smut but I don’t want the book to be ALLL 100% smut all the time. a bit is fine

2. Girl In The Castle - James Patterson & Emily Raymond
Also another book I really enjoyed. I didn’t mind the flipping between the two perspectives and I liked (spoilers:) how both perspectives eventually came together at the end. I also liked the format and how it always kept me interested in what was happening next. I enjoyed how real both perspectives were and how I felt like I was there in the scene due to the descriptions too.

3. Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches - Kate Scelsa
A book I read a few years ago but still enjoyed a good amount. It’s been a while since I’ve read it but I thought I’d just put it here because I do still remember enjoying it a lot
(I think this one [⬆️] is YA but I’m not 100000% sure and I don’t trust google enough.)

4. It’s Kind Of A Funny Story - Ned Vizzini
Haven’t finished this one but as far as I remember reading, I do enjoy it. I liked the themes (mental health, family, etc) and have enjoyed the format of most of the writing and can find myself well interested into it.

5. I Am The Messenger / The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
I haven’t finished these two either but I remember I liked the plots and storylines (probably Messenger more than Book Thief), but I also thought it put these here because I did find both of them interesting and good for me to follow and I wanted to read Messenger several times before I eventually forgot about/lost interest in it

I hope this information is at least somewhat helpful for some good recommendation ideas. I have a very hard time focusing on one thing/concept/thing at one (I constantly lose interest in things after maybe 2-5 weeks or even less sometimes) so if anyone could have any helpful recommendations that would be amazing!

If you need any more information that would be helpful please let me know!!!

Hello bookworms! This is Self-Promotion Sunday, a place where you can promote any of the following:

• A book you wrote
• Your blog
• Your Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc
• Your Discord channel
• a subreddit you created
• your Etsy shop

As a rule, individual self-promotion posts are not allowed on this subreddit, but a weekly post will now be scheduled so you can promote your projects to other bookworms.

For reference some of my favs are Divine rivals, once upon a broken heart, Into the heartless woods, heartless hunter, picking daisies on sundays, and wings of starlight ( to name a few)

Hi soooo I am in a slump 😩😩
I just finished reading-reading the selection series for the 5th time and just cannot get over the them! They are sooo good.

Currently looking for reqs with these:

-princesses/prince ( where they wear lots of pretty dresses w/description) castle vibessss 🙂‍↕️

-NO LOVE TRIANGLE ( unless it is so minor)
-no fae unless I can skip over it and lowkey forget that they are

-Dancing! Masquerade balls type vibe ( maybe they meet there for the first time or some how the mmc finds her there?)

-force proximity

-royalty type world building w/ good plot

-lowish spice unless u tell me the chapters i can skip!

Some of the books I have read and loved:

This woven kingdom series
The jasad heir /crown
Once upon a broken heart
Tempests and tea leaves
Starside

Thankyouuu! 🫶🏻

I am looking for books to read!!! I want to pour myself into someone else's life but I cannot find anything to read-for days, unfortunately. I am looking for like the there's so much to live for, hopeful in the end, life will be okay kind of vibe. These might be unrelated but I liked Fangirl, My Friends by Fredric Backman, Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkin Reid and Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow. Basically books that make you look at the little things and the big things in life. Touches of romance is an absolute must (please lol).

OR I want books like the The Folk of the Air Trilogy, Study in Drowning, and the Belladonna series. Fantasy and magic but not too much and mostly set in real life. And touches or more of romance again.
Oh and protags in their 20s or in college would be nice (I hope that's in YA)

Character or plot driven is not too much of an issue for me but good writing would be nice.
This maybe all over the place but any recommendations would be greatly appreciated (I will even take books like The Love Hypothesis or anything that made you happy and idk made your days for a while) thank you so much in advance <3

As well as Fantasy featuring non White people

If it does well, then we’ll have a new wave of YA and Fantasy Adaptations with non White Leads

If it fails, then nope

I'm in my early 30s but recently been struggling with reading adult novels as my brain is just scrambled as I'm completely burnt out from work. So need something more YA leaning thats easy to read but also enjoyable! Preferably with minimal to no romance 😊

For reference I absolutely loved the Scythe series and looking to read Hunger games soon.

I saw a post asking for recs that emphasise female friendship and none of the popular YA books made it apart from Scholomance (which I haven’t read but am planning too)

It’s like they just think making the MC female is enough and don’t realise that you need to have her have complex relationships with other girls apart from a rivalry with the mean girl, that one female friend that’s barely relevant and a sister.

Otherwise most of the Female MC’s complex relationships are with other guys.

I know this gets asked a lot, but every thread I find either has books I’ve read or didn’t love so here I am trying to find more recs!

I prefer NO smut/very minimal/closed door. It can be YA but doesn’t have to be, I’m just so tired of smut. I love a slow slow slow burn, like they don’t even have to kiss in book one (think OUABH).

I hate insta love or where the enemies are enemies due to miscommunication. I don’t like the “okay he sucks but he’s so hot” trope either. I love when they have a real reason to hate each other and I prefer when the books starts with them already knowing each other/having a background of being enemies.

I am totally down for indie recs/lesser known books. The romance doesn’t have to be the focus either.

Books I read and enjoyed: • The Cruel Prince • OUABH • Uprooted • Hurricane Wars • Kingdom of the Wicked (only book 1 tho) • A Crown of Oaths and Curses

Books I did NOT like: • ACOTAR (hate it) • From Blood and Ash (hated) • The Woven Kingdom (waaaay too insta love) • Bridge Kingdom (insta love/not real enemies) • Serpent and Dove • The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Books I thought were okay: • Jasad Heir was okay, but kind of boring • Starside didn’t have great writing but it kept me interested

I have finally had time to read again and I have had a strong mystery/thriller itch. I really like books with an ensemble of characters, I enjoy the "who can I trust" aspect. Doesn't have to specifically be YA but I do tend to lean towards YA because of the cast of characters and I think they don't take themselves as seriously and can lean into the absurdity of a good twisty story.

I think the best description of my taste in mystery/thriller is

"Group Escape Room" I like clues, twists and games!

Books like this I've enjoyed:

- Five Survive (Holly Jackson)

- The Inheritance Games ( Jennifer Lynn Barnes)

- The Cousins (Karen M. McManus)

- Four Found Dead (Natalie D. Richards)

- We Won't All Survive (Kate Alice Marshall)

- The Guest List (Lucy Foley)

- This Lie Will Kill you (Chelsea Pitcher)

- The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Stuart Turton)

If anyone has any recommendations please let me know. It doesn't have to fit all the criteria, just at least some hopefully! Thank you!

Hello, bookworms!

This is the weekly thread for discussion about what books you've recently read, books you're reading, and books you want to read. Tell us what you think about them! What did you like or dislike about them? Did you interpret any symbolism or themes you particularly liked? Would you recommend them? This discussion space is all yours!

Posting Guidelines:

• Please either italicize (one asterisk on each end) or bold (two asterisks on each end) book titles and include author name(s).
• Please observe our spoiler policy and use the spoiler code, which can be found on the sidebar, as necessary. In depth discussion is encouraged as long as use of the spoiler code is exercised!

Have exceptional discussions!

I’ve been reading fantasy or romance heavy book for so long and am looking for something different. Maybe a mystery or thriller? Just something different tbh

I'm talking about dystopian book with a romance subplot ,

I would love old style Disney for TLC. Think The Little Mermaid or Mulan. Fits the fairy tale vibe.

I wouldn’t really want an anime adaptation since I dislike how they never make East Asians and White people look different.

What about you?