Recommended Reads

This has been one heck of a busy year! Every week that slips by without a review twists my gut a little more. But now there are so many good books accumulated that I wanted to review that I can't possibly write a full review for all of them.

So I thought I'd do a quick catch up by showing you all the books I've read this year (to date) that I highly recommend. Maybe you'll like them, maybe you won't. But at least pick them up and give them a chance.

These are not necessarily books that were published in 2011, but they are all books that I personally read in 2011 and loved enough to recommend. Some are fiction, some are nonfiction. Some are adult fiction, some are YA.

Ready? Here we go...


Nonfiction:

PLOT & STRUCTURE by James Scott Bell [excellent resource for fiction writers]

ON WRITING by Stephen King [a memoir of his writing life; good for writers who are looking for realistic motivation to get through those inevitable tough times]

FRAGMENTS: POEMS, INTIMATE NOTES, LETTERS by Marilyn Monroe; edited by Stanley Buchthal & Bernard Comment [a must read for Marilyn Monroe fans, or anyone who wants to understand what she was underneath the Hollywood image]


Adult fiction:

THE PREACHER'S BRIDE and THE DOCTOR'S LADY by Jody Hedlund [adventurous historical romance with a Christian theme]

THE KITCHEN DAUGHTER by Jael McHenry [a foodie novel (recipes included) told through a character with Asperger's Syndrome - one of the most unique stories I've read this year]

EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL BEGAN AFTER by Simon Van Booy [read my review here]

THE ATLAS OF LOVE by Laurie Frankel [very touching story about what makes a family a family, and downright hilarious at times]

THE ONE THAT I WANT by Allison Winn Scotch [read my review here]

HATING OLIVIA: A LOVE STORY by Mark SaFranko [read my review here]


Young Adult fiction:

THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder [unique premise - a well written novel in verse]

WILD ROSES by Deb Caletti [one of the best YA voices out there; heartbreaking story, yet beautifully realistic]

BLACK HOLE SUN by David MacInnis Gill [if you're looking for sci-fi that isn't dystopian or post-apocalyptic... just plain, good-old, classic sci-fi with YA appeal -- this is it; a lot of LOL moments too]

BUT I LOVE HIM by Amanda Grace [read my review here]

BAD APPLE by Laura Ruby [quick read with an excellent voice; quirky-yet-real concept]

INVINCIBLE SUMMER by Hannah Moskowitz [read my review here]

THE BERLIN BOXING CLUB by Robert Sharenow [read my review here]

SHIP BREAKER by Paolo Bacigalupi [read my review here]

RIVAL by Sara Bennett Wealer [read my review here]

THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa & Laura Roecker [a fun mystery with a unique twist]

THE IRON QUEEN by Julie Kagawa [read my review here]

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver [one of the few dystopian novels that didn't have me rolling my eyes every other page; very well written; unique concept]

LOVE LOVE LOVE: LANGUAGE OF LOVE (by Deborah Reber) and CUPIDTY (by Caroline Goode) [two romantic comedies in one book; very cute, very fun]

CRASH INTO ME by Albert Borris [read my review here]

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins [read my review here]

MATCHED by Ally Condie [read my review here]


I hope you all have a chance to check out some of these excellent titles.
~Lydia