Top Ten Tuesday (6): Books My Friends Say I MUST Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish in which bloggers post their "Top Ten" of whatever that week's theme is! This week's theme:

TOP TEN BOOKS MY FRIENDS SAY I MUST READ 

This was actually a bit of a hard list to write! It's not that I don't get recommended books (trust me, I get A LOT working at a bookstore) but I've actually read a ton of them! So, here are (in no particular order save for #1) some of those books I haven't gotten to yet:

10. Tease by Amanda Maciel

Recommended by: Meaghan & HCC Frenzy

This is one of those books that makes me nervous. I have heard pretty great things, but the subject matter makes me weary. I do love books that tackle tough issues, but I'm always concerned about how they are handled. And bullying is one of those issues that just breaks my heart.

9. & 8. Losing It by Cora Carmack & Wait for You by J. Lynn

Recommended by: Emilie

 

Okay, guys. I'm an NA skeptic. Despite being the target audience (21-year-old university student!) I don't really have any desire to dip my toe in the age range. To me, it seems basically like contemporary with descriptive sexytimes. Not that that's a BAD thing, just that it doesn't seem like something all that new. I've heard good things about Losing it from lots of people and I'm a big Jennifer L. Armentrout fan, so these two are on my list. I just don't know how excited I am about it. Am I wrong about NA? What do you guys think?

7. Only the Good Spy Young/Out of Sight, Out of Time/United We Spy by Ally Carter

Recommended by: Kelly (aka the bestie)

 

OKAY. Before you guys jump down my throat, I actually LOVE the Gallagher Girls series. A LOT. I just haven't gotten around to finishing it (probably because I know I'm going to love it, and I want to savor it)! 

6. Jessica Darling Series by Megan McCafferty

Recommended by: Katie

 

My lovely friend Katie does nothing but rave about these books and, now that I own the first one, I'll be checking it out soon!

 

5. Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Recommended by: Emilie

 

I actually bought this book like three-ish years ago, after Emilie went on a fangirl flail about how much she loved it. I tend to avoid angel vs. demon books but, with such a high recommendation, I knew I had to pick it up. Now I just need to, you know, read it. 

4. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Recommended by: Cody

Barely a shift goes by that I don't get the "You need to read The Art of Racing in the Rain" from my co-worker Cody. It's one of those books I know will break my heart (especially since I'm a dog lover and dog owner) so I'm pretty terrified to actually read it.

3. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

Recommended by: Meaghan

Meaghan has gone on and on about how good this book is! And I've heard nothing but good things about it from others as well. It's just a matter of actually sitting down and reading it.

2. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Recommended by: Kathy, also all of Twitter

Another one of those "It's on my list, I just haven't gotten to it" books. Everyone went crazy about this book and I meant to read it...but I never did. Soon! Hopefully soon!

1. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

Recommended by: ERRYONE (Especially the bestie)

OKAY YES, I HAVEN'T READ THE WHOLE HARRY POTTER SERIES. I read the first book as a child and then tried and failed three times to read the second book. I just found it SO. BORING. This year, I decided to try it again (mostly cause my bestie threatened to terminate our friendship if I didn't) and ran into the same problem. I was utterly bored during the second book. This time I pushed through it, and now I'm (slowly) making my way through the rest of the series. (One of my other friends has promised me chocolate when I finish the third book and I plan on taking her up on it soon cause CHOCOLATE). I still am not convinced this will be a series I come to love, but we'll see.

So, guys, what do I read first? What books do you need to get reading?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)  

Review: On the Fence by Kasie West

Title: On the Fence

Author: Kasie West

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: July 8th, 2014

Source: Purchased

My Rating: 5/5

For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.

To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

What a book, guys. What. A. Book. 

This is exactly the kind of book that reminds me why I love summer so much. On the Fence was romantic, funny, heart-warming, and beautiful. I simply adored it.

I just want to dive right into the pages of this book. Charlie's story was inspiring, and I loved watching her grow throughout the novel. I also really wanted to be an honorary member of the Reynolds clan! Seriously, I'm a sucker for sibling relationships (it's an only-child thing) and these guys just made me smile the whole way through the book. They were hilarious and protective and their banter and shenanigans had me laughing out loud. I loved getting to learn about all their little quirks and personalities.

By far, my favourite part of this book was Miss Charlie Reynolds herself. I have a soft spot for tomboys (having been one myself growing up), so I fell in love with Charlie from page one. She was brazen and stubborn and full of life. Just the kind of girl I'd love to be friends with. On the Fence is pitched as a romance, but there was a huge coming-of-age element to it. Charlie learned and changed and really came into her own. I loved getting to watch her try new things and learn more about herself, while never compromising what she loved. It was inspiring to read!

And then there was her relationship with Brayden. Hello, sexual tension! Every time they were on the page together, I could feel that tension growing and growing. I just wanted them to admit it to each other and kiss! It was driving me crazy (in the very best way)! I adored their relationship from the start. They obviously cared about each other so much and just wanted the other to be happy. Their banter was a joy to read and, at points, had me in stitches. Brayden was the perfect match for Charlie in so many ways, and they both had my heart-melting. I loved their fence chats and watching them get to know each other in an entirely new way. Kasie West sure as heck knows how to write amazing characters and even better dialogue!

I will say, I think the ending was a tad rushed. It didn't really take away from the story, but I wouldn't have minded if the last few chapters were a little more fleshed out. Overall, this book was just spectacular. It's one of those books I could read over and over again and just love it more each time! I also adored those small little connections to The Distance Between Us. It gave it just that extra little something special!

On the Fence was even better than I expected it to be. The only thing I don't like is the year-long wait for more of Kasie West's contemporaries! West has leaped onto my auto-buy authors list and I cannot wait for more from her. Put On the Fence on your TBR right now, guys. You're going to love it.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Find This Book: Chapters/Indigo | The Book Depository | Goodreads | Kasie West's Website