Sometimes when you read the first few pages of a new book, you just know that it’s a proper novel. And so it goes with ‘The Goldfinch’.
‘The Goldfinch’ has been compared to ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Crime and Punishment’ and yes, it really is that good.
It’s a tale of love and loss, guilt and addiction, art and magic. It’s all brought together in a quirky orphan’s tale that turns madcap crime caper towards the end in a manner that is, at first off-putting (but page-turningly exhilarating) before a beautiful resolution that is full of life lessons. But there are no moral judgments or patronising teachings here, just a heart-wrenching tale of a life well lived.
This book is very very very good. It’s an amazing thriller and super exciting (no spoilers but the twist is great and unexpected). It’s about smuggling in the 19th century. It’s also a great romance. All the characters are so so so good and but I especially love the main character Mary, who is the perfect protagonist. In addition, the descriptions are so vivid and amazing and the setting is fantastic. It is the perfect balance between beautiful description and exciting thriller. Would totally recommend! In some ways it’s kind of similar to one of Daphne du Maurier’s other books, Frenchman’s Creek, which is also extremely good for many of the same reasons.
I just read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. It is now certainly one of my favourite teen fantasy/ dystopian books! The story’s protagonist Mare, a teenager living in a deprived village of a dystopian fantasy world, goes on an exciting journey of rebellions, magic powers and dramatic plot twists! A very exciting story with awesome characters. In this book, Victoria Aveyard has created my new favourite dystopian world! I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Would definitely recommend, especially to fans of The Hunger Games style books.
I recently read Atonement. I thought it was an amazing book. The way is shows all the different characters perspectives is really interesting and all the characters are really great. The tragic plot is so well written. I thought the way it is separated into three completely different sections is really clever, and I like the way it shows how the war impacts the characters lives. One of my favourite books, such a good read.
*by no means a complete list of ALL my favourite teen books (that would be a lot longer)
These are a few great books I have read in the past few years that I would recommend to an age 14+ audience.
6. The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth
This is a super fun romance. I enjoyed it so much!!! A really easy read but still a favourite of mine. It’s a rom-com about rom-coms and it manages to be enjoyably cheesy while mocking all the genre tropes.
5. Numbers by Rachel Ward
This is a really great book. The adventure is super exciting and engaging. The romance is amazing. It’s emotional and tragic. The protagonist is a girl who can see the day people will die when she meets them. She has to run from the police with her new friend after she predicts a huge tragedy. This book it definitely one of my favourites. However, interestingly, I HATE the sequel. But book one is AMAZING.
4. The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
This is an intoxicating gothic fantasy/romance. It’s quite dark, but the writing is BEAUTIFUL. The romance is AMAZING and all the characters are fantastic. The story is an imagined backstory for the brides of Dracula. The protagonist and her twin sister are kidnapped and enslaved, but an exciting adventure and a heartbreaking romance follows. I LOVED this book. SO well written.
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
This book is so beautiful and heartbreaking and romantic. Such a good read. I loved the characters and their relationships. Literally one of the best books I’ve ever read. I also LOVE all John Green’s other books as well (especially Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns).
2. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
This murder mystery is amazing!!! I don’t normally read or like murder mysteries but this book was SO well written that I loved every page!!! The main character, Pip, is amazing. As a schoolgirl she decides to investigate a mystery long ago left by the police, discovering dangerous and dark secrets. I think the whole trilogy is fantastic. The second book is not as good as the first, but the final books is my favourite of all. I loved Pip’s character arc and her relationship with Ravi. All the plot twists are shocking and unexpected. I TOTALLY RECOMMEND!!!
1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
I honestly can’t recommend this highly enough. This emotional story about a seemingly perfect rich family who are secretly broken is SOOOOOOO well written. Not only is the writing AMAZING, but the characters are brilliant, the story is heartbreaking and the plot twists are shocking. Everyone should read this. 10/10
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy these as much as I did!
This was a sweet book and sequel. I love Billy Plimpton, he is a legend.
Good points:
It has a strong protagonist
Helen Rutter addresses issues but still manages to keep the humour in the books.
One of the reasons I liked the first book was that it was genuine and you could really empathise. I feel like maybe she lost a bit of that feeling in the second book, but it didn’t really retract from the general enjoyment.
What would you do if you could see the a dismal future for you and your village? All the people getting ill. All the droughts to come. But everything could be so much better…if only someone could cross the veiled sea.
Lalani lives on Sanlagita, a hard-working island. This year the drought is worse than ever. More and more men sail over the horizon to find the good fortunes of life beyond the veiled sea. But none have returned. Legend also says Mount Kahna, the mountain towering over Sanlagita, is roamed by a monster. But Lalani is not afraid of legend. Its only a myth. Right?
If I had to put an age recommendation on this book I’d say it’s for kids of a 10-13 sort of age. But others will also enjoy it, maybe parents too.
I loved the mystery and fast-pace of this book. I also though the way the author tells you pieces from the stories and myths of the island, as well as telling bits from the perspective of the creatures Lalani meets, is very clever and contributes a lot to the story. So you know a little more than Lalani, but not enough to spoil it.
I highly recommend this is a fantasy adventure novel. It’s set in a imaginary world, on a imaginary island, and is about Lalani and her quest for a better life for her and the rest of Sanlagita.
Despereaux is a tiny little mouse with MASSIVE ears. He is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute. But Despereaux’s ears get the better of him, soon he will meet a princess and fall in love! he is punished for his terrible behaviour. but it all gets very confusing when a little unwanted deaf serving girl comes to live at the palace. soon a little rat messes it all up and he will do any thing to get revenge! but will it end happily? there is only one way to find out, READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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