Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten All Time Favourite Books in the … Genre

~ Beth (Reading Every Night)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there is a new topic for bloggers to choose and list their top ten. This week’s theme is Top Ten All Time Favourite Books in the … Genre.

YA Contemporary.

When I saw this week’s theme it took me a while to actually come up with a genre to which I could feature my favourite books. I’d already used my favourite genres for previous Top Ten Tuesday themes – fairytale retellings, mythology, fantasy, sci-fi – and I had no new ideas. Then I came up with YA contemporary. It’s a genre I’m slowly exploring more of and I have read some amazing books that have not only become all-time favourites of mine but that I will be going back and re-reading at some point.

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Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Not only was this book the first by Sarah Dessen I picked up it was also the first YA contemporary book I read. For that reason alone this book has a special place on my list for this week as one of my all-time favourite contemporary reads. I still have a backlog of Sarah Dessen’s book I need to get through, and before this year is over I need to re-read Just Listen as well.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

After I read a few books by Sarah Dessen (and even more by a variety of other YA contemporary authors) I then seemed to pick up more fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi books instead. Until I read Fangirl. There was a lot about this book floating around, but I will admit the main reason I picked up Fangirl was because I wanted to read Carry On. Luckily Fangirl lived up to its hype, it’s an amazing coming-of-age story that I would recommend to anyone.

The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Back when I first started my blog on WordPress I saw a fair few reviews praising My Life Next Door, so of course I had to pick it up myself and see what all the fuss was about. I really enjoyed it and when I saw there was a companion novel I knew I had to check out The Boy Most Likely To as well. In the end I thought Tim and Alice’s story was even better, so if you’ve read My Life Next Door and have yet to pick up The Boy Most Likely To then what are you waiting for.

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

All of Kasie West’s books have been on my to-read list for a while, and knowing me they would have likely stayed on there even longer had I not read Jill’s review for P.S. I Like You (if any of you are on the fence still about picking up this book read Jill’s review as well because it will likely convince you to drop everything and pick it up. That’s definitely what it did for me.) P.S. I Like You was a cute, quick read with a light romance that was perfect for passing away a sunny afternoon with.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

This was another book I discovered through WordPress and honestly there aren’t enough words for me to describe how much I loved this. Jandy Nelson is now definitely one of my all-time favourite YA contemporary authors, and anything she releases will immediately go to the top of my to-read list.

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

I’m not sure if I can class this as a solely YA contemporary book as there are elements of fantasy and magical realism as well but The Love That Split the World is going to be one of my favourite books no matter what genre it falls under. The story is just beautiful, there are no other words, and the romance between Natalie and Beau, though heartbreaking, was wonderful to read.

Highly Illogical Behaviour by John Corey Whaley

I haven’t read many books that deal with mental illness but Highly Illogical Behaviour is one of the best, and based on the reviews I’m not the only one who feels this way. Solomon has agoraphobia and hasn’t left his house in years and Lisa feels like she can fix him. In the end this story becomes about so much more than Solomon’s illness and his recovery, mainly thanks to the friendships the characters formed.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

After finishing I’ll Give You the Sun I immediately started on The Sky is Everywhere and, I feel I may be in the minority here, but I loved this book even more. Reading about Lennie’s grief and the way it affects her live and all of her family was heartbreaking at times, but the story was a wonderful one about overcoming that grief and moving on with your life.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

This is a book that I loved not because of the story but because of the character development. We see both Ari and Dante and their friendship throughout the years, watching the way the two boys grew up both apart and together. There is a sequel in the works and I cannot wait to get my hands on it; I need more of Ari and Dante.

Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

When I did a YA contemporary month on my blog back in April Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was the very first book on my list. There was a lot about it on WordPress back then and everyone seemed to love it. Simon Vs. was a cute read with a light and fluffy romance, part of the fun was trying to guess who Blue was as he and Simon spoke through the book.

So what do you think? Did you take part in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, if so let me know what you picked for this week’s themed free-for-all, or what some of your favourite YA contemporary books are.

81 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten All Time Favourite Books in the … Genre”

  3. I am finally reading a Rainbow Rowell book this month for the Hype or Like Friday group! I can’t wait to discover Carry On. I am super happy to see Highly Illogical Behavior on your list 🙂 Another book on my TBR that I can’t wait to get to!

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    1. Whoo, yeah I saw Carry On was the pick for this months hype or like Friday. I hope you enjoy it, I’ll be looking forwards to your review for it as well! 🙂
      Highly Illogical Behaviour was amazing as well, I think you’ll like it it’s an amazing portrayal of mental illness as well as a great story! 🙂

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  6. Great list! I also love Ari and Dante, and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens. (What is up with these long titles??)

    I’ve been wanting to read I’ll Give You the Sun for a while, and it’s been on my shelf for maybe a year as well. I should probably get around to reading that one, right? 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much Marie! I almost feel like I picked the classic contemporary books everyone has read and loved, but I guess they’re popular for a reason aren’t they?
      I’ve starting getting back into Sarah Dessen’s work and her books are just as amazing as they were when I read them in high school. I’m sure you’ll love them as well! ❤️

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  10. The Sky Is Everywhere is my top favorite book (I say that a lot but with that one I mean it)! I’m so glad to see it on your list because I don’t see a lot of people talk about it but it’s such an incredible book and every time I reread it my love for it grows. That’s my go-to recommendation when someone asks me what to read. Jandy Nelson has a way with words and I also loved I’ll Give You The Sun as well but nothing will ever top her first book for me. She is an auto-buy/read author for me too! I also love Just Listen, Fangirl, Ari & Dante, and The Boy Most Likely To as well. I haven’t read the others on your list but I really need to. Great picks, Beth! 😊♥

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    1. Ohh another The Sky is Everywhere fan! Most people actually prefer I’ll Give You the Sun so it’s nice to have someone say they prefer The Sky is Everywhere, I did as well but it was a close call because both books were amazing! I’ve recommend it to a few people as well, just the story and the writing and the characters were beyond compare!
      Yep, again same here. I cannot wait to see what Jandy Nelson comes out with next, it’ll go to the very top of my to-read list I know that much at least! 😀
      I’m feeling more of a need to re-read Just Listen after posting this, and I need to re-read all the others at some point as well!
      Thanks, I’m glad you liked my picks for this week! ❤️

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      1. I know what you mean! It’s definitely rare that I see someone who prefers The Sky is Everywhere as well. But same, I loved both books too. They really are! Jandy Nelson always manages to put so much feeling into each book too. I think she has another one coming out next year but I’m not entirely sure.

        I was so thinking the same thing before I read this. I really want to reread Just Listen too. 🙈

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      2. When I was at YALC I was talking to someone about these books mentioned that people seemed to prefer I’ll Give You the Sun over The Sky is Everywhere and she said it seems to be that the people who read IGYTS first ended up preferring that and vise versa. Made me a little weird because I read IGYTS first but still ended up preferring TSIE
        I think she does too but there’s no information on it yet so no idea what it is about. Either way it’s Jandy Nelson so I’m pretty much guaranteed to love it!
        There’s so many books I want to re-read but Just Listen is at the top of my to-read list. 😀

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      3. I’ve noticed that a lot who have read IGYTS first have had more of a preference for it, but at the same time like you pointed out you read it first but prefer TSIE. I think it’s one of those each person has different preferences when it comes to books situations. I actually read TSIE first thanks to a library summer reading program, which I’ll always be thankful for turning me onto her books. 😊

        This is what I found when I looked it up on Goodreads last night https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22724476-fall-boys-dizzy-in-paradise?ac=1&from_search=true 😃. Only a little bit of info but still sounds like it’s going to be good!

        Same. 😊

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      4. Exactly, I feel like IGYTS is her more popular book but once most people have finished that one they tend to move into TSIE anyways. I’m thankful for WordPress for introducing me to IGYTS and then IGYTS for introducing me to TSIE!
        Ohh, that’s more information than the last time I saw it! What little we know sounds good so I can’t wait until we get more and more info and then the actual book! 😀

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      6. So many favourites of mine I only discovered because of WordPress, The Bone Season is a book I only picked up because of a review I saw!
        Oh definitely, you’d rather it was a brilliant story than a shorter wait between publishing times and a less than amazing story right?

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      7. Same! I probably wouldn’t have picked up ACOTAR if I hadn’t seen so many great reviews for it on here. And it was the same for me wth TBS, except I was only on Instagram at that time so it was a combination of reviews on Goodreads and all the pictures I saw of it. I’m so glad I picked it up though. Exactly! I may complain about long waits but the book always ends up that much more amazing. 😊

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      8. In that case it’s definitely great you were introduced to those two books isn’t it? It’s always wonderful when you discover a series you just love that much isn’t it. God knows whether I would have picked up TBS if I hadn’t discovered it when I did you know?
        It’s always worth the wait in the end! 😀

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      9. It really is! Same. Before I joined the online book community I steered clear of a lot books and TBS is marketed as Adult which back then I might have avoided it for that. But now I pick up anything that looks promising no matter silly things like genre or if it’s YA or not.

        Yep! 😃

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      10. I didn’t realise it was marketed as Adult?! I see a few books which I have on my to-read list which I’d say were YA are actually in the Adult section, really strange! But yeah I know what you mean, I like to give all books a try if they’ve been given good reviews, you never know what could be your new favourite! 😀

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      11. Yep! I didn’t realize at first either until I saw Samantha Shannon had talked about it somewhere, can’t remember where now. I think it has to do with what part of the publishing house picked up the book and published it. For TBS the Adult division did and even though it has YA qualities it’s some Adult as well because of some of the characters and situations. I still see it as more YA too but technicalities and all of that lol. It definitely is strange and makes me wonder what, outside of the publishing divisions, makes a book YA or Adult. NA has this definite divide but YA and Adult seem to be blurred at times. Exactly! 😃

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      12. I’ve seen it in the Adult section at my local bookstore but like I said I’ve seen other books that I’d class as YA there so I don’t really put much stock in that!
        OK yeah that makes sense, and I guess there are some books that do bridge the gap between YA and Adult now, Sarah J Maas’s book for example I wouldn’t say were strictly YA. Especially the ACOTAR series, I’d say that’s more Adult than YA!

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      13. Same! And I completely agree with Sarah J. Maas’s books. The weird thing is that with Samantha Shannon’s book there has been very little explicit situations, the only one I remember is through Paige’s memories in book one which wasn’t even that bad. But SJM books go there in detail and they’re published as YA. The mysteries of publishing! 😂 But yeah I’d say most of SJM books are more Adult than YA too. A lot of people like to classify them as NA which I think is fair.

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      14. Also aren’t Sarah J Maas’s books and Samantha Shannon’s published by the same publishing company (Bloomsbury) very weird how that worked out. Honestly I don’t remember there being much of anything explicit in The Bone Season but I remember there being much more in the ToG and ACOTAR series, both classed as YA, for older readers sure but still YA.
        Yeah I’ll probably have to start classing them as NA on my blog as well! 😀

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      15. I didn’t realize that until you pointed it out, but yep they are! Which is weird haha. I honestly wish there was a way to ask the publisher how that works out because now I’m curious. I’m probably going to start doing the same! 😊

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      16. I only knew it because Empire of Storms has been recently released and because I’m obsessed with The Bone Season! 😀
        You could probably Tweet them or something, or send an email. Even if they don’t reply there’s a chance they may? Plus building up contacts if you wanna request an ARC of The Song Rising later! 🙂

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    1. I’d say the same but I’m making an effort to pick up more YA contemporaries as well! Rainbow Rowell is such an amazing author isn’t she? I need to pick up more of her books, and besides that there are even more amazing contemporaries out there!
      It’s great I could add some to your TBR list, I hope you enjoy them, and thanks for the link. I’ll definitely check out your TTT! 🙂

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    1. Contemporary isn’t usually my go-to genre but there are a few books I’ve just been unable to resist picking up!
      Fangirl, Ari and Dante, and Simon Vs are books I’ve yet to see a negative review for so I’m sure you’ll love them when you pick them up! 😀

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    1. They’re both amazing books aren’t they? Rainbow Rowell is just one of those contemporary authors I feel like everyone must have read by now! 🙂
      Ohh I hope you enjoy P.S I Like You, it’s a great book and yeah there are lots of amazing reviews for it as well! 😀

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  15. I don’t read a lot of contemporary but I picked up quite a few this year including: Aristotle and Dante, Simon vs. and I’ll Give You the Sun. All of which I loved and I definitely would love to read more like them!

    My TTT ft. Aliens.

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    1. Compared to how many fantasy books I read I don’t pick up too many contemporaries either, but I have my favourites! 🙂
      Oh they were all amazing weren’t they?! In fact Jandy Nelson has become one of my favourite contemporary authors just because of I’ll Give You the Sun and The Sky is Everywhere.
      Thanks for the link, I’ll definitely check out your TTT! 🙂

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      1. I guess, I could probably compile a list of 10 favourite contemporaries too. Since I’ve read quite a few this year, which surprises me. I’ll admit that I haven’t read The Sky is Everywhere but it is on my tbr. I should really pick it up soon!

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  16. Thank you so much for mentioning my review, Beth! 🙂 I’m so glad you loved it and that it made it on this list. That’s the worst when you recommend something and the person comes back and says they didn’t like it, but it’s always cool when they do, and I’m glad you’re now a fan of Kasie West. Her books are so addicting. I’m reading Carry On this month for Hype or Like Friday. After talking with you about Rainbow Rowell and which books to read, I had to add Carry On to the mix for our group, especially since this month’s theme is Back to School. I need to read a few of these books on your list sooner. They have been on my TBR forever. Oh, btw, A Darker Shade of Magic is our winner. Thanks for voting. That one came in first for our group to read in November. As always, awesome post! 🙂

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    1. That’s all right. I really do credit you for actually introducing me to this book and making me want to pick it up ASAP! Yeah I know that feeling, it’s always a shame but there are always other people out there who will love books you recommend! Oh I am definitely a fan, I just finished reading The Distance Between Us and I really enjoyed that one as well and I get what you mean about them being addicting.
      Yeah I’m excited to see people’s reviews for Carry On who are taking part in Hype or Like. It’s a great book and definitely fits the going back to school theme!
      I hope you enjoy all the books on your to-read list, in my opinion they’re all just amazing. 😀
      YAY! I am so excited for everyone in your group to read ADSOM, I really really hope you love it! 🙂
      Thanks Jill! ❤️

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      1. Yes! This is such amazing news. I love The Distance Between Us. I’m so looking forward to your review. 🙂 I ordered Carry On from Book Depository and it’s been 2 weeks and I don’t have a single book. I’m running out of time for Hype or Like Friday. At this rate, I doubt I’ll ever buy from there again. You’ll have tons of reviews for ADSOM come November! 🤗

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      2. I’ve finished The Distance Between Us, I really enjoyed it but still preferred P.S. I Like You, possibly because I read it first you know? I’ll be posting my review later tonight.
        God that’s taking a while. Has it been dispatched yet at least? Hopefully it will arrive before the end of the month for you.
        I tend to avoid Book Depository due to a bad experience ordering from them once. Probably won’t be an issue again but still.
        I’ll still read every one and really enjoy seeing everyone’s reactions to it! I love seeing other people have loved it as much as I do! 😀

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      3. I’ll look out for your review. I can’t wait to read it. 🙂 Yes, it’s been dispatched. BD told me it will arrive on September 2nd, and if not, that I shouldn’t contact the post office. That’s not very comforting. 😂 I will never order from there again. They’re terrible.

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  17. I wanted to pick up TLTSTW but completely forgot about it soon after its release, so I’m glad to see it on your list! It sounds intriguing, though I’m not generally a fan of magical realism and tend to be quite picky with it. Like I just can’t wrap my head around the genre, I guess. 😂

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    1. Honestly I think if I hadn’t picked up TLYSTW pretty much immediately after its release I would have forgot it as well, but it’s an amazing book so I’d highly recommend it. Not at all what I expected but even better in a lot of ways.
      I feel like magical realism is a hit of a hit or miss genre for me. When a book is good it’s amazing and immediately one of my favourites but when it’s not it’s just forgettable!

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  18. Contemporary is a genre that I’m just getting into. I’m usually a fantasy/historical fiction person, but it’s nice to branch out once in a while. I haven’t read any of the books on your list but I do have PS I Like You and The Love That Split the World on my TBR.

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    1. I’m the same. I largely read fantasy books and when it comes down to it I do largely prefer that genre but every so often I feel like a change from that, and then I need some fluffy contemporary books to read! 🙂
      Both P.S. I Like You and The Love That Split the World are amazing, great books if you only just starting to explore the YA contemporary genre more as well. 🙂

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      1. Once I finish the stack of review books I need to read I’m totally starting P.S. I Like You. I have a bunch of students reading it in my class and they are loving it. 🙂

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  19. Your list is so different from what I’ve been seeing around! I looooooved Simon Vs. the Homosapiens agenda, I thought it was funny and cute. I really want to read Highly Illogical Behavior and I’ll Give You The Sun, I’ve heard great things about those two. You made me want to pick them up sooner lol!

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    1. Ohh that’s good! I kind of realised as I was trying to read more YA contemporary books I hadn’t featured more than one or two in my TTT before.
      Yes Simon Vs was amazing! I need to try and re-read it again soon just because it was such a cute story!
      Both Highly Illogical Behaviour and I’ll Give You the Sun are amazing. They’re not as light and fluffy as Simon Vs was but just wonderful stories. I’m sure you’ll love them both! 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much! Well they’re all favourites of mine so I’d highly recommend any and all of them! 🙂
      Ari and Dante is amazing, it’s more about the character development than anything else but both characters are just so well written you’ll immediately fall in love with them!
      Thanks for the link, I’ll definitely check out your TTT! 🙂

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    1. Yeah I’d say Jill’s review introduced me to Kasie West in that it convinced my to pick up one of her books! 🙂
      I hope you enjoy the books you add to your to-read list when you get around to them. They’re all favourites of mine (obviously considering this week’s theme) so I have high opinions of them all! 😀

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  23. I thought about doing contemporaries for my TTT, but went for fantasies instead. 😛 I already really wanted to read Fangirl and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and now you’ve made me want them even more! Would you say you preferred Fangirl to Carry On? That’s another one I’m eager to read but haven’t got round to yet. Great post! 🙂

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    1. I do love fantasy books more than contemporaries but I’ve already posted about my favourite fantasy books a few times now! Both Fangirl and Ari and Dante are just amazing! I hope you like them and I’d highly recommend picking them up ASAP! 🙂
      I actually ended up enjoying Carry On more than Fangirl (but it was a close call and I think it mainly came down to me preferring fantasy over YA contemporary you know?)
      Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed my post! 😀

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      1. Ah I see! I’ve only just started doing TTT, so I really wanted to do fantasy books as one my first posts. Yeah I’m hoping to get one of both of them before I go to Japan next month so I can take them with me 🙂 Ah, interesting! I’ve heard a fair few people say they enjoyed Carry On more! Can’t wait to pick up some Rainbow Rowell.

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      2. Yeah that makes sense, especially if it’s a genre you read a lot of. I’ve been doing TTT since last November so I’ve covered a lot of topics already! 🙂
        Ohh that will be amazing, both that you get to read the books and that you’re going to Japan, I hope you have an amazing time over there!
        Well they’re both amazing books, for me there wasn’t much in it at all but Carry On was just a little bit better! 😀

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