“One day, she ventured to the palace library and was delighted to find what good company books could be.” —We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

I wish I could say that I saved my favorite book for the end, but I actually did one of my favorite books ever in my very first blog post! Since this is my last time writing a blog post, I thought I would give you a book where the ending totally caught me off guard. There are many books with bad endings and sometimes you feel as though you have wasted your time reading them. Lucky for you, my whole blog is about weeding out the bad books so you don’t have to!

Original Cover of We Were Liars

Our last book of the semester is We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. This is in no way my favorite book, but I think it has a strong ending and therefore I saved it for the end of my blog.

If you keep up with books at all, you know that this book is very, very popular. I see it everywhere among TikTok, Instagram, and other social networking apps. Although at some times I think this book is over-hyped, I genuinely feel like it has a shocking ending for a first-time reader.

We Were Liars centers around Cadence and her rich family who own a private island where everyone spends the summer. Last summer, Cadence suffered a head injury that leaves her memory from the summer completely blank. She returns to the island in hope of returning her memories and resurfacing some family issues. As some of her memories come back, Cadence has to face the consequences of what might have happened last summer.

 A map of the island Cadence’s family owns from the book

This book is half-mystery and half-psychological, but absolutely worth your time to read! I am always a sucker for a well thought out twist ending! Additionally, I love the added impact of an unreliable narrator. I think overall I would give the book a 4/5.

So I don’t tell you too much more about the book, let’s move onto the real ratings!

 Deluxe edition that is now available wherever you get your books!

We Were Liars has a 4.2/5 on Barnes & Noble, a 3.76/5 on Goodreads, and a 4.5/5 on Amazon. Additionally, We Were Liars was a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction and an ALA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults for 2015.

We Were Liars is available at the University bookstore, BUT it is only $5.98 on Amazon right now for a paperback copy! If for some reason you don’t want it from Amazon for incredibly cheap, you can buy it on Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, or wherever you get your books.

Thanks for sticking around with me during this blog! If you ever need any good book recs, feel free to reach out to cec5934@psu.edu (I think I’m pretty good at it). I am going to leave you with a list of a few of of my 5-star reads at the bottom. I hope you enjoyed this blog, beause I enjoyed writing it 🙂

“He was contemplation and enthusiasm. Ambition and strong coffee. I could have looked at him forever.” —We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

(some of) Cayla’s 5-star reads!

• Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys –Historical Fiction
• The Percy Jackson Series (a classic) by Rick Riordan –Fantasy
• The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun –Romance
• The Dark Artifices Trilogy –Fantasy
• The Heartstopper Series –Graphic Novels
• Ready Player One by Earnest Cline –SciFi

“Hate is loud, but I think you’ll learn it’s because it’s only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard.” —The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

The cover of The House of the Cerulean Sea

Hello and welcome back to the Best of Books blog! A few weeks ago we talked about the best of short stories! This week, we are going to talk about the “found family” trope that you can find in many books. If you don’t know what this is, basically it means the characters from the novel decide they are family, and are close like family, but technically they are not related.

Normally, I find these kind of books to be slow, boring, and overall unmemorable. However, the book I am going to recommend to you today is quite the opposite. I read this novel last year, and it has stuck with me ever since. This week’s book recommendation is The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune!

The House in the Cerulean Sea centers around the main character, Linus Baker, who is a social worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. Linus is given a top-secret, odd assignment of going to Marsyas Island Orphanage and observing six “dangerous” children and their caretaker, Arthur. Linus is initially wary of the children and their caretaker, but admires the love they all have for each other. At the end of his assignment, Linus must decide whether the children should stay together in the care of Arthur, or if it is unsafe for them to reside on this island all together.

Fan Art made by @Sameeksha.Haste on Pinterest

I think this book is unique, heartwarming, and very amusing to read. But you don’t have to take my word for it, because the reviews, once again, speak for themselves. The House in the Cerulean Sea has a 4.46 out of 5 on goodreads, with 226,055 total ratings from readers! On Barnes & Noble, the novel has a 4.8/5 with 90 ratings! Last, Amazon rates The House in the Cerulean Sea a 4.7/5 from over 21,000 reviews.

Not only do the reviews show how amazing this book is, but the awards also demonstrate the amazing story. The House in the Cerulean Sea was a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller.

You can buy The House in the Cerulean Sea from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books A Million, or wherever you purchase your novels. The university bookstore currently has it in stock, but it is much more expensive than the websites I listed before. Enjoy!

If you enjoy this book, TJ Klune wrote another called Under the Whispering Door but I have yet to read it!

Author TJ Klune

“We should always make time for the things we like. If we don’t, we might forget how to be happy.” —The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Hello and welcome back to the best in books blog! Last time we talked about how the best of popular books was Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. This week I am going to give you four recommendations that you can finish in no time!

Now a short disclaimer, I am using the term “short story” very loosely. I am not following criteria of what makes up a classic short story; instead, I am giving you books that you can finish in one day.

#1. “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde

“The Importance of Being Earnest” is a comedy play that was written in 1895. It is ironic, witty, and genuinely funny for the time period it was written in. I would estimate that this play would take less than an hour to read! “The Importance of Being Earnest” has a 4.18 rating on Goodreads!

The play centers around the main character John Worthing, who sometimes leaves home with an excuse that he must see his brother “Earnest.” In reality, John uses the name Earnest when he is in London, and that is what everyone knows him as. When he proposes to his true love Gwendolen, she is thrilled by the fact she is marrying someone with a name like Earnest. The plot only becomes more complicated as John makes up lies in fear that Gwendolen will dump him.

#2 “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell

This short story is a quintessential short story. On the off chance that you did not read it in high school, I am recommending it here! “The Most Dangerous Game” has a Goodreads rating of 3.94. There was also a movie adaptation made in 1934, or a TV Show adaptation that was made in 2020 (I have not watched these, so I don’t actually know if they’re good). I would estimate this read being around 30 minutes.

When Rainsford is shipwrecked on an island that is seemingly deserted, he comes across an old general who has begun to hunt sailors who are shipwrecked on his island.

#3 The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the first short novel I am recommending! It is very popular, so I would not be surprised if you have heard of it. It has a 4.21 on Goodreads, and also has a great movie adaptation if you don’t feel like reading! Make sure you check the trigger warnings before you read this one, as it has some disturbing content.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie — it is a coming-of-age story thats shows how Charlie navigates important aspects of his life and overcomes some of his fears.

#5 Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton

Words on Bathroom Walls is a story about Adam, who has paranoid schizophrenia. The book is written through journal entries that Adam must write when he is given a new, experimental drug to help his schizophrenia.

Words on Bathroom Walls has a 4.11 on Goodreads, and has a fairly good movie adaptation that came out a few years ago. I think this story is beautiful, and it shows the struggles of balancing high school and mental illness. I do advise you to take the writing skeptically, as the author does not have schizophrenia.

“You were the sun, and I was crashing into you.” —Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Hello and welcome back to the Best of Books blog! Last week we talked about how The Contender trilogy by Taran Matharu was the best of Science Fiction. This week we are talking about the best of the best!

Books become popular for many reasons, but the main one is because they are good. Some people refuse to read “mainstream” books, but I am not one of those people. In fact, I’ve probably read every single mainstream book on TikTok.

But since I know people stay away from the mainstream books, I’m here to recommend you the best of popular novels. This week my recommendation is Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

Fan-art of Baz and Simon by @artbyanna.c

I have to admit, Rainbow Rowell is far from my favorite author. I actually can’t tell you a single book she has written that I have enjoyed (other than this one)! But bear with me, because this book must me amazing if I’m recommending something by Rainbow Rowell.

The newest cover of Carry On

           Carry On follows Simon Snow, a magician at Watford School of Magicks. Simon Snow is the “chosen one” at Watford, and he is prophesied to bring the downfall of an enemy who wants to destroy magick.  The only problem is — Simon can barely do any magic at all. With the help of his best friend, Penny, and his eight-year-arch-nemesis Baz, Simon tries to make sense of why the magick is suddenly failing in parts of England, and who the enemy truly is. His distrust and dislike of Baz slowly becomes a wary friendship, despite Simon thinking Baz is secretly a vampire. Will the (kind of) friends be able to save their school, or will magick be eradicated from England?

Now I know what you’re thinking: this sounds an awful lot like Harry Potter. I promise — and assure you — it is not! The synopsis does seem a bit Harry Potter-esque, but this book is good and you can read it as a stand-alone!

The original cover of Carry On

Kristina Horner on Goodreads even commented, “It’s everything that would have never happened in Harry Potter.”

Now for the reviews! Barnes & Noble rates Carry On a 4.7/5, with 55 reviews! Goodreads.com rates Carry On a 4.2/5 with 262,387 who reviewed it!

If you end up really loving Simon Snow and his friends, Rainbow Rowell wrote two more books about them. I am not personally going to recommend them to you because I did not like them, so use your discretion!

The University Bookstore has Carry On in stock — and it is 20% off! If you’re not feeling like a trip to the HUB, you can order Carry On from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BAM!, or wherever you get your novels!

“Just when you think you’re having a scene without Simon, he drops in to remind you that everyone else is a supporting character in his catastrophe.” —Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

“But if he was going to die, it would be on his own terms.” — The Chosen by Taran Matharu

Hello and welcome back to the Best of Books blog! Last week we talked about how The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren was the best Contemporary Romance; this week, we are talking about science fiction!

Science fiction has been around for hundreds of years. The science fiction genre started with Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, but soon science fiction gained popularity and now you can find whole sections of bookstores dedicated to only sci-fi novels. Science fiction is usually based on technological advancements or some kind of otherworldly story. This weeks novel takes place on a realm containing remnants from the past, present, and future.

This week’s sci-fi pick is The Contender trilogy by Taran Matharu! The trilogy is made up of three novels: The Chosen (#1), The Challenger (#2), and The Champion (#3). All three books have been released — which means you don’t have to wait for any new ones to come out!

The series revolves around Cade, a resident at a boarding school for delinquents. One night, Cade is transported to another realm with a group of boys from his school. This new realm has everything from past and future: ancient romans, World War II fighter-jets, prehistoric animals, and many other people transported from time.

Cade and his friends soon learn they have been chosen to compete in a deadly game made by their mysterious overlord, Abbadon. Until Cade and his friends — with help from some ancient people — make it to the top of the deadly leaderboard, they are not permitted to go home. If they lose their challenges, the entire world is in peril from the wrath of the mysterious overlord. Will Cade and his friends be able to gather the resources and strength they need to make it to the top of the leaderboard?

The author, Taran Martharu, is a New York Times Bestselling Author for his SUMMONER series! He has sold over a million copies of his books in the United States, and his novels have been translated into 15 languages. Although I have not read the SUMMONER series, The Contender trilogy is astounding. Matharu made his debut on Wattpad, but was then signed to a publishing company. One amazing thing about Matharu is how responsive and appreciative he is of his fans. I reached out to him in 2020 to tell him how much I loved his series, and he responded thanking me and saying how important his fans are!

I love The Contender because it is the only sci-fi/fantasy novel that has truly held my attention for three novels. Usually, I become very bored with world building and abstract concepts; however, I think these books have created a simple world that is still extremely interesting. Additionally, there is a mysterious element of these books because you don’t know if they are going to find a way home. There are plot twists and shocking moments, and honestly I could not praise these books enough. They are truly worth a try, and I really, really encourage you to read them!

But again, you don’t have to take my word for it! Barnes & Noble rates The Chosen (Book 1) a 4.7 out of 5. Goodreads rated The Chosen 3.82 / 5 from 2,058 reviews, The Challenger (#2) 4.33 out of 5, and The Champion (#3) 4.22 out of 5!

The Penn State Bookstore does not carry The Contender series, but you can find the novel on Barnes & Noble‘s website, Amazon, Books-A-Million, or wherever you get your novels.

You may also like:

• The Maze Runner by James Dashner
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

“You don’t get to choose the circumstances. That’s the point of luck: it happens when and where it happens.” —The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Hello and welcome back to the best of the best in book recommendations! Last semester we left off on To Ruin A Kingdom by Penn State’s Jasmine Upchurch! This week we are going to get romantic!

Although some would say romance is cheesy — and trust me, I’ve read some cheesy romance — I think that romance novels are perfect to read when you just want to relax! A lot of books I have recommended previously have very serious topics — sometimes it is nice to take a break and read something amusing and cute! This week’s read is a contemporary romance titled The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.

There are many types of romance sub-genres, but my personal favorite is contemporary romance. This sub-category simply means that the novel takes place at the time when the author is writing it. There is no fantasy or historical element to these kinds of books. These novels are typically PG-13 in nature!

The author, Christina Lauren, is actually a pen name for two friends who have been writing together since 2009 — Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. They have an extensive amount of books on their website!

Regrding the story, The Unhoneymooners is the quintessential romance novel! The story revolves around Olive Torres, the unlucky and quirky protagonist. When Olive is gifted a free honeymoon by her sister Ami (who gave herself and all of her wedding guests ciguatera poisoning) Olive immediately accepts. The only catch? Olive has to pretend the infuriating Ethan Thomas is her husband. Olive is convinced Ethan will ruin the trip, but is pleasantly surprised how agreeable (and often cute) he actually is. But, can their fake honeymoon antics form a real relationship? Or will the facade fade when the two are back home in reality?

Personally, I would give this book a 5 out of 5. I have read it multiple times, and I obviously enjoy it immensely. First, it is an easy and lighthearted read — which is nice to have when you are busy! The Unhoneymooners is a perfect book to read on the beach (which is my favorite place to read). Additionally, the banter and situations in The Unhoneymooners is genuinely funny. Sometimes romance novels fall flat with jokes, but I assure you The Unhoneymooners is not one of them. Last (but especially important), The Unhoneymooners starts Ethan and Olive out as enemies, which is one of my favorite tropes in novels.

But, you don’t only have to take my word for it! Barnes & Noble rated the novel a 4.6 out of 5, and the Goodreads audience rated it a 4.02/5 (out of 313, 889 reviews). Clearly, people are loving this book. Barnes & Noble describes it as “the instant New York Times bestseller!”

The Penn State Bookstore does not carry the novel, but you can purchase The Unhoneymooners from Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Last, if you’re thinking “I want a romance…but not this one,” here are a few more titles you might be interested in:

• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
• People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
• The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
• The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
• Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Enjoy!

“Lucas adjusted the defective ring on his finger. In the past, it had glowed a steady silver, signifying power, signifying control.” –To Ruin A Kingdom by Jasmine Upchurch

Hello and welcome back to the best in YA blog! Last week we discussed how the best dystopian novel is The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau. This week, we are getting local! Penn State has no lack of unique, intelligent people roaming around campus. In fact, some of these people are authors of their own novels!

Self-publishing a novel is tiring work, but the most diligent Jasmine Upchurch, a member of the Schreyer’s Honors College, wrote her own novel and published it during the pandemic. This week’s novel is To Ruin A Kingdom by Penn State’s very own Jasmine Upchurch.

To Ruin a Kingdom is a novel revolving around a young king, Lucas Rosen, and a young thief, Aria Daye. Lucas is a feared king, none daring to speak up nor converse with him. He is unpopular, and frequently under attack from his own people. When his kingdom Essey begins to die, the two must team up to stop the land from being destroyed forever.

Jasmine Upchurch wrote this novel during the pandemic, and the entire novel took her one year and one month to complete. The cover art of the novel was done by her father, Glenn Upchurch. Upchuch self-published her novel and it sells on Amazon. To Ruin A Kingdom has a 4.7 out of 5 stars, from 13 reviews!

I thought this novel was extremely important to mention because small authors deserve support! To Ruin A Kingdom is an amazing novel about loyalty, friendship, and putting yourself back together after tragedy. The characters feel real, and you can make instant connections with them. Supporting debut novels is critical because you never know when the next bestseller will come about! And I guarantee this novel will be a bestseller in the future! It’s raw, powerful, and emotional. Every chapter is filled with action and hilarious moments.

To Ruin A Kingdom is a perfect example of a YA fantasy novel. It has beautiful world-building, and it is intricately put together. One of the main problems I have with fantasy novels is that authors normally fail at world-building; however, Upchurch does an amazing job of building the world of Essey and elaborating on the magical elements.

You can buy To Ruin A Kingdom using the link above. Remember — supporting small authors is one of the best things you can do. Plus, you won’t regret this read!

“No one in years had dared embrace him — except for Aria. And it was already over.” – To Ruin A Kingdom by Jasmine Upchurch

“Maybe that’s the mark of a real leader. Admitting a mistake has been made and finding a way to stop it at all costs.” –The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Hello and welcome back to the best in YA blog! Last week we discussed the best YA fantasy novel being Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. This week, we are moving on to dystopian worlds. There was a comment recently from someone who loves dystopian romance, so this one is for you! This book is my absolute all-time favorite dystopian novel, despite there being lots to choose from.

Dystopian novels are becoming increasingly more popular in today’s age. There was an influx of dystopian novels just a few years ago, some including The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Giver. Although these books are enjoyable, the dystopian I’m recommending this week is wildly underrated! I haven’t come across another book-lover who has read it. It needs more support, and dystopian lovers will adore it!

The novel this week is The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau! Cia is a hardworking, diligent student who wants more than anything to be chosen for the testing. It is an honor, and one of the only chances to get out of her colony. When Cia and one of her classmates, Thomas, are chosen for the test, Cia’s father leaves her with a warning about the testing being dangerous, and the hazy nightmares it left him with. As Cia and Thomas enter Tosu City where the games take place, they realize that the testing is not what they imagined — and they may not make it out alive.

This was the very first dystopian novel I read, and it caused me to read all the other ones I listed above! It is an addicting novel from start to finish, and I can’t say enough good things about it. The author thought of so many intricate “tests” to put into the novel. I have thought a lot about these tests, and it’s easy to put yourself into the situation to see what you would do. Charbonneau also throws in plot twists and a romance that will keep you captivated. Honestly, reviewing this book might make me re-read it!

So, for all my dystopian fans out there, I’m happy to offer you your next all-time favorite dystopian novel. You won’t be disappointed, I guarantee it.

“Things don’t always work out the way we hope. You just have to pick yourself up and find a new direction to go in.” – The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

“No one is ever the villain of their own story.” -Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Hello and welcome back to the best in YA blog! Last week we determined the most heartbreaking novel was Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. This week, we are going to talk about fantasy novels!

The history of fantasy is very extensive. Fantasy originated as soon as humankind joined the earth. We have been telling stories and entertaining one another since the beginning of time. Fantasy novels by nature are not bound to reality, so they can entail anything. This week’s fantasy novel is about half-angel warriors called Shadowhunters — it is Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare!

Cassandra Clare has written more than a dozen novels following Shadowhunters, but this book is by far the best! Clare has not always been my favorite author, and there are some books of hers that I have not enjoyed. Nevertheless, this book needs to be on your list! I do not enjoy a lot of fantasy novels, so that says a lot about this recommendation!

Lady Midnight follows Emma Carstairs, the greatest Shadowhunter in her generation, and her best friend (and fighting partner, known as parabatai), Julian Blackthorn. When faerie folk start turning up dead in the same way as Emma’s parents did years ago, she is determined to solve the crimes and bring justice to her dark past. Julian is willing to help, wanting to save his own brother from the faerie court where he is imprisoned. Along the way, Emma realizes she has feelings for Julian, but Shadowhunter law forbids parabatai from relationships.

The novel is fast-paced and captivating, making all 668 pages turn quickly. I’ve read this novel multiple times now, and it always comes with new surprises and scenes that astound me. Additionally, this book comes with two follow-ups: Lord of Shadows and Queen of Air and Darkness. But, I’m just asking you to check the first one out (although you will want to read more)!

Cassandra Clare is no stranger to awards. Her first Shadowhunter series (not even close to the best) earned the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller list. Almost all of her Shadowhunter novels to date have been #1 on the NYT Bestseller list. If that isn’t astounding, I don’t know what is. Her list of awards is so extensive I couldn’t possibly name them all. She is a well-known and praised author in the YA community.

“When you love someone, they become a part of who you are. They’re in everything you do. They’re in the air you breathe and the water you drink and the blood in your veins.” –Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

“I wept because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.” –Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Hello and welcome back to the best in YA novels! Last week we talked about the best classic novel, which was Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This week, we are getting sad. The ancient Greeks believed that to feel sad was cathartic and it made you happier to expel sad emotions. This next novel is one of the most heartbreaking books I have read, and I can guarantee that you will feel cathartic after reading.

This week’s novel is Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys! I know we previously had a novel by Sepetys, but this book is so amazing it is worth mentioning the same author twice. I have to say, this novel is not only sad, but it is also a literary masterpiece. This book impacted me so powerfully, I wrote my Schreyer essay on it!

Salt to the Sea is a historical fiction YA novel that follows the escape of several characters from their country to America. During World War II, all the narrators are in danger of being executed or sent to concentration camps. On their journey, they meet one another as total strangers and take the journey to the coast together. Their destination is the MV Wilhelm Gustloff, a cruise ship set on its way to America — the travelers’ only hope for survival.

Without giving anything else away about the novel, this is a powerful and harrowing story about the struggles of WWII. They are a diverse group of people, but they learn to trust one another. What I love so much about this novel is that it shows “forgotten” people in history. Sepetys goes out of her way to remember the people who tragically died en route to the Wilhelm (and on it). It is so impactful, and it feels good to remember the lives lost.

Salt to the Sea won the Carnegie Medal for outstanding literary work, and a Golden Kite Award, which recognizes excellence in YA novels.

If you can take anything away from my passion blogs, it is to read this book. Above all other books, this one will change your life. It has impacted me in so many ways, and I genuinely think it is a life-changing novel.

“How foolish of us to believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.” –Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys