"Girly" Teenage novels

"Girly" Teenage novels

(This is just a sidenote - remember that photography I was doing? Well, neither of those posts are being particularly easy to create alongside school; for a heads up - one is a review of some skincare and soapy type things and one is a DIY textiles instruction post. They will be up ASAP, but in the meantime, there is this!)

After John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars", I don't think many people could argue that all "young adult novels" are frilly and insubstantial. Despite the fact that I am a massive fan of science fiction and horror, I love curling up on the sofa with a mug of tea and "Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging." (Don't judge me, they're funny :) ) But The Princess Diaries and Louise Rennison novels are far from the only ones out there, and these are a few picks of some that maybe have a little more depth to them. They're teenage novels, but the revolving theme is not necessarily romance.

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac: Gabrielle Zevin

I cried, nay, bawled, reading this for the first time. It is a coming of age story equally as good as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower", despite the fact that the character is of age technically, when the novel begins.

Naomi forgets four years of her life after falling down her school steps, and ends up essentially stuck between being twelve and being seventeen - and as the novel progresses she begins to stop trying to fit back into the mold of who she was before the accident, and begins to try to become who she wants to be. There is a romantic subplot, but it never really takes over and it is mostly a beautiful novel about being alive and how time never stands still.

9/10

Adorkable: Sarra Manning

Do NOT be fooled by the title, which gives the illusion that it is a far more poorly written novel than it is. If you are a fan of Tavi Gevinson (which you totally should be, because she is fabulous) then you may draw some wonderful parallels between her and the protagonist, Jeane. It is told both from the perspective of Jeane - a zeitgeist and blogger in Lower Sixth form, and Michael - a high flying all rounded student about to leave for university - and it documents their unhealthy and dysfunctional relationship in some of the most realistic prose I've read in a young adult novel. There is a bit of back story about their unsatisfying childhoods, but the majority of the novel focuses on the romance. Is romance the right word for it? I don't know, but it's a fine split between love and constant arguing. It's fabulous.

8/10 

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

I must start with a plea for this one - whether you have seen the film or not, whether you enjoyed it or not, you have to disregard it when you read the book. This book is far deeper than the rom-com that was spun off of it, and it is easily my favourite young adult novel. It is based on two young punk teenagers - the straight bassist for a queercore band and the daughter of a record label giant - trying to escape equally detrimental relationships.

You really get the awkwardness that they have just met and their relationship's beginning isn't plain sailing (the entire novel happens in one night), but unlike in Adorkable and no matter what the characters may think, you can tell that they are really good for each other. There are also a lot of music references that make me glow a lottle inside.

10/10

Seriously Sassy: Maggi Gibson

This is the first in a series of three, about an ecologically enthusiastic, guitar playing teenager who is trying to balance school, getting a record deal, relationships, friends, her dad trying to become a politician and saving local woodland.

Whilst it is mostly a tweenager type book, Sassy does mature a lot throughout the series and it is still well worth the read because all of the characters are either likeable, or really fun to hate.

It's a little corny, but it is very sweet and very reminiscent of being an early teenager. It was probably one of the first "teenage" novels that I read, and I am glad because you have a fully rounded female protagonist who is wonderful.
7/10


Angel Cake: Cathy Cassidy

This story revolves around a shy immigrant, a cake baking truant and occasional arsonist, an overweight goth, a rat stealing orphan, a bitchy bully girl and all of the problems they drag along with them. Almost the entire novel revolves around the budding romance between two of the characters, Anya and Dan, although there are interesting political undertones about Liverpool, immigration, language, animal rights and families and how they don't always stay together. There are some lovely little vignettes within the story, such as the "pyjamas in the park" tale and the "angel boy" snippets, and the only issue I have with it is that everyone except the protagonists remain reasonably 2 dimensional.
7/10 

Along For The Ride: Sarah Dessen

Although to be honest, any Sarah Dessen novel will do, as they are all lovely. In fact, I'd recommend reading them all, as there are a few crossovers - although it is in no way a series. This is a story about oppression and grief, but it is also about fixing things when they go wrong, and about trying new things and about the cute dirt biker who you keep running into late at night.

It's romantic, but it's special and it is definitely worth reading, if summer novels are your thing. Don't be too disillusioned at the start - I know I was - but as a rule, from there is is all plain sailing upwards, with a heartbreak or two along the way.

You will probably end up hating a few characters, and that's okay, but the most frustrating thing about this book is how the relationship takes a bit of a backseat half the time.

8/10

Stealing Harper: Molly McAdams

This book is equally as frustrating as it is satisfying, because the protagonists spend most of the book with other people, or wishing that they were with other people. Gut wrenching and heart twisting, it is the kind of unlikely romance that makes people's hearts melt just a little bit.

She is a sheltered good girl at college and he is a slut tattoo artist. It is literally the good girl bad boy cliche, but for an amateur writer it is very well written and it does make me care about the characters, despite the fact that I think the ending is unrealistic and rushed.

Hey ho.
6/10

Would you like some more of these? Maybe with a different genre? I've barely scraped the surface, so let me know. Bella x