And now for something completely different...
I was tagged by Ariel from wavesofpages.com to do this Holiday drinks book tag! Check out the original post here on Cerys' blog, browsingforbooks.co.uk!
1. Hot Chocolate: Marshmallows and chocolate and whipped cream, oh my! Recommend a book that’s sweet through and through.
Okay, so I don't think there IS a book that's totally without its drama, third-act sad scene, or "WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS" exclamations. But...
The closest I can get is RADIO SILENCE by Alice Oseman. This book depicts some of the most beautiful friendships I've ever read, and it just makes my little heart so happy. From the platonic friend-love between Frances and Aled to the guy friends who hug, sleep together, and hold hands, this book is the literary equivalent of fuzzy socks and a warm fire.
2. Peppermint Mocha: The flavor of peppermint is strong and distinct. Recommend a book with a lot of strong emotions.
This is more my territory. I pretty much exclusively read YA turmoil books, so I don't know what that says about me...
*ahem* Moving on.
I'll recommend the beautiful, heartbreaking emotional journey of GIRL IN PIECES by Kathleen Glasgow. We read this for Reading Bowl last year (I'm that coach who's way too involved and reads more books than most of the kids. Moving on again...), and I just adored it.
Runner up (also from Reading Bowl last year) goes to WE ARE THE ANTS by Shaun David Hutchinson. Not because it's second-best to GIRL IN PIECES, but because GIRL is full-throttle emotion, whereas ANTS is more of a subtle punch. It's not as emotionally exhausting, but it's just as beautiful.
3. Apple Cider: It’s so good it can’t be good for you, but it’s from apples—that means it’s healthy, right? Recommend a book full of characters with questionable morals.
I hear "questionable morals," and I immediately think of SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo. If you're reading this, you've almost definitely heard of Leigh and this book, and you've probably even read it already. So this isn't much of a recommendation. But let's just join hands for a minute and revel in the wonderfully crooked, perfectly flawed, criminal mastermind antihero that is Kaz Brekker. And if you HAVEN'T read this book, close this window right now, open up amazon and order that ish because your life is about to change.
4. Eggnog: It’s creamy and smooth, with a little spice, and some people even add alcohol to it. Recommend a book that’s mostly fun, with just a hint of danger.
I recently read (and discussed with my Book Club) HOW TO HANG A WITCH by Adriana Mather. This is one that takes you be surprise and makes you say, "Well that escalated quickly." This is what happens when Mean Girls meets the Salem witch trials, but it's also unexpected in such a great way. What happens when all the living descendants of the Trials (including Cotton Mather's youngest relative) are in one place? Read to find out!
5. Gingerbread Latte: A drink with a veritable explosion of spices. Recommend a book with a lot of action.
I don't read a ton of fast-paced, action-y books, but the first one that comes to mind is THIS SAVAGE SONG by Victoria Schwab. Another Reading Bowl book, because that's basically all I read. This one is about a thoughtful, soul-stealing musician and the determined dictator heiress who form an unlikely pair to uncover the secrets of their horrifying, fantastical dystopia. The action comes in the form of fights and narrow escapes, and this is one you will NOT want to put down.
I'm pretty sure most of these books are not exactly lesser-known gems. But as someone who reads a LOT of books each year (though probably not as many as my book-blogging friends), these are some of the ones that really stand out to me.
For what it's worth, there are a TON of currently un-published books I want to recommend because my critique partners are friggin' STARS, ya'all. But you'll just have to wait for that little bit of amazing.
