It should not come as a surprise to you all: I am a marshmallow and an avid contemporary reader. No matter how many incredible books I find in other genres, especially ever since I started blogging, contemporary young adult books will always have my heart and make me melt. I just love them so, so much.
Me to my books. Like, really.
Since this is, in my part of the world, Winter at the moment and that I despise this season and could always use some more happy vibes around this time of the year (seriously, is January lasting for 6 months, or what), I thought I’d come up with a list of happy books. This also works out perfectly if it’s Summer in your part of the world, too, though! I mean, we could always, always use some books that make us smile, even if that makes us look a bit strange when we’re reading on public transportation, too. (I might be speaking from experience. oops).
I’m going to be really honest here: I went through my shelves, virtual and real and could come up with at LEAST 30 books fitting that theme. I guess I really am a marshmallow. It was really torture to try and narrow this down, but I did my very best, because otherwise you’d still be here reading this post tomorrow. So here goes!
You can click on the covers to go to goodreads, if you want to make your TBR grow.
This Is What It Feels Like, Rebecca Barrow
Why it gave me happy feels π This book was just so heartwarming and I adored it so, so much – it also deserves all of the hype, really. The friendships, broken and built up again, the romances, the passion for music driving these girls… this book was SO good I devoured it.
π Read my full review of This Is What It Feels Like
Save the Date, Morgan Matson
Why it gave me happy feels π I could have mentioned a lot of Morgan Matson’s books -well, with the exception of Second Chance Summer, because that one made me sob like a baby. She is one of my contemporary queens and her latest release was such a fun ride with its big family and messy wedding preparations, it made me smile so much.
Β π Read my full review of Save The Date
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Jenny Han
Why it gave me happy feels π This is an obvious choice, but I couldn’t not put it in this list, because for me it is the ultimate adorable book. Baking and romance and high school feels and drama, a little bit, but overall it’s such an endearing story and Lara Jean is one of the most relatable homey characters for me.
The Anatomical Shape of a Heart, Jenn Bennett
Why it gave me happy feels πThis book was such a sweet, endearing read and even if I read it quite a while ago now, if I can’t remember details, I remember that it made me happy and that I loved the characters, the family vibes and romance. I also remember that I need to read MORE by Jenn Bennett okay.
π Read my full review of The Anatomical Shape of a Heart
The Brightsiders, Jen Wilde
Why it gave me happy feels π I’ve been loving Jen Wilde’s books ever since I read Queens of Geek and The Brightsiders did not disappoint. Even if it deals with some heavy topics (tw: abusive parents & relationship), everything else about the book made me so happy, from the band and their relationship to the friendships and the swooon and I loved it!
Β π Read my full review of The Brightsiders
What If It’s Us, Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
Why it gave me happy feels π Honestly, reading this book feels like getting under your bed covers after a long, long day. It’s so sweet and heartwarming and you can’t help rooting for these boys and want them to be happy. It’s such a swoony read and I loved ittt.
π Read my full review of What If It’s Us
Always Never Yours, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
Why it gave me happy feels π Are you sick of hearing me mention that one? Probably not and IT DESERVES IT OKAY. This is one of these books that made me so, SO happy and that I had such a great time reading, I’m making it my life mission to throw it in everyone’s faces. Megan is one of the best main characters ever, adorable romance and read this please.
π Read my full review of Always Never Yours
Everything Leads To You, Nina LaCour
Why it gave me happy feels π Another book that deserves way more hype, Everything Leads To You has everything I love in my sweet contemporaries: great friendships, an adorable f/f relationship, great parents (!!) and THESE characters are just so, SO GREAT. Basically everything is great and read this please.
π Read my full review of Everything Leads To You
American Panda, Gloria Chao
Why it gave me happy feels π I haven’t been talking about this book a lot, but maybe I should, because I had SUCH a great time reading it. Seeing Mei growing as the book went on, seeing her expectations and dreams clash with her own parents’ expectations, her falling in love and everything, this book just made me REALLY happy.
π Read my full review of American Panda
Famous In A Small Town, Emma Mills
Why it gave me happy feels π Everyone has been telling me to read Emma Mills’ books and I am happy I did and I’m making it my 2019 mission to read everything by her. Famous In A Small Town was such an adorable read, I fell in love with this group of friends, the main character and her habit of caring too much, this book made me smile and laugh and definitely a happy kind of read.
I don’t know what came into mind when I decided to write this post, to be honest, because coming up with only ten books was REALLY complicated and as I’m writing this, I have about 3201 more book titles coming to mind. For my sanity I’ll stop there and might come up with another swoony list for you soonish, if you’d like me to! Feel free to let me know!
Did you read any of these books? Did you enjoy them, or do you want to read some of them?
What are some books that made you really happy? I’d love to hear all of your recommendations, you can never read enough marshmallow-y books. Let me know in comments!
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I am marshmallow too β€οΈ
Yes to American Panda {the way they shared hot chocolate was too cute}, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and Always Never Yours!
Looking forward to basically reading everything else on your list but mostly Famous In A Small Town & What If It’s Us.
This is such a great, fluffy list and I love it β€οΈ
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Yaay, I can’t wait for you to read these books, Michelle, hope you’ll love them β€ and yay for being marshmallows π
Thank you so much β€
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Ohhh definitely make a second part (and third, fourth, fifth – I’m sure you could fill many more lists haha) Marie! I’m so happy to hear What If It’s Us made you happy. It’s been sitting on my shelf because I was a bit scared to start it, since I always heard how Adam Silvera’s books make people cry haha
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Aww, I’m sure that I can do that π I’m so happy you enjoyed this list! And yes, Adam Silvera is known to make people cry, but this book was all fluff π
Thank you, Michelle β€
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Ahhh that is such a relief I have a cold so I definitely don’t want to cry right now π
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Oh nooo!! I hope you’ll feel better soon!! β€
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Thank you! β€οΈ Iβm feeling better than before thankfully. And I started What If Itβs Us and am LOVING it! Itβs so cute and fun and just agdjskak πβ€οΈ
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AHHH YAY this makes me so, so happy!! β€
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Every once in a while it’s nice to read a feel-good book that just leaves you feeling happy. I’ve read and loved The Anatomical Shape of a Heart, American Panda and What If It’s Us? Thanks for the recs for others!
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I agree! π You’re so welcome, I hope you’ll find books to love there π Thank you! β€
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Okay, so Emma Mills’ books are a combination of everything good and pure in this world and I love them so so so so much. Morgan Matson is for sure a contemporary queen and I definitely need to read Save the Date. Emergency Contact was a book that had me smiling the whole time. Basically cute romances = lots of feels.
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I need to read more of Emma Mills’ books, I really liked FAMOUS! And yeees, agree that Morgan Matson is a contemporary queen, I love her books so much every single time π
Emergency Contact is one of my favorites of ALL times, I’m so happy you enjoyed it, too! β€
Thank you so much for your comment! β€
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Aahhh I SO agree with The Brightsiders being a make-you-happy book! I definitely wasn’t expecting myself to be so invested in the romance or smiling so much, but I did. (I’m so much more excited to read Queens of Geek now!) And yess What if It’s Us (and the rest of Becky’s books, honestly) is 100% a happy book!! Queer contemporary romance seems to be my go-to for cheerful books haha βΊ
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AHHHH. I hope you’ll read Queens of Geek soon, it was such a good book, I loved it even more than The Brightsiders. Most likely because of the anxiety rep, haha, but it was SO good. β€
I 200% get that, I'm all for a good, happy queer contemporary romance, I need more and more of these in my life!! β€
Thank you so much! β€ β€
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I’ve heard great things about Queens of Geek!! I’m excited especially for the queer Chinese Australian rep βΊ
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Yay!! I hope you’ll love it π
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I’ve seen the Anatomical Shape of a Heart around but I never knew that it was by Jenn Bennet and I loved Starry Eyes by her.
Every Emma mills book is just a ride of feel good vibes, I totally get you. I just want Soph & August to have those banter full conversations and I wanna be initiated into Where Will You Spend Eternity GC, is that too much to ask.
I’ll defs check out This Is What It Feels Like π
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I need to read Starry Eyes, it sounds like such a good book!
YEs yes yeeees oh that group chat and everything about the friendships in this book made me SO happy, I loved it β€
Thank you so so much for your sweet comment β€
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Ohhhh I love this list!! ππΊ Sometimes I really need all the books that give me the happy feels, especially after an intense book that stomps on my heart π Jen Wilde’s books are the perfect comfort reads and always make me soo happy!!
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Ohhh yes I 200% agree, her books always make me so, so, SO happy. I can’t wait to read more from her π
Thank you so much! β€
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Love this list so much! I’m super keen for anatomical shape of the heart, save the date and always never yours. To all the boys is wonderful as well!
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OH yes all of these books just make me so, so, SO happy β€ Thank you! β€
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