November means NaNoWriMo for a lot of writers out there, the month where you start trying to write a novel in a month and end up screaming because writing is complicated.
If I’m not participating in NaNoWriMo officially this month, I’m still thinking about writing a lot and hoping to get a move on my own projects sometime soon.
With that in mind, I thought I’d compile today a little list of books with writing and characters that are writers! Since the list seemed a little short, I thought I’d throw in some books with bookish settings, too. Whether it’s a bookshop, a library or a made-up fantasy world where books have a big role, the YA books I read and enjoyed are all here, so… I hope you’ll enjoy this little list!
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YA books about writers
Final Draft, Riley Redgate
Final Draft is such a criminally underrated read okay. It’s about Laila, a high-school student and writer escaping in her fantasy worlds, struggling with perfection in her writing and growing slowly, but surely out of her comfort zone. I! LOVE! THIS! Book. Read it.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository – Wordery
Eliza and her monsters, Francesca Zappia
Eliza and her monsters is one of my favorite books of all times. I love that the main character is the creator of a famous webcomic, but an anxious mess in real life. I loved how relatable this book was for me, the illustrations, the family, the online friendships, 200% recommending this.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository – Wordery
The Undoing of Thistle Tate, Katelyn Detweiler
A 17-years-old bestselling author… or a fraud? In this very engaging book, Thistle struggles with the biggest secret she’s ever had to keep while juggling with newfound romance and unsuspected discoveries about her family.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository
All of this is true, Lygia Day Peñaflor
Best friends with your favorite author? YES please. In this addictive story told through mixed media, the lines between reality, fiction and the boundaries between authors and readers are explored. I was HOOKED.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository – Wordery
YA books with bookish settings
Words in Deep Blue, Cath Crowley
Words in Deep Blue is set in a secondhand bookstore where people leave letters and notes in between the books’ pages. I LOVE THIS. In addition to it, you’re getting in this the ex-best-friends getting reaquainted trope (and feels), siblings, family, SO MANY EMOTIONS.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository – Wordery
The Dark Vault, V.E. Schwab
The dead rest on shelves like books. I know, sounds creepy, but trust me, The Dark Vault is REALLY good. Aside from its stunning concept, it’s an addictive series with badass characters and I loved it.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository – Wordery
Recommended for you, Laura Silverman
A local bookstore, a competition to sell the most books with a rival, lots of books and baking and romance and friendships. Laura Silverman never disappoints me and Recommended for you is adorable, you need it.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository – Wordery
Verona Comics, Jennifer Dugan
Despite this adorable exterior and its indie comic shop setting, be warned that Verona Comics deals with tough topics. That being said, I loved the setting, the characters, the sweet, complex romance and family dynamics!
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository
The Library of Lost Things, Laura Taylor Namey
A favorite of mine! The Library of Lost Things has, aside from its book obsessed incredible main character, ALL the books, a bookshop, an incredible best friend, a complex mother-daughter relationship and a great love story. It’s a gem, READ THIS.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository – Wordery
The Reader, Traci Chee
The Reader is set in a world where people can read and where a book might be the key to, well, everything. You’ll get pirates and assassins and librarians and a story you just can’t. stop. reading. It’s so damn good and compelling.
☂️ Find the book on: Goodreads – Bookshop – Book Depository – Wordery
📌 Pin 10 YA books about writing & bookish settings on Pinterest!
What are some of your favorite books featuring writers or/and bookish settings? I’d love more recommendations if you have some, so please let me know in comments!
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Cute post!!! I really want to read The Library of Lost Things … it just keeps falling off of my radar 😂
Ahh thank you, Jenna! I hope you’ll get to read it, it’s SO GOOD! <3
I love this list! I feel like I don’t read enough books about writers and bookish people. I’ve read Eliza and Her Monsters and really loved it, and I’ll definitely be adding Final Draft, Verona Comics and The Reader to my TBR. They sound awesome, and maybe it’ll inspire me to keep writing, since I’m already behind on NaNo!
Oh thank you so much! I feel like we need way more books with writers and books, always! 🙂
Best of luck for NaNo, rooting for you!! <3
Great post! I always love bookish settings so much! I read Noteworthy by Riley Redgate and really liked it so I might need to check out Final Draft as well!!
Thank you so much! Ah I loved Noteworthy, I hope you’ll enjoy Final Draft 🙂
I’m always shocked that you still continue to find new books for me to add to my TBR list! I’m going through books super quickly lately, and I’m so happy. I had such a big book funk over the summer, and haven’t been able to read anything. And now I’m only 9 books away from my book reading goal for the year! I think I’m going to make it with ease. Great post Marie xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Oh I’m so happy you got your reading mojo back, that’s so great! And always happy to be able to make your TBR grow 😀 Thank you so much, love! <3
Words in Deep Blue is a favorite of mine, and THE LETTER LIBRARY!!! Loved it
Ahhh yes I loved it too SO MUCH! <3
I loved reading this so much because seeing writers or bookish themes within a book is probably my favorite thing ever! I immediately added All of This is True because it’s one of the only ones on here I haven’t heard of. It sounds perfect for me, though. I love The Starless Sea so much because it’s basically a love letter to stories and storytelling 🙂
Aww thank you so much Jessica, I’m so happy you enjoyed it <3 I need to read The Starless Sea, I've heard amazing things about it! :)
Great post and recs! I loved Verona Comics. I loved how Tanner write his story in Autoboyography.
Thank you so much! Ah I haven’t read that one, maybe I should 🙂
“All of this is true” sounds really intriguing! I might take a closer look at that one! And how come I’ve never heard of “The Dark Vault”? I love Schwab’s books! I so have to go look this up now. XD Between you and May my TBR is going to explode. *lol*
Ah it is SO intriguing, I loved it so much. I hope you will, too! <3 AND YES ahh, the Dark Vault is the compilation of The Archived series, it's so good!
Thank you!! <3
I like the simple covers of all the books in this list. I’m most excited to read ‘Recommended for you’ by Laura Silverman. The inkheart trilogy is my favorite series that has a lot to do with books.
Oh yes me too! I hope you’ll love Recommended For You. YES! Inkheart is so so good, I love this series 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by!
I love books about books, writing and bookish settings! A lot of these are still on my TBR, and I can’t wait! Great list 🙂
Ah yay, hope you’ll enjoy them! Thank you 😀
I love inkheart by Cornelia Funke! The main character is a bookbinder
OH YES I can’t believe I forgot that one, it’s so good! <3
Eliza And Her Monsters has been on my TBR for a while now. Hoping to pick up it up soon! I really want to read Traci Chee’s Reader Trilogy as I really adored her latest release “We Are Not Free”. Great post!
I hope you will love it! And yes, The Reader is an excellent series, really, it deserves all the love. Thank you so much <3
This is truly the post I NEEDED. Trying Nano for the first time has it’s highs and lows for sure, and I’m currently rewatching The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to get such inspiration before my writing tonight :’) Definitely need to check any and all of these reads out soon x
Oh this makes me so, so very happy, Macey, thank you so much <3 I hope the writing is going well <3
Thank you for doing this post, it’s so well-timed!! I hope your writing is going well 😊
Oh thank you so much, happy you enjoyed it!! <3
I loved The Reader! I definitely need to continue this series, I don’t even know why I haven’t done so yet 😀 Other books about books & writing I love are Let’s Talk about Love by Claire Kann and Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston 🙂
AH I hope you will Kat, it’s a fantastic series! And thank you for the recommendations, I had no idea Let’s Talk About Love mentioned books and writing a little bit! I can’t wait to read it 🙂
Ahh I love this post, Marie!! I love when books have writer characters or bookish settings 💕 I still have to read Final Draft, Recommended for You, Words in Deep Blue & The Library of Lost Things, all of them sound so good 🥰
Oh thank you so much Caro <3 I hope you'll love all of these, they're so wonderful! <3
I always love it when books have literary settings or circumstances!
Yes me too!! 🙂