Hi friends!!! I’m so very happy to be back and to talk about ALL! THE! BOOKS!!! My holidays in Canada were a dream and I’m not really over it, if I’m being honest, but well. (Oh look at that, me fitting in one of my favorite books in a sentence naturally. This talking about books thing is coming back naturally, it seems.) If you’d like me to write another Travel Diaries post about my adventures, feel free to let me know!!
Alright, I’m good to go, let’s scream about some books now, shall we.
More often than not, we’re obsessed about new book releases, anticipated upcoming reads and all the hyped books and… well I’m not going to deny it, I’m one of the first screaming, jumping and wanting to read the books everyone is talking about.
Yet, I also think that there are so many hidden gems I am missing out on because of that and it frustrates me to no end. So, today, I thought I’d come back with the first of two posts about hidden gems in the young adult bookish world, to me. These books might be known or unknown to you, very familiar or not at all because we obviously all have different vision of things and of books. To me, these books are hidden gems in the sense that they’re just not that well known and they deserve all the hype, praise and love okay.
You know me and my contemporaries so today, I thought I’d share some of my favorite little gems in the young adult contemporary field. Up next will be fantasy, science fiction and dystopia and more, but for now… say hello to the contemporary!
You can click on the covers to get to the goodreads page of the book!
? Hidden gems : young adult contemporaries
Nothing Left To Burn, Heather Ezell
Why I love it ? I’m going to be screaming for all of the years about Nothing Left To Burn and no one can stop me. This book debuted last year and it deserves ALL the love, it’s an intense story dealing with a toxic relationship, a fire both real and metaphorical, it has sisters and best friends and tension and flashbacks and it’s the kind of book I aspire to write, someday. READ THIS.
? read my full review
Final Draft, Riley Redgate
Why I love it ?I feel like Final Draft deserves way more praise and love in the book community because it’s an incredible read. It’s one of these slice of life contemporaries with a writer at its heart, struggling with her craft, it has an incredible group of friends and it’s just so, so relatable and real.
? read my full review
This Is What It Feels Like, Rebecca Barrow
Why I love it ? This book has friendship at its heart and for that, friends, it is awesome… but not only. This incredible cast of friends won my heart and, as their friendship breaks and mends, as they go through their own struggles and battles, as romance, family, music comes in the way, too… well, I fell in love with it all.
? read my full review
Just For Clicks, Kara McDowell
Why I love it ? I fell in love with Just For Clicks earlier this year and found this book to be such a little gem, exactly the kind of contemporary I love. With sisters at its heart and a complex relationship, blogging (!!), family and romance, this book has everything I adore in a contemporary and I definitely recommend it.
? read my full review
In Search of Us, Ava Dellaira
Why I love it ? This is a multigenerational story told a daughter and her mother’s point of view. As the daughter searches for her roots and her father, we get her mom’s story as she meets the father for the first time and everything that follows. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking, intense family story that warmed and broke my heart at the same time and I loved it.
? read my full review
The Beauty That Remains, Ashley Woodfolk
Why I love it ? So, fair warning, I cried within the first few pages so… take care of yourself, friends. The Beauty That Remains is a story about grief, told through multiple POV and multiple stories as each of the characters try to get over a loss. It’s a gorgeously written story that made me emotional and made me cry, made me feel love, hope and sadness and it’s a hard hitting book I’d definitely recommend.
? read my full review
Far From The Tree, Robin Benway
Why I love it ? A story with siblings finding their way to each other? Take my heart and keep it. Far From The Tree really is a little gem I’d recommend every contemporary fan to read and Robin Benway is an incredible writer, really. It’s a story about finding who you are, where you come from and where you fit in and it’s so, so beautiful I sobbed okay.
? read my full review
Solitaire, Alice Oseman
Why I love it ? Alice Oseman’s debut is either a book you love or hate, because for me, it doesn’t take any kind of precautions and just throws you headfirst into Tori, the main character’s head. She’s sad and she is introverted and it’s not a happy book, but it is one of these highly relatable book that spoke to me and my teenager self, in a way and I loved it so, so much. Also it’s a really great debut and, reading that and Alice’s recent releases I Was Born For This and Radio Silence, you just see how much she’s grown as a writer and I love it too okay. ALICE OSEMAN FAN HERE CAN YOU TELL.
Girl Out of Water, Laura Silverman
Why I love it ? I feel like Laura Silverman’s sophomore novel You Asked For Perfect has been getting a little bit of hype and I feel like it’s time to scream about her debut again, so I shall do just that BECAUSE I LOVE IT WITH ALL OF MY HEART. The main character was incredible, the family vibes and love interest were incredible, the feels of finding home, people that just feel like home made my heart happy and read this.
? read my full review
Our Year of Maybe, Rachel Lynn Solomon
Why I love it ? I’m just so, so deeply in love with this book, friends. It’s about an all-consuming friendship between two childhood friends and it has emotions and complex feelings and family vibes and it’s about finding yourself outside of that two-people cocoon and THIS BOOK, friends. It deserves all of the love.
? read my full review
☂️ You might also be interested in reading our best books of 2019 so far.
Did you read any of these books? Did you enjoy them? Do you want to read them? (You should!)
What are some hidden gems you’d recommend I give a try? Let me know in comments!
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Robin Benway’s FAR FROM THE TREE is one of my all-time faves! I’m definitely a big fan of backlist books too. I even shared 14 of my must-read backlist middle-grade titles on my blog too https://afomaumesi.com/backlist-middle-grade-books-june/ if you’d like to check it out. ?? adding many of these to my TBR.
ahh yay so happy you loved it 🙂 I hope you’ll find some other books you love in this list 😀
I definitely need to hurry up and read Far From the Tree and Our year Of Maybe!! Like why haven’t I already?! *glares at TBR pile* ?I adore contemporaries so totally love rec lists ?
Ahhh yes you should, these are SO GOOD 😀
Thank you so, so much! <3
I want to read Our Year of Maybe for months now as it was so hyped!
Ahh I hope you’ll get to read it soon, it is a beautiful book <3
I won an ARC of This is What it Feels Like last year and I’ve still not read it! I need to fix that ASAP. I also want to read Girl Out of Water, Final Draft, and Solitaire soon. Great post Marie!
Oh I hope you’ll get to read all of these books soon, they’re all amazing 🙂
Thank you so much Kate! <3
I haven’t read any of these, will look out for them!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Yay, so happy to hear it! Hope you will love them 🙂
Oh oops, look at me adding more books to my wishlist 😛 (I need to read more Alice Oseman!!)
It’s good to have you back, Marie! I’d love to know how Canada went <3
ahhh yes you do, I can’t wait to hear what you think of her other books, please keep me updated 😀
Thank you, Marta, it’s good to be back!! <3 <3
They all sound fantastic. I’ve read Just for clicks and loved it ❤
Ahh yay! I hope you’ll want to give some of these other books a try sometime 😀
Thank you for your comment! <3
YESS thanks for this new series! There are so many midlist, backlist, or old books that seem to be forgotten whenever there’s a new release. Just for Clicks looks interesting, and I look forward to the other genres~
Ahh you’re so welcome, so happy you like it! I hope you’ll love Just For Clicks 🙂
Thank you so much Frankie! 🙂
Great post! Added two more books to my TBR,thank you!
YAY this makes me so happy! Thank YOU 😀
AWW<3
Well, thank you for adding a bunch of books to my TBR, haha! So many of these sound so interesting!
Ahh you’re so welcome, this makes me so happy, thank you so much for reading <3
Yes, yes, yes! Girl Out of Water and Far From the Tree both deserve so much more love! I also really need to read Solitaire! I’ve read all of Alice Oseman’s other books, but for some reason, I haven’t picked that one up yet! As for a hidden gem of my won, I don’t know if this is YA and it’s not contemporary wither, but it’s so good that I’m recommending it anyway! Bull by David Elliot. It’s told in verse and follows the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. It’s super short, but so good!
Ahh I’m so glad you agree, these two books are incredible <3 and I hope you'll get to read Solitaire soon, it's such a good read 🙂
Oh thank you for the recommendation, I'll have to check it out! 😀
Great post! 😀 I am hoping to read Solitaire at some point this month or next. I am really excited about it. I agree with Just for Clicks. That was such a great book!
Thank you so much Ashley! I hope you’ll get to read Solitaire soon and will love it! 😀
I really like this post! I tend to focus more on upcoming or new releases. It’s always nice to highlight other books, too. I’m glad you had a good vacation!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
You’re welcome.
I’ve heard of most of these, and I really want to read Far from the Tree at some point. I always recommend Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert. It’s one of my favorites!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Ahh yes, I hope you will read and love Far From The Tree <3 Oh thank you for the recommendation, I'll have to check it out 🙂
Thanks for the recommendations Marie! I feel like 100% of the books I read are hyped due to my huge backlist so I do want to read some more hidden gems. These sound so good so I’m excited to get to them – especially Final Draft! 🙂
Ahh you’re so welcome, thank you, I’m so happy you enjoyed this list 🙂
I hope you’ll love Final Draft 😀
I keep meaning to read THE BEAUTY THAT REMAINS (also I love the new cover for it!) but have been avoiding it because I’m not so able to read really sad books lately. Who knows, maybe I’ll give it a try anyway. I’m also so happy to see a Riley Redgate book on here! I loved SEVEN WAYS WE LIE and have been procrastinating on reading her other two books for forever because I’m scared they won’t live up to my love of that book.
Oh I’m not going to lie, The Beauty That Remains IS very sad, it made me cry a lot ahah, but when you’re in the right mindset to read it, it’s a great read <3 I hope you'll give it a try! 🙂
Ohh, I hope you'll love Riley Redgate's other books! I adore them all, Seven Ways We Lie was the first one I read and I loved her other books even more… hopefully it will be the same for you 😀
Thank you so much for your comment, Mel! 🙂
Welcome back!! I hope you had such a wonderful time in Canada (I would totally read another travel post, but I’m pretty sure you already knew that ;)) and that it’s not too overwhelming getting back into the swing of things! <3
Thank you so much Nicole, you’re so sweet!! <3 It is a little overwhelming, but I'm doing my best, thank you so much <3 <3
I can’t believe I haven’t read any of these. THey all sound great. Thank you so much for sharing!
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Ahh you’re welcome, I’m so happy I could make your TBR grow 😀
im in love with this post (and ya contemporaries in general) the beauty that remains is just too gorgeous NOT to have on your tbr and if you’re saying it’s going to make me cry?? then i might just have to prioritize it now. in search of us sounds so good, i LOVE multigeneraltional stories, especially ones that center around family issues and heartbreak ?? you’re drowning us with all these amazing recs, marie, whatever will we do lol
but thank youuu, so many new books that i’m looking forward to!
ahh ahh I hope you’ll get to read the beauty that remains, this book deserves way more praise and love, I love it so much <3 and in search of us is suuuuch a great read ahhh <3
thank you so, so much I'm so happy you like these recs!!
I love that you included Far From the Tree. That was an excellent read.
I agree, I loved it so much! 🙂
Great post! I really love contemporaries so I definitely need to look out for these 🙂 I’ve read Nothing Left To Burn and This Is What It Feels Like and love them both <3
Thank you so much! AHH I’m so happy you loved Nothing Left To Burn, I feel like no one has read this book and it is AMAZING ahh <3
I have not read Nothing Left to Burn, Solitaire, or The Beauty That Remains, but I loved the others. I especially adored Just For Clicks, This Is What It Feels Like, In Search of Us, Far From the Tree, and Our Year of Maybe. All delivered so many feels and filled me with joy. Great list!
Ahh I’m so glad you loved so many of these as well, this makes me so happy <3 I hope you'll get to read the others, especially Nothing Left To Burn, I adore it so much <3
Thank you!! <3
I just finished Far From The Tree and I LOVED it. I literally cried, because it’s so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
All these other books are also on my TBR-list and I can’t wait to dive into them. Contemporaries are my fave, so I think I’ll like them all.
Great list Marie! 🙂
Ahh I’m so glad you loved it! It is such a beautiful read and it made me very emotional as well <3
I hope you'll love the other books and thank you so, so much <3
Ohmigosh yes! Solitaire doesn’t get enough love as far as I’m concerned. It was my first Oseman book (I’m yet to read I was Born For This, but Radio Silence is also great). I’m also genuinely addicted to post-it notes, so I felt like that book was made for my teenage self!! ?
Agree, it was my first Oseman read as well and the moment I fell in love with her words and stories, this book deserves more love!! <3
Thank you so much! <3
Just for Clicks really is a hidden gem! There are some others here that I need to check out and get added to that TBR of mine. Thanks for sharing them.
I am so happy that you enjoyed your holidays!! 🙂
Agree! 🙂 Thank you so much, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post!! <3 <3
this is such an amazing post Marie! I got so many backlist recommendations and I had no idea that Just for Clicks was about blogging? ah, I can’t wait!! also, thanks for putting Nothing Left to Burn back on my radar. I suddenly remembered that I had heard of the book before and found the premise intriguing!
OH CAITLIN PLEASE read Nothing Left To Burn, I’m dying for more people to read this wonderful book, it’s one of my favorites of ALL TIMES. <3 I hope you'll give it a try! 😀
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, so happy you enjoyed this <3
Ah Final Draft by Riley Redgate is definitely a gemm , i looved the story though I struggled with it for a while …it was definitely worth the read ..definitely checking out the others
Agree! 😀 Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, I hope you’ll love out the other books 😀
I’m definitely going to check some of these out. I need more hidden gems! Also … I LOVE how you used an Invader Zim GIF
Ahh yay, I hope you’ll find books you love there, Jenna! 😀
Oh, I’m sure I will 😉
I haven’t read ANY of these but a lot of them have been on my radar. Time to check them out again! Thanks for all the recommendations 🙂
Oh yay, I hope you’ll check some of these out and will love them, Molly! Thank you so much 🙂
Hi Marie,
I loved this post so much!
I completely get what you mean. Sometimes I get stressed about all the new releases, I feel overwhelmed and stop to care about them for a certain period of time to recover from that.
So this post was very interesting and I felt no need to plan out if I should read them and when, because this books are already out, if I want I can pick them out, without stressing about it.
Now I really want to read “The Beauty that Remains”, because I’m always in search for sad books, “Far From The Tree”, I don’t really now why and “Solitaire”, because I feel like I’m going to like it. Oh, and “Our Year of Maybe”, obviously, it was already on my TBR. I don’t read many contemporary, but I’ll give them a try.
And I can’t wait for your post about Fantasy!!! ?
Ahh thank you, so happy you enjoyed this post! 😀 I hope you’ll give all of these a try and, hopefully, they can convert you a little bit into a contemporary lover 😀
Thank you! <3
So happy to hear that your travels in Canda were great, I would love to read a post about that and see some pictures ? What a great post of hidden gems! I always love discovering underrated books 🙂 I have been wanting to read Solitaire, as I have read all other books by Alice Oseman, but not her debut novel. It seems like a hit or miss book, but I hope I’ll end up liking it ? An underrated YA contemporary that I like is Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali!
Ahh thank you so much Caro, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post!! <3 and I'll be working on a Canada blog post 😀
I hope you'll end up loving Solitaire, it really is a hit or miss, fingers crossed you'll love it 😀 and oh, I've heard great things about saints and misfits, I'll have to check it out 😀
LOLOL Marie you KNOW I instantly clicked on this post when I read the title because I always LOVE contemporary recs from you!! I’ve heard you rave about OUR YEAR OF MAYBE and GIRL OUT OF WATER for so long, and I honestly it’s about time for me to add them to my TBR and finally pick them up(!!) AND LOL I can definitely tell you have a soft spot for sister relationships!! ?
AHHH this makes my day, Tiffany, thank you so much ahh <3 I hope you'll pick these two books and WILL LOVE THEM, they are incredible, really <3
and yes yes, all the sister stories always. I'm here if you have some recommendations 😀
Well, my TBR took a hit with this list ?
Ahhhh I’m so sorry! This makes me so happy too, though and I hope you’ll give these books a try sometimes, Cat <3 Can't wait to hear what you think of them 😀
Thanks for these recommendations! I haven’t read any of these books but they all sound amazing!
Ahh you’re so welcome! I hope you’ll pick them up and will love them 🙂
Far From the Tree and Girl Out of Water are tow books that I keep meaning to read. I’m so annoyed at how my mood is not wanting to read contemporaries these days cause it’s one of my favourite genres, but I will get to them!!
Ahh, I hope the contemporary mood will hit you again soon. I’d love to hear what you think of these two books, I have a feeling you could love them 🙂
Thank you so much!! <3
Oooh! This post is exactly what I’ve been needing lately. Just the other day I was like, “I really need to get back into the habit of reading more YA contemporary books.” Also, Far From the Tree has been on my TBR for what feels like five hundred years and I definitely need to shape up and get to it. At this point, it’s ridiculous that I haven’t, as I love the author.
Just for Clicks was one of my favourites this year. There was something about it that was just a massive yes for me. I’m honestly surprised that I hadn’t heard of In Search of Us until this post but I DEFINITELY have an interest in it. It’s piqued my interest, for sure. Thank you for sharing! I’m obviously taking notes on some of these books and adding them to the TBR.
OH YES! This makes me so happy to hear and I’m always ready to give all of the contemporary recs, always 😀
I hope you’ll love these books when you can read them, and I’m so happy you’re a Robin Benway fan as well! I’ve been loving her books so, so much as well <3
Yessss Far From the Tree! The combination of the themes of creating your own identity by yourself vs. based on the people around you vs. biological roots was so beautifully crafted, everyone in my book club loved reading that book. And the feels! Gah! It was too good ?
Also, your travel posts are always so fun to read, I would love to read about your adventures in Canada! Thanks for the book recommendations! 🙂
Ahhh yes yes yes! I’m so happy you loved this book, too. It is wonderful read and it deserves all of the praise and love <3
Oh thank you, Zoie, this means so much! I'll definitely work on a Canada blog post soon 😀
I haven’t read any of these books, but they sound so good! I’m especially interested in Far From The Tree and Just For Clicks because I love books that feature sibling relationships.
Ahh yes yes yes! I’m also a big fan of siblings relationships in stories. <3 I hope you'll read these two and will love them, they were amazing 🙂
Thank you so much! <3
Love this post! Always curious about hidden gems and nothing left to burn and final draft sound especially good!!
AHH thank you so much! and YES YES, I hope you’ll give these two books a try, I love them so, so much <3
I loved Far From the Tree so much! It’s definitely one of my favorite and I’ll always recommend it to people. You’re right, this book is a literal gem!
Ahh I’m so happy to find someone who loves it as well. It’s such a gem, I want everyone to read it <3 (and cry like I did haha)
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! 🙂
This list is amazing ???
I feel like I’m so behind on books and this is such a great recommendations post. I’ve loved everything by I’ve read by Riley Redgate and Final Draft has been on my TBR since forever!
Definitely adding The Beauty That Remains and Far From The Tree to my TBR xx
Ahh thank you Michelle, I’m so happy you enjoyed this and that I could make you discover some new books. I can’t wait to hear what you think of them 😀
Just added every single one, that wasn’t already on my TBR, to it. Hehe, thank you for always sharing the best contemporaries, Marie. ♡ I can’t wait to read Solitaire the most.
Ahh yay, this makes me so, so happy, thank you so much <3 I can't wait to hear what you think of Solitaire! 🙂
Another fantastic list. I think the majority of these are on my TBR too; I really should get on with some of them soon! Have you read Rachel Lynn Solomon’s other book as well or not?
YAY! I hope you will and that you will love them 🙂
I haven’t had a chance to get a copy just yet, unfortunately, no, but really looking forward to it. Did you read it? 🙂
Thank you (:
No I haven’t yet either but I’m sure I’ve seen it (and the one on here too actually) as an ebook on the library website so I’ll definitely check it out soon. I do so love the sound of it, after all, although I have a feeling it’ll be crushing.
I love this post, and I definitely want to boost backlist titles more as well. We are so focused on the next big thing as a society, and it doesn’t help that publishers stop marketing once a book is released either. Love this list!
Oh thank you so, so much Kal, this makes me so happy <3
I agree, I'm often focusing on new releases as well and I'm really reminding myself to do these kind of posts more often and to seek out these little gems more, too. AND YES, books aren't promoted and marketed right too long after their release and it's such a shame 🙁
Thank you so much! <3 <3
Well, I haven’t read any of these and some of them I hadn’t even heard of, so you have just expanded my TBR. 🙂
Ahh this makes me so happy 😀
I’m so happy to see someone else who loves Solitaire, it’s so hit/miss I’ve never been able to find anyone else who loves it ;-; I love love love this post!!
AH YES! I’m so happy you love Solitaire as well, I don’t know many people who do!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
is it crazy that I haven’t read any of these? I have just gotten back into reading again after not reading much this summer! I added ALL of these books to my wishlist, and will get to them EVENTUALLY. I have read over 55 books this year, so let’s hoping I cut the list a bit more! Great post Marie xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Ahhh yay! I’m SO happy to hear that and I hope you’ll love all of these books, Melina <3
Thank you so much <3