Guest Post: Marie Landry’s Favorite YA and NA Books
Thanks so much to the ladies of Chapter Break for having me here today! I thought since the Angel Island companion series is a mixture of YA and NA, I’d share some of my favourite books in both categories.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
I’ve read this book twice and still feel like I could read it again and again. It’s mostly light, funny, and swoonworthy, but it also deals with real issues. Plus it’s a great book for anyone with wanderlust!
The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
I love books that emphasize strong, healthy friendships, and both this book and Lord’s debut,Open Road Summer, do that. Lord has a way of writing characters you wish were your friends, plus boys who you wish were real so you could fall in love with them.
My Life Next Doorby Huntley Fitzpatrick
This book is sweet, swoony, emotional, and funny. It’s a beautiful story about family, friendship, and first love.
Swimming to Tokyo by Brenda St John Brown
Another book that’s great if you have wanderlust. Relatable characters, a unique setting, super steamy sexytimes, and scenes that made me laugh and cry.
Upside Down by Lia Riley
This book, plus the other two books in the Off the Map series, Sideswiped and Inside Out, are unique, sexy, and funny. The series is a great mixture of feels-heavy and amusing, plus the first book is set in Australia. Can you see a bit of a wanderlust theme here? 😉
Title: Angel Island series
Author: Marie Landry
WAITING FOR THE STORM (Angel Island #1)
After the death of her mother, the last thing seventeen-year-old Charlotte O’Dell wants to do is spend the summer on Angel Island with her family. Her younger sister hates her, and her dad is in his own little world. It’s a recipe for a disastrous summer on the island, until Ezra Rhodes walks into her life.
The boy next door makes Charlotte forget her almost paralyzing fear of really living her life. Stunted from taking care of her mother in her last months, Charlotte is drowning. With Ezra, she feels something again, and as he repairs her family’s summer home, she dares to think he might actually be fixing her, too. Ezra challenges Charlotte to leave her comfort zone, and as their friendship slowly blossoms into more, Charlotte begins to come alive again.
But Ezra has secrets…secrets he isn’t sharing with Charlotte. Despite her new-found happiness in Ezra’s arms, Charlotte can’t help but feel there’s a storm on the horizon. And she isn’t sure if she and Ezra can weather it unscathed.
AFTER THE STORM (Angel Island #2)
For most people, starting senior year at a new high school would be a nightmare, but for Ella O’Dell it’s the new beginning she desperately needs. Two months after her mother’s death, she’s ready to leave behind the rebellious, unhappy person she became when she found out her mom was dying.
When Ella meets River Maracle and Sadie Fitzgerald, she begins to learn it’s okay to be herself, even if that means being different. River and Sadie aren’t ashamed of their misfit status—River grew up on a reserve, and his mother is the school counselor; Sadie stands out with her funky homemade clothes, and is a master at ignoring the whispered rumors that have plagued her since the beginning of high school.
Ella finds a kindred spirit in Sadie, and something more in River. After almost a year of pretending to be someone she’s not, she finally embraces life and allows herself to have fun without constant guilt. But despite her budding happiness, something is off with her new life. She doesn’t want to dwell on the past, but Angel Island is a small place, and she soon realizes her demons are harder to outrun than she thought…
TAKE THEM BY STORM (Angel Island #3)
Sadie Fitzgerald has always been different, and not just because she makes her own clothes and would rather stay home watching Doctor Who than party with kids her age. When it’s time to leave Angel Island for college, Sadie is eager to put her old life behind her. Small-minded people and rumors have plagued her for years, but with the love of her adoptive family, the O’Dells, Sadie has learned to embrace who she is. Now she’s not afraid to admit the rumors about her are true: she’s gay.
For the first time in her life, Sadie feels free to be herself. She dives into college life and begins volunteering at the local LGBT center, where she discovers her small-town upbringing left holes in her education about life outside Angel Island.
The world is a bigger and more accepting place than Sadie ever imagined. She’s finally found where she belongs, but with the reappearance of someone from her past, an unexpected new friendship, and a chance at love, Sadie soon realizes she still has a lot to learn about life, friendship, and love.
About the Author
Marie has the best job in the world—one where she gets to make stuff up for a living and shamelessly eavesdrop on everyone around her. She writes happily ever afters while dreaming about the day she’ll have her own epic love story to tell. Most days you can find her writing, reading, fantasizing about traveling the world, listening to U2, watching copious amounts of TV on DVD, or having grand adventures with her nephews and niece. Stay up to date with all of Marie’s news by subscribing to her newsletter.
Blog: http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
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I love the list! I’ve read Anna but none of the others on the list but they sound amazing! This sounds like a series I’d enjoy. I’m adding Waiting for the Storm to my tbr! Great post! 🙂
Jessica @ Strung out on Books recently posted…Fall Giveaway!
I like the list! I’ve either read them or they’re on my tbr. 🙂 And the Angel Island series has me curious, so I’ll check it out. Great post!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…That’s What HE Said #41 ~ Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #20
wow that sounds like such an emotional read, going to have to add this series to my TBR pile
Lily B recently posted…The Adventuress (Lady Emily #10) by Tasha Alexander
Pretty amazing list! And the blurbs sound fantastic – a fun post, thank you 🙂
Ramona recently posted…Zen Monday: Why Fall Is The Best Season