1. Eleanor & Park– This was probably one of the best books I have read in long time. It is about two mismatched teenagers who fall in love and try to make it work against the odds. I know this sounds like your typical YA book, but trust me, it isn’t. That’s what I loved about it!
Rowell creates SUCH realistic characters. Eleanor is a girl who comes from a pretty troubled background and the way she deals with her relationship is so spot on. Rowell truly captured the voice and struggle of a teenage girl who is trying to make things work, even when she does not know how and has so many other issues to deal.
I truly appreciated how REAL this book was and will definitely be recommending it to some of my students.
2. Sloppy Firsts– After reading Eleanor & Park, I was craving good YA, but did not know what to read next. Then it clicked that I should do something I have been wanting to do for a while, re-read the Jessica Darling series.
Re-reading Sloppy Firsts re-introduced me to the amazing mind of Jessica Darling, who literally makes me LOL at various points in the book. Hearing her voice again was like re-connecting with an old friend.
Jessica was in high school around the same time I was, so hearing her philosophies and rants on various pop cultural phenomena’s of that time, is incredibly nostalgic and hilarious. I don’t know what took me so long, to re-read this series.
2. Second Helpings- This book definitely gets you more hooked on the storyline and deepens the connection with various characters. I thoroughly enjoyed living Jessica’s senior year of high school with her, and it was a great reminder to my 30-year-old self, how hectic that time in your life can be.
Angie Eats Peace 
I am obsessed with Rainbow Rowell and have read all of her books! Fangirl is my favorite. Did you know they plan to make Eleanor & Park into a movie?
I did not know that! Good to know.
I recently bought Attachments and am excited to read it. Fangirl will need to be next!