Content Warning: Suicide
All The Bright Places follows Violet, a high school girl who wants to escape her town after being in a car accident that leads to her sister’s death, and Theo, a young boy who experiences depression and thoughts of suicide. The two meet on a bell tower in school, saving each other. They later pair up for a project where they are asked to look for the “wonders” of their state, Indiana. Through this project, the two get close to each other and form an unbreakable bond. However, when Theodore begins to experience difficulties in school, their relationship begins to go south, and the two need to find a way to be there for each other. This story grapples with real life mental health struggles and was my first heartbreak.
Quotes:
“You are all the colors in one, at full brightness.” – Theodore Finch
“She is oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. The same elements that are inside the rest of us, but I can’t help thinking she’s more than that and she’s got other elements going on that no one’s ever heard of, one’s that make her stand apart from everyone else.” – Theodore Finch
The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare was my first ever fantasy read. It consists of urban fantasy, paranormal, historical, and romance elements. The books take place in 1870’s London with Tessa Gray, who enters a supernatural world while searching for her brother. Tessa is captured and saved by Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs, who she asks for help. Little does she know, they are demon slayers. She is led back to their group, who call themselves Shadow Hunters. The books hold secrets, betrayal, loss, curses, and love. There is a love triangle between Tessa, Will, and Jem. Will is dark haired, witty, considerate, intelligent, and comes across closed off, while Jem, Tessa’s other love, is silver-haired, brave, gentle, and quiet. In the final book, we discover who Tessa chooses to be with and how that affects their world. The war between Will and Jem is always an interesting one to me, because I have always, from the start, been Team Herondale.
Quotes:
“Marry me,” he said. “Marry me, Tess. Marry me and be Tessa Herondale. Or be Tessa Gray, or be whatever you wish to call yourself, but marry me and stay with me and never leave me, for I cannot bear another day of my life to go by that does not have you in it.” – Will Herondale
“I want you to be happy and him to be happy. And yet, when you walk that aisle to meet him and join yourselves forever, you will walk an invisible path of the shards of my heart, Tessa” – Will Herondale
“Tess, Tess, Tessa. Was there ever a more beautiful sound than your name?” – Will Herondale
Openly Straight is the first book I ever read with an LGBTQ+ character. This coming-of-age story follows Rafe, an ordinary teen from Colorado. Or at least that’s what he wants to be. Even though he is out in his hometown and doesn’t face discrimination, he experiences issues with his identity, feeling that his being gay shouldn’t be a part of him. He wants people to think of him as a “regular” guy, not a gay guy. When he transfers to an all-boys school in New England, he plays the role of a not gay guy—by keeping his sexuality a secret! At this school, he meets Ben, his classmate and friend. The two form a special bond though Rafe lies about his identity. This story is filled with friendship, love, and heartbreak.
Quote:
“Can you just put a part of yourself on hold? And if you do, does it cease to be true? How was I expecting to get closer to someone by not being truly me?” – Rafe
This dystopian science fiction trilogy is based in a United States that is owned by a group of Dictators known as the Republic. June is a fifteen-year-old girl that is born in one of the most elite families and is trained to succeed within the Republic’s military. Meanwhile, Day, a fifteen-year-old boy, is the country’s most wanted criminal.
The two come from two different worlds but find each other when Day becomes the prime suspect in the death of June’s brother. While Day seeks to protect his family and himself from the Republic, June hopes to avenge her brother and hunt Day down. As the two grow to know each other, they realize the truth of their circumstances and the cruelty of their country driving the two together.
Quote:
“If I did not wish she were dead, I would find her absolutely breathtaking.” – Day
“Billions of people will come into this world, but there will never be another like you.” – Day
I hope some of these books bring feelings of nostalgia or capture your interest if you haven’t read any of them. I want to read more romantic YA novels this year and discover some new favorites, so maybe this list can help you do the same!
Anasofia Alejandro, Pine Reads Review Writer