Books Featuring Characters Who Share My Name!
So, we are talking about books, which I have read, that feature characters named Sam or Samantha. True story: when I was a young lass, I could never get anything with my name on it. No license plate for my bike. No pens. No pencils. Nothing. Adding insult to injury, my sister's name is Lisa, and her name was on EVERYthing. Then, in the 2000s, my name was all over the place, and I still see it popping up in books. Apparently, my parents were just ahead of the trend on this one. Bonus: 17 Things That Perfectly Describe All Girls Named Samantha
Laura Tims
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
This is one of my top reads this year, and not just because the main character's name is Samantha. I loved this story of a family working through their grief, a young woman trying to figure out her identity, and a boy who felt no physical pain. I laughed, I cried, I felt too much.
Lauren Oliver
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperCollins
I never realized that this was Oliver's debut, but I can tell you, it's still my favorite book of her's. This was an incredible Groundhog Day-esque book, where the main character, Samantha, grew and changed so much, that my heart broke because we knew her fate from the very beginning of the story.
Meg Cabot
Series: All-American Girl, #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
This Samantha was tons of fun. I loved her, her lists, and how she saved the president. This sweet romance had me laughing and smiling courtesy of the cute and quirky Samantha.
Stephen Chbosky
Series: n/a
Publisher: MTV Books and Pocket Books
We all know this story, and this Sam was probably my favorite characters in this book. I associate her with one of my favorite quotes from the book - "We accept the love we think we deserve." That quote is so powerful, and years later, it's still in my working memory.
Laura Avery
Series: n/a
Publisher: Poppy
This Sammie had so much to deal with at such a young age. She just broke my heart in half. I was so grateful for the beautiful moments she had, because we knew she was destined to forget them all. *crying*
Adriana Mather
Series: n/a
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
The Samantha in this book is a decendent of one of the Puritan leaders, whose claim to fame was prosecuting the Salem Witches. I really liked Sam, and am currently reading her second story, in which she encounters her long lost relatives, who were passengers on the Titanic.
Tamara Ireland Stone
Series: n/a
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
This Samantha is struggling with Purely-Obsessional OCD and the darkness that accompanies this illness. I really liked being part of Samantha's journey as she developed a new relationship with her illness and found a healthy outlet, as well as a group of friends she could be herself around.
Michelle Falkoff
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
This begins my books, where the Sam is a male Sam. This Sam is trying to figure out why his best friend took his own life. The only information he has is a playlist and the experiences he shared with his friend. I liked how Sam sort of figured out some things about himself along the way.
Julie Hammerle
Series: North Pole, Minnesota, #2
Publisher: Entangled: Crush
This Sam is a sweet cupcake of a romantic hero. He loved his family, and would do anything for them, even if it made him so stressed out. He was also so supportive of Tinka. He believed in her when other people didn't, and I just adored him.
Laura Nowlin
Series: n/a
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
This Sam is a stupendous friend to Ramona, and afraid to act on his feelings for her, because they were such great friends. I totally felt for him during this story, which has a very complicated love triangle.
Great topic! I've heard a lot of things about Before I Fall, including that it's her best book. I really need to read it.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of the book. I know a lot of people struggle because Sam is so unlikable at the beginning of the book, but that's the point. The experience changes her.
DeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteA little vain, but it has surprised me how many Sams I have seen in books lately.
DeleteSuch a fun take on the topic! I'm intrigued by How to Hang a Witch - I love a witch story, so I may have to check it out closer to Halloween. =)
ReplyDeleteI liked the How to Hang a Witch books. The witch parts are cool, and the historical bits add an extra something special.
DeleteI like that your name can be for a girl OR a boy - it does seem to pop up a lot! I'm totally with you on loving Sam in Perks of Being a Wallflower. I don't see my name too often, to be honest.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Sam in Perks = <3 I am now making a list of characters to look for, and Lauren is on it. I have seen it in adult books, but I cannot think of a YA book off the top of my head.
DeleteGreat post idea! I have the same issue although my name was somewhat popular, but the spelling is unique so I could never get anything with my name on it. Still today people spell it wrong. I really enjoyed Before I Fall that was a great book.
ReplyDeleteThe struggle of people with not popular names. Though I can no longer be a full fledged member of this group any longer, I had to deal with it my entire childhood. Before I Fall-- the tears!
DeleteMy name is super popular, so I never had trouble finding it on stuff. I haven’t seen it in many books, though. I guess it’s a popular name for real-life people and not popular for fictional ones.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
It's been surprised to see my name all over, because I read a lot of YA and they tend to pick odd names. My name used to be not-popular, but it wasn't odd.
DeleteGreat take on the topic!! I have a bunch here I still need to read but loved Before I Fall.
ReplyDeleteI really need to see Before I Fall - the movie. I want to see if they did it justice. Oliver gushed about it at BookCon in 2016, but I am so slow to see movies.
DeleteWhat a fun twist on the topic! I haven't read any of these, but I'm going to be adding a bunch to my TBR now. Oh and as odd as it is, my name's very common (Amy) and yet, I've read very few books (that I can remember anyway) with characters named that. :)
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday Post. Thank you!
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Boom! There's your book. =)
DeleteCool idea for this week's topic! I don't think I've read any books with characters who have my name...a few that have Jo, but it's usually short for Josephine, not Joanne like me.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/26/top-ten-tuesday-126/
Another challenge. Now my list is Joanne and Lauren. I will search .
DeleteThis is so cool. I would love a total kick-ass heroine named Kimberly. :(
ReplyDeleteNow you are on my list with Joanne and Lauren. I am sure there is a Kimberly out there somewhere.
DeleteWhat a neat way to put this week's list together. So fun to read through this one. Good to see The Art of Feeling on this list since I recently read more about this one. It sounds like an interesting read, and one I might have to add to my next book shopping spree. ;)
ReplyDeleteI started to read Before I Fall but am really struggling with it. Maybe at some point I'll revisit it.
I so adored The Art of Feeling! One of my top reads this year. Too many things to love about this book. Sam is very unlikable in Before I Fall, but if you stick with her, you will love her by the end.
DeleteAwesome topic! I haven't read any of these books, but I would love to read Perks of a Wallflower!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Top Ten Tuesday!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Perks is a fabulous book, and the adaptation was also well done.
DeleteOOh nice topic!! Ironically I think this one would be impossible for me to do! Jessica may have been super popular when I was in school...sooo many Jessica's during attendance...but I rarely see it in books. There's one that always come to my mind, a second, but really her name was Jessie so not really as that's my nickname at times! LOL!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Now I have 4 names on my list. I have definitely encountered a Jessica. I read a lot of contemporaries, so I know I have to have bumped into a Jessica at one point.
DeleteLove your take on the topic. I did something similar, but as Katie/Katherine have ALWAYS been popular, I got a bit more specific for my list.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week! - Katie
I have definitely seen many Katie/Katherines in books, but also variations on the name (Cady, Caitie, etc). That could be a fun one to see how many differently spelled Katies you could find.
DeleteBWHAHAH this KILLS ME because my small MALE human is named Sam. Just Sam. And so when I see girls named Sam I am like... UGH. The funny thing is, his name is on everything now of course, but my female human, Lena, is on NOTHING. Though I get extra stabby when it's either "Samuel" or "Samantha" because he is NEITHER.
ReplyDeleteI have read quite a few of these, actually! And like, a LOT more with Lady Sams. My name is not super common in books. I have read ONE Shannon in a book ever. Which I guess is an okay thing? It must be weird for you to find your name in ALL the books! Love your take on this week's topic, by the way :D
Yeah! I love people named Sam =P It may not be now, but I think Lena's time is coming. I had to wait over 20 years for my name to gain popularity. And I am adding Shannon to my "list to look for" now.
DeleteOh man, I don't think I've ever read a book that features a character with my name. I'd love to see it in print, but also it would be a little weird.
ReplyDeleteIt's so satisfying to see my name, because I used to sit and cry while my sister had all her personalized things (it was very important in the 70s). The funniest part, is when I am writing the review, and I cannot remember the characters name (this is what happens when you get old).
DeleteI wanted to name my daughter Samantha but my husband vetoed it. I love the name. DH said it was only because I wanted to call her Sam or Sammy. :-) This is a great take on the topic! I see my name in books occasionally. I think my parents actually got my name from a book--at least that's the story they tell me (other than the one where they drew my name out of a hate of other "W" names). Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy mother named my sister, so my dad got to name me. He named me after a nasty German Shepherd, who only liked him. I was mostly "Sam", but my Oma called me "Die Sami" (pronounced dee sam-i), and when I went to Germany, all my relatives called me that. I was 17 and it made me nuts.
DeleteFun take on the topic this week! I think out of these I've only read Perks. Sam was such a great character in that one. I'd have a tough time coming up with characters with my name. Off the top of my head the only one I can think of is Tanya from Dr. Zhivago (which is where my name came from).
ReplyDeleteHey, every list starts with one entry. I just had a string of "Sams" in the books I was reading, and it inspired me to look back at the books I read.
DeleteWhat a fun spin on this week's topic. Most of these are new to me, but I loved Sam from The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
ReplyDeleteThat Sam was definitely an exceptional character, and I thought Watson did her so much justice in the movie.
DeleteThis is a fun topic! I rarely see characters named Kathy but of course Katherine is used in historical romances lol.
ReplyDeleteI cannot think of a Kathy, but lots of Katherines and Katies, a few Kats too.
DeleteWhat a great idea! I haven't read any of these, but I wonder how many characters have my name :)
ReplyDeleteWell, there is Elizabth Bennett, but I am sure I have read some in recent books. Adding your name to my list.
DeleteFun idea! I would probably have a hard time finding many books with a Carole spelled like my name. I could be wrong though.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about my name is that there are not really any alternate spellings. For Sami/Sammie/Sammy, yes, but not really Samantha.
DeleteIt is great that you can now find so many books with your name in it. I've only ever found one. I haven't read it but my mom gifted it to me, haha. Great topic!
ReplyDeleteThat's sort of sweet that your mom got you the book. My name is wildly popular in the past 20 years, and since Sam can be a name for people of both sexes, so that definitely casts a wider net.
DeleteWell, Wendy was supposedly invented by James Barrie in Peter Pan, and that's the only bookish Wendy I can think of. Ah well, there's always the fast food chain...
ReplyDeleteVery fun post! I love Every Last Word and also really enjoyed Perks and Before I Fall, and you managed to make me interested in all of the other books on your list as well.
I know, this was my Carly Simon post (I'm so Vain). I know I have seen other Wendy's and well, yeah, there is always the chain. 😜
DeleteLove your list! I have to admit that I like seeing my name pop up in books! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see my name, but sometimes weird. Like when I was teaching and I had a Samantha/Sam in my class. I felt like I was talking to myself when I called on him/her.
Delete