Late to the Party Books!
I was a voracious reader until college stole all my free time and desire to do anything but sleep in my free time. I started pleasure reading again shortly after my daughter started a book blog. So, there are quite a few books I missed out on, and have since backtracked to read. My Late to the Party Books list includes ten books I really enjoyed, which I read five or more years after their release.
Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Series: Dairy Queen, #1
Published/Read: 2006/2017
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
I am so grateful to the bloggers out there, who had this book on one of their Top Ten lists. I saw multiple mentions, and sought it out at my library. It was a great decision, because I found this book, and its sequel, to be so adorable and amusing. Totally loved DJ, her family, and being on the farm.
Stephen Chbosky
Series: n/a
Published/Read: 1999/2014
Publisher: MTV Books and Pocket Books
I think I read this book, because my daughter came back from seeing the film, and told me that Charlie's favorite song was also my favorite song. We had the same favorite song, I needed to read about this guy, and I really loved this book that is filled with friendship and some really complicated emotional issues.
Louis Sachar
Series: n/a
Published/Read: 1998/2014
Publisher: Scholastic
I saw this book on my sister's bookshelf, and I had to see if it was as brilliant as the movie. I thought Sachar did an incredible job weaving these people's lives together, and I am fan of those types of stories.
Meg Cabot
Series: All-American Girl, #1
Published/Read: 2002/2014
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
I knew Cabot from the adorable Princess Diary books, so I thought I give another of her series a try. I found this one to be quite delightful. I loved the lists and being in Samantha's head. David, Gwen Stefani, the windowsill, and FRISSON! So fun and cute.
Sonya Sones
Series: What My Mother Doesn't Know, #1
Published/Read: 2003/2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
This was a book my daughter had bought, but never read. I thought I should read this poor unread book, and I loved it! I cannot recall having read a book in verse prior to this, and I have to admit, I really liked it.
Sarah Dessen
Series: n/a
Published/Read: 2002/2014
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
I read a ton of Sarah Dessen in 2014, because once I started, I couldn't stop. I picked this one, since it was the oldest on my "read" list, but I pretty much love Dessen's books. Most were total winners, with just two being less than stellar for me. I loved Remy, Dexter, the band, and watching this girl who didn't believe in love fall in love.
E. Lockhart
Series: Ruby Oliver, #1
Published/Read: 2005/2016
Publisher: Delacort Books for Young Readers
I had read We Were Liars, and was looking to work on Lockhart's backlist. This was quite an amusing book, and I really was invested in Ruby, because I like her so much. I really liked exploring her relationships and seeing her grow, but she still had a ways to go, and that was ok, as we have more books after this one.
Scott Westerfeld
Series: n/a
Published/Read: 2004/2014
Publisher: Razorbill
I saw Westerfeld on a panel, and liked him, so I had to read one of his books. I am apparently the black sheep, because I loved this book. I thought it was fun, quirky, witty, serious, and filled with action, mystery, and social commentary.
David Levithan & Rachel Cohn
Series: n/a
Published/Read: 2006/2014
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
This is another author, who won me over when I saw him on a panel. After seeing Levithan, I had to read his books, and since this one was made into a great movie, I thought I would try it. This story was sweet, funny, charming, and there were Moz and Smith's references, so I was pretty thrilled.
Ned Vizzini
Series: n/a
Published/Read: 2006/2014
Publisher: Hyperion
I picked this one up after Vizzini's death, since I had seen parts of the movie and was interested and getting the whole story. This book was well crafted, honest, humorous and so real. The ending left me so elated, I wanted to run through a field of flowers.
The Boyfriend List looks cute, and Dairy Queen and Perks of Being a Wallflower sound great too.
ReplyDeletePerks is very emotional, but has a lot of uplifting stuff too. Boyfriend List was such an interesting offering from Lockhart after reading We Were Liars, and man! I loved Dairy Queen. I did not expect to like this girl and her family so much, but I did.
DeleteI read All-American Girl when I was around fifteen but I was late to most of Meg Cabot's books because most of her books were released before I'd even turned ten years old 😅
ReplyDeleteI could hardly come up with any books I read as a teen. I read a lot of series as a kid, and remember the BIG ones, but I have always loved contemporary romances, and I don't think too many became classics. I was Ten when Forever... by Judy Blume came out, and I read that in my teens, but she is sort of still relevant.
DeleteIhave never read any of these so I am super behind!!! Perks of Being a Wallflower is on my TBR though! Great list!
ReplyDeletePerks was such an emotional read. I loved Charlie so much!
DeleteI only read Perks of Being A Wallflower this year!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/12/top-ten-tuesday-124/
Perks was great, and the adaptation was really true to the book
DeleteI haven't read All-American Girl, but it has been on my shelf for awhile. I will need to check it out. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI thought AAG was adorable. The sequel was ok, but the first book was a total hit with me
DeleteWhat a great idea for a topic. I loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie but should probably check out the book!
ReplyDeleteThe movie was well adapted. I just felt some things were more explicit in the book, and I did not get that when I watched the film
DeleteExcellent topic! And I'm always late to the party when it comes to the popular books.
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I am much more on top of books now that I am reading regularly again
DeleteNick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is the only one I've read of all these! I definitely feel late to the party now. lol A few I really have been meaning to read though, like This Lullaby.
ReplyDeleteNow that I blog, I am more on top of things, but I wasn't when I was pleasure reading. Dessen is one of my faves. I think she writes great contemporaries
DeleteI've seen the movies to Holes and Perks of Being A Wallflower a few years ago and I can only say that they were OK. It never occurred to me to read the books first :/
ReplyDeleteI normally don't read a book after seeing a movie. Some things were clearer in the book for Perks, and Holes a right place, right time sort of thing
DeleteNice! Quite a few new to me ones! I remember I read Holes around the same time I read Harry Potter! My teacher was reading it out loud to us and I decided I wanted to read it myself! Ironically for both HP and Holes! LOL!
ReplyDeleteRead All American Girl wayyyy back when, when I was still giving contemporary a try! Same as This Lullaby. Sarah Dessen was one I returned to a lot back then.
Very nice picks!
Here's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Dessen is a fave of mine, and I am so happy she keeps turning out great contemporaries. Wow! I was a mom when I read holes. 😆
DeleteAs you know, we have Dairy Queen in common which I love to see since hardly anyone has read it. I've also read This Lullaby, I love Dessen's books and although this one is not my favorite, I still loved it. Nick & Nora was just okay for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat list!
It's shocking that more people have not read Dairy Queen, because it really is a heartwarming series. I am trash for Dessen. I am in the minority, but her latest book moved me so much.
DeleteI haven't read any of these books yet either. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the one that I really want to squeeze in soonish.
ReplyDeletePerks is really, really good. And I found a lot of things in there that were new to me, even though I saw the film.
DeleteYes to Dairy Queen! I just "discovered" this one recently and I loved it as well - a lot more than I expected to actually! :)
ReplyDeleteHow awesome is DJ's family? That is exactly how I felt. I thought it would be cute, but I didn't expect to love it so much.
DeleteI was late to the party with PERKS. I think I read it 10 years after it came out!! I SO love Ruby Oliver and totally recommend the whole series. This Lullaby is a fav of mine too-- and So Yesterday unfortunately makes me think of Hillary Duff, but I just read the premise and it sounds super interesting!!
ReplyDeleteI read A LOT of Dessen when I started pleasure reading again. So, I had a bunch from the same year. I chose Lullaby because it was the oldest, but also one I really loved. OMG! When I was putting So Yesterday on the list, I was kicking myself for not going further back on my "read" shelf, because that would have been a great one for the TTT I did with titles like songs. I did really like the book though. Westerfeld's writing was whip smart, and I was really feeling the social commentary on that one.
DeleteOh boy, I feel like I'm late to the party with a LOT of books. It's the age old problem though... too many books and not enough time.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Perks but it was one of those oh-so-rare cases when I actually enjoyed the movie more than the book. Holes was okay but didn't make a lasting impression on me. I thought Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist was a lot of fun. I've enjoyed several of the Levithan/Cohn collabs.
I do enjoy Cohn and Levithan together too. There are so many books from back when that I want to read. Next year, I am going to make it priority to read some older books.
DeleteIf it makes you feel better, I haven't read any of the books on your list. I do want to read Perks of Being A Wallflower one of these days. Thank you for sharing your list!
ReplyDeletePerks was fantastic! I hope you do read it.
DeleteI love your take on this week's topic. I was late to the party on The Perks of Being a Wallflower too. I'm pretty sure I didn't get around to it until the movie came out. Great book though.
ReplyDeleteI feel like a lot of people read perks once the movie became news. I loved it and am hoping Chbosky writes a new book soon.
DeleteOh my gosh, this is such a great throwback list! Dairy Queen, Perks, The Boyfriend List, and This Lullaby are some of my favourite OG books too. I think This Lullaby is my favourite Dessen boo actually, Remy and Dexter's story is awesome!
ReplyDeleteOG books. Love it! I really only had two Dessen books that were less than spectacular for me (oddly enough, they made a film based on those two books). Dexter was a fantastic hero, and I cannot remember which book it was, but I was really excited when he and Remy made a cameo. (something Dessen does that I love)
Delete