By Ashtyn Britt
Writer
abritt@lc.edc
Hello potential bookworms! It’s time to reflect on the previous year, and as we wait for the new books to come out in 2018 to enjoy, we can look back on the wonderful books that were published last year! So, if you’re looking for some new additions for your amazon shopping cart, congratulations, you’ve come to the right place! Here are my top five picks for books that came out in 2017!
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This is an amazing and powerful book about what it’s like to be a POC in today’s society with the fears and struggled you’d expect, and some you wouldn’t. Written by a woman of color, it gives an insight into a world white people won’t ever truly be able to understand, but this book can give a small glimpse. This may be one of the most important books I’ve read in my life, and no matter where on the political spectrum you fall, it’s more than earned a place on your bookshelf.
- Madness by Zac Brewer
This is another brilliant novel by one of my favorite authors, showing the struggles of a relatable girl suffering with mental illness and the pain of learning how to cope and find reasons to keep going. I know multiple people who suffer from mental disorders, and this book them know they aren’t alone and the support to know that things can get better, and provide an enticing set of characters to pair with a wonderful message.
3. Alex & Eliza: A Love Story by Melissa De La Cruz
For any fellow Hamilton fans, this historical fiction was written for you! Going into more details of how Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuylar found love than a few minutes song describing the helpless feeling of falling in love, it provides the exact feeling of the first act of the musical! Very exciting and uplifting as you see the characters unfold, as well as learning a few new historical facts about these two love birds and the world they were living in at the time!
- Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
For my fellow Lara Jean fans, this conclusion by Jenny Han was very anticipated and didn’t fail to deliver the excitement we hoped for! It follows Lara Jean having to make very adult choices about her high school relationship and where to go to college, echoing decisions many of us have had to make ourselves. With excellent writing and a loving story, it’s one of the sweetest treats of 2017!
- #Famous by Jilly Gagnon
This provides quite a scenario, what would happen if you accidentally made your crush a viral meme? This is what the main character finds out after a simple picture of her crush catches the internet by storm, and having to deal with the aftermath! A fictional story based off the #AlexFromTarget incident, it provides one of the most heartwarming and funny stories I’ve read in the last few years! If you’re a fan of romantic comedies, you’ll love this book!