Today is Road Trip Wednesday 🙂 RTW is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
This week’s topic: What was the best book you read in June?
This month, I’ve read 4 Young Adult books and 2 romantic suspense novels 😀 All of them were amazing. Looking at the YA stories I immersed myself in, it will be tough to come up with a favorite but I´ll try my very best. I will do this post a bit differently by just writing words which for me symbolize my reading experience and link my full review when available (I have already reviewed 2 out of the 4 :D)
SECOND CHANCE SUMMER by Morgan Matson: Family. Love. Growing up. Tragedy. Tears. Friendships. (full review here)
IF I STAY by Gayle Forman: Tragedy. Tears. Life. Music. Hope. Family. Love.
WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman: Recovery. Anger. Love. Music. Family. Scars. Love.
THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass: Love. Heart. Power. Family. Privileges. (full review here)
While I loved all of them, I will pick WHERE SHE WENT for this month because I am so unused to read something from a guy´s perspective. Being in Adam´s head felt like a privilege, like I really could understand his thoughts process and the emotions were just so raw and beautiful and true.
His relationship to Mia and to her family made me tear up a few times. There were also moments I wanted to shake him but mainly I just wanted to hug him and tell him that I was sorry, that he too suffered from the tragic accident not only by losing Mia at first but by losing his second family.
If you want a book which will tear you apart while slowly building you back together and on top of that, reread sentences because they’re mesmerizing, you should go and pick up both IF I STAY and WHERE SHE WENT.
Truly amazing.
So, tell me if you could describe your favorite book of June in only one word: what would it be?
Elodie Nowodazkij 
What word would I use to describe my book of the month? Surprising. I think this word is good because it covers my reaction to the book overall based on my expectations going in. It also describes the plot–the story is not what it appears from the first few chapters. And of course I’m not saying what that book is… you’ll have to hop over to my blog to find out. 🙂
I like how you’ve done this post, Elodie. The one word descriptions are a great way to give a sense of what the book is about without writing a mile-long post about it (which is what I end up doing O_o). I really need to read IF I STAY and WHERE SHE WENT, especially after reading what you had to say about them.
My June book is one I’m currently reading (I know we’re supposed to be done reading it, but I’m cheating), and the single words I’d use to describe it are: Duty, Regret. Pain. Longing. Forgiveness. 🙂
I was not actually that much of a fan of The Selection. While I felt that it was appropriate reading for me at the time (since I was in a Meg Cabot-fuelled junkie state!), I was aware the entire time that the prose and dialogue were somewhat disastrous. It had potential, but definitely could have been executed better.
Male POVs are really rare – don’t know the last time I read one! Will have to look into your selection 🙂
The word I would use to describe my pick? Gripping!
Cassandra Clare’s City of Lost Souls…EPIC!
My word would be… emotional.
I’ve heard such great things about Where She Went! I can’t believe I haven’t actually read it yet!
I LOVED Where She Went! It’s one of my favorite contemp YAs! It was so raw. I also appreciated a solid male voice in contemp YA.
I would choose surprising and compelling as my words for my choice (up on my blog).
Ha! I picked WHERE SHE WENT as well this month, but with some reservations. It was good, but it didn’t hit me like IF I STAY did. I’m so not good at summing up in one word but… closure?
Hi, I’m here from RTW (hopping to destinations heehee) I loved Gayle Forman’s books! They made me cry, smile and reread at least 2 times…right after finishing it the first go-around. 🙂 Great choices for RTW! I chose 3 books that I read in June because I couldn’t decide.
I really need to get my hands on Gayle Forman’s books. I’ve never read them but I always hear such great things! I also picked three books for June so I’ll give one word for each: Clever. Creepy. Heart-breaking.
Yay for WHERE SHE WENT! I have SECOND CHANCE SUMMER in my TBR pile so I’m excited to read it.
Someone else picked that book as their best one. Must be a great read! I’d like to give it a go in the future. 🙂
OK, will definitely need to read If I Stay and the sequel; the Summer books sounds up my alley, too. I’ve read quite a few YA books from a male perspective but only b/c I sought them out; definitely in the minority there (and minority guy characters — even more scarce!)
I loved those books by Gayle Forman- simply beautiful!
I haven’t read any of these, but they are all on my TBR list. In one word, my best book of June was enthralling.
Thanks for posting about a male POV. My next project is from a male POV, so I’ll have to check this one out.
I had three this month. So I guess I’ll just pick one word for each of them! 😀
Enchanting.
Stunning.
Bittersweet.
Ooh, awesome–WHERE SHE WENT is on my shelf, and you totally just bumped it up a notch 🙂 Thanks! (Oh, and this format is really awesome! My words would be “Family. Magic. Sparkling.” for one book and “Painful. Growing. Earning. Rewarding.” for another. Sorry about the lack of parallel structure among those words; it’s making me nuts but those are the words I need.)
I so need to read WHERE SHE WENT! I loved IF I STAY.
If I were to describe my favorite book of June, it would be: multidimensional. UNRAVELING literally was the tale of two dimensions/universes in danger of colliding and destroying each other. The story itself was multidimensional, with a sweet romance, a dangerous investigation, grief and loss, cool abilities, and a group of kids just trying to find the way home.
I haven’t read The Selection, but I absolutely loved those other three!
I agree with Crystal – I definitely liked If I Stay more than Where She Went.
One word to describe my pick of June…. I don’t think I can do it! Okay, how’s this: labyrinthine.
Whew.
Second Chance Summer is in a pile from the library, taunting me.
Can’t wait to see what made you happy this week! 🙂
The Selection caught my eye in the store a while ago, because I had a cynical moment where I wondered if the Pretty Dress had anything to do with the story. But the premise sounds really interesting.