Top 5… U, V, W, X, Y and Z

Good morning bookworms!

Today’s Top 5 Tuesday post is ‘U, V, W, X, Y and Z’! This is the final post in the mini alphabet spree! My A-E post is HERE, the F-J post is HERE, the K-O post is HERE, and the P-T post is HERE. Top 5 Tuesday is hosted by the super lovely Shanah over at the Bionic Bookworm. You can visit her here, and join in for Top 5 Tuesday by checking out all the amazing topics that are coming up!

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We’re getting to the obscure books now people, so strap yourselves in for this week!!

OK, U is for The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli. This was actually my first Albertalli novel (because why would I read things in order?) and I loved it so much I immediately went and ordered Simon vs. Upside tells the story of Molly (who is cousins with Abby from Simon) and how she’s ridiculously shy and has had many crushes. The only thing about the crushes is that she’s never spoken to any of the intendeds. Until she does. This story is just so sweet, and it was really the first time that I saw my 16 year old self reflected in the pages of a novel, so it got extra SQUEEEEEEEEEEE’s from me.

V is for Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I think I was like the only person in the world who didn’t mind the movie version (although I admit it was quite cheesy). However, I think this is because I had never read the books… Until about 2 years ago. And I actually adored them (yes, 34 year old Meeghan really, really enjoyed these paranormal, star-crossed lovers, high school hi-jinks, super tropey novels). Although as much as I love Rose and Dimitri (they belong together), I really loved Adrian, which is probably why I’ve been hesitant to start on Bloodlines!!

W is for The Waitress by Melissa Nathan. I absolutely adore Melissa Nathan’s books. All five of them. The Waitress was her second last novel, and the last one that was published before she passed away (The Learning Curve was published posthumously). If you at all like enemies-to-lovers stories, and have ever not known what you want to do with your life, then THIS is the novel for you. Katie (our MC) is a waitress while she’s figuring out her next steps – you know, what she wants to be when she grows up. If only she could decide on what that really is. And then the cafe she works at is taken over by the last person she wants to see ever, ever, again.

X is for Xenocide by Orson Scott Card. When I was younger I went through this huge Orson Scott Card phase. I had just discovered and devoured Enchantment (which is still THE BEST sleeping beauty retelling I have ever read, AND commenced my love of Russian folklore and Baba Yaga), and my binge started with the Alvin Maker series (and I think we’re still waiting for the final book? I stopped about book 5), and then I went onto Ender’s Game.  To be honest, I can’t remember if this was the one I DNF’ed or if it was number 4 in the series, but I was finishing high school and just kind of… lost interest in the series.

Y is for You’re Only Old Once by Dr Seuss. If you ever read any Dr Seuss books as a child, then I cannot implore of you enough to get your hands on a copy of this. It is absolutely classic Seuss rhyming, but for a less youthful audience, or ‘obsolete children’ as the cover suggests. In fact, I don’t even know why you’re still here, just go get this one!!

Z is for Zoomer by Ned Young. I actually read this one with a small child (family friend) earlier this year, and while it was cute I probably wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. (I might also be using it for my end of year A-Z book challenge because THIS IS IT for Z.) Anyway, the pictures are cute, but I had some, let’s call them issues, with the way the family was represented. It’s the story of a puppy, Zoomer, and his two brothers, as they get ready for school. Their dad is taking them and he makes constant references to wishing his wife was home so she could do the parenting stuff. Uhhh, that’s some fucking role gender bias bullshit – no thank you. Also the brothers were tattle-tales and the whole plot-challenge in the story could have been avoided if the dad was halfway competent. And that’s my two cents about this book!

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PHEW!! I was actually a bit worried that I wouldn’t make it to the end of this, but at least now I know that I can continue doing my fortnightly ABC challenges – although I may not have any “books I loved” under Z!!