Top reads, fiction and nonfiction for teens

This time around, with the new format of "anything goes", I am including nonfiction titles as well as fiction.  Hope you enjoy my selections, Saleena

Hear about a range of teen titles, Saleena chose as the best for the month

Changing our format a bit, now each month will share a "best of" picking out the titles I am going to share for various reasons but always trying to present a variety of options & genres.  Enjoy!

These are my picks for best of the year, according to what I have read from late Dec through to last week.  Titles may actually be a bit older, but if they touched me, and I read them this year...it counted.  Enjoy and let's hope for an awesome 2022!

Saleena's picks for best books (and/or series, because some WERE binge-read) of the year.  To clarify, these are books read this year, so some books may not be new, just new to her.  

A quick episode focused on some fun books to read when you just want to enjoy an adventure or a romance without any deep thinking required.

This is a mix (as per usual) of many genres (so many people thing fluffy only means romance stories).  Basically I define fluffy as escapist books that allow you to turn off your brain and just enjoy.  So, hope you enjoy the list.

Tales on the dark side, dealing with magic, or just the inhumanity of man or exploring dark eras of history.  Highly recommended books to start conversations, make you think or just escape into a world a bit darker than usually expected.

What is dark fiction?  Sometimes fiction that deals with dark magic, sometimes fictions that delves into difficult subjects and sometimes fiction that looks at a perspective that isn't normally seen (like, Harley Quinn for instance). This podcast will look at book titles & book series' that look at the dark stuff (which doesn't mean there are't happy endings, only that they have to work a bit harder to get there).   :)

Looking at stories that are sometimes both funny and light; but sometimes only one or the other (humor is so personal, right?)  Some are classics, some are new and it's a nice mix of options for a day when you want to shut the door on the world and laugh a bit, or at least smirk at the absurdity of it all.

A list of really funny, or a bit funny or just fun to read books for teens (or adults who enjoy teen books).

We all love a good scary story, so here is a list of a few good ones....some classic, some new and a range of ages (nothing uber-graphic/slasher) Enjoy!

Just some fun new (and old) books that will be great to read for teens (or adults) looking for something to devour without being too serious.

What are Potato Chip Books?  Books that, like chips, you cannot stop with just one.  These are fun, light, books or suspenseful and quick; but fun to dive into and devour like a Netflix marathon of your favorite show.  Listen and find your next binge session.

There are all kinds of stories of shape shifters and were-animals (wolves, foxes, etc); some fae, some magical, some in the traditional sense of "I've been bitten by x and now am cursed to be it".....we are exploring some of those stories and sharing some fun titles that have either (or both) types of supernatural beings.  Enjoy!

A gathering of a range of stories that I have really enjoyed (some you have heard about, some you have not).  All titles were published for adults, though not all have inappropriate content; they just weren't written with teens in mind.  Hope you enjoy!

Check out these titles where your mystery is mixed with ghosts, psychics, witches and/or wizards (or so many other supernatural creatures) It's a fun way to discover you like mystery stories; or maybe dip a toe into magical fantasy......or (for me) explore stories not told in the expected way and usually resolved in twists you didn't see coming (because...magic!)

I tried to find Novels in Verse in adult stories, but unless it was an actual book of poetry (or a weird literary genre), it didn't exist.  So, these are all teen titles, feel free to enjoy whether teen or adult.  Poetry is a beautiful and emotive way to tell a story.

As part of our SB Reads 2021 partnership with the South Brunswick schools, this is a list of books matching the selected topic (silver linings) and everyone in the township is encouraged to find books to read and share in the discussion.  This is a small selection of books for adults.

As part of our SB Reads 2021 partnership with the South Brunswick schools, this is a list of books matching the selected topic (silver linings) and everyone in the township is encouraged to find books to read and share in the discussion.  This is a small selection of books for teens.

Here is a best of list of 2020 and 2021, based purely on what I've read and what I've enjoyed.  The blog to accompany this list will go up soon.  Enjoy!  All titles are meant for adults, just FYI

We explore some fun romance stories, with no werewolves or vampires (though some psychic powers were present); just humans finding love and happy ever afters.....yay!  Enjoy

We are looking at romance stories for teens, leaving off supernatural or fantastical creatures (but allowing fantastic powers, like psychic abilities and stuff).  Humans, falling in love....in fiction.  Yup.  Enjoy.