Leah's Picks
The Light & Fun Reader
(In no particular order)
Reading Style
I enjoy fun, light reading. In particular, I love addicting series, usually in the fantasy, romance, and/or young adult genres.
Literary Likes
01
The Iron Butterfly Series by Chanda Hahn
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Adventure, Series
The first in a trilogy, The Iron Butterfly begins with Thalia awakening to find herself imprisoned, starved, and left with no memories at the mercy of an evil cult known as the Septori. Their leader has chosen Thalia as the test subject for a torture device of untold power, designed to change and twist her into something that is neither human nor Denai. Escaping, Thalia finds an unwilling warrior to protect her and an unlikely Denai to befriend her. After finding a home at the Citadel as a servant, Thalia’s worst nightmare comes to life and she begins to show signs of power. Scared and unable to control her gifts, she tries to hide her past to fit in among the Denai. But the Septori want their latest test subject back and will stop at nothing to retrieve her, dead or alive.
02
When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberg
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Chick Lit, Humor
When Life Gives You Lululemons focuses on Emily Charlton from The Devil Wears Prada. Welcome to Greenwich, Connecticut, where the lawns and the women are perfectly manicured, the Tito’s and sodas are extra strong, and everyone has something to say about the infamous new neighbor. Let’s be clear: Emily Charlton does not do the suburbs. After leaving Miranda Priestly, she’s been working in Hollywood as an image consultant to the stars, but recently, Emily’s lost a few clients. She finds a comeback opportunity in Karolina, a former supermodel who has has a fall from grace. Emily, Karolina, and their mutual friend Miriam, a powerful attorney turned stay-at-home mom, band together to navigate the social land mines of suburban Greenwich and win back the hearts of the American public. Along the way, an unexpected ally emerges in one Miranda Priestly.
03
Underland Chronicles by Chanda Hahn
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult, Series
The chronicles are so far comprised of two books: Underland and Underlord. Long ago, before humans forgot them for all eternity, monsters and immortals retreated below ground to seek shelter. But what do the Greek Gods do when they're bored? They bring back the Olympic games--only a lethal version. The newest contender in these bigger, deadlier games is a young human girl they kidnapped from the streets above. For Kira Lier, it’s kill or be killed as she races against beasts she thought were just myths, to cross the finish line and win a chance to earn her freedom.
fiction, love stories, mystical shit, teen fiction, fairy tales, beach reads
Literary Dislikes
self help, nonfiction, murder mysteries
What's on my bookshelf
Books on deck to read next
Daughters of Eville series by Chanda Hahn
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
04
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, Chick Lit, Romance
Macy doesn't have much to look forward to for her summer, while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father. But sometimes, unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to question her sheltered life.
05
Perrault Chronicles by Cordelia Castel
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Series
The first book in the seven-book Perrault Chronicles is Cendrilla: A Fairy Tale, starring Rilla Perrault. Rilla is not elegant or charming like her step-sisters. She cannot dance, is incapable of serving an elegant tea, and, according to Mother, curtseys like a constipated boar. When Rilla is betrothed, by force to Lord Bluebeard, a man suspected of murdering his previous wives, she escapes to the capital with Bluebeard's slave, Jack. Having paid a hefty bride-price, Lord Bluebeard sets his mercenaries on the chase for the runaway pair. Now, Rilla must reach the capital, a place where ogres like Bluebeard are forbidden to enter, before her murderous betrothed and his blood-thirsty servants exact their vengeance. There are five additional short stories set in the Perrault Chronicles world.
06
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, Romance
Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything" — at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.
07
Unfortunate Fairy Tale Series by Chanda Hahn
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Young Adult, Series
This series begins with UnEnchanted, and has five books in total. Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated; until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her it's next fairytale victim. To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.
08
The Key To Happily Ever After by Tif Marcello
Genres: Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Chick Lit
All’s fair in love and business. The de la Rosa family and their wedding planning business have been creating happily ever afters in the Washington, DC area for years, making even the most difficult bride’s day a fairytale. When their parents announce their retirement, the sisters—Marisol, Janelyn, and Pearl—are determined to take over the business themselves. But the sisters quickly discover that the wedding business isn’t all rings and roses. There are brides whose moods can change at the drop of a hat; grooms who want to control every part of the process; and couples who argue until their big day. As emotions run high, the de la Rosa sisters quickly realize one thing: even when disaster strikes—whether it’s a wardrobe malfunction or a snowmageddon in the middle of a spring wedding—they’ll always have each other. Perfect for fans of the witty and engaging novels of Amy E. Reichert and Susan Mallery, The Key to Happily Ever After is a fresh romantic comedy that celebrates the crucial and profound power of sisterhood.
09
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Series
Crazy Rich Asians is the first book in an outrageously funny trilogy about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.
10
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, Romance
When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?