Six Heartfelt & Charming YA Contemporary Novels for All Seasons

Books make the perfect gifts for holidays, birthdays, and every day of every year. These six contemporary novels, which I also devoured courtesy of my role as a first round judge in the YA Fiction category, all feature adorable covers, snappy titles, clever writing, and charming protagonists. The plots span a range of seasons, with my last recommendation covering all four! As you’re curled up in your favorite reading chair, make sure you have a box of tissue nearby because these novels overflow with heart. You’ll laugh, cry, and cheer for these relatable characters as they struggle through a myriad of challenges. (P.S. I wrote “also devoured” because my last post covered 5 deeply affecting YA Contemporary Novels. If you missed it, click here. As before, my reviews/opinions are entirely my own.)

New York teen Hannah travels to small town Texas to spend four days of Hanukkah with the horse rancher, non-Jewish Nana she barely knows. To her surprise and relief, she finds a Jewish Deli in town and volunteers to work at the counter beside Noah Blum, whose aging Zayde (grandfather) owns the deli. Though she frets about missing Hanukkah with her NY family and friends, Noah treats her to magical nights filled with light and and community. Bad weather and canceled flights conspire to keep Hannah in Texas longer than planned, much like the the single drop of oil in Hanukkah lore that lasted for eight blessed nights. A delightful read about Jewish identity and the universal appeal of matzo balls (I can attest to that with my interfaith family Passover gatherings). Psst! I’ll share Zayde’s tip to make them light and fluffy: add seltzer!

Madeline Hathaway travels from Ren Faire to Ren Faire with her dad and does online schoolwork whenever the mood strikes – but tallying up experiences in her journal is a crutch to help her deal with her mother’s loss a year earlier. Madeline’s grief is palpable, as is her poor body image from being a plus-size teen and having limited interaction with teens her age. Setting up their tent in the Stormsworth Ren Faire in Oklahoma, the last faire her mother attended before she died, was supposed to be a solemn trip down memory lane. But new ownership brings huge (and humorous) changes, notably being wrangled by goofy, effervescent Arthur into being Princess Gwen for the summer season. Fun? Check! Body positivity? Check! Grief? Check! Awkward first romance? Check! Check!

I adore this fun, tender, and brutally honest coming of age romance involving two neurodivergent young adults. Tilly is a talented, exuberant writer who knows college isn’t for her because her ADHD makes traditional learning difficult. In contrast, Oliver is college bound and brilliant with photography and color, but Autism makes him hyper focused and unable to communicate his true feelings easily. After a disastrous flight as seat mates, the pair discover they’ll be jet setting around Europe together as interns for Tilly’s sister’s fledgling nail polish company. Her mother’s constant pressure and critical reminders show a complete misunderstanding of what Tilly needs: compassion, understanding, and support, all of which Oliver receives from his family. As they gradually learn to trust themselves and each other, you’ll be cheering them on every step of the way.

The back cover pretty much sums up the plot: “LIE. CHEAT. STEAL. WIN.” 17-year-old Ross (Rosalyn) Quest is the youngest in a family of legendary thieves. Her mother’s mantra is “You can’t trust anyone in the world – except for a Quest,” and she keeps her daughter firmly in line in outrageously dangerous ways. Just as Ross is poised to escape her crazy, controlled life, her mother is kidnapped. The ransom is set at a cool one billion dollars, and the only way Ross can pay it is to win the Thieves’ Gambit and earn the “whatever you wish” grand prize. Each of her cunning, cutthroat teen competitors also has a wish, and they just might kill to achieve it during the thrilling challenges. There are twists around every corner, and the one at the end will blow you away. This thriller is ripe for a sequel and to be adapted into an exciting movie!

Hardworking, earnest Dylan Tang dreams of honoring his mother’s memory and gaining positive publicity for his Aunt Jake’s struggling Singaporean-Chinese takeout restaurant. Winning the mooncake competition in the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival is the way to accomplish both these goals. Alas, his family’s mooncake recipe is missing though Dylan and his aunt work diligently on recreating it. Distraction comes in the form of Theo Somers, who hails from an incredibly wealthy powerful New York family, unlike Dylan’s in every way. Dylan can’t tell if Theo’s feelings are reciprocated, especially when Theo asks him to be his fake date for his cousin’s posh Hamptons wedding. The burgeoning relationship is authentic, drama filled, and purely PG, and the way the author describes the food and Dylan’s culinary ability? Mouthwatering!! Last but not least, rescue dog Clover the Corgi makes for an adorable supporting character.

This book will make you want to cherish your family, open up your heart and home, and hop on a ferry to visit Orcas Island, the largest island in the San Juan chain off Washington State. Each season is dedicated to the perspectives, passions, and romances of one of the four Singh sisters. Their home is the Songbird Inn that her father and his (now deceased) husband lovingly restored to become “The Most Romantic Inn in America.” Fall opens with Nidhi, the responsible and organized eldest, who dreams of opening her own bakery. Winter belongs to active, scattered, 17-year-old Avani, whose perspective is largely told in poetic form. Spring is told through shy 15-year-old Sirisha’s perspective, i.e., behind the lens of a camera. Romantic Rani, Avani’s twin, gets the summer season, and concludes the book with a lovely speech about love and family. Each girl is unique, and the setting is so vivid, it’s like an actual character. The meet-cutes are heart-squishingly adorable, and I love how the family is accepted and integrated with citizens of the surrounding area, regardless of ethnicity or sexual preference. If Orcas Island is anything like it’s portrayed in this novel, it’s a model for how we all should aspire to live! 

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It was my pleasure to read and review these novels, and I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did. What YA Contemporary Novels have you enjoyed lately?