Lost in a Good Book

My reading challenge is off to a great start in that I have read four books so far in my twelve book plan for reading more Aussie YA books.

Now, it’s early in the year so there is still time for the progress to fall dramatically off a cliff. It’s a problem I have seen happen time and time again. The first four months I often hit the ground running and then life seems to pick up and suddenly a couple weeks go by and then it’s September.

This is something I am trying to avoid by aiming for the one a month approach. I have so many books to choose from the main thing I need to do is the reading part. Considering I still have the two books I wanted to read most sitting beside me unread while I have picked up other books instead. Mainly chosen instead for their audiobook ability which is a habit I am trying to break. Not that I want to stop listening to audiobooks, but I need to learn how to read books again. Retrain my brain and all that. Hopefully these YA books can do that when I have a goal to meet and no other choice of format.

The books I have read so far I have enjoyed. It’s a mixed bag, none of them were terrible, some were ok, while others were incredible and had a profound impact on me. Who says Aussie YA isn’t an incredible arena where the most amazing books come to play.

The list so far:

Can’t Say It Went to Plan by Gabrielle Tozer

This is the third Tozer book I have read. I wasn’t a huge fan of her other two but gave this one a go. It is much the same. It’s ok, it’s a bit boring, but I’m glad I gave her work another chance before realising her writing might not be for me. A multiple point of view story about schoolies week, being with friends and having adventures as you celebrate being free from school. There’s Toolies, romance, friendship drama. Everything that makes young life so chaotic all in once book as we follow different groups of friends celebrating their freedom.

As Happy as Here by Jane Godwin

This review went up recently which I recommend reading because I will gush about this book nonstop if given the chance. It is the lower end of YA, the characters are young and sweet and finding their feet in life. It is a stunning story, deceptively simple from the outside but manages to punch you right in the heart.

Untidy Towns by Kate O’Donnell

This one was a fun find, a few years old but manages to capture the small town big dreams idea and discovering what a teen wants to do with the unknown of her future. Combined with family expectations, her dreams, and her heart, it is a great exploration about being lost and trying to find who you are.

My Lovely Frankie by Judith Clarke

A beautiful and heartbreaking story about 1950s Australia and the institution for training new bishops. A story about love and friendship, about societal and family expectations as well as an exploration of the practice of indoctrinating children too young to know better into things they cannot possibly understand. It’s an incredible read and one that is full of love, hope, and heartbreak.

I am putting pressure on myself to read the two books I have so desperately wanted to read next on my list. One thankfully only from last year, but the other one I first found in 2016 and still haven’t managed to open the cover. I will make myself finish these two books one way or another. I know once I start it will be easier, but stopping part way also risks making it hard to start again. Fingers crossed all goes to plan.

I hope your own Aussie YA Challenge goals are going along swimmingly and you have discovered some amazing reads. Feel free to shout out in the comments some you have read so far, or even those you are looking forward to reading. If you’re interested in signing up it’s not to late, head over to my info page and declare your goal.