I’ve talked a lot about being a mood reader and what it is LIKE to be a mood reader. An IRL friend of mine was at my apartment and wanted a new book and I was like “Whatcha in the mood for?” and I started spouting out like, “Do you want to cry? Do you want fun? Do you want fast-paced? Fantasy? Real life??” and she just laughed at me and said “you’ve got a book for every mood, huh?”
Then it dawned on me…HMM maybe this could be something new on the blog. I thought it would be fun to sporadically dole out recommendations according to what kind of mood you might be in — whether that be an actual mood or a specific type of book. The moods will probably change each time and be completely random but that’s how we do things around here. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE if you could also leave some recs for my categories in the comments to further help people looking for books that fit!
Check out past Whatcha In the Mood For Recs!
In need of a vacation?
Why? Oh man! This book will give you a serious case of wanderlust. It’s one of my all time favorite contemporary YA readers and is always one I recommend all these years later with even more contemporary YA under my belt! Traveling through Central America with Bria was amazing & I loved the romance!
Want a cute/sexy/fun romance?
Why? It’s just so much fun! It’s cute AND sexy in all the right places. I loved the premise…one night stand and then they realize they are competing for the same job at a dating website after a summer of interning. Oh and a no-dating policy at work? Sexual tension, HELLO! I just had so much fun reading it.
Want something sci-fi lite?
The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
Why? I feel like this YA sci-fi standalone is so underrated and I really enjoyed it! The writing is beautiful and it’s a quieter “lighter” sci-fi book. I call it sci-fi lite just because sometimes sci-fi can scare people (I know I used to think I didn’t like sci-fi because of preconceived notions). It’s just…not like intense science fiction if that makes sense?
Want An Offbeat, Underated Fantasy Series?
A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
Why? It’s so WEIRD and strange…but like in a good way? It’s not like most of the fantasy I’ve read. Full disclosure, it took me a bit to get into it but once I did I really enjoyed it. The writing is great and I love the collision of a contemporary world and a fantasy world. It’s a quieter type of fantasy for sure but pretty delightful.
Want a gritty survival story?
Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Why? I LOVED this book! So much. It’s set in a world where water is a scarce commodity and if you have it…you protect it. I just loved how gritty it was and how it really delves into some grey morality issues when one is in survival mode.
Have you read any of these? Agree/disagree with my recs? Have any to add?? Also, if you have a specific mood you think I should do next time….drop that in the comments!
Rissi says
What a fun post, Jamie. It’s always fun to read what fellow bloggers recommend and I love that you broke it down by genres. 🙂
Jamie says
Thank you! 🙂 I did it for the first time last month and I was chomping at the bit to do it again. Thinking it will be a monthly thing!
Mariah says
I loved a corner of white as well! Have you read the second one?
Jamie says
I haven’t yet! Have you?
Rabiah says
Ooo I love the concept of this meme! and haha, I’m absolutely the same way when people ask me for book recommendations. I’ve only read WANDERLOVE and NOT A DROP TO DRINK out of the books you’ve recommended and I totally agree with you 😀 Great picks!
Jamie says
Thanks! When I debuted this feature last month I was super excited about it! Nice way for me to talk about books I read years ago! 🙂 I have yet to find another book like Wanderlove when it comes to travel in YA. I think the closest I’ve come is Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae. IDK Wanderlove was just the most perfect travel journey.
Amber @ YA Indulgences says
Oh my gosh, I love this new feature! I’m a mood reader occasionally, but not generally. You picked some interesting “categories” for your post. 🙂
Jamie says
Thank you!! I really was excited when I debuted it last month. Such a fun way for me to talk about books I read a while ago especially. I’m thinking of doing it monthly. My only concern is running out of categories at some point though I know I can rework some of them! 🙂
Dragana says
Boomerang didn’t work out for me. I didn’t find it particularly funny or sexy. But a lot of people did love it.
I would love to see a rec for ‘When you are in a mood for adventure…’ you know when you are in a mood for some fun light action with humor and maybe light paranormal or romance (like Inidiana Jones)… 🙂
Leah says
haha, talk about timing! Just a few days ago I was talking (talking, flailing, same difference) with an author about our mutual love of Jaclyn’s series! Last year, during a book signing, she mentioned she was a big fan of Moriarty and afterwards I couldn’t get to her fast enough! Since then we’ve chatted about those books a few times and when I discovered she’s returning to the bookshop in my town (which isn’t much of a stretch, she’s based in Pittsburgh WHEE!) I immediately raced to twitter to tell her we needed to discuss Madeleine again – especially since the wait for the third book is killing me!
I love that you included a vacation book! I’ve got exactly a month to go until I’m taking a few weeks off (SO need it) and it’s all that’s been on my mind lately. My current read is making my work version of senioritis even worse: it’s set in a medieval castle on the Mediterranean coast. STARRY-EYED.
Rachelwrites007 says
Oh man, I was just thinking about how I LOOOOVED The Lost Girl and kind of want to reread it! It was so beautifully written and I loved the themes it brought up. It definitely made me think. And cry. Oh man, I cried. The grief in that book was so well written. I wish/hope the author writes another book.
Pili @ In Love With Handmade says
Wanderlove is one book I’m pretty sure I’ll need to read sooner than later, maybe next time I need some inspiration for travelling and not worry too much about my loan killing my wanderlust!
Leah says
What about In The Mood To Be Confused Out of Your Mind or Unreliable Narrator? Always love your posts and your blog! One of my absolute favorites!
Kristen says
well I just added all of these to my list 🙂
Sometimes I really get in a ‘I don’t want to think’ mood. Like, I’ve read something really heavy or depressing or confusing – not confusing as in I don’t understand, but like it takes a bit to get into because of new terms and such. So I’m always looking for the in between books that I can pick up and just read and enjoy, not think about something crazy important or depressing or thought provoking.. just read. You know?
Melissa says
Great post, Jamie! For the “In need of a vacation” category, I have to recommend Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door because even though they aren’t really about vacationing to Paris, the both gave me a huge dose of wanderlust. Also, if road trip books count for the same category, then I have to recommend Nina LaCour’s The Disenchantments. It’s just simply amazing, like all of Nina LaCour’s writing.
Runwright says
I agree. In the last few weeks, I have found myself choosing books for my mood too. I had to stop reading WILD because I was already sad and the book was making me feel worse.
Lina says
Aaah, some of the books you recommended made me so excited! The Lost Girl and the Colors of Madeleine series are some of my favorites, but I agree, they’re totally off most people’s radars. The Cracks in the Kingdom (sequel) is so good if you haven’t read it yet, it really made me love the series even more!
Trina says
I was super intrigued by The Lost Girl so I looked it up on Goodreads only to see that I’ve already marked it as want to read. Haha, you must have mentioned it before because I have no idea how else I would have heard about it? I don’t remember adding it at all. But yes please, I want that book. If you really liked that one, it sounds similar to The Adoration of Jenna Fox and the Skinned trilogy by Robin Wasserman (which had been renamed, ugh, it’s now called the Cold Awakening trilogy but I have no idea what the individual books have been renamed). Neither of those is exactly the same, but deal with clones/replacements. I really enjoyed both but it’s been a while since I’ve read them so I’m looking forward to The Lost Girl now! (OMG NOOOOO my library does not have this book. what. why.)
Kailia says
I don’t know how I missed this post but YESSS this is such a perfect post for me! I’m either an extreme mood reader or a genre reader (I’m currently in a fantasy high so I want ALL THE FANTASY BOOKS) so maybe something more towards a genre?
Wendy @ Book Scents says
AHH I just want to travel — I definitely need to read wanderlove! I know you loved it and I think I would too! It’ll probably make my case of wanderlust even worse but. 🙂 oh well.
Let says
I’ve never really considered myself a mood reader, BUT I think I am! O.O I can start reading a book, but just not be in the mood and I have to find one to suite me at the moment! LOVE this new feature! I’ll have to keep up with it! It might even help me figure out genres I’m into, since I’m still working all that out.
Suzi Q, The Book Dame says
This is such a cool idea. I hope you make it a regular thing. I am such a mood reader and I would love to know that I could pop over here and find something when I am not sure where to turn next. Well done.
Megan @ Semi-Charmed Kind of Life says
Okay, I love this for a new series!! 🙂 I’m not in any of these particular moods right now, but I’ll definitely be checking this feature out regularly.
Jade @ Bedtime Bookworm says
I love this feature, what a great idea! I’m totally putting the last three on my TBR, those are right up my alley!! Thanks dear 🙂