I’ve done a few recommendation posts before, and I’ll probably keep doing them.  My past ones were Lighthearted Reads, Holiday Books, and YA Mystery books that I really love and recommend to, well, anyone.

One of the best parts of being a librarian is when a patron asks for my recommendation.  First, I have to counter with, “Well, what do you like to read?” because if they like historical fiction, adult mysteries/thrillers, or even fantasy… I’m not much help.  But there have been quite a few patrons who have asked for young adult books, and then I’m in my prime.  Then I love hearing that they loved a book I recommended to them, which luckily for me, has happened on multiple occasions.

This is a general post for books, there is no theme to the books I’m recommending, so it’s more like my top ten (currently).  My top ten books are pretty much always changing, so these are my top ten book suggestions for January 2020.

10 Book Suggestions/Recommendations

Time Bomb – A thriller with some mystery thrown in that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Six teens are trapped in a school when a bomb goes off a week before classes begin.  Each have their own agenda for being there and each suspects the other of planting the bomb.  However, if they want to stay alive, they’re going to have to work together.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie – Scott Hudson learns that he is going to be a big brother while also learning to navigate high school.  He deals with losing friends, crushes, gaining a new friend… and begins to journal to his unborn sibling on his journey of freshman year, while giving him/her tips for when they begin high school.

Letters to the Lost – Juliet and Declan are dealing with their troubles/losses in their own ways, so when Declan comes across one of the letters Juliet left at her mother’s grave, they begin writing back and forth to each other sharing their innermost secrets and making a connection.  The only thing is… they have no idea who they’re writing to.

Hacking Harvard – Three geniuses use their skills to get the school’s delinquent into one of the most prestigious schools in the country.  For them, everything is on the line.  Because if they fail, they’re losing more than just their reputations.

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares – Lily leaves her red notebook in the stacks of her favorite bookstore in hopes someone will find it and complete the dare she has written inside.  So when Dash finds the book, he is intrigued and they begin a back-and-forth of sharing their dares, dreams, and desires, ultimately making a connection.  But will their real-world selves actually be able to get along?

Orbiting Jupiter – A young teen, Joseph, gets a second chance while in the foster care of Jack’s family.  His only desire though is to see his daughter, Jupiter, whom he’d never gotten the chance to meet before going into a juvenile detention center.  Together, both Joseph and Jack learn the true meaning of family.

Standing By – Eric has closed himself off to love after his parents’ divorce, but come junior year, something shifts and he realizes that he might like his teammate and rival, Julie.  Both are sent on a roller-coaster of emotions as they navigate junior year while beginning to tread the waters of a real friendship, deal with past heart-breakers, a charming new classmate, and their own family relationships.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry – A.J. Fikry owns a small bookstore that he manages alone, and one day his prized possession of rare Poe poems is stolen.  Then a mysterious package arrives that changes his life in a way that he never expected.

Emergency Contact – Penny and Sam both need a new start. Penny is getting her chance when she moves to Texas to start college, and Sam just needs his big break.  The two meet in a collision of awkwardness and decide to exchange numbers, then begin what is a strong texting bond as they share their hopes, dreams, and fears without having to interact in real life.

Love & Gelato – Lina is sent to Italy to get to know her father, a request that her mother had made before she died.  However, Lina has no interest in Italy or her father and just wants to get back home.  Things begin to change for her though when she is given her mother’s old journal that she’d kept while in Italy herself and she is sent on her own journey, along with her new Italian friend, Ren, and learns about her mother, father, and herself along the way.

And those are my book suggestions everyone!  I can just remember really enjoying these novels as I read them to where I just couldn’t stop reading and was sad to have finished them.  These are books that might not always be in the current top ten, but are always on my recommendations list.

Have you read any of the books on this list?  What are some of your book suggestions?