I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson

An amazing YA book. I've delayed writing a review for over a week since I finished it, because nothing I could say about it would do it justice. How do you write like Jandy Nelson? 

ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell

I listened to the audiobook and was so enthralled, I considered pulling over several times so I wasn't a hazard on the road! The story: original, a train wreck, a gift. The narrator of Eleanor: mesmerizing. The characters: real. 

THE FAMILY ROMANOV by Candace Fleming

An absolutely brilliant book. Well-written, fascinating, and unforgettable. I can't imagine how much research went into writing this book. The dialogue, excerpts from letters, and photographs brought the history to life. 

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

25 years after reading my first Baby-Sitters Club book, I still love Ann M. Martin. I'm not a dog person, but I am a story person and this is a great story. I loved the narrator. Ann M. Martin got it right.