I found myself drawing a blank after I got to the seventh book or so. I’m sure I’m forgetting a good amount I’ve read but these are the ones that stand out the most. I am only show-casing books that I have read.
I’m linking to either my review or Goodreads if you’d like to learn more about the book. I’m doing the smallest of details within this post just to give you the most general idea of why I’ve selected it for the list.
Anything Could Happen by Will Walton
I really loved this book and I’m not even a contemporary fan! I received this book unsolicited and really wasn’t sure it would be for me but I immediately fell in love with the characters. This book features a gay teen coming to terms with letting his friends and family know.
The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
I just read this one recently and really enjoyed it! Fowley-Doyle incorporated sexual preference into the novel without it being a really big ‘thing’ It all felt natural which I thought was well done.
Of Dreams and Rust by Sarah Fine
I love Sarah Fine and these two books (Of Metal and Wishes and this one) feature an Asian main character. Sadly, I can’t think of many books that do. I adore Sarah’s writing and characters.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Oh how I love Leigh. I fell in love immediately with her character Kaz who I’m counting as diverse since he has a limp and had to use a cane. I absolutely adore his character and everything about this book. I might even like it more than her prior series. Okay, maybe not more because I love those books so much. I love SoC as much as them and can’t wait to see where she takes the series.
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
The main characters of TGoLaD are in love at a time when their difference in skin color makes it nearly impossible for them to be together. I felt that Brockenbrough did an excellent job of getting me into her character’s minds and lives.
Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley
Magonia features a main character that suffers from an unknown illness that makes it nearly impossible to breathe. This book is all sorts of strange and I loved it.
Sugar by Deirdre Riordan Hall
Sugar deals with a main character that is overweight, Puerto Rican and abused at home. I felt that Sugar’s point of view was incredibly well done and I really fell in love with her inner strength.
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
TWatD utilized a diverse setting and culture for this story. I adored reading about the foods and Renee’s descriptions were incredibly vivid. I was so intrigued I had to turn to Google to look closer at the location, clothing and foods mentioned.
She is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
This was my first book by Marcus Sedgwick and I loved it. I admit that I was intimidated since I’d heard so many great things about his books. I was surprised with how easily I became immersed. SINI features a blind main character- this was my first read that did so and I felt it incredibly well done.
Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
SWYW features two main characters that suffer from a physical or mental illness. Amy has cerebral palsy and can’t control her body or walk without a walker. Matthew has obsessive- compulsive disorder and suffers from hand washing and repeated thoughts.