standalones/duologies:

• It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
  • standalone
  • coming-of-age comedy
  • follows a teenage boy who struggles with school, friends, and mental health
  • (!check trigger warnings!)
• I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
  • standalone
  • ya contemporary fiction
  • follows twin siblings (one of them being queer!)
  • the most beautiful writing in switching perspectives
  • truly makes you think about the importance of family, self-discovery, and how the two intersect
  • (!check trigger warnings!)
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
  • standalone
  • mlm contemporary romance 
  • follows the son of a female president who falls in love with a prince
  • slightly political subplot
  • not necessarily my favorite writing ever but very cute and definitely a comfort read
  • (!spicy!)
• Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune (my fav <3)
  • standalone
  • contemporary fantasy with romantic elements (warning: you will cry.)
  • GORGEOUS story about death, existentialism, and coming to terms with oneself
  • follows a recently deceased man who meets a group of people who teach him (what I believe to be) the meaning of life 
  • mlm romance subplot
  • can never recommend this book enough!!!
  • (!check trigger warnings!)
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (again)
  • standalone
  • contemporary fantasy with romantic elements
  • the most comforting story about found family and individuality with mlm romance subplot and amazing setting descriptions
  • follows a social worker who travels to an orphanage full of supernaturally gifted children and run by a very mysterious man
  • (check trigger warnings!)
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  • standalone
  • ya urban fiction
  • follows a teenage girl who faces racism in her every day life and is forced to confront it when her best friend falls victim to police brutality
  • compelling social commentary on systemic racism with a beautiful storyline and amazing writing
  • (!check trigger warning!)
• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
  • standalone
  • psychological thriller/mystery
  • from a friend! (thank you Natalie <3)
  • “this book appeals to me most because of the plot twist, but also due to the suspense throughout the entire piece”
  • follows a mental health specialist who works with a nonverbal girl in a psych ward who chooses not to speak; as the story and their relationship develops, more insight into the patient’s history and her story are revealed
  • each new detail seems to lead to a new conclusion but all of them keep proving to be false until the end when the secret is finally exposed

trilogies/series:

• Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
  • trilogy
  • ya fiction with fantasy elements
  • follows a teenage girl who discovers she can travel through time, to the dismay of her family and fellow traveler
  • amazing storyline and characters (just thinking about them makes my heart race)
  • romance sub/main plot
  • my absolute comfort series
• The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo
  • 7 books
  • ya fantasy adventure
  • first trilogy follows a young girl who discovers she holds immense power that could potentially save her entire country
  • second duology follows a group of criminals who do what they must to survive in a city that does not want them
  • third duology follows a young king who learns to navigate his duties while battling a supernatural force that tries to overcome him
  • romance subplot throughout the books
  • SO intense but so incredibly awesome
  • literally indescribably you just have to go read it
  • (!check trigger warnings!)
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver
  • 3 books
  • ya dystopian fiction
  • follows a teenage girl living in a society that has outlawed love–or “amor deliria nervosa”–who unexpectedly discovers the truth about the supposed disease and the narrative she has been taught
  • SUCH an interesting take on the idea of love and really just made me think

• Inception
  • science fiction action/thriller with dramatic elements
  • follows a thief with a haunting past who infiltrates dreams to steal information from their subconscious as he brings together a group of skilled specialists to pull off the ultimate heist
  • oh my LORD this movie is so interesting and thought provoking
  • very likely will take multiple watches to fully understand but so worth it
  • (!check trigger warnings!)
• The Greatest Showman
  • musical drama with romantic elements
  • semi-loosely based on a true story
  • follows P.T. Barnum as he embarks on his journey of starting a circus and gaining international fame and success
  • the musical numbers are SPECTACULAR and goddamn Hugh Jackman’s voice is insane
  • so entertaining but also such a nice message about being true to oneself and feeling free to take up space
• The Devil Wears Prada
  • comedy drama
  • follows a young woman as she attempts to navigate her new job as a prestigious fashion magazine with a slightly-insane editor
  • so funny and entertaining and has a really beautiful underlying message
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  • coming-of-age comedy
  • follows a teenage boy as he ditches school with his best friend and girlfriend to spend a fun-filled day in Chicago
  • such a classic, and with good reason
• Hunger Games (specifically Mockingjay)
  • ya dystopian fiction
  • follows a teenage girl in a futuristic world that punishes the country’s youth by forcing them to fight to the death while being broadcasted on national television
  • based on the books
  • anti-government/anti-establishment!!!!!
  • I will in fact die on the hill that the HG movies were the only good book-to-movie adaptations ever created
• Hidden Figures
  • historical drama
  • follows 3 African-American women working at NASA
  • showcases the brilliant minds that were hidden from the public eye
  • incredibly inspiring, heart-touching, and beautifully made
• Summerland
  • historical drama
  • follows a lonesome woman in WWII England who is forced to house a refugee boy
  • the development of their relationship throughout the movie is *chef’s kiss*e
  • prepare to be heartbroken in the best way
  • check out my review!!

• Young Royals
  • romantic drama
  • follows the teenage prince of Sweden who gets sent to boarding school and meets a boy who teaches him about love, life, and being true to himself
  • originally in Swedish (there is an English dubbing available but I always prefer watching things in their original language)
  • my forever favorite TV show <333
  • super intense and dramatic
  • there are so many characters that are so easy to love
  • the acting is INCREDIBLE I truly love everything about this show
  • (!mature/spicy!)
• Heartstopper
  • coming-of-age romance with dramatic/comedic elements
  • follows a gay teenage boy as he navigates high school bullies while falling in love with a fellow student
  • based off the comics which are AMAZING
  • the main friend group is my favorite part of the show I would love to be a part of it
  • very very comforting and cinematically pleasing
  • (!check trigger warnings!)
• Gilmore Girls
  • comedy/drama
  • follows a high school girl and her young mother and their friends living in a small town in Connecticut
  • such a classic especially for someone who loves autumn and academics
  • I feel like everyone knows this show but I love it too much not to include

here’s the link to my Spotify lol (I’m really proud of it please check it out I’m begging you)