Indulgences: YA novels

YA novels always get a bit of a bad rap but I am here to celebrate all the weird and wonderful thing about them because I think that they deserve your attention (Author: Yasmine).

I have always struggled to make it through biopics and self-help books and to be honest, I just want to talk to more people about fantasy and sci-fi novels. I miss the good old days when Hunger Games and Maze Runner were all the craze. 

I personally think that the YA genre is sooooo underrated. Sure, they are a bit silly and dramatic and cliché but that is what makes them great! Plus, they can 100% teach you some really important life lessons.

Dystopia as a genre was invented by Sir Thomas More and concerns an alternative undesirable universe. Now, while not all YA is dystopia, there has certainly been an emerging trend toward sci-fi dystopia and fantasy dystopia in YA novels with commentary on class systems, governments and capitalism. You can explore real world issues in the context of a completely different society in a way that makes you rethink everything about your own!

YA includes such a broad range of genres which makes it accessible and enjoyable for everyone. None of those lofty aspirations and authors who like the sounds of their own voices. It is also probably the genre with the most female protagonists of all that I have explored. Don’t get me wrong, there is some REALLY bad YA out there…some explore toxic themes in a way which celebrates bullying and drama. Its important to check out reviews on some because they can contain some pretty heavy topics.

So, to give you a little push toward the genre, here are my all-time favourite YA reads:

• 'Throne of Glass' by Sarah J. Maas
• 'Six of Crows' by Leigh Bardugo
• 'Serpent and Dove' by Shelby Mahurin
• 'The Illuminae files' by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Truth be told, I have been finding it a lot harder to make time to read at university. As much as I enjoy curling up with a good book, whenever I start to relax, I start worrying about uni work! Plus, it is super hard to figure out which books to read next so if you have any great recommendations for me please please please help me out.