What to read over the school holidays
It’s been a long semester for all. Jam packed with school, exams and extracurricular activities, the school holidays couldn’t come any faster! With the June/July school holidays just around the corner, we finally have time to snuggle up with a good book and relax. Here’s the perfect guide of what to read during the holidays, no matter your genre of choice. Happy reading!
Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Renegades by Marissa Meyer
“Hope called themselves the Renegades.”
Renegades by Marissa Meyer is one of my favourite books for a thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, romance and dystopian adventure, all in one! The Renegades are a group of humans with extraordinary abilities, who emerged from a crumbled society and now represent hope and peace to everyone. Yet, to the Anarchists, the villains they overthrew, it’s a whole different story.
Renegades focuses on the idea of anarchy and the state of the world before and after it. Nova, a member of the Anarchists, loathes the Renegades as she seeks vengeance, and Adrian, a member of the Renegades, loathes the Anarchists as he seeks justice. Both of them have the power to destroy each other . . . but do they know that?
Marissa Meyer leaves you on the edge of your seat with each book in this incredible trilogy, building a story of deception, love, chaos and dystopia!
Mystery/Thriller
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson
“When you catch someone lying about a murdered girl, you go ask them why.”
Holly Jackson is a murder mystery mastermind, with her trilogy A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder – coming to your screens on July 1st! This book truly is a roller coaster of emotions with unexpected twists, heart-pounding moments, a fast-paced plot and chapters that leaving you wanting more and more. You will be hooked from the very beginning to the very end of the third installment.
Holly Jackson creates a small town ‘Nancy Drew’-type mystery, starring heroine Pippa Fitz-Amobi who is determined to solve a murder she believes isn’t a closed case after all . . . Find out more by reading this page-turner of a novel before the TV series comes out on July 1st on Stan!
Romance
Betting On You by Lynn Painter
“I felt an invisible string pulling me closer to her.”
Betting On You by Lynn Painter is for the hopeless romantics, the Swifties, the Gracie Abrams fans, the rom-com lovers and anyone who loves a soft yet emotional rom-com book. It is the perfect book to read on a cold day with a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate. With lovable characters, a mix of enemies to lovers, fake dating, opposites attract and forced proximity romance, Lynn Painter has done it again for those in their ‘Lover’ era. Hopeless romantic, quirky and relatable Bailey Mitchell meets funny and extroverted Charlie Sampson. Charlies doesn’t believe members of the opposite sex can’t be just friends, yet Bailey is determined to prove him wrong. This book feels like watching a 2000’s rom-com with fun Taylor Swift references, great banter and a romance that gets you giggling and kicking your feet.
Since Charlie and Bailey love their bets, here's mine: this swoon-worthy romance will sweep you off your feet because this is a book you’ll remember All Too Well (Taylor’s version).
Classics
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.”
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is the epitome of extravagance, hope, desire and a world full of magic. Published in 1925, The Great Gatsby, is set during the Jazz Age and the ‘roaring twenties’, and follows narrator Nick Carraway, who is entranced by the great Jay Gatsby. Gatsby embodies hope, charm and mystery, his life revolves around dazzling parties and shallow acquaintances, characterised by materialism and aestheticism.
Fitzgerald weaves a story that provides insight into the great ‘American Dream’ while creating a literary masterpiece that questions superficiality and status. The Great Gatsby allows readers to consider the past, present and future through rekindled love, deception and pure chaos - an exceptional novel that prompts you to reconsider whether the ‘American Dream’ was real or simply an illusion . . .
Contemporary Fiction
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
“... it occurs to me that this is what it means to be a feminist. Not a humanist or an equalist or whatever. But a feminist. It’s not a bad word. After today it might be my favourite word. Because really all it is, is girls supporting each other and wanting to be treated like human beings in a world that’s always finding ways to tell them they’re not.”
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu is a YA contemporary novel that all teens and adults should read. It teaches us empowerment, passion and the ability to stand up for what is right. Vivian Carter’s high school, East Rockport High, is full of sexism, gender inequity and inequality, and she is over it. So she starts a zine called Moxie, to give a voice to the voiceless and to stand up for herself and every woman who has felt injustice. Vivian leads this feminist revolution that brings together women across the school, and teaches everyone about what feminism really is.
Moxie is a story for the history books that tackles the different types of sexism that burden all girls, and incorporates diversity, friendship and girls supporting girls, while questioning ‘the male gaze’. Jennifer Mathieu writes an empowering novel full of fun and rebellion, that inspires us to stand our ground when we are faced with adversity, to fight for what we believe is right and to support each other when challenges come our way.
Graphic Novel
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
“Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love.”
Alice Oseman’s bestselling graphic novel series Heartstopper is a heart-warming, roller coaster of emotions and a fun, quick read! Charlie, who is openly gay, highly-strung and an over-thinker, meets Nick, the popular and always positive rugby player. They quickly become friends and Charlie starts to fall for Nick, despite his over-thinking and believing that he doesn’t have a chance. Yet, fate may be in his favour as the friendship between him and Nick starts to become something more, and sparks begin to fly.
Heartstopper is a beautiful representation of the friends to lovers trope with its diversity, charming illustrations and a storyline full of fun, chaos and love. This series has become a Netflix TV show with Season 3 coming later this year, so start reading it now, not only in time for the brand new season, but to watch this love story between Nick and Charlie unfold.
Flashback to a Childhood Favourite
Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
“Look, I didn’t want to be a high school senior.”
Rick Riordan is back with the Riordanverse’s favourite trio, Percy, Annabeth and Grover, in his new novel Percy Jackson and The Chalice of the Gods! The first instalment of this next Percy Jackson trilogy really does take you back to Percy’s first line in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief: “Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.” This book brings much nostalgia along with another adventure for the great Percy Jackson. With the stakes of college applications and his time at New Rome University with Annabeth, Percy must complete three new quests to earn three letters of recommendation from the Gods.
Book 1 of this trilogy, published in 2023, is Percy’s first quest: with the help of Annabeth and Grover, can he retrieve Ganymede’s golden chalice before it falls into the wrong hands? This book is filled with humour, nostalgia, fun and friendship, taking us on another epic adventure in the Riordanverse.
Alicia Vu is a member of the 2024 Readings Teen Advisory Board.
