Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Tahleen's Top Ten Things to Read When You Need Something Light and Fun

For the future Top Ten schedule and how to participate go HERE!


This week we're picking our top ten books to read when you need something light and fun. Every once in a while I need something like this, so here are some of my favorites. And surprise, they are heavily skewed toward YA. But I do throw in some cozy mysteries! So there.

1. Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison. Really, you can get any lighter or more fun than Louise Rennison. These books (the Georgia Nicholson series) are pure silliness, and I love it.

2. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy. I am reading this right now, and it is awesome. Super funny, with completely unique Princes Charming (get it right) who are obviously not perfect but still good guys. And did I mention it is funny?

3. Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt. This one has a little more depth, but it's still very light and happy. It's a nice pick me up.

4. Withering Tights by Louise Rennison. Sort of a spin-off series of the Georgia Nicholson books, following her 14-year-old cousin Tallulah as she goes through performing arts school. Again, pure silliness, and lots of laughing.

5. Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum. This one is a Christian fiction title so it might only work for Christians, but I love her books.

6. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier. If you like your light and fun books with adventure and a bit of danger, and some time travel, this is definitely a great choice.

7. Mai Tai One On by Jill Marie Landis. The first in a new series, this cozy mystery takes place on the island of Kauai and has a troupe of old lady hula dancers. Hijinks ensue.

8. Since You're Leaving Anyway, Take Out the Trash by Dixie Cash. Another first in a mystery/romance series, these are pretty funny with firecracker characters.

9. Take a Chance On Me by Jill Mansell. Or anything by Jill Mansell. Shenanigans!

10. The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex. Sure, it's about an alien invasion and there is a TON of crap to unpack with this one (part of why I love it), but it's just so damn funny and fun. The best sci fi out there, in my opinion.

I have to admit, while I was compiling this, I kept wanting to write down super dark and depressing and  heavy books and say "No, just kidding. This one is the opposite." Did that happen for anyone else, or am I just twisted?

Anyway, these are all pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on your face. What are your picks?


75 comments:

  1. Awesome list! I've been hearing lots of wonderful things about Going Vintage, will need to bump that up on my list one of these days xD

    My TTT

    ReplyDelete
  2. Georgia Nicolson is such a character - I love her! That series was totally on my list, too :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I FORGOT about Ruby Red. Love that story. Gwen is so much fun.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is my first Top Ten Tuesday. I had fun with this one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have Ruby Red sitting in my TBR pile. Next time I need something fun, I'll definitely pick it up! :)

    My TTT

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm excited these are all new to me and they sound really fun

    My Top Ten

    ReplyDelete
  7. I see Ruby Red now the second time on the list and I didn#t espect this at all! Must check it out :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I loveeeeee Angus, Thongs, and Full Front Snogging. It's been ages since I've read the series and I never finished (I should do that one day), but I thought the books were hilarious in junior high, and I miss them. (I've seen the film way too many times though.)

    I haven't heard of any of these other books, but they have such hilarious titles that I can tell they're fun. Great list!

    Aimee @ Penmansip Smitten | My TTT

    ReplyDelete
  9. This was harder than I thought :( only got to seven

    ReplyDelete
  10. This week was a lot harder than it looked

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm a Jill Mansell fan too. Fantastic list!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm dying to read Going Vintage specifically because I want to read a lighter book right now!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have seen Going Vintage on a few TTTs! I apparently really need to read this book!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've also got Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging at my number one spot! Excellent choice!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great list. I always see the Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging books around, but I've yet to pick them up. Maybe I will now.

    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  16. LOL, I almost included a super-long, dark and twisted book as well, but maybe we're both twisted :D I can't believe I haven't read any of the books on your list!

    Here's my TTT post for this week.

    Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was pretty much ALL I could think about doing. I was like, In Darkness should not be on this list. At all. Glad I wasn't the only one. :)

      Delete
  17. My light and fun reads list is a mix of YA, chicklit, and children's books. :)

    http://lynaireads.luigiandlynai.net/2013/05/top-ten-books-when-you-need-something-light-fun/

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for posting this.This is awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ha I've only heard of the first one, but I definitely did want to put dark, depressing stuff in my list. I realise all my favourite books have people dying and make me have lots of feels!

    ReplyDelete
  20. The only one of these I have read is Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging, and I agree: it's both funny and silly, although it hasn't made it onto my re-reading list.

    A lot of the humorous books I enjoy are really dark as well, e.g. the works of Edward Gorey or Hugleikur Dagsson and some of Terry Pratchett's books, but I finally managed to put together a list that features books both light and funny.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have heard that The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is amazing. If fell off my radar but I am happy you mentioned it so I can find it at my library ASAP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just picked it up this week, and it is awesome. Definitely get to it soon!

      Delete
  22. I've never even heard of Ruby Red before... but man, it sounds right up my alley. New beach read? Might be!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great list! Here is my post for the week-
    http://turnthepagereviews.com/2013/05/07/top-ten-tuesday-2/

    Kerri

    ReplyDelete
  24. I had a tough time with this one! I could only come up with nine books. I really want to read Going Vintage - it sounds so fun!!

    My TTT: http://www.pingwings.ca/top-ten-tuesday-4/

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is a great Top Ten. It's nice to be reminded of books that have made us laugh. Now we want to re-read them all! Here's our list: BiblioJunkies TTT

    ReplyDelete
  26. I just read Going Vintage - I'm a sucker for all things vintage, so this was a must read for me!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love Louise Rennison. She's hilarious! I still need to read Going vintage, but I've heard great things. Great list! This was really fun.
    Natflix&Books' TTT

    ReplyDelete
  28. I had SUCH a hard time picking light/fun books that I actually enjoyed. I tend to drift toward the really intense books, too! But wow, that last sci-fi you listed sounds really good.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Fun topic! and I've heard good things about The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great list!! I really enjoyed Angus, Thongs... It is a really sweet and funny story about a very easy-to-relate-to teen girl.
    Going Vintage sounds great too. I like cheerful books that have some kind of depth.

    Sapir @ Diary of a Wimpy Teen Girl

    ReplyDelete
  31. I forgot all about Angus! I loved that book. Great list, I'm going to have to add a few to my tbr pile :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Nice list! I haven't read any of these, although Lindsey Leavitt is on my list. I've read her others, but not GOING VINTAGE yet. It does look fun!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ooh Interesting list I'll definitely have to add some to my TBR!

    My TTT

    http://www.abookishescape.com/2013/05/top-ten-tuesday-17.html

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great list. I loved Ruby Red. I wish I read German so I could finish the series and not have to wait till October.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I LOVE Louise Rennison and I've been really wanting to read Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Louise Rennison for the win! Love the Georgia Nicolson books! Ruby Red was a good one too, I'll have to check out some of these other titles :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Louise Rennison for the win! Love the Georgia Nicolson books! Ruby Red was a good one too, I'll have to check out some of these other titles :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thanks for such a fun topic! I love the Georgia Nicholson series - the Angus, Thongs film is pretty good too. I will definitely add Cool Beans and The Hero's Guide... to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I've never read any of those books but the titles make me smile. kelley—the road goes ever ever on

    ReplyDelete
  40. I need to read Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging! Sounds so fun! Love this list!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I've had Going Vintage on my TBR list for some time now, can't wait to get to it!!

    Also, thanks for Ruby Red and The True Meaning of Smekday as they've both been added to my TBR list!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Fun topic! There are some books in your list that I want to read, although I don't know if they are in my language!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great list. I loved Angus, and Ruby Red it's in my wishlist :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. So, I had a really hard time with this list, because I generally don't read YA Romance (which so much "light and fun" is). But I managed to get ten!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Going Vintage made my list as well and I love Ruby Red, but somehow forgot to add it to my list!

    ReplyDelete
  46. What a great list! I am looking forward to getting my hands on several of these!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hi, it's my first time participating :D Is it okay if I put some local books and comics into the list, though?

    ReplyDelete
  48. I had the problem of picking a book, and then thinking about it and deciding an awful lot of dark things happened in it... because some books make you laugh and cry.
    I've read two of these, must check out the others!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Great topic this week! I'm definitely planning to read Going Vintage! Already got it on my tbr list :)

    My Top Ten

    ReplyDelete
  50. "I kept wanting to write down super dark and depressing and heavy books and say "No, just kidding. This one is the opposite." Did that happen for anyone else, or am I just twisted?"

    Yes, me too! So funny! :D

    I've had Angus... and Ruby Red on my shelf for quite some time, unread - now I know I can go to them when I'm in the mood for light and fun!

    ReplyDelete
  51. I almost added several darker books to my list solely on the basis of the fact that they aren't the A Song of Ice and Fire series. So I guess we can be dark and twisted together?

    ReplyDelete
  52. I read the whole Angus..." series a few years ago and every single one of those books was hilarious! I had no idea that Rennison had started a new series. Withering Tights is definitely going on my TBR list right now!

    ReplyDelete
  53. I have seen Going Vintage on a couple lists today. I will have to keep it in mind when I want something light and fun (that is more contemporary then my usual paranormal/dystopian books) :)

    Our TTT

    Ashley @ The Quiet Concert

    ReplyDelete
  54. #1 is on my list and #4 is on my to-read list. I totally agree with thinking off all these dark twisty titles and having to be like NO!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I've had my eyes on Withering Tights for a while now. The cover is so adorable! :)

    ReplyDelete
  56. I only read Withering Tights and I enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Jeez, it's been so long since I did a TTT I almost forgot to link up! Silly me. I loved the Georgia Nicholson series when I was in high school. My friends and I were a bit obsessed and still yell out random quotes every once and awhile. Cosmic horn!

    ReplyDelete
  58. I really want to read Going Vintage. Great list!

    I had the same problem...I kept thinking of "easy reads" which some of the darkerish books I read are like that instead of light and fun. You are not alone.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Withering Tights?? On the title alone, I'm sold.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Compiling this list was so much fun! Thanks for a great prompt! I'm already excited for next week. :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. Great list(: Looking forward to reading Going Vintage!!

    ReplyDelete
  62. This is my first time taking part. It's a great idea and I'm looking forward to doing it again!

    ReplyDelete
  63. This is my first Top Ten Tuesday even though i've been following this blog for a few months now - and I love the idea and i'm super excited to be part of it. I also loved your list - I noticed that Anna and the French Kiss was on a majority of everyone's lists - which is awesome, I just read that recently and loved it! Thanks eveyrone for participating and looking forward to next week! Check out my Top Ten Tuesday @ Http://www.bookgirlfromsouthcarolina.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  64. Rubin red ! I read the saga o fast :)

    ReplyDelete
  65. You are so talented!!! Really nice!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  66. Mine were so different from your mostly contemporary list. This was actually fairly hard for me since I tend to be more inclined towards dark and mysterious types of books. Still this Top Ten Tuesday was "Light & Fun" in and of itself :)

    ReplyDelete
  67. Just discovered your TTT; I love it! Will definitely be taking part more often!

    ReplyDelete
  68. I enjoyed reading your list. I just shared mine as well. Thank you for doing this.

    ReplyDelete
  69. This is my first TTT and I am excited to to play along! Thank you!

    http://owlalwaysbereading.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  70. This is interesting as a parallel to last week's topic :D

    http://letmejudge.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails