IT’S TUESDAY. Which means it’s time for Top Ten Tuesday – my favourite post of the week. Why? Because I get to make a list and everyone else gets to make a list: heaven on earth. TTT is a weekly meme hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish. It’s a great way to talk to about books with the book community and I highly recommend heading over to the official page to see what everyone else has done this week.
This week for TTT the topic was to pick ten books you recommend reading when you’re in a certain mood. So I’ve decided to go with:
Top Ten Books to Read if You’re in the Mood to Smile
Here’s my list of the books that come to mind that made me smile for one reason or another!
#1
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Genre: LGBT, Contemporary
Author: Becky Albertalli
Published: April 2015
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 303 {paperback}
I chose this one because this is one of my favourite literary love stories at the moment. It’s all about Simon e-mailing another boy in his year anonymously – both are gay and not sure whether to reveal their identity to each other and meet in person. It’s heart-warming and perfect in every sense of the word. I could happily read this one hundred times over and the ending was perfect! This will make you smile without a doubt.
#2
The Martian by Andy Weir
Genre: Sci-Fi
Author: Andy Weir
Published: October 2014 {1st pub. 2011}
Publisher: Broadway Books (Random House)
Pages: 387 {paperback}
If you’ve read this book, you’ll know why I chose it. Despite being about a man who gets stranded on Mars, this book is hilarious. Mark Watney, the guy, deals with his impossible situation in a way that will have you wetting yourself with laughter. I loved every moment of this and it would be impossible to read this without cracking a smile at least once or twice.
#3
Poison by Bridget Zinn
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Bridget Zinn
Published: March 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 276 {paperback}
I loved this book so much. The plot is ridiculous and fun with enough adventure to satisfy your fantasy craving heart. It’s all about a rogue poison maker who’s in hiding because she tried to assassinate her best friend, the princess. Yikes. She needs to accomplish this mission, however, and for reasons we, as readers, don’t know for a while, she’s determined to do so. With the aid of a magical pig and a persistent boy who follows her, of course. It’s brilliant.
#4
From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi
Author: Karen McQuestion
Published: May 2015
Publisher: Skyscrape
Pages: 272 {hardback}
What I found hilarious about this book is the alien trying to fit into society. When an alien space ‘platoon’ crashes, one of the aliens survives and takes over the body of Lucas, a teenage boy dying from cancer. It’s hilarious as he fumbles through life trying to make things work. Plus the ending to this escapade is beautiful.
#5
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Green
Genre: Fantasy, Contemporary
Author: Matthew Green
Published: March 2012
Publisher: Sphere
Pages: 458 {paperback}
I particularly enjoyed this book because when I was younger I had three imaginary friends (explains a lot, right?). This is a story told from the perspective of a young boy’s imaginary friend, and although the book deals with some topics that are actually very serious the whole idea surrounding imaginary friends is fantastic. I definitely smiled many times throughout because Green’s ideas were brilliant.
#6
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Author: John Green
Published: January 2012
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Pages: 313 {paperback}
Okay, so I know this is a sad book – but it’s also beautiful. I love what I’ve read of John Green’s works so far but the relationship between Hazel and Augustus is by far my favourite. The length that Gus is willing to go for Hazel’s happiness is beautiful and there were so many moments that had me smiling at how sweet it was throughout.
#7
The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
Genre: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy
Author: Michael Buckley
Published: October 2005
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 284 {hardback}
This might be a children’s book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s all about two sisters who get tangled up in the mysteries of a mishmash of fairy-tales and it’s beautiful. I smiled the whole way throughout because of how cute the idea was and the way that everything’s put together. It’s very much so a light-hearted read and I’m a sure the rest of the series follows suit.
#8
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer
Published: July 2012
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Pages: 352 {paperback}
This book is FANTASTIC. I loved the concept of it and it’s so cute that it’s impossible not to smile. The story follows two characters, one of which is a character in a book and he wants out. He’s sick of having to reenact the story of the book he’s in every time someone opens it – he wants to come out into the real world. It’s brilliant and hilarious and you should totally read this.
#9
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Genre: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Published: July 2004 {1st pub. 2003}
Publisher: Walker & Company
Pages: 270 {paperback}
This is a beautiful story and you may have seen the movie adaptation of it that was done a few years ago. It’s very sweet and about a mouse who has the heart of a true knight and he tries to save the princess who’s sad. It’s so fantastic and 100% worth reading. The bravery of Despereaux will definitely have you smiling.
#10
The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
Genre: Young Adult/Children’s Fiction, Fantasy
Author: J. K. Rowling
Published: June 1997
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 332 {paperback}
And of course this is on my list. My favourite book in the series is book three (although I’m curious to see if that changes when I reread it) because it is so different to the film (as in, so much is left out). Of course you will smile reading this series! It’s the most brilliant story to ever grace our brains and praise be to the almighty Rowling for writing this.
What’s a book that makes you happy?
Let me know in the comments below!
Upside-Down Books 
Great list of books! Found some that need to be added to my TBR. Also, love the dalek 🙂 My TTT.
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Thanks! I’m glad you’ve found some of these of interest 🙂 and thanks for linking I’ll be sure to head over and check yours out 🙂
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I love that you included Despereaux! And I love seeing your well-loved copies of Harry Potter. It’s been far too long since I’ve read them.
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Despereaux is such a great sorry!! I wish more people were reading it 🙂 I imagine I’ll have to replace my fourth book soon, before it falls apart!
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After reading (and watching) The Fault in Our Stars, I couldn’t smile for DAYS. But I get what you mean– it’s definitely beautiful, and I was better able to see that once I was a bit removed from reading it.
My TTT: http://brownbooksandgreentea.com/2016/03/01/books-to-read-if-youre-in-the-mood-for-activism/
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I know right – it’s a odd one, so sweet but so so so sad! And I thought the movie really did the book justice 🙂 thanks for linking, I’ll be sure to check yours out!
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Books that make me happy:
Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, The Chronicles of Narnia, any book by Cassandra Clare, and any romance or mystery by Georgette Heyer,
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The Chronicles of Narnia is a good one! I love that series sooo much. I really want to read Sense & Sensibility this year because I love the movie so much – but I’m so worried that because I’ve seen the movie I won’t enjoy the book as much as I’m expecting. The dilemmas!
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I love The Martian because it was so hilarious. I don’t see Poison on a lot of lists anymore, but I totally enjoyed that book so much. Great choices here! I’m a new follower on WordPress. =)
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Yay! I had yet to meet someone who’s also read Poison. I enjoyed it sooo much and it deserves to be talked about more 🙂
Awesome – welcome!!
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