Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads

 Sooooo. I'm a weird girl in that I don't really like the beach. I mean, I'll go. But I don't want to spend an entire week or month or, really, an entire day at the beach. I think this partially has to do with the fact that I am very fair skinned, and therefore the sun and I don't really like each other, and partially with the fact that I hate sea creatures. Like. HATE them. I also didn't grow up anywhere near the beach, so maybe that factors in too.

However, I do understand the appeal of the beach. Warm sun, nice sea breeze, ogling good looking men (or women!) in almost no clothes . . . there are a lot of things much, much worse than that, right? Despite my weird distaste for beaches, there are some books I've read where I've thought, "You know, this would be a fun book to read on a beach." Most (okay, all) of these books fall into the adult chick-lit category.

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Back when I was about 15 and decided to make the leap from YA to adult fiction, (also, the leap from Seveteen mag to Cosmo...I thought I was sooo grown up.) this was the book I jumped off with. It's a pretty good little read, and super duper different than the God awful movie adaptation. It's light, breezy, funny, and fun! However, if you've ever considered being an au pair, it might make you think twice about it . . .

Anything by Candace Bushnell

Say what you will about Ms. Bushnell, but I like her books. She crafts female characters that are interesting women with varying ideas about love, sex, career, and just life in general, and knows how to write a delicious bedroom scene. And let's be honest--when you're on vacation, you want to read something a least a little bit titillating.

The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

These books are just cute. And waaaaaay better than the movie. (I think this is a theme...)

Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger

So, Weisberger is the lady who wrote The Devil Wears Prada, which I also read and very much enjoyed. However, I liked Everyone Worth Knowing MORE. Mostly because of her uncles. When you read it, you'll know what I mean. :)

The Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison

Alright, I can't help myself! I'm throwing in some YA! I effing LURVE these books. I would read them ANYWHERE. Including the beach.

Even though I'm not a big beach fan, it looks like I might actually find myself on quite a few beaches this summer! So I would LOOOOVE to have your suggestions for great beach reads I should check out, in comments!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

TGIF: Gettin' Down & Dirty

I don't know if y'all feel this way, but this has been a crazy long week over in Bethie-land. Work has been stressful, my roommate's family (including a toddler) is in town and staying with us, and I keep forgetting to bring my book to work so I can read on my lunch break.

However. It is Friday, glorious Friday. And since this particular Friday is Good Friday, I have my fingers crossed that the office will close at 3:00 and I can go home and veg a couple hours earlier than normal.

Anyway. This question of the week from Ginger at GReads! iiiiiis:

Explicit Material: How do you feel about explicit language &/or sexual content in YA books?

My answer is super simple: I love it. 

I don't find anything offensive or wrong with cussing or a sex scene.  Let's be honest, it's not like teens aren't cussing and developing/exploring their sexuality. They are. It's all part of growing up, and I feel like being crass and a tidbit promiscuous it's a vital part of being a teenager. Call me a heathen if you must, but I actually think a YA novel WITHOUT a couple cuss words and a smutty scene is strange, and more often than not, unsatisfying.

That being said, I don't want to pick up a YA novel and be accosted by F-bombs and raunchy, overwrought bedroom scenes--if I want that, I'll go to the romance section. Or I'll just re-read everything by Candace Bushnell. 

If you are interested in some YA novels that involve cussing and sexy times, but aren't raunchy, I will point you in the direction of:

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman

The Curse Workers series by Holly Black

Looking for Alaska by John Green 

I'm such a cheerleader for these books, I know. BUT THEY ARE GOOD.

I hope everyone has a great Friday, and a fabulous weekend! Happy Easter!