Recently I have been wondering if I would still enjoy any of the books that I loved in my teens. Now I know I’m not very far out of my teens, but it genuinely feels like so long ago that I read some of these.

I’m thinking of re-reading some of the books from my teens and seeing what I think of them now. I don’t know if I would be giving them such positive reviews. If you think this would be interesting let me know because I will need to put some time aside for re-reads. 

The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward (McCullough) 

Firstly, yes I am aware that the photo is not of the first book in the series. However, it was the only one I had available so let’s pretend it is. 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone talking about this series and honestly, I loved it. The Potion Diaries about alchemy which is pretty cool anyway, but when Samantha encounters different ingredients throughout you get a little description on what potions it used for and what it does. This element was definitely what made this series interesting for me. 

Basically, the entire concept of this book was interesting. I’ve always really enjoyed stories about alchemy and potions and this series is a great ya pick for those. 

It has its moments of intense drama and from what I can remember the characters are great. If you are looking for a fun series that is pretty quick to read then you should definitely think about checking out The Potion Diaries. 

Goodreads synopsis: “When the Princess of Nova accidentally poisons herself with a love potion meant for her crush, she falls crown-over-heels in love with her own reflection. Oops. A nationwide hunt is called to find the cure, with competitors travelling the world for the rarest ingredients, deep in magical forests and frozen tundras, facing death at every turn. Enter Samantha Kemi – an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Sam’s family were once the most respected alchemists in the kingdom, but they’ve fallen on hard times, and winning the hunt would save their reputation. But can Sam really compete with the dazzling powers of the Zoro Aster megapharma company? Just how close is Sam willing to get to Zain Aster, her dashing former classmate and enemy, in the meantime? And just to add to the pressure, this quest is ALL OVER social media. And the world news. No big deal, then.” 

Divergent by Veronica Roth 

I’m sure everyone read and loved this in their teens. Now I do remember absolutely loving the first two books and my friends at the time said I reminded them of Tris. I’m not sure if I should take offence from this now? 

At the time of reading this, I was just coming out of my The Hunger Games hypes (this went on for longer than I care to admit) and I would say that it definitely filled that hole. For a while…

I’ve later come to dislike this series purely because I just could not get through the last book. I tried three times, it’s never going to happen. 

Genuinely back in I want to say 2013 (this was not shelved on my Goodreads for some reason) I really loved this book, but I would probably say I’ve outgrown it now. 

Goodreads synopsis: “In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.”

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

I remember being absolutely in awe at this book every part of this book was stunning. The non-linear structure was definitely very confusing, but I think I may have been a little too young for it at the time. 

The circus trope is one of my favourites even though I don’t seem to read it very often. Honestly, I can’t remember too much about the story, but I do know that I thought about it for a very long time after reading. 

I have recently brought this for my kindle so I will definitely re-read it at some point. 

Goodreads synopsis: “The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.”  

Let me know some of your favourite books from your teens (even if you are a teen now)

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