I have mixed feelings about reading young adult novels. I feel like I am too old to read them since they are not targeted towards me, yet these books are so well written and they have all the feels! It’s not fair.

When you scour the internet, you’ll see several articles saying why adults shouldn’t read young adult novels. Some of these articles point out that adults should feel embarrassed, but I disagree. Some of the best young adult novels have turned into blockbuster hits such as The Harry Potter series , The Princess Diaries, The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants,Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and many more.

Young Adult books are heartfelt and innocent at times, yet they are able to tackle serious issues in a positive way. They are often relatable. Most of these characters are trying to figure out their place in the world which isn’t too foreign of a concept with how adults feel at times.

Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo

Clues to describe this book: Unrequited Love, Friendship, Feminism, First Job

Review: Love and Other Perishable Items is my all-time favorite Young Adult novel I read this year. This book kind of reminds me of the TV show Superstore, but with a younger crowd. Amelia, an intelligent and sensitive 15 year old, starts working at a grocery store and develops a sweet innocent crush on her co-worker, Chris, a 21 year old sophisticated college student. Amelia knows that nothing will happen due to their age gap, but they strike up a friendship. The interactions between Chris and Amelia are charming, funny, and the energy between them gives you all the feels. When I was first reading the novel, I thought that the narrative would solely be from Amelia’s POV, but as I continued to read, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it is also written from Chris’s POV through journal entries. Laura’s development of their relationship happens naturally. At first I thought it would be scandalous, but she’s able to pull off it off relatively innocent – kudos to her. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for something light hearted, innocent, and mood lifter even if you aren’t a “young adult” ;).