Just let me die now.
I mean, I’ve been ill the last week and therefore have hardly been reading, moving, or forming coherent thoughts past “how am I going to get to class??” Which, of course, also started up this week. Plus Cybil’s judging is this month, and I have a pile of books to read for that alsoTo tide you over, here are some great non-YA fantasy-“relax and let your brain mostly die” books that I like to read when I feel icky:

Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger
By the author of The Devil Wears Prada, this book stars Bette, a young woman who’s been stuck in her “temporary” career for the past five years and suddenly quits. Her uncle gets her a job with a PR firm, and now her life is partying and knowing everyone, well, worth knowing. It’s as good, or better, than The Devil Wears Prada, and it’s my current comfort book.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
When Ginny’s aunt sends her to Europe on a treasure hunt to find herself, adventures and disasters result. The author does a great job of bringing the reader to Europe and conveying the mixed feeling of fear and awe that comes from traveling in a strange country, especially when one travels by train, staying in youth hostels, and living out of a backpack.

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot
Samantha wants to be an artist and to be noticed by her family. The middle-child, She is overshadowed by a perfect-cheerleader sister (who of course is dating Sam’s dream guy) and a genius younger sister. When she is in the right place at (arguably) the right time and saves the president from an assassination attempt, Sam suddenly finds herself in the spotlight and in a position to make a difference.
This is my favorite teen series by Meg Cabot, as the heroine is more mature than Mia (of Princess Diaries), and the series still has a charm that 7 sequels has killed in Princess Diaries. Plus, the sequel, Ready or Not,actually takes a decent approach to teen sex and the decision to have sex.  

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
The summer adventures of four friends, the final book, Forever in Blue, came out this last week. After finding a pair of pants that amazingly fits everyone in their group (and as any girl who’s gone jeans shopping knows, this has to be a fantasy book), they decide to share the pants as they go their separate ways for the summer. A series about self-discovery and growing up, all the girls are great characters, and I found myself really caring about their lives. I’ve been meaning to reread them all before reading this last one, so maybe I’ll take advantage of my lack of energy to read them. Heck, that’s when I read all the Harry Potter books the first time.

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