The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot (2002)

Sometimes I love Meg Cabot, but she writes a lot of books and sometimes she's just phoning it in.  This novel, however, is adorable.  Columnist chick has romantic troubles and hilarity ensues. Told completely through emails sent by and to gossip columnist Mel Fuller, this laugh-out-loud funny novel is an absolutely delightful read.  The follow-up novel, Every Boy's Got One has more emails and notes from characters tangentially related to those in The Boy Next Door. Girl cartoonist travels to Italy for her friend's wedding. Romantic troubles and hilarity ensue.  Also cute.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (2006)

Gripping post-apocalyptic tale of what happens when an asteroid hits the moon (long story short: nothing good). Narrated in a diary format by the teenage girl who survives with her family after the world falls after.  Followed by an interesting sequel called The Dead and the Gone, which follows a teenage boy living through the same disaster in New York City.  However, skip the final book of the trilogy (The World We Live In) which awkwardly ties both stories together with a convoluted romance.  Really badly done.

So Yesterday by Scott Westerfield (2004)

Hunter is a 'cool hunter' who meets Jen while admiring her innovatively tied shoelaces and soon they become involved in a kidnapping and a complicated consumerist scheme. It's an excellent look at coolness and trends and consumerism and features likeable, endearing characters. Great for pop culture addicts of all ages.

Miracle and other Christmas Stories by Connie Willis (1999)

If you love Miracle on 34th Street and hate It's a Wonderful Life, this is the Christmas story collection for you.  Willis, a fantasy author, writes lovely, touching, romantic and funny Christmas stories.  She also includes annotated lists of 12 favorite Christmas movies and 12 favorite Christmas books.  Lovely collection that I read about every year at Christmas.

Introducing Vivien Leigh Reid by Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout (2005)

Teen chick lit about a teen girl who goes to Ireland to spend time with her estranged mother who is filming a movie. Silly and fun read.  Followed by two very cute sequels: Now Starring Vivian Leigh Reid Diva in Training, the second in the series about the title character who this time around stays with her actress mother in L.A., takes an acting class, and gets a part in an evening soap. Dishy and fun.  And
The New and Improved Vivien Leigh Reid Diva in Control, third in the series, this one follows her adventures on an evening action/adventure drama. Adorable, with great characters and some good villains (in her soon-to-be stepsisters). Great fun.

Dixieland Sushi by Cara Lockwood (2005)

The heroine is a TV producer who is heading back to her Southern hometown to attend the wedding of her childhood crush, who is marrying her cousin. Her attractive coworker joins her for the trip. Romance ensues. Very much of the 80s childhood is evoked, which always pleases me.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (1948)

Coming of age tale narrated by the 17-year-old daughter of an eccentric family living in a castle in England. Almost unbearably charming.  Dodie Smith was also the author of One Hundred and One Dalmatians, another very charming novel.

Lois Duncan - Adored Author

Lois Duncan is the mistress of horror for young adults. Even though her novels were written decades ago, they are barely dated at all and are still very chilling.  One of Duncan's great gifts is her skill in evoking the horror inherent in the helplessness of being a child/teen and being dependent on others for your safety.  Some of her outstanding novels include Gallows Hill, about a girl who moves from California to a small Indiana town and gets embroiled in doings that resemble the Salem witch trials.  To say any more would spoil the suspense that Duncan so wonderfully creates.  My all-time favorite of her novels is probably Stranger With My Face.   This is a great story of a teenage girl who lives on an isolated island with her family who starts getting mysterious visits from her long-lost (and far distant) sister. Amazing exploration of astral projection.  Well written, amazingly suspensefuly, not even a bit dated, and really should have been made into a equally chilling film.

Stephen King - Adored Author

Well, of course.  It's Stephen King.  One of the first authors of grownup books I remember reading, I can remember precisely on which shelf of my childhood library Carrie was located.  And I remember the cover perfectly and how I felt reading it.  If I had to pick an all-time favorite, it would probably be The Stand.   Incredibly long, but incredibly absorbing tale of a virus wiping out most of the world. I think of The Stand every time I'm in close quarters with a stranger with a hacking cough.  I also love his short stories collections like Night Shift, which contains the fabulously weird "The Mangler" and the never-leave-your-closet-door-even-slightly-ajar tale of "The Boogeyman."  Also love Skeleton Crew, which includes the wonderful novella "The Mist," as well as standout stories such as "The Monkey," "The Jaunt" and "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut."  And of course, there's It.  Still super scary, although I'm not exactly sure what happens at the end.  But eek.  Particularly if you have a deep and abiding fear of clowns. And who doesn't?  And then the more serious King, such as The Green Mile.  Not so much spooky as his other books, but genuinely good. Incredibly suspenseful, absorbing and touching.  And I adored On Writing , which is half autobiography, half writing guide. The only writing book I've ever actually finished. Great insight into the life and writing style of a popular author.

Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird by Vivian Vande Velde (1995)

Presents thirteen twisted versions of such familiar fairy tales as Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  There's nothing I love better than a little fairy tale retelling and Vande Velde is a master of writing humorous fantasy and  has wonderful insight into fairy tells and how to twist them perfectly.