15 palette cleansing books after a dark & heavy read

Was your last book too dark? Feeling the need for something more whimsical and light? When I’ve just read a string of books that leave me feeling heavy-hearted and dreary, I turn to palette cleansing books from the YA genre. That’s not to say that YA books don’t have depth or sad plot lines, but if you pick just the right ones they can be a refreshing change of pace after a deep WWII novel for example. (Yes, I’m looking at you Beneath a Scarlet Sky.)

I keep a running list of books on my Amazon Wishlist and in my Kindle To Read folder. I snap up the deals as I find them and put them in my queue. The last 2 books I’ve read have left me feeling down so I am in crazy need for a little “Brain Candy” book but I can’t decide which one! There are too many on my list that look fantastic. 

Which one of these would you pick? Have you read any of them? Point me in the right direction!

15 palette cleansing books when you need a lift after a heavy read:

1. The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon: I devoured Everything, Everything by this same author last year. I’ve heard this one is just as great.
2. I Temporarily Do by Ellie Cahill: Ellie knows everything about the need for palette cleansing, just check out her When Joss Met Matt.  
3. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff: This came recommended to me by several friends as a must-read. First in a trilogy, the third book comes out this spring.
4. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch: I could not resist this adorable title and cover. The story sounds perfectly light and lovely.
5. The Selection by Kiera Cass: First in a series, I’ve been drawn to read these books for months.
6. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: I loved Eleanor & Park by the same author and heard people say they loved this one even more.
7. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee: I eyed this one up EVERY single time I went to Target until I finally bought it. Couldn’t resist.
8. Paper Princess by Erin Watt: “This generation’s Cruel Intentions.” Intrigued!
9. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer: This is actually Book 2 in the series. I really enjoyed the first one, Cinder!  
10. Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith: What happens when a girl buys a guy a lottery ticket . . . and they win??
11. Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett: They had me at “a delightful spin on You’ve Got Mail.” 
12. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn David Levithan:  By the same authors as Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. 
13. Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway: A more typical teen romance book but it looks just lovely.
14. When It’s Real by Erin Watt: Hired to be the fake girlfriend of a popstar? The description made me laugh out loud.
15. Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant: 1 part math, 1 part magic. This teen romance sounds so sweet.

Which one of these looks best to you? Be sure to check them out, so many are on sale right now for $1.99 – $3.99 on Kindle!