H wants to send his niece a book for her birthday. She has some LD issues, so reading an abstract or challenging tome is probably more pain than pleasure. A few years ago she told him she enjoyed Pride and Prejudice. I thought of the Bridget Jones books, but since they’ve been around for a while she may have read them, or at least seen the movies.
Anyone know of any fairly new releases that are reasonably fun reads that appeal to girls in that age bracket right now? (NOT going to send Stephanie Meyers!)
It has been around for a while, but what about The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King?
I enjoyed it, but I’m not sure she would. I don’t think she’d identify with the protagonist at all. 
Meg Cabot? She has some titles classified as teen while others are marketed to adults.
If she likes the Regency setting of Austen, try Lauren Willig’s series of spy/romance/humor novels; the first in the series is The Secret History of the Pink Carnation.
Books I’ve liked recently:
Ghost Gifts, Laura Spinella
When I’m Gone, Emily Bleeker
Beautiful Ruins, Jess Walter
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
If I Stay, Gayle Forman
The Cuckoo’s Calling, Robert Galbraith
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Every Day, David Levithan
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Ghost Gifts and When I’m Gone were published this year. The others are older.
If you think she likes thrillers, “Girl on the Train,” by Paula Hawkins. For very well-written chick lit, I recommend “Big Little Lies” and “The Husband’s Secret” by Liane Moriarty.
I would send non-fiction. Easier to know what her hobbies and interests are than what type of novel she wants to read. Is she interested in cooking, travel, crafts, psychology? Or a celeb biography??
I don’t know of any particular hobbies or interests.
Has anyone read The Rosie Project? Sounds like it might be good. How about The Nightingale?
@rosered55, I’m checking out Liane Moriarty.
Liked The Rosie Project. Also liked Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.
Protagonists in The Rosie Project might be in a more relatable age bracket to your niece.
I have liked most of the Liane Moriarty books I’ve read as have my D’s who are 24 and 21.
My 22yo has read
All the Mary Russell books
Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels
Lisa Lutz
Cara Black
Kate Morton - except her last, that was awful
She has Kat Richardson sitting there for after finals
A few Sophie Kinsella shopaholic
Sarah Addison Allen
Joshilyn Jackson
If she liked Pride and Prejudice, how about Sense and Sensibility? Also there is a Pride and Prejudice themed mystery novel written by P.D. James - Death Comes to Pemberley, it was very well-reviewed. Pride, Prejudice and Zombies is out now as a movie, but it’s a also a book.
If she liked Pride and Prejudice, how about Emma or Sense and Sensibility? Or Jane Eyre? Vanity Fair? Or, maybe Room with a View?
If she doesn’t read much, she probably doesn’t have a lot of books. A nice hardcover copy of one of those would make a nice addition to a tiny book collection.
I really like Liane Moriarty and liked the Rosie Project, too, but they are obviously not the kind of books that would be the foundations of a small book collection.
@zeebamom, I have “known” Kat Richardson for many years via the internet. We were both members of a very active mystery discussion group that has migrated from usenet to FB. Some of us have been friends for almost 20 years now!
If anyone here reads Jane Haddam’s mysteries, my (late) chocolate business makes an appearance in several of the books around the time of Gregor and Bennis’ wedding. She’s another friend from that group.
If she liked P&P she might like the updated version* Eligible* by Curtis Sittenfeld. It got a really positive review in the NYT’s book review. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/books/review/eligible-curtis-sittenfelds-update-of-jane-austen.html
oops somehow skimmed right past post #13!
Wilke Collins - “The Moonstone” - it is one of my favorites and my 19 year old D loved it. So did all my girlfriends. D also loved Thomas Hardy’s “Mayor of Casterbridge.”
Would also second “Room with a View.”
I believe I am a member of that same group. Small world.
I used to see Kat when she signed at my local bookstore.
I’m reading Eligible now. It’s okay; not great. I wouldn’t recommend it for a 20-year-old. Lizzie and Jane are 38 and 39, and their concerns are more relatable to women that age.
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld is really great, however, and would be a good choice for your niece.