BOOKTUBE VIDEO: The Diversity Trend & 2015 Diverse Books

August 21, 2015 by Jeann @ Happy Indulgence | Books, Features, Videos

It’s been about a year since the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign started, where everyone was campaigning for more diversity in books that were being published. So far, we’ve seen a lot more diverse books being released as a latest publishing trend. In my latest Booktube video, I talk about diversity as a trend and list some great diverse books released this year.

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Books I talk about:

  • Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider – Review
  • Simon Versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – Review
  • All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven – Review
  • Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella – Review
  • Afterlight by Rebecca Lim – Review
  • Black Iris by Leah Reader
  • The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes – Review
  • None of the Above by I.W. Gregario  – Review

Do you agree/disagree with how diversity is being approached at the moment?

What are some of your favourite diverse reads? Let me know in the comments below!

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Jeann is an Aussie YA blogger and mum who loves to read and recommend books! You can usually find me fangirling about books on my various social media channels including Twitter @happyindulgence, Instagram and Youtube.

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38 responses to “BOOKTUBE VIDEO: The Diversity Trend & 2015 Diverse Books

  1. Francine Soleil

    I absolutely love your idea of bringing diversity into the other genres as well. It's true that we see a lot of them in the contemporary genre, but very few in the other ones. The Diverse Books Trend is definitely a good way to broaden our minds and learn so much more about the world around us. I love reading about things that are different and unique.Of course there are different ways to go about this, and I just hope these diversity themes are treated well and not just a means to sell a book or something.
    My recent post Review: Joni, Underway by Kelly Oram and Jonathan Harrow

  2. Great post, Jeann. I've been trying my darnest to increase the spectrum of my reading preferences, but clearly, there's only so much I can do. Not enough time and such. But I have enjoyed a few of the books you've mentioned – more recently, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.
    My recent post Hoarders, Books Edition: Episode 157

  3. Blessie

    I'm not much of a diverse reader beause I'm contemporary romance all the way! But I am pushing myself to read other genres and I'm actually loving it! I'm so excited for 5 to 1 because of the really cool concept. I totally agree with the need for multicultural aspect in books, even in romance novels. I'd love to read more interracial relationships or even romances set in other countries as well. 😀

    Wonderful vlog, Jeann! 🙂

    • There are so many diverse reads in contemporary romance though, you might actually enjoy it Blessie! Interracial relationships – I really enjoyed To All the Boys I've Loved for that 🙂 Other Countries – Stephanie Perkins series are all set in others.

  4. Fantastic video, Jeann!!! I think the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign is such an amazing one, and so far my limited experience with the diverse books I've read have been good, so I'm looking forward to checking out many of the books you mentioned and continuing to read more diverse books. I absolutely agree that diversity needs to branch out to other genres other than contemporary. It's fantastic that there are diverse contemporary reads, but I definitely believe it needs to be seen more in other genres as well. I really enjoyed All the Bright Places and am currently reading The Wrath and the Dawn (which I am absolutely loving!) I think this year is a huge year for diverse books in terms of not only mental illness and LGBTQ, but also exposure to more cultures. There are so many books that I want to read that have a basis or take place in countries I've always been fascinated with (or wanted to know more about), and I think it's fantastic.
    My recent post Comic and Manga Mini Reviews – Archie #2 and So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 1

  5. rlsharpe

    I agree with all you said, Jeann. It would certainly be great to see more diversity in fantasy for sure. It's a shame we even need a special campaign at all, and hopefully in the future it will just be in there without second thought, and that it also translates into movies.
    My recent post Review: The Catalyst by Helena Coggan.

  6. Fabulous video Jeann! I agree completely, I think we need books where it's just "oh, okay, you're X" and everyone moves on and tells a good story.

    I loved Minnow Bly and None of the Above from your list! Extraordinary Means and ATBP were really good too. One other one that I can think of that features a male lead with all KINDS of diversity is More Happy Than Not. Everything, Everything is another good one about multiple types of diversity! Thanks for sharing these, there are a few on here that I MUST read!
    My recent post #ShatteringStigmas: Patrick’s Story

  7. Love, love, love this post Jeann! It's so great that authors are making an effort to at least try to include more diversity in their books, and it's clearly showing by some of the releases that have been published this year. Thank you for sharing all of these books – I've read about half of them and really liked them all and am definitely going to have to make an effort to find the other half you've talked about. Fabulous post, as always! <3

  8. I love the diversity, otherwise it gets boring, and like you said, cliched. I saw a blogger complaining about diversity in books and it being 'shoved down our throats'. Uhhh … okay. There's so much to diversity and you did a great job listing the different types. It's not just race and sexuality … it's mental illness, physical handicaps, body sizes, etc. I say keep them coming and give us what the world is really made of.
    My recent post Bounce by Noelle August

  9. I've only read one of these :O It was None of the Above and I enjoyed it as well. I'm also loving all of the diversity we are finally seeing in YA. I recently read Summer of Chasing Mermaids and it was pretty good. Completely agree that we need to see more diverse fantasy/dystopian/sci-fi diverse books, in addition to the contemporary ones.
    My recent post When I’m not Reading: Vet School Edition

    • Oh my, I must be really hitting the diversity books this time around! Glad you enjoyed Chasing Mermaids, I've heard so many great things about it.

  10. I agree, Jeann! We definitely need even more diverse books! I recently read and reviewed The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis, in which the main character is blind, and there are some slight paranormal elements involved in the story as well.
    You know I loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, and this one has not one but TWO male protagonists!
    Tara Lain has written a paranormal LGBT romance series called Tales of the Harker Pack, and it's really well done!
    Storm Grant has a fantasy / paranormal story out called Few Are Chosen, where there is male perspective as well, and LGBT theme.
    Erica O'Rourke's Dissonance series is definitely fantasy, too, with time travel and multiple universes. The LGBT theme in that series only starts in book 1.5, and continues in book 2.
    If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan is set abroad, and deals with both LGBT and trans-sexual characters and how difficult life is for them in Iran.
    I think that's all my recs for now 😉 I need to read Simon, as well as Dante and Ari – I own the second, and am looking forward to the first.
    Great vlog, Jeann!
    My recent post Review: Knight of Ocean Avenue – Tara Lain

    • Yayy thank you for taking the time to write out so many recommendations, I'll be sure to check them out Lexxie! Tara Lain and FEw are Chosen sound great! I didn't realise Dissonance had a LGBT theme in the sequel, and I've read the first one so I'm interested in that. Thanks Lexxie!

      • I hadn't realized that about Dissonance either before I read it, Jeann, and I was very pleased. It was just a part of the story that wasn't necessarily pointed out, and it wasn't the main focus at all.
        My recent post The Sunday Post #46

  11. DreWolf

    I think that it is wonderful that there are so many diverse books that are coming out here and there. I agree that books with mental/physical illnesses might die down, too. Still, it is fantastic to read more about books that tackle different issues other than high school romance with jocks and cheerleaders. Awesome video, Jeann!
    My recent post Review 249 : Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

    • I know, I'm happy to see so many coming out but there are just SO many that are similar at the moment. Hopefully there'll be more multiple issue books coming out too with less cliches!

  12. Pearl Angeli

    I love this video, Jeann, and how you talked about those interesting books. I smiled when you talked about how excited you are for the Wrath and the Dawn. So adorable! Looking forward to your thoughts about that book. 🙂

    • Thank you so much for watching and sharing Pearl! There were so many great books. And I just received The Wrath and the Dawn, yayyy! 😀

  13. I agree with everything you said up there. Diversity is something that I really appreciate in books, and as an Asian myself, I want to see a lot of culturally diverse books, as well as stories which explore sexuality and mental illnesses.
    And also yes to the fact that we are tired of good old white characters, and high schools, quarterbacks and all that stereotypes and cliches! I want something different!
    Wonderful post Jeann, and I love your vlogs!:)
    My recent post LITHW #11: Why Co-Bloggers Rock Your Socks

  14. hehe, I can't believe it, but I'm posting about fantasy + diversity tonight too. xD GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE, CLEARLY, JEANN. And I basically said the same thing! I want to see more diversity in fantasy and thrillers and adventure stories. *nods* I love issue books, but I also want to see characters living with their differences AND slaying dragons and things. hehe. Ahhh so many of those ones you listed I'm still to read! I'm reading Minnow Bly RIGHT NOW tho. OMG IT IS SO FREAKY AND GOOD.

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