Top 5 Wednesday – Side Ships!

YOU GUYS! I am so excited to talk about this topic! I am a shipper to my core, even when I don’t want to be, even when I’m trying not to be. And I’m not always thinking about the main characters, which is exactly what today’s Top 5 Wednesday post is addressing—side ships, or the ships that don’t necessarily involve the main characters. I’m trash for shipping, as you’ll see in my picks for this week—more than one of these come from a book I DON’T EVEN REALLY LIKE THAT MUCH. But still. TRASH FOR SIDE SHIPS. I have no regrets.

Note 1: These are all het ships, and that wasn’t intentional. I’m still working on broadening my horizons when it comes to books, so hopefully this list wouldn’t be the same if I was writing it one year from now.

Note 2: I didn’t choose Finnick and Annie. I couldn’t talk about that. RIP Finnick. *sobs*

5. Aedion Ashryver and Lysandra (Throne of Glass series, mostly in Empire of Storms, by Sarah J. Maas)

Like. I can’t even. Sorry. I know it’s wrong. Lysandra is finally free, yo! Why would she want to be with a man right away? But that’s what makes me all swoony about them—she doesn’t, and Aedion (sort of) respects that. I think they know they’ll end up together in the end, because they’re two of a kind, two people who have been used for their bodies for years, and they understand each other. And I cannot. I love them WAY more than a lot of the main ships, even though Aedion is out-of-control possessive. (I mean, he doesn’t hold a candle to Rowan, so.)

4. Jilly and Michael Salem (Once and For All, by Sarah Dessen)

I just finished this book a couple weeks ago, and squee!! Jilly and Michael Salem are so adorable. They’re both food truck kids, meaning they have jobs and help their parents with family businesses and work hard. And understand each other. And are just the cutest. I’m not even sure Michael Salem appears on the actual page, but I still love them. Can they get their own book? Or at least appear in future books? Please?

3. Shade and Farley (Red Queen series, mostly Glass Sword, by Victoria Aveyard)

This was the true heartwarming part of Glass Sword. I know there’s more backstory in Steel Scars, but I haven’t read that one yet. In any case, Shade and Farley were my OTP in Glass Sword. Mare and Cal who? And who’s Kilorn? Maven what? NO. SHADE AND FARLEY. And of course, they have the tragic ending that still makes me want to weep when I think about it. WHY VICTORIA WHY.

2. Kennedy and Micah (Small Great Things, by Jodi Picoult)

Okay. I know what you’re thinking. This is a weird pick, right? Especially in the number two spot? HEAR ME OUT.

Kennedy is the white lawyer in this book that hinges on discussions of racism. And Micah is her eye-doctor husband. They should be bland. They should be boring. THEY’RE NOT. Kennedy is fierce and Micah supports her to the end and there is a true love there that made me smile stupidly while I was reading this book. This is a quieter ship. I didn’t feel like I needed to hit tumblr immediately after finishing the book or anything. But it’s still one of my all-time favorites. There were a lot of things to love about this book, and Kennedy and Micah were two of the best. I’m smiling writing this. Can Kennedy be a recurring lawyer character in all of your books, JP? Mostly because I want more Micah. #moremicahplease

1. Raven and Tack (Delirium trilogy, starting in Pandemonium, by Lauren Oliver)

OH MY GOD. Have you read this trilogy? Um, why not, because you should???

I know. The dystopian YA genre has been overloaded. But the Delirium trilogy was a wonderful distraction from other things in my life earlier this year. I listened to it on audiobook and it was the best. I thought I was going to hate Pandemonium, but I didn’t. Why? Because of Raven and Tack. They are another couple who love each other despite. Despite the laws, despite the risk, despite the fact that people die so frequently in the Wilds that it’s hardly worth loving anyone at all. But they do it. And they fight like crazy people, and they disagree, and yet they still love each other. I’ve said before that Lena and Alex are my OTP, but really, they share the top spot with Raven and Tack.

I’m still a puddle because of the ending, by the way. I WILL NEVER GET OVER IT.