Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish & Introverted Book Protagonists

This week’s TTT topic is “Book Characters I’d Love to Be Besties With” but because there are so many characters to choose from and I’d probably just pick the same YA characters anyone else was picking who despite my hopes, would never actually be friends at me (Aelin from TOG would take one look at me and deem me too shy/wimpy/awkward to be a part of her court), thus, I decided to put a spin on the topic and do a shoutout to my fellow booknerd & introverted book characters…Who I guess I could all easily befriend?!?! Okay I guess I’m still technically doing the same topic, I’m just calling it by a different name. 😅

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

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1. Cath from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Our classic booknerd/fangirl/writer and fellow introvert! And in an New Adult book set in college! Also, eating granola bars in her room because she didn’t want to go to dining hall alone is 110% relatable (I didn’t cancel my meal plan–even tho I can’t cook–because returning to the dining hall for another year sounded like too much effort, NOT AT ALL). Ahhh, I want more quality contemporary NA books set in college. PLEASE UNIVERSE I’M BEGGING YOU.

2. Eliza Mirk from Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Another artsy introvert (I mean that’s this whole list, but shhh) who lives in her sweat pants and baggy t-shirts and has anxiety. Guys, she’s definitely one of us! I read both this book and Fangirl back in 2017 and they totally made my reading year.
Also, I started reading webcomics this summer, so I have a whole new appreciation for Eliza AND I REALLY WISH HER WEBCOMIC WAS REAL AAAAHH!

3. Laila Piedra from Final Draft by Riley Redgate

An aspiring sci-fi writer wishing she did more in life and whose self-view as a writer heavily depends (at first) on her teachers’ praise? Yeah, I relate to that. A lot. I discovered this book this summer and Laila’s journey is SO GREAT! Really, it’s only flaw is that the story needed to be a lot longer in order to properly explore all of it’s important topics!

4. Jane Grey from My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

Jane is Super Booknerd™ to a T. She prefers books to practically everything else and she reads everything out there and she’s hella smart and witty. I feel like she needs to take me on as an apprentice and teach me all her supreme bookish ways.

5. Mateo Torrez from They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Mateo is the definition of a soft & precious cinnamon roll. He’s super sweet, kind, pure, and hella introverted. COME BACK MATEO!!!

6. Elle Wittimer from Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Probably more geeky and nerdy than bookish, but Elle definitely still deserves a spot on this list! We always stan a fangirl and a fellow blogger here.

7. Jane Hayes from Austenland by Shannon Hale

Hey look, another Jane! Okay, but any girl who’s read Pride & Prejudice over a dozen times and dreams of her own Austen romance definitely belongs on this list.

8. Jessamin Olea from Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

It’s been quite a handful of years since I last read this book, but I remember adoring this fantasy STANDALONE, so I love to scream about it whenever I can. I do remember that Jessamin is a strong & independent scholarly woman and HELLA SMART. She leaves her island home to pursue a higher education and she will not be messed with.
(I quickly flipped through a couple pages of this book and wow, I really wanna reread this one now.)

9. Stella Lane from The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Stella is FRICKING BRILLIANT and a total introvert, so this list wouldn’t be complete without her. Though I loved the book’s romance, I think Stella’s character truly made The Kiss Quotient and I will forever completely adore her character.

10. Maddy from Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi

Okay, this one might be a stretch, because I read it at least 8 years ago (in middle school) and I don’t remember much. But any character who wishes that they lived in a fantasy world, struggles with friends, and spends hours upon hours gaming, has a friend here.

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Have you read any of these books? Do you also adore these protagonists? Do you have recommendations for other bookish & introverted protagonists?

If you participated in TTT this week, feel free to link up your post in the comments below–I would love to check them out!