This week’s That Artsy Reader Girl topic is one of those ones that sounds super easy, right, but then you try to do it, and it’s sneaky hard! Books with colors in the title, like what? I’m only going to use books I’ve already read so I can scream about them appropriately, but damn, this was tricky.

The Legend of the Golden Raven by K. Ancrum is a novella, but it also happens to be one of only two books I’ve ever read digitally, and, funny story, I read it while Dashboard Confessional was opening for All Time Low. I went super late to the show because I really only care about ATL, and I got there just as Dashboard was finishing, so I plopped into my seat and read this, which was just about the best way to spend my time waiting. Also, yes, I’m counting gold as a color both because it is a color, hush, and because I just love the covers for this universe.

Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett is probably another one where you’re like but are those really colors, Mary, and I’m just here to say yes because actually finding titles with colors is impossible. And, well, I also just want to shout from the rooftops about my undying love for these books. CAN MORE PEOPLE PLEASE LOVE THEM? It’s like the Rohirrim from LOTR given center stage!

I promise I’m going to stop using metals for colors, and I didn’t want to pick Empire or City because I’ve talked about both of them a lot recently, so here we are shouting about one of the best middle books ever–The Kingdom of Copper by SA Chakraborty. Seriously, I am low-key so impressed by how amazing Kingdom was as a second book. It absolutely delivered, and at no point did I want to put it down because of sophomore slump.

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley is one of the saddest books ever, but also one of the sweetest, and I feel like this cover + title combo kind of prepares you for both? Gosh, like talk about a book that loves being a book. This celebrates book lovers and friends to lovers, and it’s SO GOOD. Ugh. If you want to cry about loving books, this is the one for you.

Look, I try not to use books for these TTT lists that I have issues with, BUT COLORS ARE HARD, so here we are with A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna. I just read this recently, and yeah, it was a lot. Probably not going to read the sequel? Which is really such a bummer because the concept is so damn good. The execution just leaves a lot to be desired.

I also read Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore recently, but had the opposite reaction because I’m once again reminded that I want to read everything by McLemore as soon as possible, but also take my sweet ass time reading their backlist because, uh, yeah, a world where I don’t have any McLemore books to read is a very dismal word indeed.

I mean, of course I had to include Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston on this list, there are THREE colors in the title, and it was the first one I thought of. And it’s just, you know, the best ever. Ugh, I just reread this a couple months ago, is it too soon to do it again? What if I just read it every month for the rest of the year?

Amber & Dusk by Lyra Selene not only has another kind of color in it (stones this time instead of metals!), the book itself is overflowing with lyrical, purple prose. This book is going to be on every list that’s just about vague prettiness. It’s so unapologetically in love with itself, and I love it so much because of that. Like, enemies to friends to lovers? GIRL YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys has a very fitting title because the whole book just leaves me feeling grey. Between the snowy landscape and the horrific events, I just want to curl up in bed with a cup of tea and forget that the world exists. It’s so beautifully written, but, as I think has become expected of Sepetys, it breaks my little heart.

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater is the other novella on this list and the only other novella I’ve ever read AND the only other thing I’ve read digitally! I read most of this while waiting for a table at a restaurant (ages ago, obviously). The wait was so long that I nearly finished it, too!

What’s your favorite book with a color in the title?