I love to read. I'm just going to put that out there. I have always loved books and libraries, written words and pages. Books are kinda one of my favorite things (and they should be, 'cause I'm an English major).
Summer has always been one of the times in my life that I have time to read anything that I want. I can read all the books on my shelf (though that's actually impossible because I have over 300 books on my shelf that I haven't read yet), and I don't have the pressure to read books for school.
If you are in the mood to do some reading this summer, here is a list of some of my favorite books that I think should be on everyone's reading list.
1. "The Court of Thorns and Roses" series by S.J. Maas
This is my favorite series right now. It might be my favorite series EVER, which is saying a lot because I read a lot of books. "Court of Mist and Fury" is my favorite book in the whole universe, so any time I get the chance to push this book on people, I push it. This series is a YA fantasy focusing on faeries, and it is SO GOOD. I read each of these books in a day if that gives you any indication of my obsession level.
2. "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Another book about faeries, but taken from a much different angle. This was another super quick read and is once again a YA fantasy. If you like bad-ass female characters who know what they want out of life, you're going to like this one.
3. The "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard" series by Rick Riordan
Most people are familiar with Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" series, but his latest works are so good, too! These books are more middle-grade than young adult, but they are still great reads. These books focus on Norse mythology in comparison to Riordan's typical Greek and Roman mythology. If you want to learn something when you're reading (and read something that is hysterical), then "Magnus Chase" is the series for you.
4. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak
If you haven't seen the movie yet (or if you have), "The Book Thief" is a must read. It is a historical fiction novel following a young girl in World War II Germany, and it is narrated by Death. Yes, you read that right. Death is actually a character in this book, which gives it a unique perspective.
5. "The Princess Saves Herself in This One" by Amanda Lovelace
This is a book of poetry, and before you roll your eyes and say you hate poetry, YOU WILL NOT HATE THIS BOOK. It's contemporary poetry, so there are no rhymes and the poems read like someone's thoughts instead of something that has a hidden meaning that you need to decipher. This book is beautiful and heartbreaking, and I can guarantee that you'll love it.
6. "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
I originally read this for a class in school, but it is one of my favorite books. This is another historical fiction (can you tell what my favorite genres are?) about India in the 1960s. It's confusing to read at first because it is told in flashbacks, but it gets to good and is so worth reading.
7. "Saga" by Brian K. Vaughan
If graphic novels are more your speed, "Saga" by Brian K. Vaughan is epic. It's a science fiction graphic novel that takes too much time to explain but only takes 20 minutes to read, so just read it. There are currently 9 volumes out, so I would totally recommend binge-reading them.
8. "Anna Dressed in Blood" by Kendare Blake
If you like horror, ghosts, and gore, "Anna Dressed in Blood" is my recommendation for you. It's YA, so it will be a little tamer than something by Stephen King, but it is still one of my favorites. And, if you like this one, there is a sequel. You're welcome.
9. The "Angelfall" series by Susan Ee
This is one series that so many people haven't heard of but need to read. You'll likely need to find this one on Amazon, but it is worth it. This trilogy follows a girl trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world filled with angels that want to kill people, not save them.
10. "Tiger Lily" by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Rounding out my list of ten books you should read this summer is a retelling of "Peter Pan" from the perspective of one of the most forgotten characters: Tiger Lily. Tiger Lily is one of the Native Americans that inhabit Neverland, and if you want a book that will bring out the waterworks, this is that book.
Now go forth and read your days away, friends!
