We have finally arrived at the time of the year where everything is brown, barren, dull, and cold. The downward spiral after the holiday season is over is probably one of the most boring and depressing times of the year. We don’t want to go outside, we’re poor from spending all the money from our summer jobs, and there’s really just nothing to do. Sure, we have Netflix but after a while, all that binging can make us feel like we’re couch potatoes. And since there’s no way we are going to step out into the frigid air and go to the gym to exercise our bodies—we might as well start exercising our minds instead by taking a step back from our homework and curling up with a book that’ll get you out of your winter slump.

1. "The Fault in Our Stars"

2. "Lucky Us"

For those of you with siblings, this is definitely a good read for you. The stories & adventures of two half-sisters will inspire you and make you feel warm on cold winter nights.

3. "The Book Thief"

Taking place during the time of WWII, The Book Thief (while fiction) is perfect if you’re a history fan like myself. The fast-paced and intriguing plot will keep you excited even though the scenery out your window is definitely not.

4. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

Another popular one, and rightly so. It’s totally worth the read and has one of the biggest plot twists to keep you going.

5. The entire "Harry Potter" series

Because why not? You have all winter anyway!

6. "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime"

This one is one of those books where you instantly fall in love with the main character, an autistic boy on a quest to figure out who killed his neighbor’s dog…which leads to a lot more trouble than he had realized.

7. "Paper Towns"

John Green strikes again with his knack for creating love stories that none of his readers would really expect. If you’re into adventure, and unexpected happy endings—this will definitely get you out of that winter slump

8. "Gone Girl"

I just recently finished this book and while it wasn’t scary enough to give me nightmares, it definitely kept me guessing. It deserves all the hype it has been getting the past couple of years.

9. "It’s Kind of a Funny Story"

Despite the main portion of this novel taking place in a mental hospital, it really does live up to its name and a lot of humor shines through to make the dark stuff seem lighter.

10. "The Glass Castle"

A memoir that can inspire beyond words and put you into perspective.

11. "The Odyssey Online"

Yeah, we aren’t a book. But we will keep you updated, entertained and laughing throughout the winter months!