Stephen King once said “books are a uniquely portable magic”, and I could not agree more. A book allows you to experience another world, and all avid book lovers know we have lived hundreds of other lives. We have cried when characters died, we cheered when a character succeeded, and we have patiently waited for sequels. A book allows you to take yourself out of your life while you read. Some books become extensions of ourselves, carrying them wherever we go. While other books became worn down from all the times you have read it and then re-read it.
Summer is a time when you can take a day and just read, without worries of school or responsibilities. Here is a list of some of the books that I can truly say touched me when I read them. They are the books that I carried with me everywhere I went and the books that made me feel emotionally invested in the character. Some of these books you have seen on the Times YA bestsellers list, and other you may not have heard of.
1. Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
This book touches upon OCD and how an unlikely friendship can heal a person. Samantha McAllister is a character that everyone can relate to in some way, showing that there is so much more to someone than what meets the eye. Tissues are recommended for when you read this book, a lot of tissues.
2. Never Always Sometimes by Ali Alsaid
This book is about 2 best friends, Dave and Julia, and how they regret avoiding the “cliché high school things”. Throughout the book, you will see the dynamic of their relationship as their senior year comes to an end. Any reader will find an aspect connecting them with Dave and Julia's story in some way.
3. The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor
This book focuses on family dynamic, love, abusive relationships, and loss. The main character Bettina comes from a strict Greek family and somehow is allowed to date star basketball player Brady Cullen. The book follows the course of their toxic relationship and the dynamic between Bettina and the “cowboy”. This book is an unexpected treasure, being beautifully written showcasing love and heartbreak all at once.
4. Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway
Emmy and Oliver were best friends as children, until Oliver’s father kidnapped him, tearing him away from Emmy. The book focuses on when Oliver is found as a teenager, and how Emmy and Oliver reconnect after so many years apart. The tale of falling in love amongst heartbreak and trauma draws in readers, keeping them captivated.
5. Paper Towns by John Green
We all know the amazing author John Green, with books such as The Fault In Our Stars and Looking For Alaska. Paper Towns captures unrequited love, teenage angst, and friendship. The story follows Quentin and longtime crush and neighbor Margo as they embark on a night pranks against her friends. After her disappearance, Quentin follows clues to find Margo and embarks on a road trip with friends. This book conveys the entire spectrum of emotions and truly is a must read for any ages.
6. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
This book is frequently recommended because it is truly a young adult classic. Rainbow Rowell creates a beautiful story based in the 1980’s about family dynamic, self-acceptance, and young love. This novel showcases that even in tough times, love can still flourish. Spoiler alert, tears may form from your eyes after reading this novel, tissues are recommended.
7. Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider
This book has been described by many as a blend between The Fault In Our Stars and Eleanor & Park, and I think it is an accurate description. The novel follows Lane as he is in Lathom House a sanatorium for teens suffering from an incurable strand of tuberculosis. Yet, Lane finds a way to break out of his comfort zone with friends, fall in love, and discover himself.
8. All The Rage by Courtney Summers
All the rage follows Romy Grey as she struggling with dealing with a secret. She knows the town’s golden boy Kellan Turner is not what he seems to be, but when she hears he may have assaulted another girl she is faced with a dilemma. This book showcases the struggle between doing what is easy and what is right and the struggles of living in a small town.
9. It’s Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
Craig Gilner checks himself into a mental hospital at age 16, after struggling with his high-performance high school. His time in the mental hospital brings laughs, tears, love, and unlikely friendships. This novel has the ability to make you laugh and cry all in the time span of a page flip.
10. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Theodore Finch and Violet Markey are an unlikely pair, Finch is obsessed with death and Violet is counting down the days until she graduates to escape the pain after her sister’s death. After meeting on a bell tower, Finch and Violet embark on school “nature” project. This story of young love, mental illness, and loss is incredibly emotionally.
11. Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
Gabby Gardiner transformed herself into the “perfect” girl, she is beautiful and has a popular boyfriend. Yet, she wakes up in the hospital after a drunk driving incident with no memory of the crash or how it occurred. The novel follows the year prior to the crash, showing the spiral that is Gabby’s life. As Gabby tries to remember the crash and go through the memories of the year prior, she realizes that popularity is not what she imagined it to be.
12. Finding Audrey by Sophia Kinsella
Finding Audrey is a refreshing novel about a teenage girl and anxiety. The novel realistically portrays the struggle of anxiety and the recovery process. Audrey forces herself to speed up her recovery process due to an unlikely friendship with Linus. Sophia Kinsella finds a way to perfectly captures how beautiful life can be even with its troubles.
