Summer vacation is quickly approaching. With thoughts of summer come thoughts of beach filled days, music festivals, and relaxation. For avid book readers like myself, it also brings about chance to get back to reading for enjoyment rather than just for class alone. It's a chance to get lost in a make believe world for a few hours. I, myself, am a huge fan of fantasy. So, for all of you fantasy book lovers who haven’t started compiling your summer books lists yet, here is my list of top 5 Young Adult fantasy books to add to your list. Some are old, some are new, but they all are worth the read.

1. "Strange Girl"

Written by Christopher Pike, who is known for his ability to draw a reader in with an expert use of suspense, "Strange Girl" is a captivating read. The narrator is a youth man named Fred Allen, who is completely captivated by Aja Smith, the new girl in the small town where he lives in South Dakota. Fred and Aja form an unexpected friendship not long after the novel starts. Things are not easy for Aja, as not only is her background questioned, but whenever she is around strange things start to happen. No matter how hard she tries she just can’t seem to fit in. If you are into suspense and unexpected twists and turns this is the novel for you. I would also suggest checking out Pikes other novels, as they always promise an exciting read.

2. "The Iron King"

Author Julie Kagawa’s "The Iron King" literally takes readers from a recognizable world and thrusts them into a land of magic. Narrator Meghan Chase is the daughter of King Oberon of the Summer fey, a fact she is not made aware of until her little brother is kidnapped by the fey of a rival kingdom. In order to obtain her brothers freedom Meghan must journey into the heart of the very land she has decided she want no part of alongside her best friend and an icy fey prince, who she finds herself falling for. This is a captivating read that will draw you in and have you eager to read the sequel.

3. "Grave Mercy"

"Grave Mercy" is a novel about a young newly wed girl who escapes the clutches of her abusive and dangerous husband and makes her way to St. Mortian, a convent where the sisters still serve the original God. It is here that 17-year-old Ismae learns that she possesses dangerous abilities, which were bestowed upon her by the God of Death himself. Her first assignment from the Convent sends to to the Court of Brittany where she is to execute the will of the God of Death against someone she has grown to love. This is the first book in the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers.

4. "White Hot Kiss"

This is the story if a girl who is half demon, half angel. She is raised amongst the Wardens, who are demon hunters tasked with protecting mankind, and it here that she learns to hide apart of who she is, the part of her that allows her to steal a person's soul with just one kiss. When an unprecedented amount of deadly demons start appearing all over the city, Layla learns that she may be the reason why, a warning she receives from the right hand man of the devil himself, Roth. "White Hot Kiss," written by Jennifer Armentrout, is the first book in Layla’s journey to learning who, and what, she really is.

5. "The Immortal Rules"

Also written by Julie Kagawa, "The Immortal Rules" is a novel about a girl who becomes the very thing she hates most in the world, a vampire. Narrator Allison Sekemoto lives her life knowing that she could die at any moment. When she is forced to flee her home, she joins a group of refugees who are seeking the cure to a disease that created a creature who could not only destroy the human race, but vampires as well. Allison's journey is a captivating one, and easy to get lost in.

I hope my list helps all you book lovers find at least one more story to get lost in. I’m also looking to add to my list, so don’t be afraid to drop any titles you think I’d be interested in.