1. "Why Not Me?"
By Mindy Kaling
OK, first of all thank God for Mindy Kaling. Secondly, this book changed my life. Following "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)," Mindy’s second book is just as hilarious, if not better. Mindy recounts her college years of sorority life, sharing skittles in seventh grade to make people like her, and a whirlwind romance with a secret service agent for President Obama. Throughout the sarcastic and witty book, the question “Why not me?” appears over and over. Mindy wraps up her book with an account of a press conference where a young girl asks her where she gets her confidence. Mindy says in her book that while she didn’t give the girl a straightforward answer then, she will now. She affirms that the question of “Why not me?” no longer refers to her years of being left out and not invited, but stands as a challenge to herself and her audience. Why not me? Why the hell not me? Mindy sticks true to herself and her values with this book and more than exceeds expectations. A must read.
“I will leave you with one last piece of advice, which is: If you’ve got it, flaunt it. And if you don’t got it? Flaunt it. ’Cause what are we even doing here if we’re not flaunting it?”
2. "The Opposite of Loneliness"
By Marina Keegan
You know when you read a book that absolutely destroys you in every way possible? This is the book. A compilation of short stories and essays, this book was a product in memory of the late author Marina, a Yale graduate who died at a mere 22-years-old in a tragic car accident. This collection of her works will make your heart sing, ache, love… This book is for every 20-something out there who needs a little reminder that life is just starting and there’s a whole treasure trove of adventures just waiting for you to unlock.
“We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that’s what I want in life.”
3. "Me Before You"
By Jojo Moyes
Sometimes you just need to cry your heart out, and this book is the way to do it. Grab your tissues, a cozy blanket and drink a lot of water, because you’re about to dehydrate yourself from all the tears. Lou loses her current job and desperately takes any job she can get. She ends up caring for Will, who’s paralyzed from a terrible accident. With no desire to live, Will is prepared to suck Lou into his joyless world. Little does he know, Lou is about to fill his world with more joy than he ever imagined. Loss. Love. And a tearjerker that will restore your faith in what it means to love and be loved.
“All I can say is that you make me... you make me into someone I couldn't even imagine. You make me happy, even when you're awful. I would rather be with you -- even the you that you seem to think is diminished -- than with anyone else in the world.”
4. "Looking for Alaska"
By John Green
This novel explores what it’s like to lose someone we love. Miles is obsessed with last words and he craves a “Great Perhaps,” but don’t we all? Before. When Alaska walks into his life, she pulls him along on this great adventure that launches Miles on a quest for the Great Perhaps. After. When a tragic event happens, Miles must come to terms with what it’s like to lose someone you thought you couldn’t live without and seek a Great Perhaps on his own. This book encourages its readers to go into the world and seek their own Great Perhaps in the face of loss.
“Thinking that if people were rain, I was a drizzle and she was a hurricane.”
5. "And Then Came The Flood"
By Lacey Roop
This book of poems is a literal work of art. Lacey’s slam poetry of her personal struggles, growing up and falling in love over and over again is both powerful and sincere. She’ll empower you to adventure into the unknown, challenge yourself and others to love one another. Her words will reverberate in your soul. She preaches self-love and world peace. It’s literally a grand slam.
“Built my skeleton out of guardrails welded padlocks in my bones I’m constructing an art called distance it is a delicate issue -- the space between our palms”
