I would consider myself a bit of a book worm. Don't get me wrong, I love TV and Netflix just as much as the next person, but sometimes it's so nice to just curl up in bed with a good book. Reading is not only relaxing, but also enriches your mind, expands your vocabulary and improves your memory. So keep that in mind next time someone teases you about being an avid reader. I've gone through a number of books in the past year or so, and I've decided to share a few of my favorites. I personally love getting book recommendations, especially from people my age, so I figured why not share the wealth. Here's five books (in no particular order) to put on your "must read" list:
*disclaimer: all quotes/-descriptions are taken from goodreads.com*
1. "Luckiest Girl Alive" by Jessica Knoll
"As a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking, public humiliation that left her desperate to reinvent herself. Now with a glamorous job, expensive wardrobe and handsome blue blood fiancé, she’s this close to living the perfect life she’s worked so hard to achieve.
But Ani has a secret.
There’s something else buried in her past that still haunts her, something private and painful that threatens to bubble to the surface and destroy everything."
You'll literally find yourself ripping through the pages of this trying to figure out what happened to Ani in high school that made her the slightly cold-hearted, yet intriguing person she is today. You'll love her in some parts, hate her in others and want to reach through the book and hug her from time to time. But, regardless of your feelings toward the protagonist, I can almost guarantee your feelings toward this book will be nothing but positive.
2. "The Kind Worth Killing" by Peter Swanson
"On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. But their game turns dark when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.
"From there, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they plot Miranda's demise, but soon these co-conspirators are embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse--one they both cannot survive--with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail."
General warning: this book is kinda effed-up at times. You'll probably even find yourself asking "What am I reading?!" but at the same time it's so skillfully written that you won't be able to put it down. It's written from a few different points of view which could seem intimidating, but actually makes the story that much more awesome because you can get different insights from each character and figure out how they all operate. If you're a lover of all things thrilling and slightly disturbing, this book is for you.
3. "What Alice Forgot" by Liane Moriarty
"Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.
So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes.
Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse and whether it’s possible to start over."
This one really surprised me. I downloaded it onto my Kindle on a whim because I needed a new book to read while I was bored at work and I ended it up finishing it within a couple of days. Alice is one of the most likable characters I've come across in a while and for that reason you'll find yourself getting addicted to the story. You'll root for Alice, her happiness and keep turning the pages in hopes that she'll find it in the end.
4. "Letting Ana Go" by Anonymous
"She was a good girl from a good family with everything she could want or need. But below the surface, she felt like she could never be good enough. Like she could never live up to the expectations that surrounded her. Like she couldn’t do anything to make a change.
But there was one thing she could control completely: how much she ate. The less she ate, the better—stronger—she felt.
But it’s a dangerous game, and there is such a thing as going too far…
Her innermost thoughts and feelings are chronicled in the diary she left behind."
This one is a bit controversial and depending on your preferences; it might not be for everyone. It tells the story of a high school track star battling with anorexia and is written in a series of diary entries. You'll follow the author on her saddening journey farther and farther into the disease to a point of extreme danger. Although I did find this book to be extremely sad, I think it's an important read for young adults, especially girls, because it emphasizes how easy it really is to get caught up in an eating disorder and let it literally ruin your life in every aspect.
5. "Dangerous Girls" by Abigail Haas
"It's spring break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives. But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations.
As Anna sets out to find her friend's killer; she discovers hard truths about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth and the ache of young love.
As she awaits the judge's decree, it becomes clear that everyone around her thinks she is not just guilty, but dangerous. When the truth comes out, it is more shocking than one could ever imagine..."
I read this book quite a while ago, but for some reason it has stuck with me and stood out among so many other books. I think a large part of that is the uniqueness of the plot line which features a high school senior getting charged for the murder of her best friend. The story is told in contrasting ways, switching between flashbacks and present day to help give the blueprint of how Anna got into this nightmarish situation in the first place. You'll find yourself getting just as obsessed with finding the killer as Anna is and feel like you're right there next to her in that Aruba court room. OH, and the end. THE END. Prepare to pick your jaw up off the floor. All I'm saying ;)
Now go get reading!
