In case you didn't know, I lover reading. Absolutely adore it. To distract from my many tests, I like to escape into a good book. These are not all of the book I have read in 2018 thus far, but these are all of the 5 star books I have read this year.

1. "Foolish Hearts" by Emma Mills

What you need to know: A group of teens become friends (some begrudgingly) when they have to work together on the school's musical production

What I thought: This book quickly became one of my favorite YA contemporaries. I recently made my sister read it and she finished it in one day (and she's not a huge reader).

2. "Blue Lily, Lily Blue" by Maggie Stiefvater

What you need to know: This is the third installment in the Raven Cycle series which revolves around a girl named Blue who isn't a psychic but lives in a house full of them and joins a group of private school boys on their search for a dead Welsh king.

What I thought: This is probably my favorite installment in the series. A super magical and atmospheric read that I highly recommend.

3. "Mostly Harmless" by Douglass Addams

What you need to know: The fifth and final book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy. The earth explodes, the president of the galaxy has two heads, mice are smart, marvin the robot is chronically depressed, and a bowl of petunias can think while falling.

What I thought: Mostly Harmless is my second favorite book in the trilogy (the first is the first). This series is absolutely hilarious, completely strange, and should not work, but does (and does so amazingly). One of my favorite series of all times.

4. "Anya's Ghost" by Vera Brosgol

What you need to know: A graphic novel about a girl who falls into a hole and meets a ghost that follows her home.

What I thought: This book caught me by surprise in the best ways possible. I read it in one sitting over two cups of coffee.

5. "The Language of Thorns" by Leigh Bardugo

What you need to know: This is a set of folktales and fairytales set in Leigh's "Grishaverse". You'll want to read either her Grisha Verse series or her Six of Crows duology (which is one of my all time favorites and I highly recommend it) to understand the world.

What I thought: Absolutely gorgeous stories that have hints of "our" fairy and folk tales. Not only are the stories amazing but the cover is gorgeous and the whole book is illustrated.

6. "Not If I Save You First" by Ally Carter

What you need to know: Maddie loves hair care, shiny outfits, and her bedazzled throwing hatchet. Logan is the presidents son, is sick of his life, and is sent to Alaska (did I mention Maddie lives in Alaska?) to get his act together. When Logan gets kidnapped, Maddie has to track him down though the Alaskan wilderness and save him. One problem: she hates him.

What I thought: Listen, Ally Carter is my favorite, go-to author. Her books never disappoint me. I read this in a day, and then picked it up again the next morning and re-read it in another two days. I'm in love.