1. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult.
I have never been so emotionally invested in a book. Every moment spent not reading it involved me thinking about what had happened last and predicting what was going to happen next. I finished Leaving Time in a week and have never felt such a mixture of emotions following the end of a book. Picoult engages her readers from cover to cover and makes them feel like they, too, are in the story and tangled up in solving the mysterious disappearance of Jenna's mother.
2. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.
If you are a hopeless romantic, read this. If you easily fall in love with the strong-willed, enigmatic male character in a novel, read this. If you do not want to be able to put a book down, READ THIS. Me Before You always left me going back for more and truly encompasses characters of all dimensions. The secrets of family and relationships among characters keep the readers digging for answers as they are fighting the clock and praying for that happy ending.
3. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
We all know Harper Lee from that high school English class when we were forced to read To Kill a Mockingbird. Despite my initial hesitation to read this classic novel, I ended up loving it. In her second novel, Lee writes about what life was like in America during the 1950s in the depths of segregation. Scout Finch is still the confident, adventurous individual that we saw in Lee’s first novel (which I actually learned was written after her most recent novel).
4. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Ok, most of you have probably already read, or at least heard about, this novel, but I highly recommend reading it a second or third time. Despite Holden’s peculiar character, we feel a strong sense of empathy for him as we learn more about his experiences as he reflects on his mental breakdown throughout the novel. Salinger does a superb job of evoking a variety of emotions from his readers.
5. Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham.
If you are obsessed with Lena Dunham and her HBO series Girls (like I am), or you just really love to laugh and relate to a book of essays written by an awesome person, I highly recommend Not That Kind of Girl. Dunham shares various personal stories that are full of humor, relatability, and pure enjoyment.
6. The Taken Trilogy by Erin Bowman.
In her trilogy, Erin Bowman portrays the beauty, devastation, hope, and emotion that follows young individuals in search of the truth. The story unfolds in a series of unexpected events that leave you on a cliff wanting to know what is going to happen next and questioning what you just read: did Bree really just do that? Enter this thrilling world and expect to be invested until you read the last page of the third book (just kidding, you’ll still be invested well after you finish the last book).
7. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
I could not put this book down. Charlie’s character brings to light what it is like to suffer tragedy and to learn how to cope with the after effects. An introvert by nature, Charlie is taken under the wing of two amazing individuals who help him discover his purpose. Chbosky thoughtfully articulates the ups and downs of high school and reminds readers that there is always someone to turn to.
8. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
This intriguing and emotional story is written from the perspective of Enzo, the main character’s dog. Enzo takes us through the various events of his owner’s life, including the beautiful birth of Denny’s daughter, and shows us that his thoughts and emotions closely resemble those of a human. This open story makes you want to cuddle up with your own dog on the couch every time you sit down to read it.
Reading can be so relaxing and rewarding, and we all deserve a little "me" time. So grab a book (perhaps one of the aforementioned), snuggle into your favorite reading space, and enjoy the ride.
