Now that it's winter break, college girls all over the country finally have a little downtime on their hands. If you're anything like me, that means that you can FINALLY just read for fun instead of for class, so here are some great reads to put on your reading list this winter break!

1. "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

This book is so amazing. The movie is in theatres now and I can't wait to see it. I have a rule that I only watch movie adaptations if I've read the book first, so this was the first book I picked up on break. It was a quick read because it's a fast-paced murder mystery and the ending is just wild. I don't typically enjoy reading mystery novels, but this one was especially good.

2. "I Was Here" by Gayle Forman

If you're a fan of "If I Stay," you'll love Gayle Forman's other book, "I Was Here." It's about a girl uncovering the truth behind her best friend's suicide. It's dark, but it's definitely a great read.

3. "Before I Fall" by Lauren Oliver

This movie actually came out last March, so I read it last winter break... twice. It was just that good. It's kind of like "Groundhog Day," but it's about a teenage girl that has to relive the same day over and over again. The book is better than the movie, but the movie's still alright.

4. "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

So many people recommended this book to me, so I just had to read it. "Wonder" is in theatres right now, so that was the extra push I needed to listen to this over audiobook on my drive home from college. It's a touching story about a little boy with facial deformities and his journey throughout his first year of middle school. Somehow this little boy has a way of affecting everyone around him and it's just a really heartwarming book that's also a little bittersweet.

5. "Emma" by Jane Austen

If you're a fan of that old 90s movie, "Clueless," you'll love "Emma." It's basically the same thing, only this is the real deal. All the single girls will love this one because it's about a strong independent girl that has no desire to fall in love... but it is a Jane Austen book...

6. "The Longest Ride" by Nicholas Sparks

There's also a movie of this book, but it's actually a lot different from the book. I don't usually read Nicholas Sparks, but I really liked this one.

7. "The Portrait of a Lady" by Henry James

OK, so I actually read this for class. However, I really really really liked it. It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea because Henry James is quite the long-winded writer, but I appreciated his writing style. I thought it was poetic and pretty. The heroine, Isabel, is slightly annoying, but in all honesty, she reminded me of myself.

8. The Entire Harry Potter Series

If you haven't read these, abandon all the other books on this list and devote yourself to this series for the next few weeks. I promise you'll love them.

9. "Astonish Me" by Maggie Shipstead

I can't even express how amazing this book is. The fact that not everyone has read it baffles me. It's so incredible. It's about a professional ballerina and loosely based off of actual historical events like Baryshnikov's defection from the Soviet Union. It's just an amazing read and I highly recommend this to anyone in search of the perfect book to read over break.

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading everyone!