With the new school year fast approaching, there is still some time left to get a last-minute summer read in. While some may gravitate towards the shorter, more fast-paced reads, big books deserve a little more love. A book more than 400 pages can be pretty intimidating, but in the end it is well worth it if you find the right one.

Here are four sizable books that are worth every second spent reading:

1. "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara (736 Pages)

This books follows four friends: Jude, a cryptic character who is center stage for most of the plot; Malcolm, an architect who is discontent in the world; Willem, a budding actor who gets all the girls; and JB, a struggling artist. The story follows the group through all their trials and tribulations as they grow older and experience the good and bad in life. The book is written beautifully and will draw you in from the first page. You feel so connected to the story that the characters seem like people in your own life. You feel the emotions that the characters are feeling. This book is definitely a whirlwind and not for the faint of heart as it covers several forms of abuse. In the end, this book is definitely worth picking up.

2. "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens (544 Pages)

Though not as lengthy as the previous tome, this book definitely takes some time to read with Dickens' intricate sentence structure and detailed plot line. History buffs might enjoy this book as it offers some insight into the conditions within England and France during the Reign of Terror. The characters will definitely tug at your heartstrings as you take in the relationships between Charles Darnay, Lucie Manette, and Sidney Carton. This novel, like most of Dickens' other novels, contains several distinct plots that all connect by the end of the story, which will keep you interested until the final page.

3. "Mistborn" by Brandon Sanderson (672 Pages)

This fantasy novel is the first in a trilogy set in a world where the bad guy wins and a band of thieves joins together to take back the empire. Sanderson's skill at world building is apparent as the world contains a complex magic system and an even more complicated collection of characters. There are so many plot twists that by the end of the book you'll feel disoriented, but still yearning for more. This is definitely a book to add to your reading list.

4. "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss (736 Pages)

This is another first-in-a-series fantasy novel that is sure to keep you enticed. The main character, Kvothe, goes on many an adventure before assuming the identity of "Kote" and becoming an innkeeper. After years of hiding, a man known as "The Chronicler" discovers Kvothe and writes of the man's life, as dictated by the hero himself. The format of this fantasy is refreshing because it is unlike any novel of the same genre (that I've read); the action and adventure is a remembrance, rather than taking place in the here-and-now. This soon to be trilogyis definitely worth starting.

Big books don't often get enough love because of the time and commitment one must dedicate. But, these novels could appeal to everyone and be worth it. The coming semester may bring hectic schedules and stressful coursework, but there is still time to squeeze in a great read. Which will you choose?