As you write your last paper, study for your last exam, and start to pack up your things, you can finally take a breath: It’s almost break time! With a few weeks off, there’s plenty of time to catch up on sleeping, watching all of the things in your Netflix queue and, of course, eating all of the delicious food your parents can possibly feed you (two words: Christmas cookies). Another thing you should do: read. What?! Read after having to rigorously memorize 500 words of a dry history textbook for that final?! Trust me, it’s worth it. I’m a Netflix devotee like any other college kid, but reading over break will keep your mind active, and maybe you’ll even find a new favorite that will get your mind off of thinking about next semester’s stack of new (and probably tedious) assigned readings. Here are a few picks to keep you enthralled, with a mix of books I’ve read and loved (promise I wouldn’t recommend something dull), some of the best books of 2015, and some old classics.

1. "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami

Synopsis: Toru, a quiet and preternaturally serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable. As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman

Why You Should Read It: Haruki Murakami is one of the most widely known authors to come out of Japan, spinning tales that are a bit out there. Usually full of magical realism, "Norwegian Wood" is his best book to start off with if you're new to his works. I've been told this book is perfect to read in the winter. Slow, slightly melancholy, it deals with issues that many of us deal with as we grow older: heartbreak, loneliness/isolation, and nostalgia.

2. "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Synopsis: Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last -- inexorably -- into evil.

Why You Should Read It: If you love mystery/thriller novels, this one is for you. However, this isn't your typical whodunit. Instead, you're told immediately of who did the crime and what occurred; why the crime occurred is the real question -- and wait until you figure out the answers. And the ending! The whole time you feel like you're right there with Richard, completely stunned by the acts his friends will go to conceal a secret. By the end, you probably won't like any of the characters -- but you'll still be rapt to finish.

3. "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" by Jenny Han

Synopsis: This is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Why You Should Read It: I haven't yet gotten my hands on this one, but I will let you in on a secret: Jenny Han has been praised as one of the best YA romance authors of the past few years, with this book adding to the fanfare. A light but still absorbing romance, this is the perfect story to get wrapped up in after a stressful semester. Bonus: The main character is also half-Korean, so POC representation!

4. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory" by Caitlin Doughty

Synopsis: Most people want to avoid thinking about death, but Caitlin Doughty -- a 20-something with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre --took a job at a crematory, turning morbid curiosity into her life’s work. Thrown into a profession of gallows humor and vivid characters (both living and very dead), Caitlin learned to navigate the secretive culture of those who care for the deceased. Caring for dead bodies of every color, shape, and affliction, Caitlin soon becomes an intrepid explorer in the world of the dead. She describes how she swept ashes from the machines (and sometimes onto her clothes) and reveals the strange history of cremation and undertaking, marveling at bizarre and wonderful funeral practices from different cultures.

Why You Should Read It: WARNING: This book is not for those who are squeamish about death, blood, and other gory details. Of course, the story being set in morgue, you probably figured that out. However, if you're like me and have always wondered what happens behind the scenes after someone passes away, this is the book for you. While this topic can be depressing, Doughty handles the icky bits just as well as the funny stories, adding a sense of wry humor to her memoir that adds to it's charm and appeal. Throughout the book, she questions her relationship to death, and the end will deliver a one-two punch, but it's all extremely worth it. With a combination of stories that had me in tears at some points, while at others laughing out loud, this was a favorite of mine. Doughty also has been running her own YouTube series, Ask A Mortician, for a few years, that handles a ton of issue and questions surrounding death as well. I highly recommend both.

5. "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis: "Throne of Glass" follows Celaena Sardothien, an 18-year-old assassin in the kingdom of Adarlan. Upon being imprisoned by the rulers, she accepts an offer to compete with other killers in a glass castle for a chance to serve the kingdom. This leads her to form unexpected bonds with Chaol, the captain of the guard, and Dorian, the crown prince of Adarlan. In time, Celaena is drawn into a conspiracy and a series of battles, leading to discoveries surrounding both the kingdom and herself.

Why You Should Read It: Break time is the perfect time to become obsessed with a series; after all, you actually have the time to devour the whole series without having to do pesky homework. With the "Throne of Glass" series, you'll definitely want that extra time. This series has to be one of the best I've encountered in the past few years; with an exciting world, detailed plot, and fast-paced action, it delivers on all fronts. The protagonist's snark, sarcasm, and love of reading are all fantastic, but Celaena's at her best when she's vulnerable, and while she's fighting literal demons, we can all relate to her experience.

6. "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel

Synopsis: A band of actors and musicians called the Travelling Symphony move through their territories performing concerts and Shakespeare to the settlements that have grown up there. Twenty years after the pandemic, life feels relatively safe. But now a new danger looms, and he threatens the hopeful world every survivor has tried to rebuild. Moving backward and forwards in time, from the glittering years just before the collapse to the strange and altered world that exists twenty years after, "Station Eleven" charts the unexpected twists of fate that connect six people. Thrilling, unique, and deeply moving, this is a beautiful novel that asks questions about art and fame and about the relationships that sustain us through anything -- even the end of the world.

Why You Should Read It: For starters, George R.R. Martin himself couldn't help but sing the praises of this book. While that should be all you need to want to pick this up, all of the praise it's gotten is another sure sign it's a good one to add to your list. Unlike your typical post-apocalyptic novel that focuses on the action (good in their own right, of course), "Station Eleven" focuses on the aftereffects of the virus on individuals. As Karen Valby from EW writes, "This is not a story of crisis and survival. It's one of art and family and memory and community and the awful courage it takes to look upon the world with fresh and hopeful eyes."

7. "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Synopsis: Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is 6, Marie-Laure goes blind, and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is 12, the Nazis occupy Paris, and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.

Why You Should Read It: This book has been everywhere the past few months. Everyone from the NYT and NPR to small book bloggers have been raving about its awesomeness. While sometimes books this big don't live up to their hype, this one seems to differ. The winner of this year's Pulitzer Prize, it's a must-read for fans of "The Book Thief" and "Night."

8. "Nimona" by Noelle Stevenson

Synopsis: Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

Why You Should Read It: This graphic novel is perfect for either avid fans of the genre or newbies to the trade. Go for Stevenson's amazing artwork, stay for the convincing characters that you'll end up rooting for in the end (Ballister and Nimona are adorable together as villain and henchman). Be forewarned, the ending will probably leave you wanting a bit more, but overall this book is a perfect spin on why we do need others in our lives as both support and comfort.

9. "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Synopsis: The dark, fearsome Ringwraiths are searching for a Hobbit. Frodo Baggins knows that they are seeking him and the Ring he bears -- the Ring of Power that will enable evil Sauron to destroy all that is good in Middle-earth. Now it is up to Frodo and his faithful servant, Sam, with a small band of companions, to carry the Ring to the one place it can be destroyed: Mount Doom, in the very center of Sauron’s realm.

Why You Should Read It: This one should need no explanation at all. One of my absolute favorite series along with many others, "LOTR" isn't just your typical fantasy series. Tackling all kinds of issues and themes, the series remains relevant in today's world, with characters and world building that will make you imagine you're right beside Mr. Frodo and Samwise on their perilous quest. While the books are a bit dense, they're still well worth the read, and afterwards you can reward yourself by marathoning the movies.

10. "Fates and Furies" by Lauren Groff

Synopsis: Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. At the core of this rich, expansive, layered novel, Lauren Groff presents the story of one such marriage over the course of 24 years. At age 22, Lotto and Mathilde are tall, glamorous, madly in love, and destined for greatness. A decade later, their marriage is still the envy of their friends, but with an electric thrill we understand that things are even more complicated and remarkable than they have seemed.

Why You Should Read It: This is another book that's been all over both the bestseller lists. Combining allusions to both Shakespeare and Greek mythology, this novel on the highs and lows of marriage makes one think on whether or not love can be the only thing to sustain a relationship. Lauded for her work on this novel, Groff crafted a must-read for anyone who has seriously pondered the realms of marriage, love, and everyday life.

Hopefully one of these books -- whether you're into mystery, memoir, or YA, there's a little something for everyone -- will pique your interests. Make some hot cocoa, snuggle down into a nice reading chair, and get prepared to escape to a whole new world enveloped in paper and ink as the weather gets frightful outside.