Summer is the time when people want to kick back, relax, and get their minds off of their troubles. My favorite way to escape my troubles is to read. There are so many amazing books in a million different genres. When people see me reading they usually say something along the lines of, "Wow, I love that you read, I just can't get into a book like that." I tell them that they just need to find the right book for them. Finding the right book has a lot to do with what you are interested in and your general mood. To help you out here are a few book and author suggestions.

1. "Pride and Prejudice," Jane Austin

If you like classical music and movies, you might enjoy "Pride and Prejudice." It follows the lives of young women in the 18th century. The main character is Elizabeth Bennett, a young spunky woman, who is a feminist before feminism was born.

2. "The Outsiders," S.E. Hinton

"The Outsiders" is a book about a gang of boys trying to find their way in a world stacked against them. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories, then this is a book you should look into. S.E. Hinton does an amazing job allowing you to live vicariously through the characters in the story. There is also a movie that follows the book really well.

3. "The Disenchantments," Nina LaCour

If you are a free-spirited, art-loving adventurer, this is the book for you. This book is about four friends that just graduated high school and are on a tour with their band. They are all at different crossroads in their lives that forced them to make major decisions before the end of the tour. If you have wanderlust, this book will multiply it ten-fold.

4. "The Last Good Day of the Year," Jessica Warman

If you enjoy shows like "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," then you will definitely love "The Last Good Day of the Year." This book made me not want to walk around alone at night or sleep in a dark room. There are no supernatural monsters in this book, only real-life horrible human beings. The story is about a a young girl trying to figure out if she wrongly accused a man of kidnapping her little sister 10 years earlier when she was 7. This is the type of book that you can't put down till you finish it.

5. "Notes from an Exhibition," Patrick Gale

This book is so different from all the other books on this list. It is a much more mature book because of its focus on mental illness and its effects on a family. This is an absolutely amazing book that brings to light how important it is to help people who show signs of depression and never give up on them. It reminds us in a beautiful way that no matter who you are and what role you play in your family, you are allowed to be upset and have problems. If you are tired of insta-love stories and cliche novels, this book is perfect for you. This isn't the type of book you fly through; this is one you read slowly and think about.

6. "Daughter of Smoke and Bone," Laini Taylor

Now I have a few book series for you. The first one being "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" series. The first thing I have to say about this series is that it will make you want to get tattoos on the palms of your hands. The main character is a young woman who lives in Prague and attends art school. She seems like a normal girl who has an amazing talent for drawing and has a best friend who is a tiny fierce Slavic girl. But she lives a secret life collecting teeth for her monster father who some people refer to lovingly as the old devil. I read each of these books in two days. The characters are strong warriors who are fighting against prejudices that reflect issues we have in our society.

7. "The Mortal Instruments," Cassandra Clare

Don't let the horrible movie throw you off. These books suck you in and make you want to stay in the world that Cassandra Clare made. The main character is Clary, a high school New Yorker who lives a normal life until she meets Shadow Hunters and her world is turned upside down. Once you start, you won't be able to stop. The great part about this world she made is that you don't have to give it up once you finish this series, Clare has written a lot of books in the same universe with some of the same characters.

8. "Harry Potter," J.K. Rowling

You can't have a suggested book list without "Harry Potter." I know that a lot of people don't read it because they think they are just silly kids books, but that is not correct. The "Harry Potter" books touch on important topics such as discrimination, classicism, prejudice, the cost of power, sacrifice, and so much more. The books literally grow up with the characters. Once you finish the books, you have so much you can do to continue your journey in the Wizarding World such as: watch the movies, join Pottermore, visit the theme park, join a Quiddich team, etc.

Reading is a great way to wind down and escape the real world. It is also a great way to live vicariously through the characters. I have learned so much about myself by reading and I've learned a lot about the world. If none of these books jump out at you, that is totally fine. Keep looking, I know you will find the right book for you. Good Luck.