For students of all ages and disciplines, summer is the time to take a break from school work and detox from the stress that is compacted into the curriculum.

Many choose to use the time to catch up on Netflix series and go exploring, but after a while, the nothingness can become boring. That’s your cue to pick up a book and dive into someone else’s life for a little while.

The following are recommendations for the beach, late at night after a long day of work or simply for your checklist:

1. Colleen Hoover, It Ends with Us

Aside from being my favorite author, Colleen Hoover’s novels captivate important life messages and situations that readers can gather throughout her creative and addicting plot lines. It Ends with Us exposes the mentalities and realities of abusive relationships, and demonstrates how strength and determination are two vital qualities to a happy life. It is a story of love and loss, as well as hope and enlightenment.

2. Kerry Lonsdale, Everything We Keep

This novel is perfect if you are looking for a binge read. The plot is so fast-paced that you find yourself gliding through the pages, unaware of how much progress you are making in so little time. The main themes are passion, loss and recovery and dysfunctional family, three things that almost every individual can relate to their life in some way. More information on the novel can be found in my review. The sequel, Everything We Left Behind, will be released on July 4th.

3. Jojo Moyes, The Last Letter from Your Lover

Moyes has written several profound novels, and this one is another example. It is centered around a journalist, a letter and a lost love, with the element of surprise creatively tied in. The novel played on my emotions through every chapter, and reminded me of why I want to take up writing, most likely Journalism, as a profession.

4. William Paul Young, The Shack

I recommend this novel for anyone who has not already seen the recently released movie. As in most cases, I do not think the movie did the novel justice, as many details of the plot were left out of the film, such as the depth of the investigation regarding the killer. From the words of Young, I could completely imagine myself in the meadows and the Shack where the main character experienced God in all forms, and truly feel the emotions coming off the pages. The lessons in the story enabled me to process my own ideas and relationships with my faith, and allowed me to see God in a new way.

5. Megyn Kelly, Settle for More

If you are looking for a break from fiction, Megyn Kelly’s autobiography is a good place to go. She tells the story of her transition in her career from a lawyer to a journalist, the journey of her childhood, as well as the hardships of being a mother and wife. The lessons she presents in the book make her seem like less of a public figure and more of a normal person, which gives the book more relation to the reader. While the book is not plot driven and lacks momentum in some chapters, she tells her story as it is, writing like a true journalist in uncovering the truths and realities of life.

So, take a breath, pick up a good book, immerse yourself in someone else’s story and experience the magical power of words.