Ever since I was little, I have always been a bookworm. I was (and still am) the kid who prefers reading the day away to binging endless seasons on Netflix. There’s something unique and thrilling about a good book—the excitement of meeting new characters and exploring new worlds through the power of words. My life sure would be boring without the joy of my favorite books and I don’t think I would be the person I am today if I had never dared to read them.

To My Favorite Books,

You are the books that have shaped me.

Thank you for always being up for an adventure. On a rainy day or a boring afternoon, you’re the ones I can undoubtedly turn to for a temporary escape. You’ve enriched my imagination with beautiful new worlds, supernatural battlefields and breathtaking palaces that I dream about every day. When the world bores or disappoints me, I know there is always someplace waiting for me.

Thank you for inspiring the confidence in me. You’ve introduced me to the most wonderful of characters and given me a plethora of fictional best friends. My expectations for a happily ever after might be a little unreasonable, but I’d say every minute was worth it. You have shown me what true friendship looks like and taught me to love others as well as myself. You have provided me with a myriad of wise words and mantras that now decorate my room; without your deep quotes, I’d be so lost.

Thank you for touching my heart. The best books have inevitably made me shed a few tears. You’ve evoked the strongest emotion out of me and frequently caused my heart pound with anticipation. Because of you, I have shared my love of reading with other people and bonded over plot twists and cliffhangers. I’ve witnessed the best and the worst the world has to offer through your never-ending stories; I strive to be like the countless role models you have given me.

Thank you for constantly brightening my day. When I’m upset, I can always turn to you for a good laugh or a genuine smile. You’ve shown me that everybody has low points, but the strong-hearted will persevere through the end. You prove over and over again happy endings are inevitable for the dreamers. Furthermore, the end is never the end; perhaps it is only the beginning.

You have stolen my heart many times over, and for that I am so grateful.