The post grad summer is filled with more free time than you've had in four years combined. All of your required reading is finally over, and leisure reading has suddenly become an option again. I've already taken full advantage of this and compiled a quick list of some of my favorites.
5 -- A Dog's Purpose
A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron is currently best known for the motion picture that was released in 2017. If you could barely stand Marley and Me, then this book is for you, as it ends with a more light-hearted narrative. It combines the happiness various owners find with their dogs and the unconditional love dogs have in return. I was finally able to read a dog book without shedding a tear. In short, the book tells of a dog that is reincarnated into various lives before he is able to find his way back home and his true "purpose." Once you finish the book, I highly recommend the movie-- great adaptation of the book and a cute family film. After reading, I really looked at my own dogs differently.
4 -- Behind Closed Doors
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris is a great book to pass around with your friends. In short, it centers around a seemingly perfect marriage with a dark secret. While reading, I often found myself saying "no way," "wait what," and most often, "I'm shook." The various twists and turns will have you reading this book in less than a week. In the end, the significance of the red font on the front cover and the ultimate female superpowers will have you feeling some type of way.
3 -- Luckiest Girl Alive
Obviously, the title, Luckiest Girl Alive, is incredibly sarcastic. Jessica Knoll creates a story centered around the main character, TifAni FaNelli (who goes by various other names), a young professional who seemingly lives a perfect life. However, her past is filled with so many secrets that the plot thickens until the very end. You learn TifAni is involved in a documentary surrounding a past experience, but you will be stunned to learn the experience she actually reveals. Similar to Behind Closed Doors, Luckiest Girl Alive serves as a statement for young women: no matter what you've been through, you can conquer all.
2 -- Reconstructing Amelia
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight gives readers an inside look into the effects of bullying, the consequences of secrets, and the love between a mother and daughter. A mother is called to school to discover that her daughter, Amelia, has committed suicide by jumping from the roof of her school. Stunned and in disbelief, Amelia's mother works to uncover the truth, discovering secrets in not only Amelia's life but her own life as well. It's a classic "who done it" book and a well written one at that.
1 -- The Things You Find in RockPools
The Things You Find in RockPools by Gregg Dunnett is a hidden jewel in the literary world. The book is a murder mystery following the murder of a girl in a small beach town and a young, strange boy who makes it his mission to uncover the truth. Similar to Reconstructing Amelia, it's a "who done it" book. Spoiler alert: you'll never guess who actually did it. This is currently my favorite book of all time--if murder mystery books are for you, it won't disappoint.
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