As a soon-to-be freshmen in college, there are things I no longer feel comfortable doing in public. One of them being the reading of my favorite genre of books--YA Fiction. These days, I am slightly embarrassed to be holding my novels with flashy cursive titles and closeups of eyes in the cover. I also feel like I’ve become too practical to invest myself in the lives of the one-dimensional characters and debate with myself over which boy in the love triangle is better. However, there is a part of my teenage identity that is shaped by the many hours spent in cafes reading these books. To honor my last summer as a young adult, here are some titles that kept me excited during my past years (and will continue to fuel my inner Romanist in the private setting).

1. "Before I Fall" by Lauren Oliver

I don't even know how to possibly convey my emotions for this book because let me tell you, this is a one of a kind. I first read this the summer before freshmen year and it has been my all time favorite (and four years is a long time to like one book). Each time I read it, I learn something new, whether it be how to treat my parents or my friends, or how to apologize for my mistakes. We’ve all been in the shoes of Sam and done mean things that we’re not proud of and would love a chance to do something over again. Through this novel, Lauren Olivier teaches you that you can choose to change anytime and that you should make the moral choice before it's too late.

2. "Vampire Academy" series by Richelle Mead

I got into the vampire romance trend with this series and it’s no wonder that I never enjoyed Twilight. Rose and Dimitri were sexier, faster, and more dimensional than Edward and Bella could ever be. I devoured each book and anticipated for a movie release (and was heartbroken by the crappy production). For me, there will never be another character like Dimitri, the kind that seriously changes the 13 year old butterflies in your stomach into adult lady ones.

3. "The Summer" series by Jenny Han

My best friend recommended this book sometime in middle school and ever since then, I have started summer vacation with my PDF copy of this series. There is power in Jenny Han’s description of the ocean air and the night walks in the beach that signifies the beginning of my own summer. A part of me expected and hoped that my high school experience would be as heartbreaking, yet exciting, as Belly’s. Reading this every summer made growing up a little harder each fall. In a few years I’ll be older than all the protagonists. Maybe then, I'll get over these books. If you ever find yourself missing the Fisher boys you can always turn to Han’s To All the Boys I’ved Loved Before,but I recommend rereading because Peter is no Conrad.

4. "Books of Bayern" by Shannon Hale

I’ve always wondered why these books weren’t as popular as they deserved to be. There is something so nostalgic in Shannon Hale’s novels that brings back childhood memories of princesses and kingdoms. I admire Hale’s ability to replicate the fantasy elements of fairytales but present them with a modern twist. Each novel portrays a strong independent heroine (and hero) with a special natural ability, who must learn the consequences of having that power. Hale’s Book of a Thousand Days and Princess Academy are also just as beautiful as the Books of Bayern.