Summer is finally here! This means no more assignments, group projects or pesky professors. Instead, it means days of relaxing on the beach and laying out in the sun, which is the perfect time to catch up on some reading. As an avid reader and aspiring publisher, I have read a fair share of books and these are some of my absolute favorites. I hope that you can find comfort and enjoyment in the books just as I have and that you all have a relaxing summer.

1. "Beautiful Disaster" by Jamie McGuire

The love story between Abby and Travis is one that is passionate, romantic, and full of twists and turns. Jamie McGuire leaves you unable to put the book down because you are so enamored with the story. If you love romance and a great love story, I promise you that you will love "Beautiful Disaster." Plus, if you love their story as much as I did, McGuire also rewrote "Beautiful Disaster" through Travis's point of view.

2. "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon

This book is full of history, mystery, war, romance and lots of twists and turns. "Outlander" follows the story of Claire Randall, who gets transported from 1945 back to 18th century Scotland where she meets Jamie Fraser and her life will never be the same again. Plus, if you love their story, there are eight books in the series so far and Starz has turned this book into a series so that you can see the characters come to life.

3. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Most of us have probably heard of "Pride and Prejudice," but how many of you have taken the time to read the book? "Pride and Prejudice" is one of the greatest love stories that has stood the test of time. Although Austen wrote this book in 1813, her characters are still very relatable and you will be wishing for your own Mr. Darcy by the end.

4. "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks is heralded as one of the best romance authors of our time and I can see why. I have read nearly all of his books. You really can't go wrong with any of them, but "The Lucky One" is one of my favorites. Logan survives a tour of duty in Iraq and he believes that it is all due to a photograph of a woman that he found on the ground. He returns to the states and is set on finding her and thanking her, thus a love story enfolds. Plus, if you loved the book, you can go watch the movie version starring Zac Efron.

5. "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

What would you do if your whole family died in a car crash and you had the choice to either stay alive or join them? That is exactly the choice Mia is faced with. Gayle Forman takes us through her inner turmoil as she lays in a coma and her remaining friends and relatives come to see her. We see the reasons for her to stay, but also her reasons to go, until she ultimately makes her choice. Bonus, "If I Stay" was also made into a movie recently and there is a sequel titled "Where She Went."

6. "The Selection" by Kierra Cross

Set in a dystopian future, "The Selection" is the story of an America Singer who is one of 35 girls chosen for the Selection, a competition to vie for the prince's hand in marriage. She enters the Selection hellbent on being sent home as soon as she can, but then she meets the Prince and she becomes conflicted. For those of you who are fans of the Bachelor/Bachelorette, you'll be sure to love "The Selection." Plus, this is only the first of five novels, so you won't have to put down the story too soon.

7. "Lost & Found" by Nicole Williams

"Lost & Found" is the story of Rowen, who dreams of going to art school, but her mom will only pay her tuition if she can prove that she can work hard by spending the summer at Willow Springs Ranch in Montana. Rowen wanted to just get through the summer with as little fuss as possible, but then she meets cowboy Jesse Walker. From that point on, nothing about this summer was going to be easy or go as planned.

8. "The Truth About Forever" by Sarah Dessen

Macy's summer was supposed to be nothing special. Her boyfriend was away at Brain Camp and she was working at the library, studying for the SAT's and grieving the death of her father with her mother. However, then she gets a job at Wish, a catering company with a chaotic, fun-loving staff. She meets Wes, who opens her eyes to the beauty and adventure in the world, and we watch Macy transform before our eyes.

9. "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger

When Clare first met Henry, she was only 6 years old and he was 36. Yes, that may sound creepy, but it was because he traveled back in time. "The Time Traveler's Wife" follows the meetings between Clare and Henry at different points in their lives, including Clare meeting the Henry from the future and Henry meeting Clare from the past. We watch how their relationship goes from one of a deep friendship, to teenage Clare having a crush, to them meeting in real life and finally developing their love for each other. Plus, "The Time Traveler's Wife" was also made into a movie that you can watch after falling in love with Clare and Henry.

10. "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

"The Lovely Bones" is a different style of book than the others on this list, as it is not a romance. It's a retelling of a murder through the victim's eyes and how her family is coping. The readers learn early on how the murder happened and who committed it, but her family does not and we wait anxiously with Susie for them to learn the truth. This novel is a lot darker, but it is very compelling and it makes your emotions go up and down.

11. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

If you haven't had the chance to read this book yet, I seriously recommend that you do. "The Great Gatsby" is a classic that will still be popular for years to come. Following the story of Nick Carraway and his encounters with the mysterious Jay Gatsby, we are transported back to the great Jazz Age full of flappers, sex, alcohol, and lavish parties. This book gives you an insight into America's history and it will delight you the whole way through.

12. "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher

Clay Johnson comes home from school to find a box addressed to him, filled with thirteen cassette tapes. He discovers these tapes are recorded by Hannah Baker, a classmate who committed suicide just two weeks prior. The tapes tell Clay that there were thirteen reasons why she killed herself, one tape for each reason and person. These tapes have traveled to each person and Clay is one of them, but he must listen to them all to find out. Although we know that Hannah is dead from the start, she is a very alive character and "Thirteen Reasons Why" makes one stop to think about the impact that we each have on a person's life.

I could honestly write a list that goes on forever, but these are some of my favorite books that have stuck out to me over the years and that I think are perfect to catch up on this summer. Happy reading, everyone!