Picture this. It’s a rainy day, you’re comfy in your sweatpants, and you’ve got a cup of steaming hot chocolate waiting for you. But wait, something’s missing isn’t it? That’s right, you need a book to complete the picture. Have no fear, I am here to save the day. Yes, books are lovely things, and I’ve got a couple of books you need to add to your reading list. Keep scrolling, and you’ll find seven awesome stories you’ll be spending this month cuddling up with.
1. Paper Towns, by John Green
If you want to go on an adventure without actually getting up from the comfort of your own bed, then this is the perfect book for you. There’s no doubt you’ll immediately fall for the characters in this book, and Margo Roth Spiegelman will definitely make you wonder why you haven’t taken the risk to have a little fun. This book is the perfect mix of love and humour for all the rebellious ninjas out there. Give it a go, and you can bet that you’ll be preparing for an adventure of your own.
2. The Maze Runner, by James Dashner
I can safely say that this is my favorite book because it kept my heart racing all the way to the end. While reading this, you’ll be transported to the futuristic world where you’ll meet boys who will steal your heart. (You can never have too many book boyfriends.) There’s a maze, weird robotic creatures called “Grievers” and a lot of slang that you will learn to love and use in your daily life. The best thing about this book is that you get to solve the puzzle with the characters and experience their journey to learn where they came from. You won’t be putting this one down until you’ve gotten out of the maze.
3. If I Stay, by Gayle Forman
This book is an onion. It’s got a whole lot of layers, and it’s going to make you cry, so be prepared. If I Stay will make you run to your family and friends and let them know how much you appreciate them, (seriously, do it now) and you may even end up missing the boyfriend you never knew existed. Mia, our main character, is involved in a car accident with her family and ends up being stuck in the middle of life and death. This book is full of choices she has to make. The main one? Having to decide whether she wants to live or die, while revisiting the key parts of her life so far. Her story’s going to make you smile, and you’ll also drop a tear here and there. I’m making it seem like you’re going to be bawling by the end of this book, but I assure you, you’ll be thinking how you ought to seize the day and live life to its fullest.
4. Starcrossed, by Josephine Angelini
I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology ,and if you are, too, you’re going to love this one. It’s part of a series, so if you do fall in love with this book (which you will), don’t worry because there are two more books to sink your teeth into. This story follows the life of Helen, a sixteen-year old girl, who has constantly felt out of place and wants to know where she belongs. She begins to experience nightmares and hallucinations until she realises that it’s all happening for a reason. Like almost every other young adult story, there’s a dude you just can’t help drooling over. By the end of this book, you’ll want those myths to be true because this book consists of your favourite gods and goddesses as they join forces to fight off the darkness that threatens to ruin love and friendship. Warning: this book will give you fuzzy feelings.
5. So Close To You, by Rachel Carter
Let’s be honest. If time travel was a real thing we’d all like to try it out. Yet everything comes with a price doesn’t it? This book is a science-fiction fantasy story mixed in with a little romance (obviously) and mystery. Lydia discovers a portal and is immediately transported back into the past where she realises that all the strange stories she was told are true. On the way, she meets a mysterious stranger and begins to investigate the truth and secrets, behind a weird experiment, the Montauk Project. She walks on dangerous territory to unravel the truth but with one wrong turn she can either save her future or destroy it.
6. Divergent, by Veronica Roth
In this dystopian story, you’ll be introduced to a divided society separated with five factions. Divergent is all about Beatrice “Tris” Prior and how she learns to face her fears. Every year, sixteen-year-olds choose a faction to remain in for the rest of their lives. They choose between Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless) and Erudite (the intelligent). Tris chooses a faction she never thought about choosing and tries to search for her true identity in a community that eliminates anyone who poses a threat, but little does she know that the threat is a lot closer to her than she expected it to be. As the story progresses, she finds love but must also focus on the real danger that may just cause the downfall of her community.
7. The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter
If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m into Greek Mythology. A friend introduced me to this book, and it’s a great read if you’re a die hard romantic. Henry, a.k.a Hades Lord of the Underworld, pops into Kate’s life while she’s at her lowest and strikes a deal with her that is hard to reject. She has to pass seven tests in order to keep her sick mother alive. If she does pass, not only does she save her mother, but she also becomes Henry’s future bride and, on top of it all, a goddess.
Now that you’ve got your list, I suggest you get to it. Fall in love with the characters and appreciate the authors. Curl up in your comfiest clothes, make yourself a drink and block out the outside world as you fall into a bubble of your imagination.