Whenever people ask me what I like to do I my free time, my go-to answer is always, “I like to read.” I’ve put it in pretty much every “Hobbies” section I’ve had to fill out, and it’s even listed on my Her Campus author’s page biography. Therefore, I’ve already read 36 books this year. Sure, a couple of those are rereads, but I still count them. Those 36 books include books I’ve read in my free time and books I’ve read for some of my classes here at Loyola. Out of those 36 books, here are my top 6 favorites.
6. All Together Now, Matthew Norman
After learning he has terminal cancer, billionaire Robbie Malcom invites his high-school friend group to Fenwick Island, located on the coast of Delaware, for one last reunion. But his friends don’t know what he is hiding, and they’re also hiding their own secrets. They might see this vacation as an escape from reality, but Robbie’s plans for them will be the opposite of an escape. I found this book at a local bookstore, and I’m not sure I would have found it otherwise. The group of high school friends attended high school here in Baltimore, and Loyola is briefly mentioned in one of the flashbacks. I actually visited Fenwick Island last summer, so getting to revisit it in the frigid winter weather was a blast. It’s short and interesting and has really interesting thoughts on legacy and what people go through when they find out a loved one is dying. As depressing as that description might have made it sound, I found All Together Now enjoyable and easy to read.
5. Daytripper, Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá
One of the courses I am taking this semester is an English class about comic books. It involves learning about the technical elements of comic books and also talking about superheroes and other characters who originated from comic books. Instead of reading books heavy with prose and dialogue, we get to read comic books.
This one is my favorite out of all the comics I’ve read for the class. Daytripper follows Brás, a Brazilian obituary writer going through the trials and tribulations of life. However, each moment shows Brás dying, leaving the reader to wonder what’s going on. The narrative is not linear, which left me confused for a minute, but things quickly start to fall into place after a few chapters. The artwork and lettering are phenomenal, and the story is engaging and heartfelt. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried a little while reading this. If you’re looking to get into comics and aren’t easily confused by a non-linear narrative, this is a great place to start.
4. Weather Girl, Rachel Lyn Solomon
I briefly talked about this book in one of my recent articles about books with cinematic feelings to them. I still haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since finishing. Set in Seattle, it follows a TV meteorologist and her co-worker, a sports reporter, as they try to reunite their divorced bosses in an effort to lessen the drama and tension in their workplace. What appears to be a cute romcom on the surface actually deals with more nuanced topics like depression and Judaism that give the novel more depth. It was so cute and such an enjoyable reading experience. I love pretty much anything this author writes, so I highly recommend her other books as well.
3. The Paris Apartment, Lucy Foley
When Jess arrives in Paris from England to stay with her half-brother, she’s not surprised when she arrives at an empty apartment. However, she is surprised to arrive at a very fancy apartment that she struggles to believe a journalist can afford. The longer Jess stays without her brother showing up, the more concerned she gets. Especially when all the people in the apartment building seem to have extremely strange reactions to her and her relation to her brother, Ben. Unfolding over the span of a few days, we learn about the secrets the people in the apartment are hiding and the truth that could ruin them all. This was super suspenseful and almost made me feel like I was watching a horror movie unfold in my head. I did not guess the ending, which was one I did not see coming. I thought the overall theme of the book was conveyed really clearly, which I appreciated. I won’t reveal it, though, because it does contain spoilers. You’ll have to read it to find out!
2. Daisy Jones and the Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid
I know I’m a couple of years late on this book, but at least I read it. And wow, did it live up to the hype. For those unaware of this book, it follows the epic rise and fall of Daisy Jones and the Six, one of the most successful rock bands of the 1970s. It is heavily inspired by the behind-the-scenes of Fleetwood Mac and their album, Rumors, so that was what I pictured while reading this book. It is told as a transcribed interview, jumping from various perspectives within just one scene. I’m not sure what I can say about this book that hasn’t already been said, but what I will say is that reading this book made me ridiculously excited for the Amazon Prime series of the same name that’s coming out this year.
1. From Lukov With Love, Mariana Zapata
This was the last book I read, and I feel like I’ve been in a slump since finishing this book a few days ago. This book follows Jasmine, a struggling professional figure skater, who teams up with her worst enemy and best friend’s brother, Ivan Lukov. Ivan is a legend in the figure skating world, and Jasmine does not have a major title to her name. When Ivan invites Jasmine to be his partner for the season, neither could have predicted what would happen. Talk about a slowww burn. Depending on the edition you get, this book is anywhere from 493-540 pages. And I devoured the whole thing in 3 days Author Mariana Zapata is a legend in the romance genre at slow burns with amazing payoffs. If you have the energy and mental capacity to endure this, it will be the most rewarding read of your month, I can promise you that.
I highly recommend each one of these books for completely different reasons. I hope one of them sparks your interest! Happy reading!