My top books in no particular order

It is very rare for people to say they find reading as a form of enjoyment. In fact, one in every three teenagers has not read a book for pleasure in a year. This probably stems from the traumas of reading for education during school years and therefore people equate reading to boring. I used to be the same, however, during the lockdown of 2020, I decided to pick up a book not for education but for fun. Since then I have found the beauty of reading and it has become a part of my daily life where I can escape into different worlds and imagine different lives. These books that I have recommended left an impact on my life and I hope they can leave an impact on yours.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown (series)

“Man cannot be freed by the same injustice that enslaved them.”

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Red Rising is a sci-fi fantasy series centred around 16-year-old Darrow. Born a low red on Mars and after going through traumatic circumstances is tasked to infiltrate the ruling Golds and overthrow its reign. Following at first very similar characteristics of dystopian books such as Hunger Games and Divergent, the Red Rising world is divided by a colour system separating people into categories. The series immerses you in the world as you follow Darrow and the people he meets along the way to eventually becoming The Reaper. This series is in my top 10 books due to Brown’s well-thought-through world-building and character development. Each book gets better and better as we grow with Brown’s improved writing and technical fight sequences. Many would describe Darrow as a morally grey character as his goals can be received differently depending on the POV of each chapter, something Brown has successfully accomplished.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (series)

“Money can buy you a lot of things, but it can’t buy you a family.”

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What would you do if one day you woke up to be informed that you have inherited the money of a dead billionaire? That’s exactly what happened to Avery Grambs, a 17-year-old high school student. This book series takes you on a whirlwind of twists and turns and she uncovers the truth of the Hawthorne family and why billionaire Tobias Hawthorne gave a random teenager his fortune over his four grandsons. Barnes does a good job of keeping her readers on the edge of their seats with the use of riddles as we follow Avery and the grandsons on their journey to discover the truth. Though this is a YA mystery it does well with balancing its romance on top of all the plot twists. This can sometimes be hard to do, especially with keeping up with the story's plot but Barnes has managed to implement this trope amazingly.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig (duology)

“I’m just the wind in the trees, the shadow, and the fright. The echo in the leaves… the nightmare in the night.”

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Elspeth Spindle touched a mysterious card that transported a demon or “nightmare” inside her mind. She is a young woman on a journey to save her kingdom as she deals with the monster inside of her. This book has a really enticing magic system that deals with the power of cards which I thought was a very refreshing take on fantasy. The use of inner monologue, which can oftentimes feel tiresome for readers, was fantastically done by Gillig and reminded readers of the dangers of the Nightmare.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (series)

“I don’t think your brother did it – and I’m going to prove it.”

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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows our main character Pip as she uncovers the truth in this murder mystery. Popular high school student Andie Bell was murdered seemingly by her boyfriend Sal Singh who then killed himself. Years later our main character decides to solve this case and prove Sal innocent with the help of Ravi, Sal’s younger brother. When I picked up this book I went in with no expectations but was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. The way Jackson was able to keep the thriller aspect while still keeping it in the Young Adult genre was amazing to see. This book had me on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns along with the cliffhangers at the end of chapters to keep the reader enraptured.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (standalone)

“People see what they wish to see. And in most cases, what they are told that they see.”

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If I was to describe The Night Circus in one word it would be “magic”. Morgenstern is a magician in the way she structures her words and chapters. A mix of 1st and 2nd points of view, at first glance, can have readers worried about the flow of the book but fear not Morgenstern makes you feel like you are walking through The Night Circus itself. It can be argued that the book has no plot – which I sort of agree with – due to its main focus on describing the setting and atmosphere. However, if I were to say a plot for the book it would a competition between two magicians. With beautiful romantic lyricism the night circus makes you feel like you are walking through a dream and floating on clouds.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (series)

“I want to survive this world that keeps trying to destroy me.”

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Set at Yale, Ninth House surrounds our protagonist Alex – Galaxy – as we follow her past and present at the university. With the power to see ghosts, Alex had a hard upbringing and after the death of her best friend, she is invited to attend the prestigious school. This book has a unique structure as it rotates between past and present in each chapter. We have multiple storylines of a murder mystery in the present and the disappearance of Alex’s mentor, Darlington, in the past. Alex is a morally grey character with lots of depth as she reflects on her past trauma, and the journey of self-healing, and finds friends in this dark academia.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney (standalone)

“There are enough closed doors and glass ceilings in the world. My comfort zone shouldn’t be one of them.”

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The only contemporary romance on my list, this story is my comfort read. When I grew stressed with understanding heavy world-building when reading my fantasy stories, I decided to pick up Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. Only meant to be used as a pallet cleanser, this book became the first I would recommend when people asked me for a light-hearted romance. With the book being a black romance, the story did not focus on race which is something I appreciated. Quinn and Carter are two polar opposites who both attended a prestigious white-centred school. When Quinn loses her diary, she and Carter must go on a hunt to find it while Quinn also learns to face her thoughts now that she no longer has her journal.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt (standalone)

“It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially.”

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The Secret History has very divided opinions on whether this is a good book or not. Despite other opinions, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. With pretentious and wealthy college students we read through the biased opinion of Richard. He is a lower-class boy who sucked himself into a group of selfish Greek-obsessed students with dysfunctional lives. With themes of betrayal, romance, murder, and depression, Tartt writes a dark academic novel centered around the consequences of unforgivable actions. Its 800+ pages are absolutely worth it with every scene adding to the overarching plot.

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab (standalone)

“What is a person if not the marks she leaves behind.”

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In an effort to run away from her arranged marriage, Addie longs for freedom and in doing so makes a deal with the devil, Luc. In this deal, Luc promises she can travel the world and gain the knowledge she only dreamed of having. However, in doing so Luc makes Addie immortal and everyone she meets quickly forgets her, making her a ghost that can’t make her mark in the world. This book jumps from past and present as we follow Addie in the early stages of her immortality to the present where she meets book shop owner Henry. But, unlike most people, Henry remembers her. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a tear-jerker where you will laugh and cry as we follow Henry and Addie on their path of self-healing and figuring out the life they really want for themselves.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris (standalone)

“Joy in the face of oppression is its own kind of bravery.”

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The Cost of Knowing is a devastating story about brothers. Alex has the ability to see the future and when he touches a picture of his family he sees that his younger brother Isaiah will soon die. In these next few days, Alex tries to fix what had broken between him and his brother while doing everything he can to save his inevitable end. In this story, Morris delves a lot into brotherhood and seeing black boys vulnerable in a different way often presented in the media. It deals with heavy subjects such as loss, grief, and finding joy in dark times.

If you are not much of a reader, I hope these books give you inspiration to start your reading journey. There is a book for everyone out there and no matter what, I believe everyone can find a book they love. Don’t let the trauma of sitting down and reading to your dad/mum when you were younger affect how you see reading. According to Healthline, reading has lots of benefits such as strengthening the brain, building vocabulary, reducing stress, and many more.