The first sign that summer break has really started is when I make my first library stop of the season. There is nothing more relaxing than being able to sit down with a new book.

In the hopes that it inspires you to pick up a book, I thought I would share some of the books that I’ve already read this summer, and some of the others I plan to read later on.

I’ve broken them down into genre, and for time’s sake, picked just a few of my favorites per category. I also tried to provide both a young adult-ish book and an adult book in each category, but I believe you can, and should, read everything you can get your hands on. Enjoy!

Fiction:

1. "When We Collided" by Emery Lord

"When We Collided" is technically a love story, but it does a better job of painting a picture of bipolar disorder/depression. Lord has been receiving tons of praise for this book and what it does for people who have bipolar disorder and/or depression. This book really has something for everyone. Also, Emery Lord is one of my all time favorite tweeters, so if you're looking for a good time and for tweets about feminism, Harry Potter, and cute dogs (what more could you ask for, really), give her a follow!

2. "The Beginning of Everything" by Robyn Schneider

"The Beginning of Everything" is perfect for any John Green fans out there. A little quirky and weird, a little mystery, and a little romance. This is one of those books that just makes you feel super satisfied after you're finished reading it. Like the cover hints at, it is definitely a roller coaster of a book.

Nonfiction:

3. "Positive" by Paige Rawl

Paige Rawl has been HIV-positive since birth. Her memoir, "Positive," chronicles her experience in school surrounding her HIV status and the bullying that she experienced. This is a really interesting book and a pretty quick read. While it does deal with heavier topics, Paige talks about them in a really professional and mature manner.

4. "The Midnight Assassin" by Skip Hollandsworth

This is the book I am most excited to get my hands on. "The Midnight Assassin" is flying off bookshelves and receiving rave reviews. This style of nonfiction writing has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years after the best seller "The Devil in the White City" had such a huge success. Skip Hollandsworth writes about "America's First Serial Killer." The term "serial killer" wasn't in anyone's vocabulary before the Austin, TX assassin came to be known. Maybe it's because I visited Austin, TX earlier this year, or just my habit of binge watching "Criminal Minds," but whatever it is, this is one of the books I am most excited to read this summer.

Historical Fiction:

5. "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys

I am obsessed with Ruta Sepetys. 100 percent, obsessed. While they may not be the lightest "beach reading," her historical fiction books are unlike any others I've ever read. "Salt to the Sea" is her latest book, and it's her best one yet. Horribly heartbreaking and powerful, it explores the little known tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff ship during World War II. The characters that she writes about are just absolutely perfect and so realistic. Her other two books, "Out of the Easy" and "Between Shades of Gray," are also fantastic.

6. "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

This is one that I'm excited to read, as it has been at the top of the best-seller lists for a long time. It is based on a boy and a girl growing up in different parts of Europe during World War II (this is a popular subject right now, if you couldn't tell). It's known for its beautiful prose and imagery, so I'm really looking forward to this one!

Mystery & Thriller:

7. "Finding Jake" by Bryan Reardon

"Finding Jake" is a suspenseful emotional thriller. It follows the story of Simon Connolly, the dad of two kids, one being the title character Jake. The plot of the book surrounds the accusation of Jake being involved in a school shooting, however, Jake has gone missing. This book is great because it provides a lot of emotional depth dealing with the relationship between dad and son, one that I feel isn't always commonly addressed in literature, and it also has the suspense/mystery factor to it.

8. "Pretty Girl 13" by Liz Coley

I haven't yet read "Pretty Girl 13," I actually just discovered it earlier this week, via Julia Reynold's blog, Stylish in the Stacks. This book recently won the Eliot Rosewater High School Book Award for 2016, which means that high school students all around the state of Indiana picked this as their top book choice for the year. Kidnapping and memory loss all sound like a recipe for a good story, right? I'm interested to pick this one up, because based on the cover alone, it definitely wouldn't have been something I had chosen on my own. But, as it has been flying off shelves and racking up numerous awards, I'm adding it to my list!

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

9. "The Martian"

I listened to "The Martian" as an audiobook and I was, surprisingly, a big fan. The book is about Mark Watney, an astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars, alone, for years. Reading a journal of a guy who is literally the only person on the planet, sounds horribly unappealing, which is why I went with the audiobook option, however it seriously captivated me. Sometimes I find myself thinking about Mark Watney's misadventures on Mars and I forget that his story didn't actually happen. The book is really well researched and about as realistic as living on Mars could be, so it definitely transports you to a different world.

10. "Dreamology" by Lucy Keating

I was not the biggest fan of "Dreamology," but tons of people are loving this book right now, so I felt it deserved a mention. It focuses on Alice, who has dreamed of her "dream boy" very vividly and in great detail, for years. Alice has known all along that this boy was just a figment of her imagination that comes to her once she falls asleep. However, she walks into class at a new school, and her dream boy is standing in front of her. This book has a cool concept but, the romance and cutesy moments were just a bit too much to handle at some points. But, that's also a reason that a lot of people love it so much. Try it out for yourself!

Book to Movie:

11. "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes

Practically everyone has seen the trailer for "Me Before You" at this point. It seems like the type of movie that can warm even the coldest of hearts. The movie comes out June 2nd, which is definitely motivating me to get this one started. A co-worker also recommended it after saying she cried most of the way through it. So, if that's your thing, it seems like "Me Before You" is a great choice.

12. "Room" by Emma Donoghue

I am a big fan of the post-apocalyptic book craze that is going around right now. Any type of foray into the possible future America seems to always be intriguing, and "Room" is no exception. The story focuses on three main characters: Jack, Ma, and Old Nick, who has been keeping Ma prisoner for the last seven years. The book is told from Jack's perspective, which is unique because although he is 5-years-old, this is definitely an adult book with some really terrifying concepts. The book was great and kept my mind spinning for days after I'd finished it, which is the main reason I haven't gotten up the courage to go see the film, which released in January 2016 (I do want to be able to sleep, after all).

Read on, my friends, read on.