I know it sounds impossible...but, why not dust off the old imagination and try reading for a change.
1. "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain
Recommended for you
I don't know how you haven't read this by now...but, it's based on the life of Ernest Hemingway's wife. It follows them through their rocky marriage and also their incredible times living as artists in Paris.
2. "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz
Poor poor Oscar Wao, you immediately bond with the chubby boy from New Jersey with a passion for SyFy and love. Although he is trying his hardest, nothing ever really seems to go Oscar's way, which he blames on the family curse. But, no matter what, Oscar is willing to risk everything for love.
3. "A Visit from the Goon Squad" by Jennifer Egan
A sort of "Love Actually" deal, where it is a bunch of different stories intersecting, but it is beautifully written with amazingly human characters.
4. "The Prince of Tides" by Pat Conroy
This is literally like a southern soap opera. A suicidal sister, a heroic older brother, an affair with the psychiatrist, and that's just the beginning. Conroy puts every possible twist he can into this novel, but it's still believable and impossible to put down.
5. "Ghost Boy" by Martin Pistorius
The amazing true story about a man trapped in his own body. Martin fell sick as as a boy and fell into a coma, however two years later, he woke up. Only, he couldn't speak or move. So he was trapped with only his thoughts and no way to let his family know that he was actually there. This book fills you with every emotion possible, but it's incredible.
6. "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls
I know that this is a favorite of most people, but it is a heartbreaking memoir about a struggling family and how they cope with their poverty. It takes you all over the country, with you rooting constantly that everything will work out.
7. "Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie
You know the Disney movie and maybe have seen "Finding Neverland," but have you actually read the book? The story of Peter Pan may seem childish, but it is extremely well-written and will want to make you believe in flying boys and fairies.
8. "Room" by Emma Donoghue
Just recently made into a movie, this book is about a young mother trying to create normalcy for her son. They both only know the world inside a single room, haunted by a man who only comes at night and keeps them trapped. It's heartbreaking but definitely a must read.
9. "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio
Heart-wrenching and heart-warming, this story follows Auggie, a boy with several facial deformities, but it is written from several perspectives, like his best friend and his sister. It'll make you laugh and cry and want to become a better human being.
10. "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
A love story (of sorts) and a mystery, this story seems to have it all. It surrounds the lives of three women: Megan, Anna, and Rachel and how the three intersect. Rachel, an alcohol, stalks her ex-husband who is now married to Anna, while Megan lives down the street with a seemingly perfect marriage, although the other women soon discover that Megan is not so perfect. It's hard to put down this book as the story unfolds.
11. "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Based during WWII, an intriguing story of a blind girl in Paris and a German orphan and how their stories are related. I don't like giving away too much, but Doerr is an extremely talented writer, and it is almost too easy to get lost in this novel.
12. "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte
OK, stop rolling your eyes. This book may have been required in high school, but try reading it for fun now. It's actually an entrancing story. True love and longing and serious family drama. If you tried reading it like you weren't going to be tested on it, it's actually a great read.
13. "Big Little Lies" by Liane Moriarty
Surrounding the lives of three young mothers, this novel is full of turmoil. Jane, Celeste, and Bonnie all have kids the same age and become fast friends. However, there is constant drama in all of their lives. There is abuse, love, and even a death.
14. "Me Before You" by JoJo Moyes
Lou Clark is an ordinary girl by any means, with a steady boyfriend and a loving family, and she has spent her life in her tiny village. However, she takes a job working for a moody, bossy wheelchair-bound man, Will Traynor. Although they are so different, they become unlikely allies, and Lou soon cares so deeply for Will's happiness, which leads her to a very very hard decision.
15. "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah
A definite tear-jerker, but nonetheless an outstanding novel. It exposes the horrors of Nazi-occupied France during WWII. The novel surrounds two sisters who create an inseparable bond and try to create hope in such a cruel environment. The older sister is forced to say goodbye to her husband as he goes off to fight, and also host a Nazi, while her younger sister decides to join the French Resistance, putting their lives at stake.
I know binge-watching your favorite show may seem like the best thing to do with your time, but these books make turning off the screen worth it.
