Books are my first love. No other hobby or passion will ever make me feel the way that I feel when I pick up a new book. For this reason, summer has always been my favorite time of year. Not because of the warm weather, or the long nights, but because I have so much more time to read! This summer, I encourage you to pick up a book and dive into the world it holds. Maybe you’ll learn something new, or catch an idea, or find a piece of yourself within the pages. Books have a way of saying some of the things that we cannot, and we find ourselves relating to the characters in ways that the author describes for us.

Here’s a list of five books I would recommend for any reader to pick up this summer if they’re looking for a good read!

1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

If you like dystopian novels related to The Hunger Games, this is a perfect read for you. Set in the 2040’s, this book is a goldmine of pop-culture references and keeps you on your toes the entire time. Ernest Cline makes his characters extremely relatable, despite the fact that they’re basically living through virtual lives that even they sometimes have trouble relating to. Cline’s Wade Watts & James Halliday make readers feel like anything is possible if you’ve got enough passion and nerve.

2. Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

I was not expecting to relate to this novel as much as I did. Extraordinary Means follows the lives of Lane & Sadie, who are both patients in a tuberculosis sanatorium in present day. With a form of the disease that is drug resistant, they are among a small group of teens kept hidden away in a school in the mountains until a cure can be found. This was a very moving and realistic story, which puts emphasis on the fact that life is too short to take the safe route home.

3. The Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore

After Harry Potter, I really didn’t think I’d be able to find another series that would have such an impact on me. However, from the moment I picked up I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1), I knew that I was in for a great story. This series includes seven novels and a ton of novellas that give background on each of the characters and what goes on behind enemy lines. This story is about the nine children from the planet Lorien who were sent to Earth to hide away, who could only be killed in order. The series begins with Number 4, who realizes that he is next. The rest of the books are a whirlwind of suspense, action, and excitement. This summer, author Pittacus Lore will pick up the series again with a new novel called Generation One, so if you have the time make sure to catch up!

4. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen has written some great novels over the years, but Along for the Ride is by far my favorite. This story is about Auden, a smart but cautious girl who chooses to live with her father, his new wife, and their newborn baby for the summer. Auden’s childhood was spent dealing with her parent’s expectations of her and then their messy divorce, leaving no time for fun as she missed out on socializing and even learning to ride a bike. That summer takes Auden into different adventures she never thought she’d encounter, and collides her with people she never knew that she needed.

5. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Hands down, my favorite book. Chbosky’s coming of age novel features main character Charlie, who writes to an unknown friend throughout the book as he tries to navigate high school and put himself out there to make friends, while also dealing with some deep, internal struggles. What makes this story so great is how relatable Charlie is, and how much truth can be found in his words.

Head out to your local library and pick up one of these books if you’re bored and looking for something to do this summer, or just go in and browse the shelves for something that catches your eye. Reading opens up worlds for us that we didn’t even know existed, and what better time to take an adventure than summer?

Enjoy!