This summer I have spent a lot of time either reading books or writing and I have to say, I have fallen in love with so many books. So I thought I would share my favorite books I have read so far.

1. Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway

This book was amazing. It starts out kind of hard to get into, but as you keep reading it, you start to enjoy the start. The story is focused on a boy named Oliver and a girl named Emmy. Oliver was kidnapped by his dad when he was little and Emmy hasn’t seen him since. They were best friends when they were little. 10 years later, they found Oliver and he comes back to their hometown and you as the reader see how Oliver and Emmy relationship changes and stuff. I really liked the book because Emmy has always been sheltered her whole life since Oliver has kidnapped, so it’s really interesting to watch her become who she wants to be throughout the book.

2. I Was Here by Gayle Forman

This book was just wow. I didn’t read this book this summer, but I can still remember how powerful Gayle Forman’s words were as I was reading this book. If you’re looking for a book that has romantic, but also talking about a serious topic, check out this book. The story is about a girl named Cody and her friend Meg. Meg committed suicide by drinking a bottle of cleaner alone in a motel room. Cody and Meg were best friends, so Cody is both shocked and devastated because she didn’t see the signs. Meg’s parents ask Cody if she will go up to Meg’s college town and pack up her belongings and while she is there she realizes she didn’t know her best friend like she though she did. Then while at Meg’s place, she found a encrypted computer file, but then she decrypts it and starts figuring out why her best friend really died. When I read this book, I couldn’t put it down and those are the kind of books I like. After I finished the book (and wiped away all my tears), I had a huge respect for Gayle Forman. Her words were so powerful, I felt it and won’t forget it.

3. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

This book is probably my 2^nd favorite book ever! It will always have a place in my heart and every time I will talk about it or ever say it all the feelings I felt when reading the book will come back to me. The story is about a girl named Violet and a boy named Finch. The book is written from both of their point of views. They meet at the top of their school’s bell tower and stop one and other from killing themselves. They end up pairing

up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state. This book will make you feel and feel hard. They both need one and other and once you get halfway through the book you will see why I say that. But overall this book is one of my top favorites.

4. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

I love his book, I really feel like the story and the character are very realistic. The story is focused on a red head girl named Eleanor and an Asian American boy named Park. They met on the bus. At first, Park doesn’t really Eleanor, but then start to bond of comic and music. Yeah, it has your typical YA romantic in it, but it’s so much more then that. You get to see how two 16 years teenage go from not knowing one and other to falling madly in love (kind of like Romeo and Juliet, without the death at the end.) I love so much and I will always feel the emotions I felt while reading it.

5. Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

This book keeps you engaged. The story is followed around a girl named Samantha McAllister. She looks like just the rest of the popular girls in her junior class, but Samantha has a secret. She has Purely-Obsessional OCD which is consumed by stream of bad thoughts and she worries she won’t be able to turn it off. Then she meets a girl named Caroline and she introduces Sam to Poet’s Corner. There she feels drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy. When she is there she begins to feel more “normal” then she ever did as part of the popular crowd. This book always kept me on my feet and I’m pretty sure once you get half way through it you will realize why.

6. The Incident by Hanna Akpan

You're probably like "what??" You published a book?!?! Yes. I did. It was for my senior year of high school "Senior Project." It’s in my book favorites because it’s one of my favorites. I mean what 18-year-old teenage can say “I wrote a book?” Not many. I really do believe it a good book for someone who might have read a book like the ones before or likes book that don’t just focus on romantic the whole time. My book is about this girl named Aly Pisano. When she was 14 she witnessed her dad walk out on their family and also had trauma event happen to her, so she gives up on the idea of love. Then her senior year she meets this boy named Ethan, who changes her view on life with a trip and a fall like no other. I’m not telling you guys to go buy the books I have listed, but totally change them out. (Plus amazon lets you look at the first few pages on books online). I hope my favorite books become yours too.

-HA