Spring Break is such a nice and relaxing time in the middle of the spring semester. It signals that the end of the school year is within reach and summer is near. Although you might have some homework to do during your week off, you are grateful for some time to relax, travel, or work. Whether or not you’re traveling during spring break, it’s a time to unwind and read a few books. Here are my top picks of what to read this spring break and beyond:

If you’re looking for an historically based, time-traveling, romance series:

"The Outlander Series: Outlander" (Book 1) by Diana Gabaldon

Even though the first book was written over 20 years ago, the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon is a relevant and timeless series to check out. But be warned: these books are long, like over 700 pages long, but they’re so good, it won’t seem that long.

The main character is strong and independent Claire Randall, who was a British nurse during World War II. She travels to Scotland with her husband, Frank, for a relaxing trip just after the war ends. However, she goes “missing” and ends up traveling back in time to Scotland in 1743. In 1743, she has to survive during the violent time in order to figure out how to get back to her own time and her husband, and meets Jamie Frasier along the way.

If you’re interested to find out more, read the series! The book has everything you need: a strong female character, a bit of war, romance, history, and time travel. There is even a TV series based on the books: Starz’s "Outlander," which has won Emmy Awards and is a faithful adaptation to the books. So, if you’re obsessed with the books, you can binge watch the show as well during your break. Break well spent? I think so.

If you like the supernatural and want a book series that has both action and adventure:

"The Mortal Instruments Series: The City of Bones" (Book 1) by Cassandra Clare

You know that a book series is good when it is turned into a movie and then a new show on Freeform. "The Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare is a really enthralling series that will make you want to read book after book until you finish them all. The first book focuses on a girl named Clary Fray, who believes she is ordinary, until one day, her mother is kidnapped and everything is changed. Suddenly, Clary can see her hometown of New York City differently, with monsters and odd symbols. She tries to decipher what these new changes mean, when she meets bad boy Jace Wayland, who is also a superstar demon hunter. He explains to her the world she now sees is real and helps her figure out who she really is.

Of course, there is danger, violence, vampires, werewolves, demons, romance, friendship, homosexuality, etc. as well. It’s adventure, action, and a bit of romance that will make any spring break. Oh, and if you’re obsessed, like many readers are, there are companion book series ("The Dark Artifices" and "The Infernal Devices" series) that are set in the same world, but with different characters.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller:

"The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer" (Mara Dyer Trilogy Series #1) by Michelle Hodkin

This book series by Michelle Hodkin kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading it. As you can tell by the book title, the main character is named Mara Dyer. She wakes up in an asylum, and is blamed for the deaths of her friends and significant other. However, she can’t remember doing so and has weird visions and hallucinations. Is she to blame or is she not for those murders? Is she an unreliable narrator? Is she crazy or does she have a special gift?

I was asking these questions the whole time I was reading these books, as the author writes the books in a way that keeps the reader in the dark until Hodkin wants to reveal a bit of information here and there. If you’re interested in a quick-paced thriller series, this is for you.

If you’re looking for a chick-lit, fun, fairytale-like series:

"The Selection" (Book 1) by Kiera Cass

If you’re a fan of “The Bachelor," "The Hunger Games," romance, and fairy tales, you will surely love this short -- but great-- book series. America Singer is an ordinary girl, who lives in a caste system society and has been designated as a musician of low class since birth. Girls in her town are signing up for a competition to raise their ranking, and America reluctantly signs up as well. Every time the prince of the nation becomes eligible and ready for marriage, they run a competition called the Selection. Thirty-five girls from all different ranks of the system have the opportunity to live in the castle and win over the heart of the prince, Prince Maxon. America Singer gets chosen as one of the thirty-five and could not be more discontent: She is happy with her life and has a loving boyfriend. However, once she gets to the castle, she finds herself and eventually meets Prince Maxon.

How does this end? You’ll have to read to find out.

For those who want to read a great novel that is different and makes you think:

"Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes

If you didn’t know already, "Me Before You," is being adapted to film and is coming out this June. I read this book last week and it was one of my favorite books of this year. I am so excited for this film!

The book centers around Louisa Clark, who is a hackneyed person, living in a small town in a small home and has a long-term boyfriend. She is content with her life, but suddenly gets fired from her job, and is desperately searching for a new one. She finds a job working as a caretaker for a young man, Will Traynor, who, after a horrible accident, is a quadriplegic and is restrained to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He becomes depressed and Louisa, who becomes his friend, makes it her mission for Will to see that life is worth living and is beautiful, even if you are confined to a wheelchair.

This book has friendship, romance, change, and the theme of following your dreams. It even discusses hard issues like how it is to be a quadriplegic and having the right-to-die in extreme cases. This book is beautiful and changes your view on life and how you are living it. If you really love this book, the author wrote a sequel, titled "Me After You."