Although there tends to be this perception that you have to be a certain age to read YA (personally, you can read whatever genre you want at whatever age your heart so desires, but that's just my idea of course), some young adults novels have a certain way of creating this relatable storyline that can rope a reader in.

Whether the genre you're focusing on is romance, realistic, mystery, etc., the world-building of young adult novels makes you wonder if you could be that same character and go on crazy adventures, destroying the bad guys or fall in love with the boy that was supposed to live next door/on a plane seat next to you. You get the point, right?

With that being said, I decided to reflect back on some of the amazing books that created life-changing moments for me. These books helped me to gain a new perspective on how I look at the world and what I'd like to see myself doing more.

For instance, reading about girl characters and their strength and determination, their love for books (wink wink), even their ability to go outside of the box has definitely helped me to learn more about myself as I read their stories.

Here are five books that have definitely been an eye-opener, and in the mix of the tiny blurbs set forth underneath the books I might add a little too much fangirling. Also to add, these books are not in any specific order, they all received beautiful five stars from me.

1. "I'll Give You The Sun" by Jandy Nelson

This book, filled with beautiful words and two beautiful perspectives from twins held my attention all the way to the beginning. Jude and Noah, who were normally so close to one another, kept their distance after an incident took place within their family. The readers learn how both characters deal with tragedy and are led on this journey to discover what it means to be emotional and how to live a life worth living through art and expression.

2. "Ignite Me" by Tahereh Mafi

This is the third installment of the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. When I say I freaked out at the end of the books, I freaked. I won't give too much away since it is, in fact, the third book in the series, but we need to admire the character development and amazing world-building inside of this book. For all of us readers who thought that this would be the last book, we are saved because Mafi announced last year that Restore Me would be the next book and is coming out this year.

So, if you haven't read this series, it's a must. The author has a way of intertwining beautiful words to allow for a powerful, yet calming all the same, character, Juliette. I believe there will actually be three more books to be released, so this shall be a wonderful adventure.

3. "The Sun Is Also A Star" by Nicola Yoon

The author of "Everything, Everything," Nicola Yoon, did an amazing job with this second book. I probably cried in the mix of finishing this book, not going to lie, but what book didn't I cry over? Everything takes place in a day within this book that discusses all things fate and even has a variety of perspectives within the book, even though we are focusing on two characters, Daniel and Natasha.

This love story focuses on the two, who are of different race, and throws them into this whirlwind of supposed events that the universe may have just set up for the two of them. The readers go on this heart-pounding adventure where you're not sure what could happen next, you can only hope for the best for the two.

4. "The Walled City" by Ryan Graudin

A forever favorite of mine that I should probably reread if I ever get the chance. This book focuses on three characters: one who lives in a brothel, another who is trying to find her sister who had been separated from her, and a boy who has been trying to escape the walls of a city overrun with drugs and danger.

These three characters lead different lives, but start to get in the mix of one another as they try to figure out the methods to help them get out of the danger that is within the Walled City, but they have only so much time as they race against all that is trying to hold them back. When I first read this book, a mixture of romance, history, and action, I knew the memory of this adventure would remain in the back of my mind every time I'd pass by this book in the bookstore or library.

5. "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Last and foremost, a book that has led such a wonderful impact on my life that I always get on myself about not reading it for the second time. This girl has three copies of this book, and has yet to read it for the second time but loves it all the same.

Out of all of Green's books, I'd have to say that "Looking for Alaska" is my absolute fave, a lot of people will disagree, but that's why we all have different tastes and aren't the same human being, right? Right. I read this book back in high school when things were a little rough and I was constantly down, and when I picked up this book I felt that I'd found this relatable, life-searching book that helped me out.

As the main character meets new people at this new school he attends and even finds a beautiful girl along the way, he's thrown into a crazy life adventure that may or may not change his whole perspective on life.

These books are just some of the few I have to recommend for the new year, there's certainly more where that came from and I can't wait to share these book adventures with you!