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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CNU chapter.

Today I provide to you a list of my top 10  reads that left me SHOOK in all my 19 years of life. Giving you all the nostalgia and all the best content, I’m going to provide to all you lovelies my favorites that you need to read too. Or do the college thing and watch the movies :)

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 

First and foremost, if you had any childhood and thought by age 13 that you too would be scurrying off to Camp Half-blood, then Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series would be at the top of your list too. A book you can read at any age and characters you’ll fall in love with, this series is exactly what one needs when trying to escape reality and be a kid again.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare 

Many people might disagree. Many people might not even know of Cassandra Clare’s best book series, but I’m here to tell you -READ CLOCKWORK ANGEL.

Thirst No. 1: The Last Vampire, Black Blood and Red Dice by Christopher Pike 

Yes yes I know this isn’t the Vampire Diaries and Damon doesn’t grace us with his presence here. Clickbated you, but Thirst is kinda like it. Just imagine instead a 5,000 year old vampire and 10x more men and death. You know that book you pick up when you’re just a wee bit too young to probably be reading. Ya, this is mine. Christopher Pike’s very long, very intense and very sensual book series Thirst is probably something my 13 year-old-self should have waited to read. In all 594 pages of her glory, she’s probably a read for the winter break or summer vacation but she’s worth it. I mean, who would wanna miss Pike’s five page graphic detail of a candle burning in a Nazi prison from book 5 when you get there? If you get there? You’ll get there. 

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

This is one of those books I read years ago, don’t really remember all that happens but it just really stuck with me. I read this book probably in less than a day and I vividly remember closing it and just staring at my Latin classroom wall for a solid ten minutes contemplating life. If that’s what you’re in the mood for, please check out Jeff Zentner’s The Serpent King!

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee 

Let’s get personal. Let’s get a little romantic. Maybe even a little historical? Mackenzi Lee has outdone herself with the Montague Sibling’s series and her first book, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue excels. Plus, if you listen to it as an audiobook, the voice is british. If that’s your thing of course. 

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Not really much to say here. This book is just kinda dope. Also, reading this after watching Dark on Netflix will really f*** you up. 

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys 

Switching to a more serious of topics, Salt to the Sea is tremendously sad, but a beautiful read. Ruta Sepetys’s novel is beyond heartbreaking, highly realistic and quite historical, centering around four individuals during WWII trying to survive on their way out of Germany.

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Idk I just really love this book. It’s simply a really well-written novel. You’ve probably already read this though thanks to high school. Leave your comments down below what you thought. 

Dubliners by James Joyce 

This collection of short stories by James Joyce is by no means his best work (according to critics) but I find it to be quite a dark yet charming read. But maybe that’s the english major in me :)

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

Last, but best of all in this whole article, my beloved Call Me By Your Name. It took me over two years to finish this book; not because it was bad (by no means is this anything such) but because I didn’t want it to end. Lyrical, intensely sensual and vivid, AndrĂ© Aciman’s novel and Luca Guadagnino’s film is breathtaking. And the soundtrack… ah we love, we cry!

To be all clichĂ©, let’s add a few other mentions that you should read: the Tao Te Ching, “The Man of the Crowd” by Edgar Allan Poe, Blood Oath by Raye Wagner, Maximum Ride by James Patterson, Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco, Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass, “Master Harold” and the Boys by Athol Fugard, and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Also, if you yourself have read of these, leave a comment below of what you thought!!! 

Hey all! My name is Monica and I'm currently a senior at CNU dual majoring in History and English Literature. Most likely you're going to catch me on campus stressed, binging House or Criminal Minds or hanging out with my roommates and watching horrible movies, fixing family dinners, and wasting all my money at Barnes and Noble.