Deep breath! Classes are over, exams are wrapping up, and we can finally relax… for three weeks. As a huge reader, I live for these three weeks. I get to read things I want to read, not articles, essays, or long textbooks for my classes. On Goodreads, a “social media” website for all things books, you can set a reading goal for yourself. Through this reading goal, Goodreads tracks what books you’ve read for the year. I want to share the top three favorite books that I read this year and one book I’m looking forward to reading during winter break. Â
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
This book is a modern twist on Jane Eyre and is Rachel Hawkins’ debut novel. Jane is a poor girl who has recently moved and started a dog walking business in Thornfield Estates, an extremely wealthy neighborhood. While on one of her walks, she meets Eddie Rochester who is the neighborhood’s mysterious man and recently lost his wife to a freak boating accident. Jane falls deeply and quickly in love with Eddie as he has everything she needs: wealth, safety, and he’s handsome. As Jane and Eddie grow in their relationship, Jane learns more about Eddie’s late wife and wonders if she can trust him.Â
Why I loved it: This book kept my interest from the first page to the last. When you think you’ve solved the mystery, you haven’t!Â
Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
This YA novel is about a girl named Mary B. Addison. When Mary was nine years old, she killed a baby…allegedly. Although Mary never admitted to doing it or not doing it, the jury sentenced her to prison and then a group home. When Mary turns sixteen, she gets a community service assignment at a nursing home where she meets Ted. Ted is another teenager in a group home. Ted and Mary fall in love and Mary becomes pregnant. Now that Mary is pregnant and in a group home, the state threatens to take her baby. She finally decides to use her voice to speak up and fight for her freedom. Her mother knows what happened but won’t talk. How can Mary convince her to speak up for her child?
Why I loved it: This book was dark, heartbreaking, and mysterious. I quickly got intrigued by Mary’s dark past and wanted to know…did she do it?
The Final Six by Alexandra Monir
In this YA novel, the Earth is being destroyed by natural disasters. Through a government program, twenty-two teenagers are chosen to take many tests and be chosen as one of the six to start a new colony on Jupiter’s moon. The story focuses on two teenagers chosen for the program, Naomi and Leo. The story follows Naomi and Leo through the tests and follows who gets chosen for the life-altering mission.Â
Why I loved it: This one was a big surprise to me, because I normally hate science-fiction books. However, this book was so interesting to see the end of the world from teenagers’ perspectives. The fact that these teenagers had to take on such a heavy role at such a young age was amazing to me.Â
You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao: A book I’m looking forward to reading!
Julie, a senior year in high school, has her next year planned. She and Sam, her boyfriend, plan to get out of their small town and spend the summer in Japan. Unfortunately, Sam passes away, throwing Julie into an emotional tailspin. One evening, she calls Sam’s phone just to hear his voice on his voicemail once more, but… he answers the phone. Now Julie has access to talking to Sam every day, but just his voice on these ghostly calls. Julie has to make the decision to keep these ghostly calls a secret or tell someone and risk losing Sam forever.