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10 Books to Help You See the Light at the End of the Tunnel this Semester

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

Dig yourself out of your piles of homework, cramming sessions and endless cups of coffee this semester for these breath-taking reads!

1. Live Through This: On Self- Destruction and Creativity by Collected Artists

This book is simply amazing. All of the stories are gathered from women that have experienced awful, heart wrenching things and share ways that they take their pain and channel it into beauty. Each story is unique and the writers try to make it as relatable as possible, which is great because not all of us are stars in the porn business or actively on tour (Maybe you are, I don’t know). I read this book over and over again and each time I get that boost of faith and love from a bunch of women that I don’t even know. I hope you feel it too

2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The movie got a lot of praise and you may have already seen it, but regardless you should read the book. It’ll suck you in and keep you focused when you need that release from what’s going on all around you. It’ll also make you feel a lot less crazy.

3. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I may be obsessed with Gillian Flynn. All of her books are insanely well written and they completely take in all of my attention and focus. To me, that’s key to a good book. In Sharp Objects, a woman reporter has to go back to her home town to try to cover a story on disappearing children. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and maybe be just as shocked as I was by the end.

4. No Mud, No Lotus by Thich Nhat Han

If you are trying to gain some peace and maybe help some trouble areas in your life, let Thich Nhat Han hold your hand and help you through it. Thich Nhat Han is the leader of the mindfulness movement and has broken down how we can get there with advice filled with love, kindness, and wisdom.

5. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

If you read Harry Potter than you know how talented J.K. Rowling is. This book is nothing like Harry Potter at all except in the way that it is extremely well written. Give it a chance and let J.K. Rowling prove to you even further how talented she is.

6. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

If you need some inspiration to get back into the school mode and feel excited about it, Rainbow will help you out. This book has a college setting with a sweet and innocent love story attached. It’s a light read that will give you all the feels.

7. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

I may also be kind of obsessed with Rainbow Rowell… but if you read her work, I promise you’ll see why. This book has a heavier story that is centered around love and will probably make you shed some tears. Grab a few tissues when you pick up the book.

8. If You Feel Too Much by Jamie Tworkowski

If you aren’t familiar with the To Write Love On Her Arms movement, this is the guy that started it all. He wrote this beautiful book to explain the movement and offer some sentiments on all different aspects of life. If you’re dealing with anything difficult (which, I’m sorry, who isn’t) while also having school on your plate, give this a go.

9. & 10. Chasers of the Light by Tyler Knott Gregson & I wrote this for you and only you by pleasefindthis

These stories are filled with beautiful, heart destroying poetry. If you’ve been hitting the books and feel like you’re a stats robot and you need some love back in your life, this is the cure.