As a self-proclaimed bookworm, I tend to read a lot in my free time. I’m not much of a movie or TV show watcher, so books are what I use as my escape from reality into another world. I read all types of genres, but this year I have leaned towards creative nonfiction novels and fictional romances. Here are my five favorite books that I have read so far this year:
- In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
This book was recommended to me all over my Twitter and Tik Tok pages. Hundreds of women around my age were raving about it. When I finally got around to reading it, I was not disappointed. Beginning as a light-hearted romance novel, something very strange and almost supernatural happens to the main character at the start of the third chapter. This mysterious occurrence glued my eyes to the pages; I needed answers. The end of this book had an even bigger plot twist than I could’ve expected. 9/10.
- A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid
This is a shorter, more poetically written book that’s divided into four different sections. The author, Jamaica Kincaid, takes readers on a journey to Antigua through the lens of colonialism. The first section focuses on racism in the tourism industry, which has made a lasting impression on me and the way I still view tourism and travel. This beautifully-written narrative discusses moral issues when it comes to race, class, and identity in the world. 9/10.
- Real Queer America by Samantha Allen
If you’re interested in a more journalistic piece of literature, I highly recommend this book. Author Samantha Allen is a transgender woman who travels around the United States interviewing various people in the LGBTQ+ community. The dialogue in this book is equally fascinating and funny and truly showed me a new perspective on the views throughout this country. 8/10.
- The Deportees and Other Stories by Roddy Doyle
This book is full of many short stories, most if which I was fond of. Irish writer Roddy Doyle writes fictional stories that all have underlying themes of racism in Ireland. They are told in creative and entertaining ways but still contain important messages that are both informative and engaging. 8/10.
- It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Similar to In Five Years, this was another romance novel recommended to me all over social media. I saw people praising it for weeks, so I finally decided to pick it up. In the first half of the book, the narrator is telling the current romance story of her early adulthood. She also uses letters to show flashbacks of her younger, high school self falling in love for the first time. It’s fun and even a little bit risqué at times. Before you decide to read this book, I just want to warn you that nothing will emotionally prepare you for the ending of this story. During the last 200 or so pages, I physically could not put the book down. 10/10.