Nothing helps me take my mind off the dayâs events like flipping through the pages of a good book. After hustling through a block of classes and sending internship applications, itâs nice to get lost in a world of words.
In fact, a few Her Campus UFL members have been reading a few great books that theyâd love to share.
- Enderâs Game by Orson Scott Card
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Her Campus UFLâs senior news editor Jess Curbelo recently finished this exciting first installment to the Ender Saga. In this science fiction series, readers delve into a world overcome by aliens for 70 years. Children train from a young age, through the disguise of games, to fight in a war between humans and alien invaders.
âThere are a lot of schemes and plotting involved in the story,â Curbelo said. âAnd itâs entertaining to try to follow them and figure them out while theyâre still being executed.â
She said she enjoyed the world building, the characterâs traits and the sense of urgency despite the bookâs long-time span.
âI cared about what was happening,â she said. âI cared about the results of the war, and I definitely cared about the games the kids were playing.â
Curbelo found the book worthy of a five-star rating.
- Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
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Morgan Sparker, a Her Campus UFL features writer, describes this sweet contemporary novel as âless of a meet-cute moment and more of a âoh, I slightly know you and this is awkward, but I need helpâ moment.â
Emergency Contact tells the story of Penny and Samâs text-based friendship that they use to escape reality.
âI usually lean more toward science fiction and fantasy books, but this is definitely turning out to be a binge-worthy romance,â Sparker said.
She identifies with the college-aged main characters, Sparker and Penny, who try to make it as writers. Although she hasnât finished the book yet, she is âexcited to spend more time with itâ and already gives it five out of five stars.
- The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
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I picked up this book from the UF Bookstore on a whim, and it caught me by surprise. Realistic fiction is hard to conquer, but Alice Hoffman found the perfect blend of creativity and realism. It focuses on the Owens family, who has always been a little different. The family is vexed by a  centuries long curse â even into the 1960s when we meet Franny, Jet and Vincent. These teens begin to realize that they have powers unlike anything theyâve known. And along with this, the trio realizes they are doomed to never find love.
Thereâs magic in every word of this book. Although Iâm not far into the novel, itâs clear that the Owens family possess a magic that isnât overwhelming or unrealistic. It gives hope to the reader that the extraordinary exists. The characters are also fun and charming as they navigate their abilities, attempting to break the Owens family curse.
I hope this inspired you to curl up with a new book and find a little magic with each turn of a page.
Whatever mood you’re in, these three books may be just what you need to escape the busy day and dive into a realm away from responsibilities. Check out these novels and let us know which you like best!