School years are rushed and busy, and sometimes it feels like there is barely time to breathe, let alone read. Luckily for us, as the weather begins to cool down, so do our schedules. Thanksgiving and winter breaks are quickly approaching as the semester winds down, which means leisure time is back. As winter kicks in, there’s nothing better than hot chocolate, a good book and a fluffy blanket to keep you warm. Here is a list of seven books that’ll touch your tired heart one way or another.
1. Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda
The Tony-award-winning author of Hamilton debuted his newest literary endeavor on Oct. 16. The book serves as a collection of thoughts inspired by Miranda’s own Twitter with whimsical drawings to go along with each page. Miranda spoke on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and said that this book was the closest he’d ever come to writing in a diary. The book’s poetry-like lines often serve as advice to its reader. This book can be consumed in one sitting or spread out over weeks depending on how much you need Miranda’s reassuring words.
2. Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
Rachel Hollis is the founder of TheChicSite.com and the CEO of her own media company. In this self-help book, Hollis has the honest humor you would expect from an older sister or best friend. Each chapter is outlined by dispelling a lie that Hollis had been told in her life and how she dealt with that lie — or how she wish she did. This book is perfect to ingest over break while you have time to reflect and heal over the past semester.
3. Circe by Madeline Miller
If you were a Percy Jackson lover as a kid, you’ll be able to dive right into Circe. Circe is a retelling of the famous mythological story of Circe. It’s a love story about a girl torn between two worlds, a recipe for a fantastic page-turner. This story will inspire strength in yourself and in how you perceive the ones you love.
4. The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton
This story is a perfect nighttime read because it has all of the best qualities of a mystery. This mystery begins in 1862, but it continues up until present day. The story switches between characters from the past and the present. It’s a twisting story of love, murder, loss and mystery that’ll keep you on your fluffy, sock-covered toes.
5. Feel Free: Essays by Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith is a critically acclaimed essayist who has contributed to multiple publications, including The New Yorker. This collection of essays is split into five sections: In the World, In the Audience, In the Gallery, On the Bookshelf and Feel Free. The essays question aspects of how we live socially and provide keen answers on why we as humans do what we do.
6. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
It’s “Groundhog Day” meets your classic murder-mystery. Evelyn Hardcastle is killed during a dinner party, and Aiden is tasked with catching the killer. Each day that Aiden fails to catch the killer, the day repeats, ending with Evelyn dying. The catch: Aiden wakes up in a different guest’s body each day. The story is mind-bending and will transport you into another world of mystery.
7. Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi
Emergency Contact is a romance novel through and through, told by a series of texts. Mary H. K. Choi, the author, uses witty language and colorful characters to create a love that will touch your heart. The novel is so poignant and real in its portrayal of a modern relationship that it’ll have you thinking about your own love life. This story is easy on the soul and will leaving you feeling content.
This collection of books was put together to offer insight into your own life, as well as transport you to a different world. Each book has different qualities that will have you feeling an array of emotions that you can only get from reading a really good book. The upcoming fall season is the perfect time for reflection as the year draws to a close. These books serve as a catalysts to find the incredible parts of your life. I hope you take the time to read and learn from them.