One of my goals this semester is to make time for reading! A lot of the time, people get caught up in classes and life in general and put their love for reading on the back burner. Reading is great because not only can you relax while doing it, but it serves as a good alternative to scrolling which is so easy to fall into. The most important step is to find a book that you just cannot put down. The following are some of my reads in the last year that I recommend to anyone getting back into it.
The hunger Games
Whether you have seen the movies or not, the books are just so much better! The series contains four books (in order of release): The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes all by Suzanne Collins. Although it was released most recently, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place before the time of the prior three books and tells the history of the dystopian society that the characters live in (it is also my favorite one). There is also a fifth book coming out in March called Sunrise on the Reaping which is super exciting. This series is the type that you just have to keep reading because it really is that good.
The housemaid
I just recently finished the first book in the trilogy, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, and it was like nothing I had ever read. It is a psychological suspense/thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. All I could think about was what was going to happen next. As I read, I would make predictions of what would happen next and I was wrong every single time. That is what I loved about the book; it was completely unpredictable and every new chapter was a mystery. I just bought the next two books, The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid is Watching, and I cannot wait to keep reading. Without giving too much away, the first book starts out in a gorgeous house with a seemingly perfect couple and they go on to hire a housemaid for extra help, but in reality, nothing is as it seems. The house is gorgeous, but the only living quarters for the maid is a single room in the attic, with a lock… on the outside. Leaving it there, I highly recommend this series if you are into thrillers.
Be ready when luck happens
On a much different subject, I am currently reading Be Ready When Luck Happens, which is a memoir by Ina Garten, the famous chef also known as Barefoot Contessa. I went in to this book not knowing much about Ina, but having watched a few of her cooking shows, I have always admired her. The story goes through her upbringing, marriage, and how she became a self-made millionaire doing what she loves: cooking, making recipes, and entertaining. Her success tells powerful lessons of believing in yourself and that it is okay to not have it all figured out and pursue your dreams anyway. If you are looking for a cozy and inspiring read, this is the one for you!
I hope you enjoy these books as much as I do, and that they help you to stay grounded this semester!