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

It is finally nearing the end of the semester!!

Congratulations on making it through another school year and I hope you are as excited for Christmas as I am.

Unfortunately the end of the semester comes with a whole lot of finals and a whole lot of projects or essays. But don’t forget to take time for yourself! Personally one of my favorite ways to relax and get some me time in is to read, so here is a list of ten books to read when you don’t feel like studying!

1) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This book is one of my all time favorite books. Based in Afghanistan in the 80’s, this book explores the dynamics between two best friends and their different lives growing up in communist Afghanistan. Be warned though, while this book has very loving and tender hearted moments, it also has its fare share and tear jerking and heart breaking moments.

2) All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Another amazing historical-fiction book! This book follows two children during the World War II era. One of the children being an orphaned German who is forced to fight in the Nazi regime and the other being a blind French girl fleeing from the Germans as the continue to destroy France. This book is beautiful and poetic and will capture your heart with it’s character relationship (and will definitely keep you distracted from all that nasty homework).

3) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Listen, I know that it’s insane to think that anyone at this point has NOT read the Harry Potter series, there are definitely still some non-believers out there. Even if you have read this magical book a million times, read it again! This is my personal favorite book in the series and even though I’ve read it too many times to count, I am always entranced by the magical world of Hogwarts and I know you will be too.

4) The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

This book is a nice, short, and easy read that just oozes love. Following the life of a girl who has run away from a neglectful father, this book explores the importance of a mother-daughter relationship, even if the mother in that pairing is not a biological mother. I read this book years ago but it still manages to capture my heart every time I read it.

5) Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Another fantasy book hooray! This young-adult literature book takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, but also includes the very thing we all love most: magic. With characters that you’ll never forget and a love story that’ll keep you on your toes, I will always suggest reading this masterpiece (and don’t worry, a sequel is coming out in 2019).

6) Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Not only another young-adult literature book, but also another Rainbow Rowell book! You guys. This book is pure love. It follows a girl named Cath trying to find herself during her freshman year of college. Fangirl not only explores relationships with new roommates and friends, but also a broken family life and even a little bit of a wholesome professor who encourages Cath to reach for the stars. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone looking for a good natured and loving read.

7) Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Honestly I should make this list JUST about Rainbow Rowell but I promise this is the last one form her (for now). This book is the first book I read by Rowell and it got be completely hooked to her writing style and characters. Another exploration into complex family lives, this book follows two outcasts in high school in the late 80’s and how their limited interactions on a school bus blossom into a beautiful and uplifting relationship.

8) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This book. Wow. Taking place in Germany during World War II, this book follows and young orphaned girl and her life in her new foster home in Molching, Germany. It is as much heartbreaking as it is heartwarming. Something that also makes this book just that much more amazing and unique is that the narrator is Death. I won’t say anymore about it in efforts not to spoil anything, but PLEASE do yourself a favor and read this book!

9) Stolen by Lucy Christopher

You guys. This book is probably one of my favorites of all time and I’m going to keep it brief for this one about why you should read it because really you just should. Stolen is simultaneously beautiful and poetic while also being straight up twisted. I read this book in less than a day because I was so wrapped up in everything happening and I highly recommend this book if you are looking for something to blow your mind

10) Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

These two authors are the kings of making people cry so it’s only natural that they come together and write this masterpiece. This book follows two boys, both named Will Grayson, in their completely different but also somehow parallel lives. One Will Grayson is written by John Green and the other is written by David Levithan and they both come together to make this beautiful and tear jerking book that I will forever hold dear to my heart.

Alright everyone, this is my list. None of these are in any particular order, mainly because you should read ALL OF THEM. And while I am in a way encouraging you all to procrastinate, try not to get too wrapped up in these masterpieces and forget about the impending end of the semester.

Ten Books to Read Instead of Worrying About Finals