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

Hello everyone! In this article I’m going to talk about some books that have stuck with me through my reading journey. This may give you some insight into your next favourite read. I am going to give you a quick summary of the novel and without giving too much away why it was so influential and made it onto this list. I also just wanted to add that I have added a brief trigger warning to books that may have sensitive subject matter.

The Break by Katherena Vermette (TW: rape and sexual assult)

I will never forget this book. I chose to read it for my twelfth grade final. We were only allowed to choose out of a specific list and this one really spoke to me. It is mainly about Indigenous women and their bonds — specifically when they have to work through cultural and present traumas. I won’t lie, this book had me in tears a few times. It truly opened my eyes to the misrepresentation and treatment of other cultures. 

I think this is an amazing book to read, not only for it‘s plot but also to educate yourself.

rainbow colored books on a shelf
Photo by Jason Leung from Unsplash
The Girl Before by Rena Olsen (TW: rape, sexual assult and fertility issues)

I did not expect this book to be as intense as it was. Reading the summary on the back, in my opinion, did not depict what was going to happen in the book to its full intent. As I mentioned before, this book was an intense, sit on the edge of your seat kind of read. I would classify this book as a psychological thriller. The main character in this novel is completely set off her path when she realises that everything she has come to learn that is normal in her life is actually very illegal. This book also shifts between time frames, giving you a glimpse into the trauma she endured as she comes to terms with it.

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins 

I read this book in two days! If you are into multiple perspectives and time shifting books, this one’s for you! Not only does it shift between different perspectives, it also shifts between past and present time frames. This can make it a bit more difficult to follow along with, but everything does fall into place. I think this is why I read it so quickly, aside from absolutely needing to know what happened next everytime I put it down! I didn’t want to lose track of where I was or what had happened up until a certain point. Now, if you’ve seen the movie, I know it feels like you don’t even need to read the book, but you should! Learning about how three individual’s lives intersect from their perspectives made this book unforgettable. 

A woman reading on a couch.
Photo by Matias North from Unsplash
Phantom Of The Opera by Gaston Leroux 

Now this is a classic. I have read this book in both French and English and it’s magnificent either way. In this mystery-love story set in the 1880’s there is a lot going on at the opera house. With the assumption that the opera house is haunted, behind that plot there is a blooming love story between the Phantom and Christine. He will truly stop at nothing to get Christine the place she deserves on stage at the opera house. 

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A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (TW: sexual and physical abuse)

This is another one I had to read for school, and I know many others have as well. However, I have read it multiple times since high school and I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t given it a chance as yet. It is technically a play so you read it in a way of lines; however it’s still an influential and educational piece. Blanche has to nice in with her sister and husband as she had a falling out at her job. Her flirtatious personality causes some friction between some of the characters as this play is set in the 1940’s and her big personality was not as accepted back then as it might be now. 

To conclude, I believe books are so amazing. You can quite literally transport yourself into the life of someone else. Create every scene in your head as you read. I think it’s such an amazing way to detach from reality for bits of time. 

Whether you frequently read or you’re looking to get into it but you’re not sure what to start with, this list of books is a great place to start! However, if there’s nothing on here that seems to peak your interest, don’t fret! There are thousands of books out there!

Hi, Im Jaden! I am a Bachelor of Science Psychology major at York University. I love to read, write, workout and crochet.