Ten Must Read Books

One of my New Years resolutions was to read more this year. No pressure, just make sure a read a little bit every day or every other day. When I was younger and had tons of free time, I would finish multiple books in a week. Now, not so much. I’m lucky to finish one book a month. I’ve made this list of books that I very highly recommend as well as a few that I am dying to read. Some of them may have been out for a while, but I’m just starting to dive back into reading, so they are all new for me!

1. Outlander by Diana GabaldonThis book is amazing! Now mind you, I have not read the entire series yet, (there are eight books so far and I’m only on book two), so if something horrible happens that makes you hate it don’t, blame me! All I know is that so far I love what I have read. You will fall madly in love with the characters, (mainly Jamie), very quickly.

This book is often called a romance story, (there is a lot of love and romance in it, but it’s far from raunchy), but that’s not all there is. This book has literally everything! A strong handsome man, an equally strong and independent woman, so many interesting characters, mystery, action, comedy, history, etc. Diana Gabaldon specifically states that it is not about a love story, it’s about a relationship, so it’s filled with the good and the bad and is very nontraditional, which is refreshing for those of us who are tired of gushy perfect young adult stories.

2. Frostfire by Amanda Hocking

This was a pretty quick read for me, but definitely enjoyable. I would recommend reading other books by Amanda Hocking first so that you have a better understanding of the world that she has created, (It started off slow for me since I did not do that, but once I had a better understanding it immediately became addicting). The protagonist is an interesting young female character who has impressive goals for her future, despite the many odds against her. There’s a little romance type thing thrown in, (but far from being the focus of the story). Overall a really great book. Unfortunately, the sequel does not come out until May…

3. Broken Skies by Theresa Kay

I have not read this book yet but it sounds pretty much amazing! Set in a dystopian world,(my favorite setting), where humans are almost extinct and aliens have settled on Earth. And of course, there is some Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed lover action going on, (I know I just dissed these sappy teen love stories but what can I say, I still kinda dig ’em).

4. Alienated by Melissa Landers

I’m just going to make a wild guess that aliens are the new vampires. I’m not quite sure how much I will enjoy this book, (human girl and alien boy fall in love, and it’s set in a high school), I just don’t know if I can get into a book that takes place in a high school, but I’m eager to jump onto this whole alien bandwagon, so who knows.

5.  The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

This book sounds so bizarre to me, (which is probably why I’m dying to read it)! It is set in seventeenth-century Amsterdam, where a young woman arrives to begin her new life as the wife of an illustrious merchant. She feels alone as her husband is always working. He gives her an exact miniature replica of their home. She then employs a miniaturist who’s replicas mirror their real-life counterparts in unexpected and eerie ways helping the main character pierce through the mystery and secrecy of her new family.

6.  Dreamwalkers by Corinne Davis

Dreamwalkers is about two young women who have the power to do anything and everything with no limitations in an extraordinary fantasy world. But this is only possible while they are sleeping. There are rules that they must follow, the most important being that they can not interact with unknown people who can see them while they dream walk. The consequence is the risk of becoming lost in an unrelenting darkness. This rule becomes questioned when the protagonist, Emma, discovers that she is the only person capable of rescuing a lost Dreamwalkers from the said darkness. This book sounds delightfully mysterious, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

7.  Doon by Carey Corp

I guess I’m kinda into the whole Scottish Highland setting thing since reading Outlander. This might be the next book that I read because it just sounds so perfect! Magic, mystery, kilt wearing princes. Really,  what more could you ask for in a book?

8.  The Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking

Amanda Hocking has recently become one of my favorite authors. I love the land of the Trylle that she has created and the way that she portrays its people. This very strongly reminds me of a supernatural version of The Princess Diaries and is what I am currently reading, (and enjoying)!

9. The Divergent series by Veronica Roth

When I first found these books, I devoured them immediately, only to have to wait a year for Allegiant to come out (which I still have not read 🙁

I was not a huge fan of the movie, (don’t hate me), but I do love how Shailene Woodley makes Tris a gazillion times more beautiful than I had pictured her.

10. Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

(judge me) but I had to jump on this bandwagon as well and read it before the movie comes out. The writing leaves something to be desired, actually, the writing is pretty terrible and I hate the whole “inner goddess” phrases, but let’s be honest, no one is reading it for its literary value.