Reading is one of my favorite things to do, but with the stress and busy schedule that comes with being a college student, I often forget about it. The feeling of finishing a good book feels like I’ve just finished my favorite movie. I always try to read different genres, from poetry to romance to books on self-discovery.
During the semester and reading all my class notes, textbooks or online articles, I have the tendency of developing resentment towards reading. Over winter break I decided it was time to change that and try to start reading again. Not only was reading enjoyable for me, but it was something I couldn’t stop doing. I looked forward to finishing each book, just so I could pick up a new one. Reading over the break also helped reduce my stress and anxiety, and it made me feel productive over the break. So here is a book review of the eight books that made me fall in love with reading again.
"101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think"
This book is a self-help book written by Brianna Wiest. If you decide to read any of these books, I recommend picking this one up first. This is the perfect book for a college student that has no idea what they’re doing with their life. This book is a compilation of 101 essays that Wiest has written on mindfulness and self-discovery, ranging from topics like the importance of a daily routine, detoxing your mind, important lessons about being in your 20s, emotional intelligence and more. This is a book I’ve already started to read again, and I will always recommend it to a friend.
"November 9," "Ugly Love" and "Verity"
These three books are all romance novels written by Colleen Hoover. All these books are completely different and unique to themselves, but they all have a gut-wrenching love story that is impossible to put down once you’ve started. Every Colleen Hoover book I read over break I finished in one sitting. With intense plot twists throughout every chapter, you’ll never get bored of reading them. If you decide to read any of these three books, I can almost guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
"Normal People" and "Conversations with a Friend"
"Normal People" is one of Sally Rooney’s most well-known books since becoming a TV series on Hulu. Even if you have seen the show already or not, I highly recommend picking up this book. Normal People and Conversations with a Friend are both coming-of-age love stories. These books encapsulate how hard love can be when you’re still not sure how to love yourself first.