Books you'll fall in love with

The more that you read, the more you know. The more you know, the smarter you’ll grow. The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice, while speaking your mind or making a choice. - Dr.Seuss

I discovered that quote on the back of a bookmark that my librarian gave me when I was six, and even though it wasn’t as cool as the other peppermint scented bookmarks that she found for us, this bookmark was my favorite. This quote reached out to me when I first fell in love with reading, thanks to the help of numerous dedicated people and marvelous books. And to this day, almost nine years later I still love the way this quote sounds in my head. 

Reading is precious to me, more than anything else. There is magic to be discovered in books- quite literally in some- and the wonder that comes with occupying someone’s mind for a chapter or a few. So, without further ado I would like to introduce you to an inconclusive list of some amazing books that are much deserving of your love- 

1. The Shadowhunter Universe - Cassandra Clare’s novels are a true gift to this world. She’s written several series set in a version of our universe where shadowhunters - sworn protectors of the human world, live alongside werewolves, vampires, faeries and magically gifted warlocks. Shadowhunters were given a mandate from Raziel, the angel to protect the human world from the demons that seek to destroy it. Throughout the completed Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal devices trilogy, The dark artifices trilogy, she tells us tales of shadowhunters modern and old who complete seemingly impossible feats, both to save the world and save themselves from a harsh and uncompromising law. Her Eldest curses series and Last hours series will be getting new installments soon, but the books that have been released so far, follow marvelous adventures faced by some amazing characters. Her stories have rich plots and diverse casts that make even this dangerous world seem enticing to belong to. She is also one of the few authors who truly believes that LGBTQ+ representation in books is not something that should be a courtesy, but rather a necessary element to stories. Her stories contain LGBTQ+ characters not only in the stories set in modern times, but also in her series set in the late eighteen hundreds. I strongly recommend her books to anyone who enjoys romance, fantasy worlds and adventures faced by extremely relatable and lovable characters.
   
   
2. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender- This standalone novel is a beauty that follows a part of Felix Love’s life. Felix is a trans, queer and black teenager who, ironic to his name has never been in love. Throughout this amazing story, Felix finds out just how capable of loving he is, and what accepting love feels like. At the beginning, he seems to be blindly pushing his way forward through the pressure that comes with creating the perfect college application, a daunting creative block, and transphobic messages from a student at his school. Felix’s story follows his complex web of emotions, that morph and change over the course of the story to shape an ebullient ending. It is definitely a story worth reading for the hours you spend in Felix’s mind, understanding not only the pressures that come with being a teenager, but also how trans and non-binary folks have their identities dismissed, even by those belonging to a community that ought to support them. Ultimately, this book is sure to leave you with a full heart and smile on your face. 
   
   
3. Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins- This brilliant novel follows the story of Millie Quint, a bisexual teenager who seeks out and receives a scholarship to a prestigious school in Scotland, to run as far away from heartbreak as possible. Hurt by a close friend, who she thought had fallen for her, Millie found solace in a Scottish boarding school nestled in scenic hills that was taking its first ever batch of female students. At this new school, she finds herself amongst scottish royalty and navigating new relationships. This story beautifully captures a romantic story between two girls while navigating the more public part of royal life that seems to form a divide between these two girls. This hopeful and loving story is an absolute joy to read.
   
   
4. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera- This treasure of a book follows  sixteen year old Aaron Soto, a teenager living in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York, but with a sci-fi exception- he lives in a world where memories can be altered with the help of an organisation, Leteo institute. Aaron Soto has not had an easy life, a tragedy ravaged his heart and family, leaving him hopeless. But, Aaron is trying to move past that and be happy with the help of his brilliant girlfriend, Genevieve. However, when Genevieve leaves for art camp Aaron finds himself with a new friend, Thomas. Thomas is different from the people Aaron grew up with, and as they grow closer Aaron finds shocking truths about himself that he so desperately wants to forget. His story is splendid in its take on happiness and how we so desperately seek it. This book addresses so many relevant issues and leaves you with a value for happiness and memory, and a way to answer the questions that buzz through your head. 
   
   
5. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella- This novel is a fabulous blend of comedy and romance with recovery from a mental disorder. It follows the life of Audrey, a fourteen year old girl who finds herself struggling to recover from an anxiety disorder. In this carefully thought out story the author captures what it is like to fall prey to anxiety, and how to unlearn the thoughts that lead to this. In this story, Audrey finds a connection to her brother’s gaming friend, Linus, who helps her make leaps in her recovery process, and work through any setbacks. With perfectly thought out comedic moments, this book is sure to make you laugh and leave you with an understanding of what it is like to live with an anxiety disorder that people often try to brush off as an excuse or unwillingness to take on responsibility. 

This list ends here for now, but I hope that after reading this article you’ll seek out some of these stories and find the wonder and joy that I found in these novels. This is by no means a conclusive list of books that deserve your love, and I’d love to make a list of more such books in the future.

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free”- Frederick Douglass

Until next time!- Navya

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