My All-Time Favorite Books

Any reader knows how hard it is to pick favorite books. I own a ridiculous amount of them that store any place I can. Guess what? I love them all! No, really.

This list does change frequently because I'm constantly finding new books. But I decided that this would be the best way for you to get to know me as a reader and as a person. Just know that the books I mention are truly ones I hold near and dear to my heart. Here are only some of my all-time favorite books (and no, they're not in a particular order):

1) Stolen by Lucy Christopher

It was completely by fate that I found this book. I was at Barnes and Noble, which is a very rare thing. As much as I love the store, I can't usually afford it so I only go when I have birthday or Christmas money to spare.

The cover caught my eye and on the back there was a small excerpt. Right away, I knew I needed this book.

This book is a letter that a 16-year old named Gemma wrote to her captor Ty. It is unlike any book I've ever read. You think you know how the story goes, but you truly don't. It is a beautifully written novel that will certainly break your heart. The characters of Gemma and Ty are unique and well developed. This isn't a Criminal Minds episode. This is the tragic story of a young girl who was taken at airport and will never be the same.

I could say so much more about this book, but I don't want to spoil it.

Warning: if you read this book, you will probably cry.

Check it out here!

2) Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham

I pretty much knew I was going to love this book before I read it. I LOVE Gilmore Girls. My mom had me watch it with her from a young age. It's basically as old as I am. It's a show I rewatch constantly and absolutely adore. I also am a big fan of Lauren Graham.

Still, I was not ready for this book.

For those who don't know, this is an autobiography about Lauren Graham, who has stared in Gilmore Girls, Parent Hood (an another amazing show), and many other shows and movies. It discusses her childhood, her start to acting, her time in Gilmore Girls (both the show and revival), and just about everything else. This is completely full of her hilarious and witty personality. I enjoyed reading about her unique life and humble beginnings. Even as a big time actress, she is completely relatable.

I highly recommend this to any fan of hers, or anyone looking for a down to earth autobiography.

Get it here!

3) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I couldn't find the original cover! I'm so sad.

Anyways, this is a more popular book that's even considered a classic, but I think that's for a good reason.

I first read this book when I was in the seventh grade. I'll admit, I saw the movie first. I know, I'm very disappointed in myself. Still, that inspired me to read the book, which I love way more than the movie, although the movie is still one of my favorites.

For those who haven't read it, this books is about Charlie, who is nervous about starting high school after his best friend commits suicide. It takes place in the nineties and is in the form of letters that Charlie writes.

Once again, I don't want to give too much away, but I really adore this book. I carried it with me constantly throughout middle school and even high school. My copy has definitely seen better days. It has helped me through some of my hardest times.

All the characters are very relatable. I saw different parts of myself in the characters Charlie, Sam, and Patrick. It's a beautiful story about Charlie and his friends struggling to find themselves while being there for each other. They each face their own unique circumstances that I think just about anyone can say that they've dealt with before.

I love that this book deals with more deep, controversial topics that no one likes to talk about. It represents the more raw side of mental illness and generally the darker side of life.

This book is filled with many beautiful quotes. It will make you laugh, smile, cry, and feel every emotion that's possible. It's a beautiful story I don't think I'll ever stop rereading.

Get it here!

4) I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Honestly, I have no idea how this book ended up in my collection, but I'm certainly glad it did. This was another book I sought refuge in was a younger that shares a certain resemblance to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but it also a unique story.

This is a novel about a girl named Cody who loses her life long best friend Meg to suicide. She searches for answers about why Meg did this and for any signs she could've missed.

It's another touching story that covers a wide range of subjects. It's filled with likable and colorful characters. As a reader, you feel the pain of both Cody and Meg as you learn more about their stories and friendship. I will say that it ultimately has a happy ending, although it still might bring a few tears.

This is a book I've written in and underlined many things in. The story never gets old and the emotions are just as strong every time I read it.

Check it out here!

5) The Future of Us by Carolyn Mackler and Jay Asher

What if you could know your future by just going on a computer?

This is not only one of my all time favorite books, but one of my favorite contemporary reads. It should be more popular in my opinion.

This story takes place back in the old days of the nineties (just kidding guys) when technology wasn't as advanced and computers weren't that popular. It's told from the perspective of Emma and Josh, who used to be best friends, but ended up going separate ways. However, when Emma gets computer they end up discovering a strange website called Facebook where they're able to see their lives in fifteen years that change every time they log on.

This is a really fun and enjoyable read. The concept is so unique, which is partly why i love it so much. Not to mention the writing styles of Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler create really awesome characters. Josh is one of my favorite fictional guys.

There's a deeper component in this novel that makes you think about how your actions really do impact your future. It also touches on morals, the importance of ultimately doing the right things and how mistakes can come back to haunt you in surprising ways.

Summer is coming and this is a perfect book to read to help enjoy the season.

Get it here!

6) The Help by Kathryn Stockett

"Change begins with a whisper."

I don't know if any description I give will truly give this book the justice it deserves, but I'm certainly going to try.

I've been surprised to hear that a fair amount of people haven't read or even heard of this book before. If you are one of those people, this is a story that takes place during the 60s in Mississippi. It follows the the stories of three women, Aibileen and Minny, who are African American women forced to work as maids, and Skeeter, a young white woman who wants to become a writer. Their stories are quite intertwined right from the start. You learn about the different struggles in each of their lives, which ultimately are what bring them together.

This book addresses racism in the 60s as well as sexism against women. The lives of the more privileged white house wives are shown as well as the struggling black community during this time.

It is a very beautiful book that is filled with inspirational themes that still apply today. It has powerful scenes that will make you angry, sad, and dying of laughter.

I always go for this book when I want to read something deep or am in the mood for historical fiction. I find it to be a very empowering book that covers all the topics that need to be covered.

Get your own copy here!

7) A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I'm sure you've heard of and possibly even read The Kite Runner! This is a book by the same author that is just as good and possibly even more heartbreaking.

This novel shares the tales of two women from Afghanistan who create a unique bond in harsh circumstances in a society where they're just viewed as objects. There are moments of joy, but this is more of a realistic novel than feel good one. You will definitely have plenty of moments of sadness and anger. However, it's a raw novel that I believe everyone needs to read.

The characters in this novel feel so real that you can truly love and hate them. Their emotions are so real that you will carry them with you through this story.

Check it out here!

8) Unbroken

Speaking of heartbreaking books, you might want to keep your tissues out for this one.

If you haven't already seen the movie or heard people talking about this incredible story, you're in for a surprise.

This is biography written about the life of former Olympian and veteran Louie Zamperini. It shares his amazing life story from being a troublesome kid to a record breaking athlete that ends up becoming a solider stranded at sea for 47 days only to end up in a POW camp.

This is truly a book that everyone should read. The story is so unbelievable that most people think it's fiction. However, it truly happened and there are many lessons to be learned from Louie. It will make you marvel at how much both the human body and mind can truly take if it's determined enough to survive.

Don't believe me? Look for yourself here.

9) Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Alright, why don't we take a break to a lighter story?

Honestly, I never thought a Sarah Dessen book would be one of my favorites. Until this year, I refused to read her because I thought she was like ever other YA writer, writing the same concepts that I'm sick of hearing about.

However, a friend of mine told me to read this book, so I did.

In this story, we follow the life of Sydney, a teenage girl who's life is thrown off when her overly admired older brother Peyton is put in jail. She struggles with the consequences of Peyton's actions while also trying to figure out herself. She meets a unique family, the Chathams, who take Sydney in and help her not feel so alone.

It's a great story that I finished in a sitting because I didn't want to put it down. There's a lot of warmth in it from friendships to romance and even family love. Sarah Dessen is an excellent writer who creates quirky characters and a simple, but intriguing plot.

I think this time of year is a really good time to read this book, although it's fine for any time of the year. It will leave you in a good, lighthearted mood.

Check it out here!

10) Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Want to be inspired?

Well take some tips from the best selling author of Eat, Prey, Love! In this book, she's sharing her perspective on inspiration and sharing advice about creativity and why you shouldn't be afraid to put yourself out there.

As a writer, I found this book really helpful when I was definitely in a creativity rut. I also thoroughly enjoyed Gilbert's humor throughout the whole book. She sounds so down to earth that you forget that she's actually a best selling author.

It's a light and inspiring read I encourage those to who need a little inspiration or aren't sure what to do with it.

Get it here!

11) The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

I love thrillers and mysteries, but I'm also very picky about them. However, I can definitely say that this one lived up to all the hype.

A woman named Rachael ends up in the middle of a murder when she witnesses something strange on her train ride and reports it to the police. She gets a little too involved, determined to discover who killed this woman, but it gets dangerous when she starts turning into the next suspect.

I got completely enthralled in this book. The writing style is very different and made this enjoyable. I wanted to keep reading, trying to figure out the truth behind all the lies in the story. When I got to the end, I certainly was not disappointed.

If you're looking for a good thriller, this is definitely it.

Check it out here!

12) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Could my books tastes be anymore spread out? I guess you'll just have to keep reading to see.

Follow the life of an orphan named Pip, who grows up with his harsh aunt in total poverty until he gets a mysterious benefactor who allows him to get the life he's always dreamed of.

In all honesty, it is a rather long novel, but for good reason. It develops the characters so well and lets the readers witness so much of Pip's life. Not to mention, one of my all time favorite literary characters Estella is in this story. All of these characters are so distinct and life like that they seem real.

I also love the symbolism in this book. It relies on a lot of subtle things to represent bigger concepts.

This is one of my all time favorite classics. There is so much that can be said about this book, but I won't say too much more. Just that your expectations will certainly be met (very clever, I know).

Get it here!

13) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This story is narrated by Death, literally. Death watches a young orphan named Liesel during 1939 in Germany. She's taken in by an older couple and soon finds a love for books and a knack for getting into trouble with her lovable friend Rudy. If things are stressful enough at this time, it gets worse when Liesel and her adopted family start hiding a Jewish man in their basement.

This is truly a remarkable story. It stands on its own, not resembling any other one. Like, in most of these books, I adore these characters, especially mischievous Rudy. The perspective of Death gives an interesting and chilling perspective of this story, especially given the time period. It also shows a way of life that we don't often think about and the struggles of those who didn't believe in the ways of Nazi Germany.

I never get tired of this story.

See for yourself here!

14) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K.Rowling

Before I get too far into it, I love ALL of the books in the original Harry Potter series very much. I hold them all near and dear to my heart. However, this definitely sticks out as my favorite book in the series.

For those who haven't read the Harry Potter series, it follows a boy named Harry Potter, who discovers he's a wizard and is invited to special school for magic folk only called Hogwarts where he makes friends and many adventures as he goes against an evil wizard, who holds a grudge against Harry and is determined to make him pay with his life. This book is the sixth in the series.

This is my favorite because of all the character development. We finally get a better look into the background of Tom Riddle before he became the dark and powerful wizard he is at this point. I also really enjoy the different side of Draco we get to see and struggle he faces. It gives him more dimension instead of just an evil kid. I also really relate with some of the struggles Draco faces in this book if that doesn't sound too weird. Plus, I liked watching Dumbledore and Harry look more into Tom Riddle's history and how it leads them to that trip to the cave. I really just enjoy how everything really ties together from the past books and sets the stage for the final book.

Of course, there are a fair amounts of really sad moments in this book, but I actually like it when books are sad (I know, I'm weird). It just is always comforting for me to read when I'm going through something sad myself.

Anyways, if you haven't read this book or the series yet, do it!

Click here!

15) Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

This is actually a series, but I'll only be talking about the first book in it, which is of the same name.

Here is one of my favorite paranormal books.

Keeping things short and sweet, this is a story about a teenage girl named Alexis. Things start happening in her house when her younger sister Kasey gets obsessed with a creepy, antique doll.

I know it sounds cliche, but it truly is an interesting and unique story that won't go the way you expect it to. The other two books in the series are also great. I really love the second one, but again, they're all good.

This a series that takes a very unique turn on paranormal activity, especially ghosts or spirits. I especially like the weird connections between the living in the dead and the certain characteristics that evil feed off.

It's a very enjoyable read. There's a perfect mix of real human drama, sarcasm, and of course, spooky stuff. I really wish they would turn these into movies. However, there are book trailers for these. Here's the one for the first book:

This isn't a very popular series, but it's highly beloved by those who have read it, so if you're in the mood for something creepy, give it a shot.

Get it here!

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this and hopefully this gives you a better idea of my book tastes (which is basically most books).

I'll be ranting and reviewing books soon. There also might be another tag I'll do just to help you get to know me better. I also plan on doing a readathon soon too! So there is going to be a lot happening.

Have a good rest of your day and stay reading!