As today is National Libraries Day I thought I would do a blog dedicated to my Top 10 books to read.
I am pretty much a reading addict and I work in a library so narrowing this down is going to be HARD!
10. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling
'When the Quidditch World Cup is disrupted by Voldemort's rampaging supporters and the terrifying Dark Mark is resurrected, it is obvious to Harry that, far from failing, Voldemort is getting stronger. The ultimate symbol to the magic world of the evil Lord's return would be if the one and only survivor of his death curse, Harry Potter, could finally be beaten. So when Harry is entered for the Triwizard Tournament - a competition between three wizarding schools to find the ultimate magician - he knows that rather than win it, he just has to get through the trials alive.'
Out of all the Harry Potter series this one was my favourite having action right from the start. I found seeing how they were all going to get through the challenge and the different challenges themselves interesting. I also enjoyed that they introduced characters from different schools in the magical world. If you haven't read any of the Harry Potter books where have you been? They are must reads!
9. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
'Meet Rebecca Bloomwood.
She's a journalist. She spends her working life telling others how to manage their money.
She spends her leisure time ... shopping.
Retail therapy is the answer to all her problems. She knows she should stop, but she can't. She tries Cutting Back, she tries Making More Money. But neither seems to work. The stories she concocts become more and more fantastic as she tries to untangle her increasingly dire financial difficulties. Her only comfort is to buy herself something - just a little something...
Can Becky ever escape from this dream world, find true love, and regain the use of her Switch card?
Confessions of a Shopaholic... the perfect pick me up for when it's all hanging in the (bank) balance.'
This is the perfect girly rom-com book! If you're a girl you will definitely relate to this book. The main character gets into so many awkward situations and is really relatable. Feeling down? This book is definitely a great pick me up.
8. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
'After winning the brutal Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen returns to her district, hoping for a peaceful future. But Katniss starts to hear rumours of a deadly rebellion against the Capitol. A rebellion that she and Peeta have helped to create. As Katniss and Peeta are forced to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. Unless Katniss and Peeta can convince the world that they are still lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying\. The terrifying sequel to The Hunger Games.'
The second book in The Hunger Games Series. Out of all three of them this is my favourite, purely as we get to meet all the other champions and I feel that they bring more elements of humour to the story. Again The Hunger Games Series is a must read!
7. Alphabet Weekends - Elizabeth Noble
'Love lessons from A - Z
A is for Affection - between childhood best friends ; between their parents; between brothers and sisters.
B is for Brokenhearted - Natalie when the boyfriend who was meant to propose dumps her just before Christmas. Her mother when she realises what her life has come to. Lucy, as she thinks of ending one relationship, and maybe beginning another.
C is for Chemistry - Could Natalie and Tom have it (and what does it actually mean, anyway)?'
I feel like this book is a twist in the typical romance novels its such a different yet creative idea. Every chapter begins with a letter from the alphabet describing the activity they would be choosing on the dates. Waiting to see what they would choose for each letter kept me captivated.
6. Carrie - Stephen King
Carrie White is no ordinary girl.
'Carrie White has the gift of telekinesis.
To be invited to Prom Night by Tommy Ross is a dream come true for Carrie - the first step towards social acceptance by her high school colleagues.
But events will take a decidedly macabre turn on that horrifying and endless night as she is forced to exercise her terrible gift on the town that mocks and loathes her . . .'
What reading list doesn't have a good horror book? Stephen King is most definitely the master of horror and Carrie is but one of my favourites by him, it hits on all the typical teen issues with a supernatural twist.
5. Looking For Alaska - John Green
“In the dark beside me, she smelled of sweat and sunshine and vanilla and on that thin-mooned night I could see little more than her silhouette, but even in the dark, I could see her eyes – fierce emeralds. And not just beautiful, but hot too.”
BEFORE. Miles Halter’s whole life has been one big non-event until he starts at anything-but-boring Culver Creek Boarding School and meets Alaska Young. Gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, screwed up and utterly fascinating she pulls Miles into her world, launches him into a new life, and steals his heart. But when tragedy strikes, and Miles comes face-to-face with death he discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.
AFTER: Nothing will ever be the same.'
I love all of John Green's books just his writing style really keeps me captivated! This one in particular I could not out down the whole story was just poignant and heart wrenching.
4. The Babysitter - R L Stine
'Jenny's worst nightmare is coming true! The crazed baby-sitting attacker is out to get her, and he wants her dead!'
The Point Horror series were basically my childhood they were the Stephen King books for young adults basically. I've managed to collect pretty much all of them and this one in particular remains a firm favourite.
3. The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
'Opens at Nightfall
Closes at Dawn
As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, all over the tents small lights begin to flicker, as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies. When the tents are all aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign appears.
Le Cirque des Rêves
The Circus of Dreams.
Now the circus is open.
Now you may enter.'
To begin with I found this book hard to get into, but once I did I was so enthralled the imagery described in the book itself is just beautiful, and the story so different to anything else I've ever read.
2. Glass Houses - Rachel Caine
'College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they come out fighting when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood...'
So I couldn't complete this list without adding in at least one vampire book. It seems that most of the teenage books being released these days are relating to vampires. Rachel Caine's Morganville series is my favourite out of all of them, there's just more depth to them and the four main characters are all so likeable.
1. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once."
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.'
Probably an obvious choice for the top spot but more than deserved. This story is just a raw way of describing living with cancer with lots of dark humour thrown in. The love story between the two main characters is just so beautifully written and there is definitely a reason this book was THE book to have last year.
So those are my top ten reads I found that incredibly hard to narrow down!
Leave a comment below and share with me some of your favourite books and the reasons why you love them!