So far this year, I've read 45 books.
Well, almost half of them were work-related children's books I had to read... But they still count, okay?!
Anyway, you'd think I've managed to find a number of new favourites with all that reading going on. And I guess I have, though not as much as I would have liked. I've read a lot of great books so far this year, but only a few have truly impressed me enough for me to give them that shiny 5-star review on Goodreads. So without further ado, here are some of my recent 5-star reads that I definitely recommend you check out this summer!
1. My Dark Vanessa - Kate Elizabeth Russell
*TWs for grooming and child abuse, among others*
My Dark Vanessa is a book that should be on most - if not all - peoples' shelves. Told in alternating chapters depicting Vanessa's current life and her past, Russell creates a character that is so deeply traumatised by her teenagehood, that she still cannot come to terms with what it had all really meant. Vanessa continues to insist that what had gone on between her and her English teacher when she was merely 15 years old was all consensual; it had been her choice just as much as it had been his. Of course, this book is not an easy read - mentally and emotionally, I mean - so do be aware of that, but I think it is such an incredibly thought-provoking throughout that it's definitely a must-read.
2. Two Can Keep a Secret - Karen M. McManus
Hands up if the PLL theme song popped into your head!
Karen M. McManus is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. This YA thriller follows Ellery, a high school student who's just moved to a new town with her twin brother Ezra (yes, even more PLL vibes), and Malcolm, whose older brother is believed to have killed his own girlfriend a few years prior to the start of the novel. When the small town starts receiving threats of even more fatalities looming in the horizon, Ellery and Malcolm band together to try and figure out who's really behind it all. Will they manage to do so before the killer takes their next victim? I'll leave you to find that out for yourselves.
3. Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
If you're about to graduate - be it from university, sixth form, high school, or even primary school - this is the perfect read to kick off your summer. Even though it's technically targeted towards children, I found this book to be so incredibly powerful even as an almost-22 year old. It's a motivating and inspiring read, but Dr. Seuss still does not shy away from any negativity that might await you wherever you go. That realistic nature is a huge reason why I cannot recommend this book enough!
Now, while that was a relatively short list, there is a lot of variety in it. I loved all three of those books for very different reasons, and all I hope is that you do too. Let us know if you've read any of them, or if you're planning to now that you've read more about them.
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