To put it simply, my summer reading list kicked ass.
Now, as we're all about to trek our way back to classes and homework, (Except for those of you who have real jobs. You mean not everyone stays in school for all of eternity?) I'm excited to look back on the best of the fine selection of books I read under this summer's hot sun. If you're looking for books that are going to rip your heart out, keep you up all night, and change the game, I got you. Don't worry. I won't spoil anything. Just go read them so we can all fangirl together.

Numer One:
Places No One Knows
By: Brenna Yovanoff

I don't even know where to begin when describing this book. It takes the dynamic of high school drama and flips it on its head, challenging the concepts of popularity, love, and identity. It asks the right questions through the strong, relatable voices of two beautifully crafted protagonists. The story follows a high school girl named Waverly, who has perfectly crafted her public identity to appease the expectations of her friends, family, and social world. At night, Waverly fights a nasty case of insomnia, finding rest only when the light of a special candle transports her to the side of Marshall Holt, a burnout who sees past the mask she wears in the halls at school. Together, they break down each other's shells, and are forced to face the parts of themselves that everyone else refuses to see. It makes for a captivating story of finding love and accepting yourself.
I found myself enthralled not only because of the intriguing way dreams and insomnia are used to bring the two characters together, but mainly because of the honesty displayed in regards to the high school environment. It breaks down the politics of teenage hierarchy and gives us layered characters who really feel like people instead of just teenage cutouts falling in love. This book has unique, enchanting elements that are grounded in humanity as two people try to navigate through youth and fight past the influence and scrutiny of the world around them. The writing is just the right amount of poetic, and it carries a wisdom that makes this book a must-read for anyone who has ever felt lost in a sea of faces. I didn't want it to end.



Number Two:
Dark Matter
By: Blake Crouch

All right. I'm no science person. Like, seriously. I don't have a clue. However, I could not put this book down. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time and research that went into crafting this intricate story of multiple dimensions. It takes us on an unbelievable journey with Jason Dessen, who has been kidnapped and thrown in to a world where his life is not his own. His wife was never his wife and his son was never born. Jason then embarks on what is essentially a wild goose chase in hopes to find his own world and reconnect with the family he loves.
The best part about this book is it creates a plot with a limitless amount a worlds. That opens up exciting opportunities to explore what society might have been like under different circumstances. In his search, he encounters a frozen tundra, a city destroyed by disease, a futuristic landscape, and more. The imagination applied in this story is incredible, and it mixes well with the intricate scientific details that move the story forward. It also reflects well on the ideas of regret and choice and all of the what if's in life. Jason's character growth takes him from a man unsatisfied with the life he chose and forces him to face realities in which that life never even had the chance to be. It's a creative scifi adventure that builds tension perfectly while also bringing about challenging themes and ideas that we all can relate to as we wonder about what could have been.



Number Three:
And I Darken
By: Kiersten White

This book has gotten a lot of attention since its June release, and most of it is aimed at this novel's heroine. Told as the female version of Vlad the Impaler, Ladislav Dragwyla is a bad ass leading lady who would make Furiosa proud. She is fierce, cold, brutal, and everything else that princesses aren't supposed to be. This is a dark, intricate story about politics, kingdoms, blood and war, but it is also a coming of age tale in its own right. While Lada is in the middle of the chaos of kings and fighting and conspiracy, she is still just a child. We get to see her learn of the injustices of sexism from an early age as she's thrown into a world where men rule and woman obey. We get to watch as she discovers the stages of womanhood and attraction and even a little bit of love. I really appreciate this effort to remind the reader of her naive youth, because sometimes I feel that YA forget that its protagonists are still technically children. White wasn't afraid to dive into the depths of growing up, which made Lada a character that we could admire and fear and relate to all at the same time.
Another driving force of this novel is the fascinating juxtaposition between Lada and her younger brother, Radu. While she is vicious, he is gentle. Kind. His power and conniving comes from his wit and ability to manipulate and read people, while Lada's comes from battle skills and raw ferocity. While the plot and details of the world are fascinating and so well researched, it is the character study of these two people that really makes this one of the best YA releases of the year. You really feel as if you know them by the end, and I cannot wait to read more. If you're looking for a feminist novel with a punch in the gut and the heart, look no further.



Number Four:
These Broken Stars
By: Amie Kauffman and Meagan Spooner

So this is an older one. It was released in 2013 and I can't believe it took me this long to read it. This book is the real deal, complete with well rounded characters, a brilliant love story, and a unique storyline that takes us through an uninhabited planet after a colossal shipwreck in space. There is humor. Heart. Aliens! What else does a reader need?
Similar to Places No One Knows, this story is told through the dual perspective of the male and female leads. Tarver is the soldier. Lilac is the princess. It may seem pretty straightforward, but the complexity of these characters and the relationship that evolves between them is a truly rewarding experience as they grow, change, and come together in the name of survival. They challenge each other in multiple ways, each a force of nature colliding with the other. I was rooting for both of them the entire way as individuals, and I loved seeing them gravitate towards each other as the story progressed.  Their adventure is heartfelt, exciting, heartbreaking, and every part of it leaves you longing for more.



Number Five:
The Way I Used to Be
By: Amber Smith

Sometimes, we end a book with excitement or exhaustion or utter adoration. Our emotions finally come together to create a finale that makes the reading experience one unlike any other. That's how it goes. Sometimes.
With this book, it wasn't excitement or anything of the sort that overcame me after I reached the final page. It wasn't anything that I was used to, to be honest.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Smith's debut, it's a YA contemporary that chronicles the aftermath of sexual assault. It speaks with a gut twisting honesty that forces the reader to face the reality of the emotional, psychological, and physical demons that rape victims live with on a daily basis, even after years have passed. It dives into something that the world doesn't really talk about, and I often found myself having to turn away at times because the pure, unjust sadness of this reality just kept hitting me like a brick.  It was confirmed to be a work of fiction, but it's undeniable that human beings all over the world have had similarly horrifying experiences, many whose stories will go left untold out of fear, shame, or distrust in a system that has made it so difficult for these individuals to come forward.
Needless to say, this book has brought about these heavy thoughts that have stuck with me ever since I read the last sentence. It's not only an important story that can reach out to anyone who has been through something similar, but it's also for any reader in a culture where rape and assault tend to be swept under the rug. It raises awareness on rape culture and also on the deep impact that something like this can have on a person's life. I recommend it to anyone. It's tough stuff, but it's a necessary read.

Needless to say, it's been a good summer. This fall is going to bring a whole new batch of new releases that will likely leave us all in awe, but for now, get yourself to the bookstore and read all of these lovely words. Prepare to cry, laugh, and fall in love.