By Thu Nguyen
March 23, 2022
SAN JOSE, CALIF.—There are a massive amount of books out there that it is nearly impossible to select one that’s worth your time. This carefully curated list is here to help you start reading.
- Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
This contemporary romance was the first one that truly inspired me to start reading. The mystery of what happened in the past between the main character, Macy, and her childhood friend, Elliot, stirred my curiosity to finish this book within one day. The plot itself is pretty easy to understand but it is so elegantly written.
- Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino
TW: Mentions child abuse
Swear on This Life has two parallel storylines. The book shows the present day where Emiline discovers a book written by a boy she used to love and lost, about their past life together. As she reads the book, the plot goes back and forth between the past and present. Two impoverished kids who found a binding love between them, their story is unmatched. I have yet to find a book that’s as heartbreaking and lovely as this one.
- Riot House by Callie Hart
TW: Sexual assault, child abuse
An interesting combination of mystery and romance, Riot House tells a story about a dark boarding school and the secrets hidden by its students. When Elodie Stillwater arrives at the front of the academy door after being shipped off by her father, she, unfortunately, catches the attention of Wren Jacobi. A student at Wolf Hall Academy, Jacobi becomes determined to shine a light on all of the skeletons in her closet and ruin her reputation at the school. If you dream of being the main character in a dark academia setting, this book is for you. This unforgettable story will have you hooked from start to finish.
- It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
TW: Abuse
A classic when it comes to modern novels, It Ends with Us tells an important lesson that I believe everyone should read about. It forced me to be more conscious and reconsider my preconceived ideas about abuse. The author, Hoover, manages to weave the violence into the story of the relationship between the protagonist and the abuser so perfectly. It shines light onto the perspective of an abuse victim so beautifully that I understand the thought of those that would make excuses for their partner’s behavior. Meghan Le, a junior at Silver Creek, enthusiastically endorsed this book. “This is my favorite book ever and I think that everyone should read it.”
- The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
This romcom is the best of the best. A STEM romance, the story first starts spiraling when Olive Smith is caught in the bathroom of Adam Carlsen, a professor at Stanford University. Crying her eyes out due to wearing expired contacts, Olive came to the bathroom right after her interview for admission to the school’s graduate program. As time goes on, Olive forgets the incident and focuses on her work as a student studying pancreatic cancer. However, an event in the science lab brings them back into each other’s world. This book is incredibly corny but it brings so much satisfaction and makes me smile from ear to ear. The only negative thing I have to say about this book is the horrible cover.
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