Reading books are becoming a distant activity of the past for this generation. Most of the kids in my grade rarely read, if ever. In this day in age, we are so consumed with the digital media and technology that our time is only spent on a black screen.

Although I don’t read as much, it’s a hobby that I hope to participate in more regularly. In the future, I hope books return to the popularity it once had and more people become avid readers. In the meantime, here are some of the best books that I have read recently.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl is a mystery novel that revolves around character Nick Dunne and his missing wife, Amy Dunne. One day, Nick comes home to find his home ransacked and Amy missing. This novel follows the chaos that unravels from Amy’s missing case, the mysterious details that stem from it, and several twists throughout the story. The way it is written switches perspectives between Nick and Amy, giving the storyline a deeper background to it.

This was one of the few mystery novels I have ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The novel kept me intrigued and the different plot twists were shocking. If you like a bit of suspense and thriller, this is the novel for you!

Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Kite Runner follows the life of Amir, a guilt-ridden boy as he deals with his past friendship and faults. During his childhood, Amir was close friends with a boy named Hassan, but after Amir betrays Hassan and does unspeakable acts, he struggles to deal with his guilt for the rest of his life. The story revolves around the journey Amir goes on with his battles and as he finally comes to terms with his own thorns.

I first read this novel the summer before senior year of high school. While it was for a required assignment, I loved the book so much and am still glad that I chose to read it to this day. To be quite fair, this book is probably my favorite out of those I listed; I cannot recommend it enough!

Note: This book will make you cry. It’s definitely a tear-jerker as it’s an incredibly touching narration.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians is a young adult fiction book following the couple, Rachel Chu and Nick Young. Rachel and Nick have been dating for a while, and as he prepares to attend his friend’s wedding, invites Rachel to Singapore to meet his family. What Nick doesn’t share with Rachel is that he is indeed crazy rich. As Rachel travels to Singapore with Nick, a lot of events occur that cause problems, craze, and strains on their relationship.

Just last year, this book was turned into a major motion picture. With the first all-Asian cast in nearly 25 years, Crazy Rich Asians broke countless box office records and received a lot of success. I did read this book before watching the movie, so I noticed some of the discrepancies. However, both the book and the movie were amazing.

Here are a few more titles that are on my list of books to read:

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Aino Häkkinen (12) loved reading Becoming, commenting that “some of the things [Michelle Obama] said was surprisingly relatable about school, college, and striving to be extraordinary.”

There are infinitely more books that are out there waiting to be read! Books stimulate your mind, boost your creativity, and give you a pastime to engage in other than electronics. Happy reading!