books that will change your life

Books are carefully chosen combinations of words that are put together to make you feel something. Here are some books that will make you feel the most necessary things, in no particular order!

1. I'll Give You the Sun, Jandy Nelson

- This coming-of-age story is not your typical feel-good teen novel. I'll Give You the Sun is the story of a pair of twins, Jude and Noah. They are incredibly close until something rips them away from each other, destroying their relationship for what they assume to be forever. The first half of the book is narrated by Noah, an artist who has an odd way with words. Jude narrates the second half, telling the version that she knows. Jandy Nelson's ability to weave in complicated themes like sexuality, heartbreak, family, and identity. This book is gorgeously written and will break your heart time and time again, only to glue it back together in the end.

"what is bad for the heart is good for the art. the terrible irony of our lives as artists." - i'll give you the sun

2. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, Bryan Stevenson

- This autobiographical memoir of a lawyer's years representing black, often poor, men being taken advantage of in Alabama's justice system is heartbreaking and eye opening. Bryan Stevenson mainly recounts his time with Walter McMillian, whom readers latch onto and sympathize for. Just Mercy reveals a world that we don't know or experience and exposes the deep rooted problems within that world. It's non-fiction in nature, but pulls you in and keeps you there until the last page.

"the opposite of poverty is not wealth. in too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice" - just mercy: a story of justice and redemption

3. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Becky Albertalli

- Unless you were on a social media cleanse the last few months, you've heard of this book in some sort of capacity. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda came out as a movie, Love Simon, in March 2018. Both the story and the movie are groundbreaking in that they tell the story that so many people are living but very few feel they can talk about. Simon is a closeted gay teen that is ripped away from the safety of the closet through a series of events that result in a slew of learned lessons. This is the kind of book you wish you could experience for the first time over and over again.

"i try not change, but i keep changing in all these tiny ways." - simon vs. the homo sapiens agenda

4. Note to Self, Connor Franta

- Note to Self is entrepreneur and author Connor Franta's second book and I'm being one-hundred percent honest when I say this is one of the most gorgeous books I have ever read. It's an eclectic mix of Franta's notes taken on his phone, photography, and poems. He chronicles his first love, first big breakup, moving on and finally: growing up. His writing style is incredibly relatable for every kind of reader and just begs to be put on your Instagram story.

"my two year relationship ended right before my eyes, and there was nothing, i repeat, NOTHING i could do about it; it was a bit like being witness to a car crash played out in slow motion. you know it's happening, you brace for the impact, then pray the damage will be minimal, even though you know otherwise. you know." - note to self

5. They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera

- This book is exactly what it sounds like and yet you will still be surprised when the title comes true. They Both Die at the End takes place in a universe very similar to our own with one major difference: DeathCast. If you recieve a call from DeathCast, you are going to die within twenty four hours of the call. Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio meet on their last day on Earth and spend the hours they have left making the most of them. You will cry at the end.

"i should've shown you some risks are worth it." - they both die at the end

6. Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger

- If you've taken a high school English class, you've probably half-heartedly read this book at some point. You probably also rolled your eyes when you saw this on the list but just listen. I reread this book recently and enjoyed it SO much more when I didn't feel the pressure of collecting quotes to discuss in class and gathering the subliminal messages throughout. Catcher in the Rye does such a good job of telling readers that pushing down your problems does not make them disappear and tackles mental illness in such an articulate way that makes you actually want to read it. Just think about giving it a second chance.

"among other things, you'll find that you're not the first one who was ever confused or frightened and even sickened by human behavior." - catcher in the rye

Happy reading!

- Katie