If you read anything, make it one of these.

I'm a major bookworm. I love books. I have stacks upon stacks of books in my room and I've already read all of them at least once - yes, I'm one of those people that likes to re-read books over and over again in case I missed something the first time round. 

Since being a small child, I've read anything and everything I could get my hands on...think of me as a somewhat less intelligent Matilda. I was a massive fan of the Jacqueline Wilson books - The Diamond Girls was my all time fave - before I moved on to more challenging reads. The Harry Potter series were the first major books that I read - they were huge. They were still being released when I was reading them (oh God, how the years have gone by) and I remember my Mum bringing me home The Order of the Phoenix and I just gazed at it for hours, contemplating how best to start. I love Harry Potter - really, I do! so much so that I have the Deathly Hallows sign tattooed onto my ankle. Lame? I don't care.

I then branched out into different genres of story and over the past, I'd say 12ish years, I've found these gems. These are the ones I gravitate towards when I have nothing to read but need to be reading something (I'm rarely not reading a book), currently I'm reading the last instalment to the Shadow and Bone series - Ruins and Rising - by Leigh Bardugo. Another recommendation if none of these sound up your street.

First up is possibly my favourite book of all time...Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallfower. It's written in a letter format - in which the narrator tells their story through letters - and is both touching and heartfelt. Beautifully written and inspirational when it comes to Charlie's take on love, life and friendship. This was made into a movie last year and stars Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, I was pleasantly surprised with the film version as I usually don't rate them as much as the book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Or maybe I just love Ezra Miller so much I was able to look past it. 

Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why is one I was a little sceptical about when I first read it's synopsis but I went ahead and purchased it anyway. It's written in a tape format and is narrated by two different people - Clay Jensen and Hannah Baker. Hannah has committed suicide and has left thirteen tapes, each one dedicated to a different person who contributed to her taking her own life. Clay receives the tapes as one of the people involved and when he's finished, he must send them on in a chain letter like fashion. Honestly, I love this book. I've read it numerous times and each time I learn something new. Another beautifully written novel. Apparently, this is due to be made into a film in the near future with Selena Gomez in the role of Hannah Baker.

Next is a romance classic, Nicholas Sparks' A Walk to Remember. My favourite romance novel as you can tell by it's battered spine. It's so beautiful and sad and heart-warming all at the same time. Nicholas Sparks just knows how to bring it when it comes to soppy, romantic novels and doesn't fail with this one. It's a truly touching story of high school jock Landon Carter who falls for the shy, bible-worshipping Jamie Sullivan...but Jamie has a secret that changes both her and Landon's life forever. Again, like pretty much every Nicholas Sparks novel, this was made into a movie back in 2003 with Mandy Moore and Shane West in the title roles. The film is quite different from the book, so if you've seen the movie I'd still recommend giving the book a go.

Next is one that won't be to everyone's taste I can imagine but I really enjoyed it when I read it. Alden Bell's The Reapers are the Angels is a dystopic fiction novel and is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the dead roam the Earth as well as the living. It follows Temple, a young, lonely girl who's known no other life but the one she currently lives. On her journey she meets the simple Maury whom she vows to get back to his family to try and right some of the wrongs she's done in the past. However, she's also being pursued by a man hellbent on killing her. 

Last up, is another all-time favourite and the first book in a series of four - The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I read this quadrilogy some time ago now on a recommendation from a colleague and honestly I couldn't put it down. I originally bought just this book and as soon as I'd finished I was straight on Amazon buying the last three! It's written from the point of view of a boy called Thomas, who's awoken in a huge maze amongst many other boys with only his first name as his last living memory. Like Thomas, the other boys don't know how they came to be in the maze only that they woke up there just like him. However, one day a girl shows up with a note claiming she will be the last one to enter the maze...ever.

The movie version of this book has only been released this month with Kaya Scodelario as Teresa and Dylan O'Brien as Thomas. I've yet to see it but I hope it lives up to my expectations.

Something a little different from beauty I know, but I've done so many beauty and makeup related posts recently it was nice to branch out a bit. Let me know if you end up reading any of my suggestions or have already read them. I'd love to hear your views.

Lauren

xo