By: Emma Sass
1. Emily Henry
Henry has written four books, and her fifth book will be published April. Her books are considered part of the “rom com” (romantic comedy) genre. Her debut book is “Beach Read,” followed by “Book Lovers,” “People We Meet on Vacation,” “Happy Place,” and the soon-to-be-released “Funny Story.”
The first four books remind me and many readers of summer. In an interview on “Today,” Henry said, "We were very intentional in thinking about the books as mini vacations.” "Part of that is just because it works and part of that is because I myself get that huge craving every summer. When it starts getting hot out, I want a book that feels really escapist."
Henry couldn’t have said it any better. Her books are like an escape for readers. When people ask me “Which is your favorite book?” my answer is always all of them because I can’t choose a favorite.
2. Katherine McGee
Have you ever considered how America would be different if George Washington had been crowned the first king of America rather than the first president? McGee’s four-part book series, American Royals, gives readers a glimpse into the alternate world of the American Royal family. The book is written from four different perspectives: Beatrice, the first in line to the throne; Samantha, the princess’s younger sister; Nina, Samantha’s bestfriend; and Daphne, Jefferson’s (Samantha and Beatrice’s brother) ex-girlfriend.
I love reading a story when there are multiple narrators because readers can learn about the story from different perspectives. In this case, two people in the royal family and two commoners tell the story.
If you like history or are interested in the British royal family, the book is for you. After you finish a book, you’ll want to pick up the next one immediately.
3. Sarah Maas
Anyone on BookTok also known as the book side of TikTok has heard of this book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), which is a five-book fantasy series is recommended by Jacqueline Raque, a Midway University senior. She said, “It’s my favorite book series and I have never read a book series as fast as I read ACOTAR because I couldn’t put it down.”
Raque said she likes the series because the characters are developed in such a way that you feel you know them. “The vivid imagery and building of worlds throughout the books made it very easy to follow along with. I loved the humor and relationships shared between the characters,” she said.
4. Taylor Jenkins Reid
Reid has published eight books within the romance and historical fiction genres. I have read the four historical fiction novels “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” “Daisy Jones & the Six,” “Malibu Rising,” and “Carrie Soto is Back.” The books are written in the same universe so characters from separate books have briefly appeared in each book. It makes it fun when reading the books because it reminds you of the other stories.
Reid’s first four published books are within the romance genre, and the universes aren’t connected. Two of her books have been brought to life on the silver screen. “One True Loves” was adapted into a movie in 2023, and “Daisy Jones & the Six” was made into a TV series on Amazon Prime. I recommend you read the books before watching the screen adaptations because the books are always better.
5. Dolly Alderton
Dolly Alderton published the memoir “Everything I Know About Love,” detailing her life as she navigated it in her 20s. Kyla Cooke, a Lindenwood University student, recommends this book because “it’s a super relatable book that girls our age [college students] can probably resonate with. “I love that it teaches you to appreciate life and your friends outside of love,” she said.
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