Are you behind schedule on your reading challenge or Goodreads challenge? Are you worried you won’t meet your goal even though it’s only May? Well, don’t worry, here’s a list of five books that you won’t be able to put down and therefore will bring you one step closer to completing your challenge!
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
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Many YA fans have read this graphic novel by now (and its sequels), but one can never go wrong with a contemporary romance, especially if it is as endearing as this one! This is the sweetest boy meets boy story and throughout the three volumes, we can see how Nick and Charlie’s relationship grows and deepens. Oseman also shows us the struggles of teenage love and those of the process of coming out. Ultimately, it sends a message of hope to LGBT+ people and she does so with her beautiful illustrations that are able to express feelings and emotions without the need to use words.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
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Oscar Wilde’s most popular work is engaging and compelling. The story is set around three characters: Dorian Gray, Lord Henry, and Basil Hallward. The latter is an artist who paints a picture of Dorian Gray and later becomes obsessed with him because of his beauty. Then Dorian meets Lord Henry, a friend of Basil, and is fascinated by the way he sees the world and his belief that the senses should triumph over reason. Overall, this is a great story with morally grey, complex, and corrupted characters that just feel real. You will be fascinated by the cynicism and vileness towards humanity that these characters display and by Wilde’s masterful and beautiful prose and his eloquent and rich language. If you are not convinced to pick up this book yet, maybe knowing that there’s a new audiobook narrated by Ben Barnes will do the trick.
Vicious by V. E. Schwab
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Here we have another beautifully written story with morally grey characters addictive enough to read in one sitting. Schwab’s novel follows two college friends, Victor and Eli, who decide to base their thesis on how someone can develop extraordinary abilities. However, when their study moves from the academic to the experimental, things go terribly wrong. It’s the perfect “good people gone bad” novel for those who love stories about superheroes and anti-heroes. It’s dark, brilliant, and engrossing.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
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It’s no secret that Gaiman has a gift for storytelling, and these short retellings of different Norse myths feel like an absolute dream. Gaiman takes these old stories and makes them approachable to today’s readers, thanks to his modern stylish flair. He gives personality and life to these complex characters and offers a different version of them. It is a fast-paced and action-packed read but also very funny and enjoyable. It’s interesting and a compelling pageturner that will bring you closer to some familiar faces like the powerful Odin, the honourable Thor, or the mischievous Loki. But you will also discover and learn a lot more about other Norse deities and the nine worlds they live in.
To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
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Here we have another retelling; this one is perfect for those who love YA fantasy. This is The Little Mermaid story, but reimagined in a completely different and twisted way. Christo’s debut novel is full of intrigue and so easy to read that you will devour it in no time. The story follows two different characters that are both next in line to different crowns. We have Lira, the most feared siren of all time, known as the “Prince’s Bane” and daughter of the tyrant Sea Queen. On the other hand, we have Elian: royal prince, pirate, and siren hunter. After a certain event, the Sea Queen turns Lira into a human and sends her to kill the royal prince.
Basically, this book has a little bit of everything: a strong female lead, slow-burn angsty romance, fantasy elements, great imagery, vivid action scenes, strong friendships, and witty banter. What more do you need?
