I love reading, as do most writers. These books are some of my favorites.

Fyi these are NOT going to be proper summaries, proceed with caution. (If you're looking for something to read though, I recommend these with flying colors - plus, no spoilers here). 

• Gideon the Ninth - This book is the first in a series I haven't yet finished, I think I'll like the series as a whole. This book feels like it was made for me, from the fantastical plot, to the humor, this book is perfect, to me! I saw someone say that this book is NOT a romance, but it's the most romantic book they've ever read - and I think that's a perfect synopsis. 

• Unwind - I read the Unwind series as a whole within two weeks, there's four books but only the first one is worth reading. Unwind is a dystopian novel about a world where society has the choice to "Unwind" teenagers, well the parents have the choice. It's super dark and fascinating, and unfortunately, doesn't seem that crazy. I don't know how much I'd like this book now, it's been five years since I read it. Regardless, I loved it at the time, and maybe you will too!

• The Time of the Fireflies - I read this book when I was eleven, and it's one of the only books I've read where I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. It's a book no one knows, unlike the prior (Gideon the Ninth has a cult following, and Unwind is written by a well-known author), before I read Gideon the Ninth, The Time of the Fireflies was my favorite book, and it was frustrating as I felt like I'm the only person whose ever read it. So, read this book! It's better than you might think!

• Chlorine - About recommendations, I don't think I would recommend this book to just anyone. It's a book about a swimmer who wants to become a mermaid. I don't quite think this book was made in a lab for me specifically (unlike Gideon the Ninth), however if you're a swimmer you should read this book. Simply for the relatability factor, the author definitely swam, as there's stuff in this book that no one who didn't have a childhood of competitive swimming should know. With that said, this book is SUPER weird and takes a turn for the worst very suddenly. So, if you also like horror, check it out!

• The Grace Year - The Grace Year is a Handmaid's Tale-Hunger Games hybrid, and I couldn't be happier. It's not deriviative whatsoever. It's beautifully written, and the ending had my jaw on the floor. There's not much else to say. If you're a feminist, read this book, if you're not, read this book. 

More than I love to read, I love to analyze shows. Like actually, I cannot watch a show like a normal person, ask anyone in my family. 

I almost felt bad for him, watching as he picked the roses from my yard, pricking his fingers in the process. His blood dripped from his thumb–I watched from the window as the blood meshed with the red roses. Part of me, however, was glad the thief was getting his karma. 

My wife came up behind me, hugging me as she asked, “What’re you looking at?” She had a soft smile when I looked back at her.

I chuckled, “Just this kid stealing roses from our garden?” 

She let go of the embrace, “You mean my garden?” She huffed. 

“Oh, he’s just a kid.” I explained, trying to calm the situation. “So what if he needs a few roses.”

“You know how important it was to me, when we bought this house, remember? I said, honey, our house needs to have a garden, I couldn’t stand not being able to give something life in nature. Because that’s who I am, that’s what’s important to me. And then, when we toured this house, remember, I was like, oh look dear, a perfect place for my tomatoes!” 

“I remember that, yes, but he’s not stealing the tomatoes.” I argued lightly–I was mostly joking. 

“Whatever.” She muttered, before storming outside. I trailed after her, trying to stop her, but she continued on. “What do you think you’re doing?” She cried, finally having made it to the outside. 

The kid immediately dropped the roses on the ground, “I’m sorry!” He said. 

“Gosh, look what you’ve done now.” My wife exclaimed, “If you’re going to steal, at least have the decency to take care of my babies.” 

She knelt before him, and picked up the flowers he dropped, clutching them tightly. I saw thorns poking at her bare arms, I almost reminded her, but she shot me a dirty look when I started to speak. 

“Look, I wasn’t stealing from you two out of malice! I just–I’ve got some stuff going on.” He explained. 

“Some stuff!” My wife mocked, “Is that stuff the urge to steal my poor innocent flowers–they love me y’know. Not you! Me!” 

“I’m dying!” The boy said suddenly, “I’m dying, and no one cares, so I figured I would take some flowers for my own grave because unlike other lonely boys, I quite like myself! I deserve beauty even in death, I think–so what if I steal a few flowers, that’s nothing in the eyes of eternity.” 

My wife paused for a moment, before opening her mouth, and in a much softer voice, she said, “I’m sorry to hear that,” She took a breath in, “but I would have preferred it if you had asked first. I love these flowers, I love to take care of them, I like to look at them and watch as they grow into bigger beautiful flowers, I love them. I love them a lot.” 

“I didn’t realize flowers could be that important to someone.” The boy said, sounding almost ignorant, but I didn’t mind.

My wife looked to me, and then she looked down. “I just don’t really have something else to take care of like that I guess.” I wasn’t completely fond of her venting all of our issues out to a young, dying boy, but I shrugged it off–this wasn’t completely about me. 

“I understand. I think if someone was there to take care of me, I wouldn’t be dying.” The boy suggested. 

“Do you wanna come in?” I asked, and they both looked at me, suddenly. “I mean, I couldn’t help but notice your fingers being all cut up, and I would be remiss to not offer you a bandage, some juice, and maybe more? If you want to hang out here. I mean it’s a big house and it’s awfully lonely at the moment-”

“Honey, you’re tangenting.” My wife sang. 

“Right.” I nodded. “Regardless, would you like to come in?” 

The boy smiled back, walking into our house, as my wife left the flowers in the garden.