With the start of the semester, it’s easy to fall into a stressful routine. Wake up, go to school, go to work, do homework, cry (maybe that’s just me), do more homework, and hopefully, get some sleep. This semester, I told myself to pick up a hobby as a way to try to destress.
I have always loved to read, so I decided I would get back into it. I miss the times in grade school when we all read “Hunger Games,” “Divergent” and “The Maze Runner” (maybe it was because of the movies that came to theaters right after).
There were so many people reading and having incredible literary discussions. I miss the connections to those characters and the escape from reality by going into the pages for a little while. So, I want to take you with me as I dive into some books I’m reading this semester and some that are on my To Be Read (TBR) list.
The book that got me out of my reading slump was “A Court of Thorn and Roses” (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas. My friend Kailyn begged me to read it all last semester, and my TikTok “For You” page was bombarding me with the book’s aesthetic.
Man, I can’t begin to tell you what a ride that series was. I haven’t been so enthralled by a book since I was in fifth grade reading “The Lightning Thief” for the first time. The characters and storyline were *mwah* chef’s kiss.
If you like the classic “Beauty and the Beast” story, this series is for you. ACOTAR is a retelling of this classic, but in all the best ways. In the book, you follow the journey of a mortal girl, Feyre, who is taken to the fae lands of Prythian after murdering a faerie in the woods.
From a self-discovery story to an epic love rollercoaster, this book series will have you endlessly flipping pages and desperately needing more of this world’s story. The characters are so relatable, it’s easy to feel like you know them personally. My favorite character by far in the first book of the series is Lucien, a sarcastic king.
Are you a reader? Let me know what you think of ACOTAR or give me TBR list suggestions on Twitter @_anlunsford.
