Reading as a child and even as a teenager was always such a chore for me. The only time I would read was when I had to, and I would completely hate it. I honestly couldn't understand how and why people enjoyed reading.

I now take that back.

I love reading.

I love reading A LOT.

I am a bookworm.

When it came to finding out that a lot of the books I was reading were becoming movies, I got a tad overprotective. I have already envisioned how the characters would look/sound/be and how the locations should look. This was why I refused to find out anything about the movie, even the actors/actresses until I had finished the book. This is a reason why I won't be naming any of the cast in case this spoils it for you too, but feel free to check it out for yourself.

1. ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES by JENNIFER NIVEN

I was griped from the first sentence, "Is today a good day to die?"

The book is based on two main characters who have both been tragically affected by death. Violet, whose sister recently died, and Finch who is fascinated by death and wants to end his own life. The story starts at the top of the bell tower at the school where the pair first meet. This is the first time they save each other, but neither of them realises. After the two get paired in a school project, the couple grows closer and fall in love. Together, they manage to keep each other stable. Alive. Awake. Sounds perfect right? Pretty soon, Violet realises that maybe she isn't everything that Finch needs. Is she worth staying alive for?

This book has to be my favourite from the list, and probably one of the best I've read in the past few years. If somebody mentions this book to me, I just let out a little whine. I honestly feel like every single emotion I could comprehend was experienced while reading this book. It covers mental illness, death and love. As the book is written in a narrative perspective from both Violet and Finch, you will unintentionally get emotionally attached to one more than the other; I felt connected to Violet. Jennifer Niven portrays her in a way that made me feel complete empathy from start to end. You'll get gripped from the very beginning and will have nothing but hope for the two.

READ THIS IF YOU LOVE:

Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby and Never Ending by Martyn Bedford

RATING:

2. TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY by JAY ASHER

The concept of the book had me fixated.

'Thirteen Reasons Why' follows the journey of despair, guilt and heartbreak of Clay, a high school student who receives audio tapes from his first love, Hannah, who had killed herself two weeks prior. The tapes, each referring to a different person and event, explains all the reasons leading up to her suicide. There are two rules which everybody who receives the tapes has to abide by; "number one: you listen. number two: you pass it on." Contemplating whether he wants to put himself through further pain, Clay decides he will listen to the tapes, but also follows the map, which Hannah included, which indicates where each event occurred. This guides him around the local area where he meets other recipients of the tapes, but how do their stories connect to Hannah's?

The narrative is compelling to issues faced by a lot of young people, such as sexual abuse, bullying, low self-confidence and suicide. Reading through the tapes, it becomes clear very early on that it wasn't one event that triggered her, but a series of moments and people that contributed to her feeling like suicide was the only escape. Knowing these are the final thoughts running thought Hannah's mind is quite harrowing. You couldn't help but reflect on a personal level knowing how one comment or remark can affect someone dramatically, whether it be positive or negative. The book has it's thrill-factor as I was constantly coming up with my own conclusions, trying to work out where Clay and the other characters came in the tapes.

Unlike the other books, this is actually becoming a tv series. While I was reading about the show, I read a theory about a character in the book (this is so hard to word without giving away any spoilers), so I wonder if they're going to change the story up or keep it as written. If you have read this book and want me to share this theory with you let me know as I'm dying to tell someone!!

READ THIS IF YOU LOVE:

Looking for Alaska> by John Green and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

RATING:

3. I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by JANDY NELSON

One answer I was looking for throughout the book was who and why was the sun given to them. There is nothing but comfort when you find out.

'I'll Give You The Sun' is about a set of twins Noah and Jude. The book takes form of the perspective of Noah, at the age of 13, and Jude, at the age of 16. Noah is an artist. He loves to paint, draw and dreams of attending art college. Jude is your average teenager, she loves to wear make-up, go out with her friend, and kiss a lot of boys. Even though both twins are very different, they're inseparable. As they reach the age of 16, everything has changed. A tragedy breaks the two apart, but what neither of them realises is their stories and lives are connected in ways they couldn't even imagine.

This book is truly beautiful. As Noah and Jude's stories are intertwined and are three years apart, as you go through the book things that have happened in the past start making sense in the present. Not until you reach the final few chapters you will fully understand and appreciate everything that has happened. The concentration to detail in this book is unbelievable, from the way in which Jandy Nelson portrays the characters, to the issues they face. Another detail I love is the painted notes and brushstrokes throughout the book. You will definitely feel a connection to the story even if you haven't faced anything similar; it's just heartwarming.

READ THIS IF YOU LOVE:

The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle and Our Chemical Hearts by Jamie Kain

RATING:

4. EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by NICOLA YOON

I always say this whenever I'm talking about this book, but Everything, Everything is seriously EVERYTHING. This book had me hooked; I laughed, I cried, I gasped.

The book is based on the life of Madeline Whitter (Maddy), a seventeen-year-old who suffers from a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, also known as "bubble disease". Maddy is allergic to the world and hasn't left her home in seventeen years. A new family move in next door and Maddy is quickly fascinated by the son, Olly. The young couple starts exchanging messages online and soon fall in love, and we all know the crazy things love can do to us. The story follows Maddy in her desperate attempt at risking her safety for love.

What I love most about this book is the way Nicola Yoon depicts the characters. You instantly become relatable and just feel the pain, love, despair, and her passion. There are also personal touches added to the book with small pieces of Maddy's life that are translated into what I would describe as diary entries with health logs, sketches, messages between her and Olly, and little life quotes. The book ends up going down a path I really didn't see coming. This is how I ended up reading the book in a couple of days, I just had to know what was going to happen next. As I was getting towards the end of the book, I was getting slightly worried as the pages were running out and the story would soon have to end. I wanted and needed more.

READ THIS IF YOU LOVE:

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart and Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

RATING:

Let me know in the comments below if you've read any of these books and what you think about them turning into movies. I'm always looking for new books to read so please recommend me any of your favourites.