Lauren's Top Ten Books

(The books in this list are ones that I currently own)

Book Ten

The Death Cure - James Dashner

The trials are over. WICKED is planning to restore the survivors memories and complete the final cure for the Flare.

But Thomas has already remembered more than they think. And he knows WICKED can't be trusted.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine. Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

The Death Cure is the third book in The Maze Runner series, and it is my favourite of all three. This book is full of action and mystery. As the series comes to an end you discover what WICKED are really up to, and even without Thomas's fully memory, how he came to be involved with the evil group. This is the book for you if you enjoy heart wrenching character losses, there is plenty of tears to go around with this one. Moving on to the characters, I find that there are a variety of personalities. Starting with Minho, he is my favourite character, he has heart, humour and bravery, Minho would sacrifice everything for his friends, and at the same yet inappropriate time, cracking jokes the whole way. On the opposite scale is Teresa, who is my least favourite. Teresa, to me, is selfish, she lacks compassion and overall, personality. In conclusion, The Death Cure is an excellent read, as are the other two, but this one is the best, with the most action and emotion, a terrific plot to end the series perfectly.

Book Nine

Midnight Sun - Trish Cook

Katie can't leave her house during the day: she has a rare disease that makes even the smallest amount of sunlight deadly. But everything changes when one evening, singing her heart out on a deserted station platform, she meets Charlie.

Before the night is out, Katie is smitten, But she hasn't told Charlie her secret. She just wants to have her normal love story, before reality kicks in.

Lost in her night-time summer romance, Katie knows that love will light the way.

This is one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking books I have read to date. Katie has had feelings for Charlie for most of her young life, watching him as he skates by her house everyday, observing from her window. She is unable to go out to him, due to her disease. So the day she gets to meet him? She turns into a quirky puddle, which i'm sure everyone can relate to. This book has so many emotional key points. Just through reading it, you can feel their love, its so powerful, and it reels you in. Its a beautiful thing to see their relationship flower into something amazing, something real. The characters have so much depth, Charlie evolves into such a mature and even more caring guy, Katie already mature and kind, grows to love herself, she learns to let go and not care what others think of her. Overall Midnight Sun is full of emotion, love and humour, I thoroughly enjoy reading this book.

Book Eight

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be rewritten.

This is a classic book, the kind that makes you fall in love with everything about it. The novel tells us a of the romantic journey that is Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters. Their relationship is poetic, intelligent, and full of epic romance. The book is pure and precious, with wonderful lessons. Do not give up. Life is short. Love is beautiful.

The Fault in our Stars is one of those books you just cannot put down, it's all consuming. Although very serious, its also warm, lighthearted and full of humour. John Green really packed an emotional punch with this book, you will cry, maybe even sob. You will laugh, you will fall in love, you will believe that life can throw anything at you, and you will be able to get through it. That is what Hazel teaches the reader.

Both Hazel and Augustus are hopeful, funny and kind. They can make anyone believe in themselves. That is what i love most about this book, It makes me really feel.

It is a fantastic novel, a 5 star read.

Book Seven

The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

"My name is Salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6 1973. My murderer was a man from our neighborhood. My mother liked his border flowers, and my father talked to him once about fertilizer"

This is Susie Salmon, speaking from heaven - which looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets, counsellors to help newcomers adjust, and friends to room with. Everything Susie wants appears as soon as she thinks of it - except the one thing she wants most: to be back with the people she loved on earth.

Watching from her place in heaven, Susie sees her happy, suburban family devastated by her death, isolated from one another as they each try to cope with their terrible loss alone. Over the years, her friends and siblings grow up, fall in love, do all the things she never had the chance to do herself. But life is not quite finished with Susie yet...

Where do I begin to write my adoration for The Lovely Bones? I respect this book greatly, it has so much to offer.

A young girl is murdered by her neighbor, mutilated, left to rot in a safe. Her family attempt to deal with the loss of their daughter and sibling, all separately, all failing. The only one to hold out hope is her father, to find his daughter, and eventually to find her killer. It's a riveting plot, full of tragedy, crime and sadness. There are engaging moments, where Susie is, up in her own personal heaven. She watches as her family struggle, helping as much as she is able to along the way, whilst struggling herself to move on, without her loved ones, to say goodbye forever. The characters are quite complex, especially Susie's mum. She is a complicated woman, eventually after being unable to live without her eldest daughter, she moves away, attempting to find who she really is, without being a mother. Her character is not black and white, where she lacks responsibility, the reader finds that the mother is trying to move on, to be her own person, without children. I admire that point, it cant be easy to lose a child. In a summary this novel is worth the read, its captivating, tragically beautiful.

Book Six

Th1rt3en ( Thirteen) - Steve Cavanagh

A ruthless prosecutor

A Brilliant defence lawyer

A defendant with a secret

And a serial killer on the jury...

Thirteen is such a fantastic crime thriller. It begins with a famous defendant on trial for murdering his wife, did he do it? Only one person can find that out, Eddie Flynn. The first word that comes to mind with this book, roller coaster. That is what it feels like reading this, like you're on a roller coaster, there are so many twists and turns, nothing is ever as it seems. My favourite aspect of this book is that there are two perspectives you get to read, the defence lawyer and the killer. Its amazing being the reader and trying to peace together all the evidence and figure out who this serial killer is. I would say this could easily be a one sit read, it gets you hooked within the first chapter. A true crime novel.

Book Five

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sisters place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

This is the first book in The Hunger Games series, and it is a fantastic beginning to an epic journey. Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her sisters place to enter the brutal reality show known as The Hunger Games. She knows her chances are slim, but she also knows that she has to win, for her sister, for her best friend gale, for her mother. Once inside the arena Katniss gives it her everything to survive, but circumstances change and she finds herself entangled with her fellow district 12 competitor Peeta Mellark. Speaking of Peeta, he is a treasure, my most beloved character. He is kind, compassionate, brave, all kinds of wonderful. Another incredible character, Haymitch. He is direct, he's full of humour and a secret softie, some might say the kindest of all. Moving on to why this novel is the perfect dystopian. It has a riveting plot, who doesn't want to read about a corrupt government that pits children against each other for the sake of television? That sounded sarcastic but it really does make for an interesting story. It's an addictive read and it will definitely make you feel better about your own life. Without revealing anything, there is an amazing cliffhanger, it will make you want to immediately read the next installment. I cannot recommend The Hunger Games enough.

Book Four

Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

Lou Clark knows lots of things.

She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is that she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now, and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

I clearly have a thing for tragedy and romance, since half the books in this list are exactly those. Me Before You focuses on the two lives of Louisa Clark and Will Traynor. Louisa Clark loses her job and is then forced to find a well paid job in order to provide for her family. She stumbles into the Traynor's Lives, there to care for Will Traynor who got into an accident two years prior. Will is a complex character, he doesn't care for life now that he paralyzed and has given up, understandably so. This does not sit well with Louisa who is the complete opposite of Will, she is bursting with positivity and lives in a bright world. So once she meets Will, her bubble is burst, she knows she has to do everything in her power to infiltrate his life with her rays of sunshine happiness. This book will make you feel so many emotions, its a delightful ride, you will cry for sure, unless you're heartless. I sobbed, slightly embarrassing.

The characters have such depth to them. Lou is a personal favourite, she is selfless, staying in her home town to provide for her loved ones, she is full of brightness, she will make you feel happy. Lou says what she thinks, she speaks her mind. As the story evolves you will fall in love with the plot. with the characters, with the entire book. Me Before You is a remarkable story, it is worth all the tears in the world.

Book Three

The Surgeon - Tess Gerritsen

TRIGGER WARNING - SEXUAL ASSAULT

In Boston, there's a killer on the loose. A killer who targets lone women, who breaks into their apartments and performs terrifying ritualistic acts of torture on his victims before finishing them off. His surgical skills lead police to suspect he is a physician - a physician who, instead of saving lives, takes them.

But as homicide detective Thomas Moore and his partner Jane Rizzoli begin their investigation, they make a startling discovery. Closely linked to these killings is Catherine Cordell, a beautiful medic with a mysterious past. Two years ago she was subjected to a horrifying rape and attempted murder but shot her attacker dead. Now she is being targeted by this new killer who appears to know all about her past, her work at the Pilgrim Medical Center, and where she lives. The man she believes she killed seems to be stalking her once again, and this time he knows exactly where to find her...

This is my ideal choice of crime novel. It is a dark and twisted trip to take. When I read this book, I remember being unable to put it down, it has so many twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Lets start with dissecting the characters. Cordell and Moore are very similar, in the ways that they are both damaged and have dark, emotional pasts. Both of them find it difficult to reach out, that is until they meet each other. Within the book you get to read the perspectives of many characters. It is a third person narrative so you get to experience multiple views, as well as the killer, which is in first person, I enjoy that because it makes it obvious who's point of view you are reading. Rizzoli is a strong female character that makes me really proud. She has a chip on her shoulder, she is hard working and dedicated to her career, I respect her greatly. It is a fantastically gory read, Tess Gerritsen wrote this book in a way that shines a light on sexual assault, and informs the reader of its horrific consequences on the victim. It touched on such a sensitive subject, being respective and informative. If you are looking for the perfect crime novel, this one is it.

Book Two

Five Feet Apart - Rachael Lippincott

Stella Grant likes to be in control - even though her totally out-of-control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. What Stella needs to control most is her distance from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. In one week he'll turn eighteen, and then he'll be able to unplug himself from all these machines and actually go see the world.

Will's exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. But now six feet doesn't feel like safety. It feels like punishment. What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

I read Five Feet Apart quite recently, it is the perfect romance, but it is equally tragic. Stella and Will are both patients in hospital with Cystic Fibrosis, an illness that affects the lungs and digestive system. The two characters become consumed with each other, true star crossed lovers. They are perfect together. This book is immediately captivating, it is a heartbreaking, beautiful love story. It was interesting to learn what is really involved with CF, how it affects patients, mentally and physically. Five Feet Apart is well written, with a terrific plot, it alternates between the perspective of Will and Stella, who both compliment each other well, they are really meant for one another. I found myself smiling constantly during this book, its one of those stories that makes me happy, a definite one sit read. It brings hope and sadness, all sorts of emotions really, it ticks all of the boxes.

Book One

Divergent - Veronica Roth

In a society divided into factions all are forced to choose where they belong. And the choice Beatrice Prior makes shocks everyone, including herself.

During extreme initiation tests. Tris must determine who her friends are and whether she can trust the man who both threatens and protects her. Because Tris has a deadly secret. One that might save those she loves... or destroy her.

This book has been my favourite for years, along with the film. There are five factions within the government: Dauntless (daring), Amity (peaceful), Candor (honest), Abnegation (selfless) and Erudite (knowledgeable). Tris makes a decision to leave her faction of Abnegation, not fully sure why, to become a Dauntless initiate. This is after Tris finds out she is divergent, unable to fit into just one faction, this is something the government do not trust.

Tris is tested within the Dauntless community, pushed to her limits, all to make it through the tough initiation process. Within this time, she makes friends and enemies, but most importantly, she meets Four. Four is a mystery, he has so much depth to him that gets unpacked throughout the book. Tris puts her trust into Four, and along the way, they fall in love. Both characters evolve so effortlessly, Tris becomes a whole new person, she is brave, smart and selfless, which makes sense since she is divergent. This is one of those books that just captivates the reader, plunges them straight into an epic story, full of action, romance and adventure. It is a perfect dystopian read.