As a college student overloaded with essays and homework, it can be difficult to settle down with the book that’s been sitting on your desk for months to read for pleasure. For those wanting to jump back in and reignite their love of reading, University of New Mexico freshman Faryn Long shared her favorite recently discovered pageturners worthy of a glance from her fellow bookworms.
“I Must Betray You” by Ruta Sepetys
“I Must Betray You,” a historical fiction novel, follows a boy living in Communist Romania in 1989. Cristian, the protagonist, grapples with the oppressive conditions which drown his dreams of becoming a writer and force him into becoming an informer for the regime. This book floored Long.
“It’s just one of the best and most well-written books I’ve read in a really, really long time. It actually inspired me to go to Romania,” Long said.
The “Zodiac Academy” series by Caroline Peckham and Susan Valenti
“Zodiac Academy” is a fantasy romance series following twin sisters, Tory and Darcy, who discover they’re heirs by birthright to the fae kingdom of Solaria. Following this revelation, they must learn to harness their powers at a magical academy where rivals jockey for their power. For Long, the main point of intrigue in this book was the author’s skillful weaving of the two different points of view between the sisters.
“I really like the dynamics of the two points of view because I think that can be done very wrong, but these authors did a really good job with that,” Long said.
“Felix Ever After” by Kacen Callender
Exploring the dynamics of marginalized identity in romance and relationships, “Felix Ever After” follows Felix Love, a Black queer transgender man as his plan for revenge following an anonymous bullying incident turns into a love triangle. Long appreciated the representation of transgender people and people of color in this contemporary romance, as well as the typical tropes of the romance genre present throughout.
“I think (representation) is super important. It has a love triangle in it, which I’m a sucker for,” Long said.
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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A New York Times bestseller with a Netflix adaptation in the works, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” has reached a level of popularity among many contemporary readers that almost speaks for itself. In the novel, aging Old Hollywood star Hugo gives a final tell-all interview about her eponymous seven marriages.
“I love this author because I love how she criticizes the main character, and I just really like the story. I think it’s a really interesting (work of) historical fiction,” Long said.
“The Liar’s Daughter” by Megan Cooley Peterson
“The Liar’s Daughter” follows Piper, the daughter of a doomsday-cult leader who lives her childhood within a compound; when it’s raided, she is forced to confront the outside world and come to terms with the lies she was indoctrinated into.
“It’s a really interesting narrative that talks a lot about thought and the processes of grief and recognition,” Long said.
With a wide selection of novels to delve into, we hope you find something that will encourage you to dig deeper into the type of stories that spark your interest, and maybe even find a new favorite among Long’s suggestions.
Zara Roy is the copy chief at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at copychief@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @zarazzledazzle
