There are thousands upon thousands of books in the world. Many are well known, while there are some readers might never hear of. And, sometimes, the ones they never hear of are the ones that can change their life. Books can relate to many people; they can conjure their hidden love of reading—a love they might not even of known existed; they can open one’s your mind to a world of possibilities they might have never seen before. That said, down below is a list of some of my favorite books that I’ve found to be diamonds in the rough.

1. Tiger’s Curse by Colleen HouckTop of Form

Kelsey Hayes had a normal life until the summer she met the white tiger, Ren, at the circus. At that moment, that is all he is—a tiger—until she whispers the words “I wish you were free,” and accidentally breaks a 300 year old curse. Soon, she is swept into a world she could have never dreamed of. Filled with danger, romance, and action, this book will have you squealing for more even after it is over.

Bottom of Form

“We looked at each other for a minute, not saying anything, but I could feel the air between us shift. It became thick, sultry, and tangible—like when the air changes right before a storm. I could feel its power envelop me as it brushed across my skin. Even though I couldn’t see it, I knew a storm was coming.”-Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck

2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
   Lena Holoway has always believed that love was horrible; after all, she lives in a world where it is illegal. Children are raised to be excited for the cure—to want They are also taught that love is so terrible that it will ruin your life. No one has better reason to believe this than Lena; her mom was taken away from her because of love. But as the day to her long-anticipated operation ticks closer, Lena finds herself having the very thing she has been taught to fear—love.

   “Love: a single word, a wispy thing, a word no bigger or longer than an edge. That’s what it is: an edge; a razor. It draws up through the center of your life, cutting everything in two. Before and after. The rest of the world falls away on either side.”-Delirium by Lauren Oliver

3. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

This book is filled with mystery, romance, and suspense— it is better if a reader goes into this book without a summary.

“’Fix me,” I commanded him. ‘This thing, what I’ve done – there’s something wrong with me, Noah. Fix it.’
Noah’s expression broke my heart as he brushed my hair from my face, and skimmed the line of my neck. ‘I can’t.’
‘Why not?’ I asked, my voice threatening to crack.
‘Because,’ he said, “You’re not broken.’” –The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

4. The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Francis Long

When Jenny was younger, she saw the trees take her brother Tom. Years later, Jenny goes back to the woods to make peace with what happened—then the forest takes her too.

“Jenny lifted her head. ‘Tom?’ she whispered uselessly, too quiet to be heard. This was not Tom.

The ageless gaze trailed over her face, assessing, measuring. Then it turned away and was gone, back into the silent woods.” –The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Francis Long

5. Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

   When Ali Bell was little, her father cut her away from the real world. She was not even allowed to go anywhere after dark. One day, when she chooses to ignore this rule, she finds out that maybe her dad was not so crazy after all.

“I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I’d tell my sister no.
I’d never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I’d zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I’d hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I’d tell them I love them.

I wish…Yeah, I wish.” – Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

6. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

   Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of The Red Death, Bethany Griffin weaves a very intricate piece about Araby Worth—a girl who finds a reason to live in a world full of death.

“Just because you don’t want to see something doesn’t mean that it will go away. Do you think inhumanity doesn’t exist if you pretend not to see it? Or maybe get too drunk to understand? We’ve forgotten the things that make life worthwhile.” –Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

7. Panic by Lauren Oliver

   Every summer, seniors in a small town called Carp play a game called Panic. It is dangerous and each of the challenges could result in death, but people play for the grand prize.

This year, the prize is over 50,000 dollars and for Heather, it will get her and her sister away from her drug abusive mother, and their house that does not even deserve to be called a home.

For Dodge, the game is not about the money—it is about revenge.
Everything is at stake through the game, and it will surely have any reader holding their breath until the very last page.

“’How do I know I can trust you?’ she said finally.
‘That’s the thing about trust.’ He crunched an ice cube between his teeth. ‘You don’t know.’”-Panic by Lauren Oliver

8. Scarlet by A.C Gaughen

   Based on the tale of Robin Hood, A.C Gaughen whips up an extraordinary tale of adventure, love, and sacrifice.
   Scarlet is one of Robin Hood’s thieves—and a woman. Scarlet tries to help the people of Nottingham as she plots the downfall of wicked Lord Gisbourne. Gisbourne is soon doing whatever he can to capture Scarlet, but whenever she thinks about giving up, it is Robin Hood that keeps her going.

“Because we always have a choice, even when it feels like we don’t.” –Scarlet by A.C Gaughen

9. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

   All Evie Green wants to be is normal, but this seems impossible considering she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. Because she has the power of seeing through glamour, she is one of the agency’s greatest assets. But then she finds out that she is involved in an evil foretelling. As two paranormal creatures vie for Evie’s attention and as the prophecy closes in, she’s finds out things about herself that she could have never imagined possible.

“Tasers are a one-size-fits-all paranormal butt-kicking option. Mine’s pink with
rhinestones.”-Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

   What if there was someone whose touch literally killed?

“I have a curse
I have a gift

I am their weapon
I will fight back” –Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi