Put your specs on and get nerdy—it’s #NationalBookLoversDay! August 9 is apparently a page-turner, and we’ve looked into the top 5 books you should dive your nose into right now.
#1
To no one’s surprise the newest of the Harry Potter series rises to the top at spot #1. Even though it’s technically a screen play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by author J.K. Rowling and two co-authors, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, counts. The rehearsal script was released on July 31 and became the eighth story set in the HP world. Set 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the story follows Harry Potter and his young son Albus Severus Potter.
#2
When Breath Becomes Air is a profound and intense read with one large question at the forefront: What makes life worth living? This memoir, by Paul Kalanithi, is about a young neurosurgeon faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis and his journey on finding out life’s real meaning. Prepare to shed tears.
#3
Yaa Gyasi, an African American writer, traces back 300 years to her roots in Ghana. Throughout the novel’s journey, it also becomes a great American novel people of all backgrounds will find relevant. See this trip through the ages come to life in Homegoing.
#4
Truly Madly Deeply exposes the foundations of our lives: marriage, sex, parenthood and friendship. Author Liane Moriarty takes us on an adventure with three seemingly happy families at a friendly barbecue. It isn’t until guilt comes into play that the lines of strong relationships were tested; sometimes it’s the most innocent of moments that create vast harm. How and what we do is a powerful thing, and these three families, who didn’t previously know each other, quickly learn this.
#5
Fall in love with a somewhat old-fashioned and straightforward story about college friends who grew up and into their reckless love of relationships, and in some cases, into parents. Covering straight and gay marriages, author Emma Straub playfully entertains her readers in this tale of Modern Lovers. From college to marriage to children, the book’s main characters have seen it all, and realize it’s not that easy “to adult.”
Hundreds of books have been released this year, and TIME magazine produced an extensive list of their favorites from 2016. Skim through and see if any make you want to join in the celebration of #NationalBookLoversDay.
Nerd on, friends.
