I love Netflix as much as the next person, but there’s nothing quite like getting lost in a good book. Although exam season may have involved enough neglected course readings to leave you never wanting to read again, this summer may be time to rediscover a love of reading.

Reading, for me, is a way to get away from the omnipresence of screens and unplug for a while. Apart from being quite relaxing, reading engages the mind and even expands your vocabulary.

Picking up a book can add some variety into how you choose to spend your free time in the next few months. Consider bringing a book for the commute to your summer job tomorrow, or the next car ride up to the cottage. 

If you haven’t read a book since the Twilight series, or you just want some new suggestions, here are five book recommendations for a variety of different tastes. 

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

A fictional thriller

Hovering around the top of New York Times’ Best Sellers list for the past few months, The Girl   on the Train follows Rachel, a woman who becomes entangled in a twisted, mysterious death. If you enjoyed Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, you will love this psychological thriller.

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton

A picture book for adults 

@humansofny on Instagram, anyone? Continuing to tell the stories of New York City, this book features 400 portraits and captions with some exclusive content never-before-seen on your Instagram or Facebook feed. Each portrait captures the raw beauty of New York and the array of people living in it. It’s the perfect book if you’re looking for a light read.

So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

A cultural insight

Have you ever called someone out on the internet? Welsh journalist and author, Jon Ronson, dissects how and why people publicly shame on social media. In a world where we can voice our opinions behind the seeming safety of online personas, Ronson explores how public scrutiny is harsher and more sharp-tongued than ever.

Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination by J.K. Rowling

An inspirational quick read

Whether you’re a Harry Potter fan or not, I assume you’re familiar with the name J.K. Rowling. Transcribed from her 2008 Harvard University commencement address and at only 71 pages in full, Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination, offers a little life advice from one of the most beloved authors of our time.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

A highly anticipated sequel

You probably read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school, and if you didn’t, you definitely should. Go Set a Watchman will follow beloved character, Scout Finch, through her adult years, 20 years after To Kill a Mockingbird. The sequel will revisit themes of prejudice and racism — issues that continue to shake our world today. It comes out on July 14.

I know I’ll be indulging in some leisurely literature this summer. I hope you will too.