Our 2024 Summer Reading Picks

What did the Columbia and Wake Forest applications have in common this past year? Both asked students to share information about books they’d read!

Yes, reading is a great way to pass the time in general, but it can be especially important for rising seniors to pick up a few books while hitting the beach this summer. Remember, even if students aren’t applying to schools that ask about books in the application, they still need to be prepared to discuss reading material in college interviews.

Unfortunately, selecting books to discuss, whether in an interview setting or in a supplemental essay, can be tricky. Students have to find the right balance. War and Peace? Nobody is going to believe a 17-year-old chose to read that for fun. And yet the trashy beach reads won’t be your best bet, either.

Instead, we advise our students to try to find texts that are in alignment with their academic (or extracurricular) interests and overall application narrative, yet aren’t dry and obscure, either.

Check out our top pics below — no matter your intended major, we’ve got options for you!

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‘Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space’ by Adam Higginbotham

If you're into gripping true stories, check out this book about the 1986 Challenger disaster. It dives into the tragic event where the space shuttle broke apart just seventy-three seconds after launch. All seven crew members were killed, including a teacher named Christa McAuliffe. This book isn't just packed with facts—it's also super inspiring and thought-provoking. You'll get the full scoop on what led up to the accident, the disaster itself, and the investigation afterward. Plus, it touches on big themes like ambition, ingenuity, political drama, and heroism. 

We recommend this for students interested in history, politics, science, and engineering – or anyone who can appreciate a good real-life thriller!

‘Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection’ by Charles Duhigg

Check out this book for a fascinating read that can up your communication game! Imagine being in a jury room where one person manages to get everyone on the same page, or a young CIA officer convincing a reluctant foreign agent, or a top surgeon trying to persuade a patient to choose a safer form of treatment. This book is packed with cool stories like these, showing how great communicators work their magic.

Duhigg explains that every conversation has three layers: practical (what’s this about?), emotional (how do we feel?), and social (who are we?). Knowing which one you’re dealing with can make a huge difference in connecting with people. You'll learn how to pick up on emotions, negotiations, and beliefs that shape our talks. By the end, you'll get that with the right tools, you can connect with anyone. 

We recommend this for students interested in communications, business, and politics  – or anyone looking to improve their communication skills in a fun and engaging way!

‘James’ by Percival Everett

If you enjoyed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, you have to check out this book, which reimagines the classic story from Jim's perspective! When Jim hears he's about to be sold and separated from his family, he hides on Jackson Island and meets Huck. Together they embark on a dangerous adventure, aiming for the Free States. Everett's version keeps all the exciting elements of the original — floods, storms, treasure hunts, and run-ins with scam artists — but it shines a new light on Jim. You'll see his intelligence, agency, and compassion in a way that the original story didn't show. This book is packed with humor and sharp observations that make it an electrifying read. It also dives into serious themes including language, race, and power.

We recommend this for students interested in English literature, race and culture, psychology, or sociology  –  or anyone interested in stories that mix adventure with deep, thought-provoking themes. 

‘Finding Fortunato: How a Peruvian Adventure Inspired the Sweet Success of a Family Chocolate Business’ by Adam Pearson

Dive into this exciting memoir about a family's adventure in the northern Peruvian jungle. They stumble upon a rare cacao bean, once thought extinct, and their journey turns into an epic chocolate business story! This book takes you through their struggles and triumphs as they decide to disrupt the traditional supply chain by trading directly with farmers. Their efforts not only produce what the BBC calls "the Rolex of chocolate" but also help lift farmers out of poverty. A tale of resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, the book shows how gut instincts and determination can lead to incredible success.

We recommend this for students interested in business, politics, or global studies  –  or anyone interested in adventure and making a difference in the world.

‘All the Gold Stars’ by Rainesford Stauffer

Dig into the pressures of ambition and how it leads to burnout! From gold stars in grade school to getting into the "right" college and grinding at work, our drive to achieve is celebrated but often comes with serious downsides. The book explores how cultural, personal, and societal expectations push us to tie our worth to productivity, limit our imaginations, and drive us apart. 

Through her own story of ambition and burnout, along with interviews with students, parents, workers, psychologists, and labor organizers, Stauffer uncovers the common pressures we all face. This book challenges us to rethink what success really means and offers new ways to approach ambition that's more about caring for ourselves and each other. 

We recommend this for students interested in psychology, sociology, or education – or anyone feeling the weight of expectations and looking for a healthier way to achieve their goals.

‘The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security’ by Scott Galloway

If you want to get a head start on financial success, check out The Algebra of Wealth by Scott Galloway. Today's world offers more opportunities and mobility than ever, but also some big challenges like inflation, housing shortages, and climate issues. The old financial advice your parents followed just doesn't cut it anymore!

In this book, you’ll learn how to choose a career by focusing on your talent (not just your passion!); how to adopt a mindset that will help you develop better financial habits; and how to make small steps now that will have a big impact later. 

We recommend this for students interested in economics or business – or anyone looking to make smart money moves!

‘The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness’ by Jonathan Haidt

If you're curious about why so many teens are struggling with mental health issues, check out this book, which dives into why rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide skyrocketed for teens starting in the early 2010s.

Haidt, a social psychologist, breaks down the facts about this mental health crisis and explores how childhood has changed. He explains how kids used to grow up with lots of play and independence, but starting in the 1980s, this "play-based childhood" started disappearing. By the early 2010s, the rise of smartphones completely changed how kids grow up. Learn how this shift has messed with adolescent development, from sleep problems to addiction, loneliness, and constant social comparison. 

We recommend this for students interested in psychology, sociology, or education – or anyone interested in understanding and tackling the mental health challenges facing Gen Z. 

‘There’s Always this Year: On Basketball and Ascension’ by Hanif Abdurraqib

This book dives into what it means to succeed, who deserves it, and the tension between excellence and expectations. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, in the '90s, Abdurraqib experienced an amazing era of basketball where legends like LeBron James were born. He combines his personal stories with a deep exploration of basketball's impact on culture. The book is filled with joy, pain, solidarity, comfort, outrage, and hope, and it’s creatively structured like a basketball game, divided into quarters with "timeouts" that mix prose with poetry. 

We recommend this for students interested in sports, race and culture, or psychology – or anyone who loves powerful storytelling!

‘The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport’ by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg

If you're into fast cars and thrilling stories, you need to check out this epic story of how Formula 1 (F1) racing went from being a distant third behind NASCAR and IndyCar in America to leading the pack in 2023. It dives into F1’s fearless reinvention and its breakthrough in the US. With fast cars, engineering geniuses, driver rivalries, and glamorous settings, you'll see how F1's rise in America was actually decades in the making. It's all about constant transformation and bold moves.

This book isn't just about sports; it's a high-octane history of how modern F1 racing came to be. It's the first book to cover the outrageous successes and spectacular crashes that led F1 to its current, thrilling moment. 

We recommend this for students interested in cars, engineering, popular culture and business – or anyone who wants to know how F1 broke into the American sports scene with style, cash, and personality!

Runner-Ups

• ‘Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI’ by Ethan Mollick 

• ‘Hot Dog Money: Inside the Biggest Scandal in the History of College Sports’ by Guy Lawson

• ‘Cue The Sun! The Invention of Reality TV’ by Emily Nussbaum

• ‘The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony’ by Annabelle Tometich

• ‘A Thousand Times Before: A Novel’ by Asha Thanki

• ‘The Cemetery of Untold Stories’ by Julia Alvarez

• ‘What this Comedian Said Will Shock You’ by Bill Maher

• ‘The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq’ by Steve Coll

• ‘Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis’ by Jonathan Blitzer

• ‘ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD’ by Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness

• ‘Sing Like Fish: How Sound Rules Life Under Water’ by Amorina Kingdon

• ‘WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF D-DAY’ by GARRETT GRAFF

Weekly Update: November 21

It’s Thanksgiving week - almost time for turkey, football, friends, and family! Yet for seniors, this time of year can be especially challenging. They are trying to keep their grades up while teachers try to squeeze in assessments between Thanksgiving and winter breaks, and they are also juggling hundreds of emails and requests to set up portals, add optional admissions videos, and apply to additional “special programs.” Not to mention the stress and anxiety that comes with waiting on decisions!

So every year as we head into this holiday, I am reminded of the need to help seniors prepare for the onslaught of unsolicited questions and advice that comes with well-meaning visiting relatives, annual family gatherings, and uncertain notification dates. You know how it goes: Auntie Anne asks if Susie has heard from X college or Uncle Oscar asks Jimmy why he doesn’t add Oscar’s alma mater to his list “just to see what happens.” The “helpful” inquiries just pile stress on the already stressed senior.

Our advice to parents: help your son or daughter prepare a couple of polite responses, acknowledge that the comments come from a place of love and affection, and still politely end the conversation.

For example: “Thank you for asking, Auntie Anne. I’m excited to hear back from schools, too, but right now I am focusing on my classes and finishing my regular decision applications.” Responses that redirect the conversation can help the senior focus on the near future and control what she can control.

Or: “Thank you for your thoughts, Uncle Oscar. I will certainly take a look at your alma mater’s website when I get back to my applications after the Thanksgiving break.” Jimmy doesn’t commit to anything more than a quick look at the school’s website, while making it clear that he is on vacation too.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS

PSAT SCORES (AND NATIONAL MERIT CUTOFF ESTIMATES) RELEASED

PSAT scores were released on November 6 or 16, depending on the date students took the test (if your student hasn’t received their score reports, have them go see their school counselor!). Check out Compass Prep’s analysis of this year's scores as well as their estimates for Commended Students and Semifinalists. It sounds like Commended Students can expect a 2 point cutoff increase, and while the Semifinalist increases vary by state, most will be in the 1-2 point range.

RISE IN NUMBERS OF EARLY APPLICATIONS

Now that the deadlines for most early applications have passed, the Common App has released preliminary data about early decision and early action numbers. According to them, early applications to member schools are up 41% over pre-pandemic numbers from 2019-2020. We will have to wait until the final application numbers are available before fully understanding the trends, but this increase may reflect a more permanent shift in students and colleges relying on early admission plans. We know from our work with students on the applications and essays that most students have quite a few early deadlines, some of which have moved to early October (and even early September for schools with rolling admissions or those that release admissions decisions in waves).

MICHIGAN SIGN-STEALING SCANDAL LEAVES HARBAUGH SUSPENDED

The Big Ten has made the decision to suspend coach Jim Harbaugh for three games as a result of the ongoing controversy relating to low-level employee Connor Stalions. Stalions is accused of attending opponents’ games in person, often disguised in the respective teams’ gear, to record their signs and signals as part of an extensive scheme to give Michigan an unfair advantage.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE

Students applying to the University of Arizona will want to pay close attention to the recent reports of financial mismanagement - after financial predictions turned out to be wildly inaccurate, the school now admits to having only 97 days of cash on hand. President Robert Robbins has warned that “draconian cuts” may impact academic and athletic programs, salaries, and jobs.

PC: JMU Marketing and Branding Department

BEST ARTICLES OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS

Georgia Tech’s Rick Clark offers advice to juniors about test-optional admissions in his recent post: Middle 50%, Test Optional (… and Country Music?) He explains that middle 50% test score ranges are not as straightforward as they used to be (neither is test-optional admissions in general!), so students need to carefully analyze the information provided. After all, what does that range even represent? Accepted students or matriculated students? He recommends students ask questions when they look at colleges and universities' middle 50% of test scores to understand whose scores are included in that figure. As you develop your standardized testing plan, make sure you understand if the schools on your list require test scores, are test-optional, are test-blind, or if they are test-optional but prefer test scores. Some schools also have different policies based on majors, so be thorough. We help all of our current clients make these decisions, so if you’re a non-client who could use some assistance, feel free to book an introductory meeting.

Are you confused about the controversy between JMU and the NCAA? This feel-good piece is definitely worth a read (Unfortunately, the NCAA denied the latest waiver request this past week, and then things took another turn over the weekend when JMU lost to Appalachian State despite breaking attendance records for ESPN’s College GameDay). Whether they get to play in a bowl or not, the cynic in me is a little bit concerned about the inevitable admissions impact after so much athletic success. And we don’t have much wiggle room - last year, applications were up over 68% from just two years prior. 68%! That’s huge.

Speaking of football, this New York Times piece on young football players with C.T.E. was incredibly moving and tragic. It’s awful to think of these poor kids suffering this way, and the recommendation to delay tackle football until high school is compelling, given the latest research.

Lastly, don’t miss Vanity Fair’s excerpt from Among the Bros: A Fraternity Crime Story by Max Marshall. Named by Amazon as a “Best Book of the Year 2023,” it covers a disturbingly extensive, multimillion-dollar underground fraternity drug ring at the College of Charleston and has been the talk of the higher education world for the past few weeks. It reads a little bit like Bama Rush meets the Murdaugh’s, and I’ve already downloaded the book to read over the holidays.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’ve been busy finishing up those last-minute additions with seniors (so. many. videos. this. year!) and of course, getting ready for Thanksgiving! At Sally’s house, that looks a little different from mine, so she’s sharing a few thoughts below on the challenges of having a student home from college!

College students arrive home, often for the first time since starting the semester, and have different expectations than parents do. My priorities are about family time, hearing about her life at college, making sure she spends time with her siblings, and having fun/making memories together. On the other hand, her priorities may be relaxing, catching up on sleep, seeing her friends, more sleep, eating her favorite meals, and more sleep. She has been completely independent since Labor Day, making all the decisions about her time, her car, and her responsibilities. Suddenly, she is home and doesn’t necessarily have the same freedoms. Even to go shopping, she will have to work with our schedules to borrow a car because her own will still be at school. 

Of course we have different expectations: I am excited to have my kid home, and she is excited to be at home with her family. But even those expectations can be a mismatch. When she left for college, her younger sister had finished middle school, but now she is one-third of the way through 9th grade and has begun to exert her independence and navigate a social life of her own. College students can find it jarring that their family hasn’t frozen in time while they were away. In the same way, parents forget that their “kid” has been making adult decisions for months. The kid expects to be on vacation during break, while we parents are expecting them to jump back into family life including chores like loading the dishwasher, picking up siblings at practice, and coming home at a “reasonable time.” (This last one is definitely fraught with differing expectations!)

What have I learned from our son’s four years and our daughter’s previous two years returning for break? There is no one right way to navigate the shift, not even with the same kid in subsequent years. My advice is to acknowledge the differences beforehand (as in, during the car ride home from the airport) and to be patient with each other. As much as I want to spend time with her, I also have to remember to respect our daughter’s independence. Similarly, she has to remember to balance her need to take a real break before returning to school for final exams and to respect that she is part of a family with work, schedules, and time commitments. 

And when she thinks I am demanding too much or I think she is coming home too late, I hope we remember to give each other a little leeway as we sail these uncharted waters together.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving break!

Our 2023 Fiction Summer Reading List!

Forget your science textbooks and your mandatory AP reading lists! Summer is just around the corner, and now’s the time for FUN reading. We’ve been busy scouring the latest book releases, and we’ve put together a list of our favorite fiction titles for Summer 2023. And we promise, there’s something for everyone! Whether you love murder mysteries, high school drama, or time travel, there’s a title for you to take to the beach or pool!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Have you ever made a new friend thanks to Xbox? That’s the case for Sam and Sadie, who become best buddies over their shared love of video games. As they grow older, they turn their hobby into a gaming empire. Read this New York Times best-selling book to follow their thirty-year journey of friendship and collaboration.

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

An Irish mob, a missing teenage girl, and a dead African American man– Small Mercies has all the makings of an intriguing mystery. Set in 1970s Boston, the novel follows the journey of Mary Pat, who sets out to find her missing daughter and ends up finding much more than she bargained for. The novel explores themes of race, class, and power and is sure to keep any reader intrigued. This novel just came out in late April, but it is already getting great reviews and would be a fantastic addition to your summer reading list!

The Girl in the Castle by James Patterson and Emily Raymond

Hannah Doe is a teenage girl who has just been admitted to a mental hospital. Everyone thinks she’s suffering from hallucinations, but Hannah knows the truth: she’s stuck between two worlds, and now she must return to the past in order to save her sister. But who will help her? We’ll admit that The Girl in the Castle is long, but don’t let the 368 pages scare you away. This is a quick, thrilling read that will definitely capture your attention with its mix of fantastical and psychological elements. 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

This novel became a best seller and book of the year in 2022. And we know why! Lessons in Chemistry is a lighthearted read about a female chemist in the 1960s who reinvents herself as a cooking show host and a champion of gender equality. This “beach read” would be great to take with you on summer vacation, especially if you’re interested in gender studies.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

It started as a typical Monday afternoon, but it ended as a murder mystery. In One of Us is Lying, five teens walk into detention, but only four walk out. Simon has died, and everyone wants to know why. Who had a motive to kill Simon? Could it be one of his friends? Maybe the other students in detention know the answers, but will they tell their secrets? This book- the first in a three-part series-  might not be challenging enough for eleventh and twelfth graders, but it’s a great pick for students ages 13-16, especially those who are reluctant readers. 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Yellowface is the ultimate cautionary tale of plagiarism! June Hayward is a white woman and aspiring writer who fears that readers won’t think her stories are diverse or exciting. So when a fellow writer-an Asian-American woman-dies unexpectedly, June steals her newly-finished story about Chinese laborers in WWI. June adopts a Chinese-American persona, passes the story off as her own, and finds great success. But at what cost? Read Yellowface to see what happens when you try to be someone you’re not.

The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre

The Spy and the Traitor tells the intriguing tale of Oleg Gordievsky, a Russian spy who helped put an end to the Cold War. Blending history, politics, and mystery, this novel will have you on the edge of your seat for over 300 pages. No wonder it’s a New York Times bestseller! Any student interested in criminology, political intrigue, or history is sure to enjoy this book. 

True Biz by Sara Novic

In True Biz, author Sara Novic gives a voice to a silent world. Deaf children are usually isolated by their disability, but that’s not the case at River Valley School for the Deaf. At this school, hearing-impaired teens find a unique community where they can conquer family struggles, growing pains, and the unique challenges of a disability together. Be sure to pick up this book if you want to see how their journeys unfold and discover why this novel was voted as one of the best books of 2022 by The Washington Post.

Stay tuned!

Next week we’ll be sharing our nonfiction summer reading list. If you have any favorite titles to share, please leave a comment.

What’s On Your Shelfie? A Look Into Our Current Favorite Reads

What are you reading? Our team of English majors at DC College Counseling LOVES this question. We look for any excuse to talk about our favorite books and recommended reads. And this week we have the perfect excuse, as we celebrate National Library Shelfie Day. Every fourth Wednesday in January, book lovers take selfies to honor all-things reading, whether it’s capturing a beloved novel; showing off bedroom bookshelves; or sharing a visit to a local library. Want to see for yourself? Search #libraryshelfie on social media platforms, and you’ll find thousands of literary images. 

We’re honoring National Library Shelfie Day with a glimpse into what we’re currently reading, as well as some suggested titles for teens and parents. And of course no shelfie day would be complete without selfies!

COLLEEN’S SHELFIE

Every time someone asks what I'm reading, I get a little sad because this is definitely a habit that I've let go over the years. I used to absolutely love reading and now as a mom and business owner it's hard to justify the time when it feels like there is always something urgent that I need to be doing instead. I mentioned in our New Year's wrap-up that I really enjoyed reading The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis this past year and it's definitely one that I'd recommend to anyone! I love when non-fiction books are so interesting that they read like fiction, and this was definitely in that category. 

Over the holidays I started to read Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead by Brene Brown, and I like it a lot so far. She explains that the human mind is wired to create stories when presented with information, and so in the face of any type of difficult situation we naturally create a story or explanation in our mind about what’s happening and why. But here’s the thing - our stories are usually WRONG!

When we let ourselves jump to conclusions like this, we start assigning negative intent to others and all sorts of problematic things happen. Since I started reading the book, I have really tried to stop and ask myself about whether I’m making unfair assumptions every time I get upset about something. Full disclosure, my bad habits are not fully broken yet - but as you can see, this is really making me think!

I am also sort of on and off reading Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld, which I started a while ago. I love Curtis Sittenfeld!

Back when I used to read more, I tracked everything on my Goodreads page. I am trying to get back into reading more this year, so feel free to friend me on Goodreads so we can share recommendations! I like how Goodreads lets you sync your Amazon account so you don't forget what you read, even if you're delinquent with your updates like I was for a while!

A few books I hope to read over the next few months are:

Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain - she is also the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, which I actually read after a student wrote about it in one of her essays!

(That’s a very powerful read in its own right, by the way, and is one of those books that I still think about all the time because I learned so much from it. If you are an extrovert with introverts in your life, this is a must - it will help you identify your unconscious biases and understand their personalities so much better.)

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - I will admit that I am not super excited about the plot but so many people have raved about it that I am willing to give it a try!

SHANNON’S SHELFIE

As an academic coach, I had to add Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention - and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari to my bookshelf. Hari takes a close look at why we have trouble focusing - and the reasons for our short attention spans might surprise you. It turns out that food, health care, and even algorithms could be to blame. 

This book will help you understand why it’s so easy for your phone to distract you (no, it’s not just lack of willpower) and what you can do to reclaim your attention. I know that I’ll be using some of Hari’s advice in my academic coaching sessions this year! 

Another book I really enjoyed (and would recommend to anyone interested in psychology or kinesiology) is Move: How the New Science of Body Movement Can Set Your Mind Free by Caroline Williams. I’ve been working toward my 500-hour yoga certification this past year, which has made me interested in the mind-body connection. Most of us are stuck behind our desks all day, and all of that sitting has a big effect on our brains and our happiness. Williams breaks down the science of movement, explaining why it’s so important to incorporate it into our daily lives. Even a quick walk can improve memory, increase productivity, and boost your mood. 

STACI’S SHELFIE

I just finished all 480 pages of The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II. Don’t let the length scare you away from reading this book, especially if you love World War II history like I do! It was a surprisingly quick read about a group of soldiers who created a memorable football rivalry while training in the pacific. I’ve always been fascinated by World War II (thank you high school history field trip to Germany!) and was so excited to find a story I had never heard about before. If you’re a history buff or are a big football fan, definitely add this title to your shelf! 

Another new addition to my book collection is A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. The novel was published a decade ago, but I didn’t crack it open until I recently learned that it was being adapted into a movie. I figured that before watching Tom Hanks star as Ove on the big screen, I needed to read the book. And it’s a good one! Ove is a cranky old man who reminds me a lot of my grandfather. He doesn’t like being around people, and people don’t like being around him–until he meets his new neighbors. The English major in me loves the character development and the feel-good theme of friendship. 

Now I’m waiting for Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny Odell to be released. This book is supposed to offer a new perspective on how we think about time and spend our time. I’m hoping that Odell can help me slow down and appreciate the things I do every day–moment by moment.

WHAT’S ON YOUR SHELFIE?

We’re always looking for recommendations. Share some of your favorite titles or recommended reads with us!