Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

The story begins with Blair Waldorf at a party at her house with her friends Kati Farkas, Isabel Coates, Chuck Bass, and boyfriend Nate Archibald. Soon after, Blair Waldorf sneaks away from the party to her room in order to have sex with Nate. However, they are interrupted by the arrival of Serena van der Woodsen, Blair's old friend who left one year ago to attend boarding school. When Serena was around, Blair was always left in her shadow, so when she returned Blair was not particularly thrilled to see her, especially when Blair finds out that Serena and Nate had sex the summer before Serena left. She tries to keep Serena out of loop such as not inviting her to the Kiss On the Lips party, a benefit of two peregrine falcons living in Central Park. Serena does not understand why she is being ignored by all of her friends so she decides to branch out and try new things, especially since she does not have any extracurricular activities on her record. She tries to join the school play, a terrible modernized, musical version of War and Peace but decides to try out for her classmate, Vanessa Abrams' short film in Central Park. Serena performs very well at her tryout but Vanessa is jealous of how her best friend and secret crush, Dan Humphrey, acted lovesick around her so she decides to pick a sophomore, Marjorie instead. Undeterred, Serena decides to make her own film and enlists the help of Jenny Humphrey, Dan's younger sister. Also all throughout the book, Gossip Girl, a popular blog site, which many visit, spreads around rumors, or gossip, about this group.

I first fell in love with Gossip Girl last year when the television show on the CW first came out. Since I was such a faithful fan of the show I decided to read the books. They are very different from the show itself, but it doesn't take away from how good the books are. They are fun, exciting and the fact that they can be over the top makes them that much better. These books are a must read for teens and even young adults. If you don't believe me go check them out for your self.

Anita Blake Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton

The first book in this amazing series is titled Guilty Pleasures. Anita Blake may be small and young, but vampires call her the Executioner. Anita is a necromancer and vampire hunter in a time when vampires are protected by law--as long as they don't get too nasty. Now someone's killing innocent vampires and Anita agrees--with a bit of vampiric arm-twisting--to help figure out who and why. Trust is a luxury Anita can't afford when her allies aren't human. The city's most powerful vampire, Nikolaos, is 1,000 years old and looks like a 10-year-old girl. The second most powerful vampire, Jean-Claude, is interested in more than just Anita's professional talents, but the feisty necromancer isn't playing along--yet.

The series continues with more pulse pounding action and the further along you get the more romance is introduced into Anita's life. These books are my absolute favorite book series, and I just dedicated this summer to reading every last one of them. I just returned the newest book, Blood Noir, back to the library. (I find it too expensive to buy hardback, but I'll get it when it comes out in paperback. So, I can reread it as much as I want.) If you want action, supernatural, romance, and a woman who can kick almost anythings ass all rolled up into one then check out Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is about a 9 year old girl growing up in Nazi Germany. During WWII Liesel Meminger is sent away from her home to live with foster parents in Molching, Germany. She begins stealing books even though at first she doesn't know how to read. She starts making a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. The story itself is narrated not by the young girl but by Death.

I absolutely loved this novel. The way Zusak writes is captivating. He pulls you into the story and he doesn't let you go until the very last word. It's not just this book of his that I've fallen in love with. I've read all 4 of his novels and everyone of them is wonderfully written in it's own way. Fighting Ruben Wolf, it's sequel Getting the Girl, and I Am the Messenger. If you were to ask me which one of his 4 books was my favorite it would be a tie between The Book Thief and I Am the Messenger. Of course his other 2 make a close second.

I highly recommend that if your looking for an engaging book that will keep you entertained and get you thinking then read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. If you choose to read this book and find it as enjoyable as I did, then I suggest you pick up one of his other books that I've previously mentioned.