Throughout the Coronavirus period I have rediscovered the joy of reading, with the time away from school I have been digging into some new books. The euphoria that i receive when reading a great story is indescribable and I cannot recommend it enough.

In addition to this, I have found that reading is a healthy form of escapism, which I think is extremely important in current times. Immersing yourself in a good book is almost like stepping into a new world, and by doing this you are separating yourself from a daily routine, which can be sometimes stressful. According to a study from the University of Sussex, stress can be reduced by up to 68% with just reading alone. So, the next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, please try picking up a book and disconnecting from the world.

Recently I reached out to Kenzie Buscher, who has gained a great following for her book recommendations on TikTok. (If you would like to check out her account her username is @kenzie.buscher). When I messaged her through social media, I asked Kenzie what reading means to her, and she responded with “For me, reading means to immerse myself in a world that is not my own. It allows my imagination to expand to something more spectacular than it was before, and it allows my brain to take a break from reality while training it to become incredible”.

If you struggle to find something to read, here are some of my personal recommendations: . My favourite is ‘The Light We Lost’- By Jill Santopolo. This book is an emotional but epic love story which you will not be able to put down!

. An uplifting but devastating tale of life, loss and gratitude is ‘They Both Die At The End’- By Adam Silvera.

. The ‘Divergent’ series are four science-fiction adventure novels which are ‘Divergent’, ‘Allegiant’, ‘Insurgent’ and ‘Four: A Divergent Collection’- By Veronica Roth. They truly explore the human experience of love, loss, and survival through a dystopian world.

. A wonderful story is ‘One Day’- By David Nicholls. This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions through romance and comedy, which many people can relate to.

. ‘Everything Everything’- By Nicola Yoon, is a brilliant love story and coming of age book representing the struggles that teenagers face, even those who live not so ordinary lives.