With the next few weeks just about empty of plans, some of us can struggle to entertain ourselves. One of the best ways to fill your time this quarantine is by cozying up to read a good book. Whether you’re an avid bookworm or tend to avoid the library, these are some of my favorite books that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to keep busy!

The Goose Girl

I picked up this book for the first time in middle school, and I can’t count how many times I’ve reread it since. Based on a fairy tale, The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale might sound silly at first, but is actually one of my favorite books of all time. The heroine Ani is betrayed and outcast by her former friend, and through her gentleness, determination and strange ability to speak to animals, she is able to prove her identity and reclaim her place as princess, as well as winning the heart of a prince. This book also has three sequels, so if you get hooked, you’ve got plenty of reading material!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

This story is fascinating because it takes place during one of the most bizarre and interesting historical events: the Salem Witch Trials. Sixteen-year-old Kit is forced to leave her former home in Barbados to live with her relatives in New England. She is met with immediate culture shock when she is thrown into the severe, intense, Puritan lifestyle of her family’s culture. Even more shocking is when Kit’s friend, and eventually Kit herself, are accused of being witches. Read The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare to find out what happens!

The Scapegoat

Written by one of my favorite authors, Daphne DuMaurier, The Scapegoat continuously delivers the unexpected and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The Scapegoat is a story about a friendless man with a lackluster life who suddenly meets his doppelgänger. Against his will, his identity is stolen, and he is thrown into the life of a Frenchman with a failing business and a messy family life. No one believes his protests of being the wrong man, and he eventually settles into this new life and grows to passionately love his new family. With a surprise ending, this story, as well as any other by Daphne DuMaurier, will definitely not disappoint any reader.

An Ember in the Ashes

In a powerful, brutal empire, Laia is forced to act boldly when her brother is arrested for treason. In order to save him, she must spy on the Empire’s top notch military academy. Within the academy, Elias has been raised to be the perfect warrior. However, he is realizing more and more that the future everyone else wants for him is nothing like what he wants for himself. When the two meet, chaos breaks loose and the empire is faced with fierce resistance. Written by Sabaa Tahir, this book is not one you’ll want to miss out on.

Although you’ve got all the options in the world, these are some of my favorite books from my bookshelf. Get reading this quarantine—you won’t regret it!