The Book That Awakened The Teenager In Me

Love Triangle? Check. Ridiculously fantastical plot? Check. Fallen angels that collect on the bad boy vibe? Check. Forbidden love? Check and Check.

The Embrace Series (The Violet Eden Chapters) by Jessica Shirvington is my number one go-to when I hit a reading slump and need something to obsess over. It's the perfect teenage read for when life gets too heavy and the only way to lighten the load is with a 17-year-old who is faced with a supernatural burden of fighting good and evil.

In the first book, Violet Eden discovers she's half-angel and must choose whether to embrace her destiny or walk away from it. She is a Grigori, which means she is part of an ancient order dedicated to protecting humans from exiled angels. Lincoln, her long-time crush and Girgori's partner, knew her path before she did; both lied to her and "trained" her with his best interests at heart. But no girl likes to be lied to, and she finds herself in a twisted relationship with a super-powerful exiled angel, Pheonix. Ultimately, the romantic tension, action, and emotional conflict paired with a very flawed teenage girl with absolutely no parental supervision cannot go unmatched.

Overall, Embrace is a guilty pleasure read. It's a full-on nostalgic ride back to the chaos, confusion, and intensity of being young, and in love. So, if you're ever in a reading slump or just craving that all-consuming, emotionally reckless kind of story that only YA paranormal can deliver, this is the one that will pull you back in.

-Lauren