Recently I discovered my new favorite author. His name is John Green, and he is awesome. Over the course of my life I have read bad books, and boring books, and good books and really, really, really good books. However, there have been few books that made me want to jump up and force everybody I know to read them. The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, and Paper Towns did just that.

The Fault in Our Stars is John Green’s most recent book, and the one I read first. It is told from the perspective of Hazel, a teenager suffering from cancer, who meets the verbose Augustus Waters at a support group. As is predictable, the two fall in love- but that’s the last predictable thing about this book. If it sounds said, it is, but also really funny and beautiful. I actually laughed out loud and cried on the same page- and I usually never do either when reading.

Looking for Alaska is about teenager Miles Halter who decides to attend boarding school to find adventure in his life. There he meets an interesting cast of character, including the magnetic Alaska Young. However, she’s as emotionally damaged as she is beautiful. The book is separated into two parts- the events leading up to a tragedy, and the aftermath.

Paper Towns is probably the funniest book I’ve ever read, and the easiest for me to relate to personally. Quentin is close to graduating from high school, when his childhood friend, the mega-popular Margo Roth Spiegelman whisks him away on a one-night adventure. The next day she disappears. Quentin becomes obsessed with finding her, with the assistance of his unique best friends.

These brief explanations don’t do the books justice, but it is hard to say too much without giving anything away. All three books have a few things in common; the language is beautiful, the characters are original and complex, and they give you something to think about long after you have finished the last page.

I hope I have said enough to entice you to give one of these books a shot. I highly doubt you would regret it.