“Eat Pray Love” is a non-fiction book written by Elizabeth Gilbert. Gilbert has found herself with the perfect American life: a gorgeous house, a good husband and a successful career. But, she is consistently unhappy and one day realizes that she just doesn’t want to be married anymore. This “perfect life” is just not for her. So she leaves her husband and after being inspired by three different countries and their cultures, she decides to spend a year traveling to Italy, India and Indonesia. She chooses Italy because she has always wanted to learn Italian, India because she has recently gotten into the yoga lifestyle and Indonesia because she traveled there once and was told by a medicine man that she would return. She uses the advance from this promised book to fund her whirlwind adventure and sets off.

This book was somewhat of a sensation. For a year, it felt like someone I knew was always reading this. So, of course, I resisted, as any good book snob does. I’m really happy that I picked it up though! Gilbert is a charming and hilarious narrator. She’s so open with her experiences and feelings, it seems like I’m reading a letter from an old friend. I constantly found myself smiling while reading this one, that is, when I wasn’t laughing at her quick wit. But, besides being entertaining, I also found this one quite inspiring.

I think most of us dream of taking a year from our hectic lives and going to exotic places simply because we want to. I was so jealous of Gilbert’s trip, but, as I said, also inspired. “Eat Pray Love” really reminds you to be grateful for your life and all the wonderful things you have and to celebrate your blessings. It’s also courageous and, I believe, has probably served as a wake-up call for many people who are just rushing through life, instead of actually living.

I think “Eat Pray Love” is a perfect book to finish off the summer with. Go into your school year with a clear head and your goals set. But most importantly, remember to enjoy yourself and always so something you love!

You may recognize Susan Juby’s name; that’s because she is a best-selling teen fiction author. She is also a recovered alcoholic. Juby’s memoir begins with her first, very insignificant drink at a wedding, but her alcoholism actually starts when she is 13. Always considered a bright, capable student and gifted writer, she decides to start hanging out with the wrong crowd (or the people her mother refers to as “bad news”) and gets heavy into partying. After being sent to live with various relatives all over British Columbia and somehow managing to graduate high school, Juby moves on to fashion design school in Toronto. Once there, she continues to drink herself silly and, eventually, out of school. During her time as a student, she out-drinks everyone she meets and begins to see a bigger and bigger divide forming between her and her peers when it comes to drinking. Then, she gets a couple wake-up calls and decides to sober up at the ripe old age of 20, just when most people begin their drinking career.

I found that I was really able to relate to Susan’s story. I myself was a pretty big partier in high school and have since considerably settled down. I’m not sober, but I haven’t been drunk in over a year, and I kind of like it that way. People can never believe how little I drink and that I have no desire to get hammered. I’m constantly being pressured by friends, but honestly, drinking effects me way too much and the night out is never worth the hangover (at least in my case!). Anyways, my feelings aside, the book is so refreshing and definitely stands out amongst the alcoholic-memoirs I’ve read. It’s poignant, funny and above all, totally real.

One of my favorite parts of this entire book was the disclaimer Juby makes at the beginning. She says that because the majority of the time period she is writing about was spent in blackouts, that she cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. She goes on to say that alcoholics are notorious liars and someone who claims that their story is totally true is simply just using that acquired skill and bluffing. This whole book is filled with honesty of this caliber and I applaud her for being so open with the entire world about her struggle.

“Nice Recovery” is a great summer read. Susan Juby delves into a heavy subject, but keeps it light-hearted and entertaining. You’ll never find yourself sobbing over the situations or stories in this one, but it will make you think and maybe just change your perspective.

Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? A really rad singer? A wicked new book? A fro yo pie that will delight your belly without making it bigger?? Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com or tweet me and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, every week. Make your kindergarten teacher proud and share!

With summer here (or officially four days away) we’ve got lots and lots of free time on our hands. And by that I mean we’re cooped up in our parents house and – god help us – we love our parents, we really, REALLY do, but after about 48 hours back from school we are already counting down until Welcome Week.

There are only so many times one can surf through Perez or watch this week’s episode of the Bachelorette commenting on Ali’s awful spray tan, so what can you do to pass the time? READ. And by read, I mean the books you’ve always wanted to, not the ones required for class that you beg your suitemate for her notes on so you don’t actually have to read them.

The fun books, the good books, the books you can’t put down – so much so you take them with you to pee. The books that are thoughtless and funny and on and on.

So here’s a list of ten of my favorite books, some new, some old, some serious some fun. Go sit on your lawn, make yourself an Arnold Palmer and enjoy.

1. The Help: I just finished this incredible novel – all 450ish pages in three days! It was that good.

2. Bitter with Baggage Seeks Same: Not a major read, but it’s fun, sarcastic and makes a perfect book for your coffee table in your apartment.

3. The Book Thief: Set in World War Two, it’s heavier than your average beach-read, but it’s incredibly well written and a total page turner. Prepare to cry.

4. Ruminations on College Life: Aaron Karo puts the common bond that is the college experience into words SO. freaking. well.

5. Eat Pray Love: Obviously not a newbie, but the movie is coming out in August so now’s the perfect time to read up before watching Julia Roberts eat pizza that looks so good you may just have to study abroad in Rome.

6. Sh*t my Dad Says: First a Twitter, now a show coming to primetime this fall and a hilarious book, all based on this one-of-a-kind dad. And trust me: we can all relate to this to some degree.

7. Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me: A fun, light, chick-lit novel with a main character/heroine you can’t help but fall in love with.

8. Running With Scissors: Augusten Burroughs has the dysfunctional family to end all dysfunctional families and he tells you all about them in this memoir. You’ll laugh, you’ll feel uncomfortable, you’ll laugh some more. And then suddenly your parents won’t seem so bad anymore. The perfect book for a rainy summer day.

9. Food Inc.: It’s time to learn about what you’re really eating. Scary? Yes, but knowledge is power. And in this case, health.

10. CollegeCandy.com: We may not be a book (yet), but we’ll make you laugh until you pee. Or laugh while you pee if you’re reading from an iPhone or iPad. Either way.

By the time you finish all of these, two months will have passed and you’ll be back on campus…. reading that boring ish again.

And by far one of the craziest biographies I’ve ever read has to be Jeannette Walls’ “The Glass Castle.” From the outside, adult Jeannette appears relatively normal. She is a successful, beautiful journalist living the life. But for years Jeannette harbored the secrets of her absolutely unconventional, tough upbringing and finally shares them with the world in “The Glass Castle.” Now, some of you may think that you had strange upbringings. Maybe your family moved a lot or your parents were a little bit different, but trust me, you have nothing on the Walls family.

Jeannette appropriately begins her memoir with her first memory. She is three years old and cooking hot dogs on the stove. Yes, you read that right, three years old, practically a baby, and cooking! Jeannette, being an innocent child, doesn’t realize all the safety precautions involved in cooking on a stove and her dress manages to catch fire. She screams for her mother, who comes and puts out the flames with an army surplus blanket and them gets a ride with their neighbor to the hospital. There, Jeannette is treated for massive burns and even has to undergo a skin graft.

WTF, right? What person in their right mind lets a three year old cook!? But, of course, it gets worse. After spending several weeks in the hospital, and still with much time left in her recovery, Jeannette’s father arrives and announces that he is busting her out. He disconnects her IV, picks her up in his arms, runs out of the hospital with little Jeannette and hops into the family’s getaway car.

Again, at this point I was angry, so angry in fact that I was almost in tears. What kind of parent puts their child into this sort of danger?

And that is exactly Jeannette’s life: a constant struggle with some new obstacle or danger that her parents put in her way. Jeannette’s parents are what I would describe as gypsies, moving around from place to place and living there until they get themselves in trouble or run out of resources. Her parents are clearly unstable and I would go so far as to say mentally ill. Her father is paranoid that the mafia is chasing him and always coming up with insane inventions. He takes all of the family money and spends it on “research,” although Jeannette’s mother put it perfectly when she said that the only thing he is researching is the rate at which the liver can absorb alcohol. They also don’t have enough money to feed their children for the majority of the book, yet her father manages to spend loads at the local bars. Basically, Jeannette and her siblings grew up extremely neglected and learned to fend for themselves at a young age.

The book follows Jeannette all the way until college, chronicling her parents’ bizarre lifestyle and horrible treatment of their children. It was like a train wreck and I just couldn’t look away. My heart truly ached for the Walls kids and as I read more and more of their shocking stories, I couldn’t help but think of how many other children must live like this too.

“The Glass Castle” is one of my favorite books I’ve read in a long time. It’s eye-opening and really makes you thankful for the family that you have. I recommend this to everyone. It’s just another reminder that everyone has a story and that you should think twice before judging an individual. It’s an absolutely fantastic book that you need to read!

Summer has just begun for me and besides working 35 hours a week (doing the best student job on the planet, might I add), I’ve been devouring book after book. Science, YA, dystopian – I’ve got it all. However, despite my plethora of reading material, I often find myself trolling Amazon.com, looking for new releases that I can’t wait to get my hands on. And because I think many of you are in the same boat as me, in need of some serious reading for your summer break, I’ve compiled a list of 5 books from a variety of genres to keep your eyes on over the summer, listed in order of release date (hint hint to any publishers/editors/authors reading this!).

Did I miss any exciting new releases for the summer?!

1. Anthropology of an American Girl, by Hilary Thayer Hamann (May 25th)
Alright, if the title sounds familiar, it’s because this book was already technically released in 2003. It quickly became a cult classic, but the publishers pulled it from print and decided to re-edit it. That scandal alone sparks my interest! It tells the story of Eveline, a lonely 17-year-old girl growing up in East Hampton in the late ’70s. When her best friend’s mother dies and she is raped by two students, she begins to spiral downward. The book develops into a love story and follows Eveline as she grows up, emotionally and literally. Honestly, it’s all the great reviews, not the content, that are drawing me to this one, but all of these critics and fans can’t be wrong!

2. The Passage, by Justin Cronin (June 8th)
I’ll admit, Amazon.com totally recommended this one to me, but it looks great! It’s an adult fiction book about vampires, more “I Am Legend” than “Twilight”, if you catch my drift. It’s being toted as a book for those who are tired of the brooding bloodsuckers and looking for something a bit more horrific. A fast-paced (albeit lengthy) thriller about the virus that causes vampirism, it’s already ripping up reviews on Amazon and the like.

3. The Eternal Ones, by Kirsten Miller (August 10th)
The sole YA item on my list, this one sounds right up my alley. It centers on Haven Moore, a dressmaking high school student living with her mother in Tennessee. The reviews have been very hush hush about how this transpires, but Haven eventually ends up in New York City. There she meets Iain Morrow, a rebel who is suspected of murdering a rock star. Again, a little blip in the plot, but Haven visit the Oursboros Society and begins wondering about her past lives and whether Iain murdered her in a past life. This one reminds me of “The Reincarnationist”, a great fiction story of reincarnation. This is definitely the book I’m most excited about.

4. Last Night at the Chateau Marmont, by Lauren Weisberger (August 17th)
Chick-lit powerhouse Lauren Weisberger is back. Author of “The Devil Wears Prada”, the only info I could gather on this one is that it is “about normal girls left behind by their new-celeb exes–and the girls’ fitting revenge!” However, it’s Weisberger and whatever she touches turns to gold, in my opinion. And revenge stories are always super fun and devilish. I can just picture myself now, reading this one on the beach, sipping a daiquiri, being waited on hand and foot….. OK, maybe not the last part, but I will definitely be sunning myself silly with this in hand.

5. Life, by Keith Richards (October 26th)
Okay, okay, October is technically not in the summertime, but I CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS. I love the Rolling Stones, but even more, I love Keith Richards and his persona. Seriously, I have his Louis Vuitton ad from a few years back hanging in my office. I just think he is quirky and hilarious and I can’t wait to read his take on his wild life! Anyone who can serve as the inspiration for Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow character must have a few great anecdotes. I count the Kurt Cobain bio “Heavier than Heaven” amongst my all-time favs, so come-on, Keith, give me another one!  (And maybe give me some tips on how to make my liver as indestructible as yours…..)

If you’ve never heard of Henrietta Lacks, you’re not alone. However, some of you may have heard of HeLa cells. HeLa cells are used in scientific research and have been part of almost every medical breakthrough since the ’50s. And they’re immortal. I’m getting ahead of myself, though.

So what is the connection between Henrietta – a poor, black woman from Baltimore – and the trillions of HeLa cells in the world? You won’t believe it, but every single one of those trillions of cells are HERS. Even the name HeLa comes from her name: HEnrietta LAcks. And even more miraculous is the fact that you’re probably more familiar with Henrietta than you think. Odds are, one of the vaccines you’ve received in your life was created from her cells or maybe even contained her cells. Mind-blowing.

In 1951, Henrietta visited John Hopkins complaining of a “knot” in her stomach. She was eventually diagnosed with cervical cancer and treated in the fashion of the day: tubes of radium were sewn onto and in her. However, before beginning the treatment, a doctor took a sample of her tumor and shipped it off to George Gey. Gey had been trying to create immortal cells for years. Up until this point, cells died within a few days in a culture and scientific progress was at somewhat of a standstill. But when Gey cultured Henrietta’s cells, he noticed that the cells weren’t dying – in fact, they were multiplying. The culture grew so quickly that he had to move it to another jar! Gey was fascinated by this immortal cell line. He sent samples to any scientist who asked and eventually HeLa cells were turned into a BILLION-dollar industry.

Despite the fact that Henrietta’s cells were revolutionizing medicine, her family was completely unaware. They didn’t know that cells from her tumor had been taken and given to Gey, or that they were being used to create vaccines and cure diseases. Among others, Henrietta’s cells were used in the creation of the Polio vaccine, AIDS treatments and helped implement “informed consent,” a practice used in every aspect of medical and human research today. The sad thing is, Henrietta’s immediate family was and still is not able to afford health insurance to benefit from any of these discoveries.

Fascinating, isn’t it?

Rebecca Skloot has written a truly brilliant book. Not only does she discuss every aspect of medicine that was affected by Henrietta’s cells  (and let me tell you, you will be blown away by how many discoveries are essentially owed to her), she also delves into Henrietta’s family. For years, the Lacks were reluctant to discuss Henrietta and anything to do with her cells, but because Skloot genuinely wanted to help the family and tell Henrietta’s personal story, they obliged. This book is unique in the sea of all the papers written about Henrietta because it truly tells the full story of HeLa cells. Not only their role in science and medicine, but also Henrietta’s role in her family’s lives.

If you like science, or are even interested in human rights and history, you will love “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. I think it’s important to learn about the past and our mistakes. Henrietta’s story is so important and has impacted almost the entire world. Everyone has either been or knows a loved one who was treated with a medicine created using Henrietta’s cells or was vaccinated thanks to her. So pay homage and pick it up!

For most college students, exam time is looming just around the corner. We’ve slacked off all year, attending too many “Thirsty Thursdays” and fallen prey to our friends begging us to come out  just one more night. And now, as we stare at the stack of textbooks piled on the desk in front of us, we’re forced to actually think about our futures instead of just enjoying the student life.

What comes next?

That’s the question Sean Aiken asked. After graduating from college, he was lost. He didn’t know what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, but knew that he didn’t want to be stuck in a job he hated. Plenty of people suggested respectable careers for Sean, but the advice that seemed to have made the difference was from his father: do something you’re passionate about. Since Sean wasn’t really sure what he was passionate about, he decided that he would have to try out different jobs and see if he could manage working them for the better part of his adult life. In fact, he decided that he would try on 52 different jobs in one year. If you’ve done the math, you know that there is 52 weeks in a year, meaning that Sean was embarking on what he called “The One-Week Job Project”. His plan was to create a website, offering his services to employers for one week and in exchange they could donate his earnings to ONE, a campaign that fights poverty. He figured that this way more people would benefit from his experience.

Sean begins his first week of work at a bungee jumping company in Whistler, British Columbia. Not a bad way to kick off a whirlwind year, if I do say so myself! After that he embarked on job after job after job, sharing all 52 experiences in this book. But this isn’t just a rundown of what sort of tasks he did in each place; Sean also talks about himself, his growth on this journey, and falling in love.

Sean’s ideas and journey are fascinating, but it’s his honesty and bravery that compelled me most. This book totally spoke to me and I’m fairly certain that any college-age student will be able to relate to his experiences. I mean, do any of us really know what we want to do after we graduate? I know I don’t. I think I want to be a psychologist, but have I ever tried it out? No. I just know that I like studying psychology. Sean didn’t like that uncertainty and decided to do something about it. Something different. Something scary. Something I’d never have the guts to do myself.

“The One-Week Job Project” really got me thinking about my future career, but in a surprisingly comforting way. So many of the people who employed Sean said that their job just seemed to find them. This makes me feel secure that, eventually, I’ll find a job that I am really happy doing. Now, in regards to Sean’s project, I won’t tell you the ending, but I will say that it’s a happy one.

If you’re like me (scared, unsure, overwhelmed, trying to find some sort of invention that can stop time) you HAVE to read “The One-Week Job Project” by Sean Aiken. It will entertain you, guide you and bring you peace of mind about your uncertain future.

If the 52 employers and Sean are correct, then don’t worry, you will find your passion!

“Sarah’s Key” is a historical fiction novel that flip flops between two story lines: Sarah’s and Julia’s. Julia Jarmond is living in modern-day Paris. She is married to a man that she describes as a typical Parisian: good-looking, successful, but also very reserved and often, cold. They live with their daughter, Zoe, and also many secrets.

Then there is Sarah, a 10-year-old French Jew who is taken from her home and sent to a concentration camp during the 1942 Velodrome D’Hiver roundup in Paris. For those of you who have no idea what the Vel D’Hiv roundup is (don’t be embarassed – I didn’t either!), here is a crash course: Basically 13, 000 Jewish men, women and children were arrested and taken to the Veldrome D’Hiver (a stadium), right in the middle of Paris, where they were left for several days before going to the Drancy and Beaune-la-Rolande internment camps and finally Auschwitz. Now, even if none of the other words in that sentence meant anything to you, I know you recognized Auschwitz. And so you know the fate of these poor, innocent people. Sarah is taken, along with her mother and father.

Julia also happens to be a reporter for a French tourist magazine and is assigned to cover the 60th anniversary of the Vel D’Hiv tragedy. As she begins to dig into the terrible stain on French history, she stumbles upon a 60-year-old mystery that her husband’s family is working very hard to keep hidden. And once she stumbles upon it, she knows she has to get to the bottom of it, all while trying to save her crumbling marriage.

I like historical fiction. I started out as a history major in university and cried when I landed in Europe for the first time because of all the historical landmarks I was going to visit. So naturally, this is my kind of story. I had never heard of the Vel D’Hiv roundup, even though I consider myself to be someone who is very concerned about and affected by the Holocaust (I had a near breakdown in the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam) and I almost feel guilty about my ignorance now. However, I am happy that “Sarah’s Key” enlightened me and entertained me at the same time.

Both story lines are wonderful and like I said, simply hook you. I demolished this book in approximately 4 hours and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. People of all ages are able to connect with the characters and story, since at one point or another de Rosnay seems to elaborate and muse about every age. Because the story is based on a true event, it affected me even more. I often stopped and thought that the story I was reading could be a real-life account, sometimes having to remind myself that, “It’s not real, Alex”. That is how deep this one hits.

I recommend “Sarah’s Key” to everyone. Not only because it tells a great story and entertains, but because we owe it to the victims of the Holocaust to keep their memories alive and relevant.  The only way to keep history from repeating itself is to learn from our past, our mistakes, and “Sarah’s Key” helps us to remember and be thankful.

How about do a little reading for pleasure? You know what I’m talking about, right? The kind of reading you can do without a highlighter. Without making annotations. Without a 12lb textbook that hurts your arms as you attempt to read it in bed.

Yeah, that’s right. The good kind. For a reader like me, winter break means catching up on all those books I’ve been missing out on thanks to the hundreds of pages of History reading my professors assign nightly. If you’re looking for some good books to pass that time at home (or on a warm beach somewhere) with the parentals, allow me to recommend a few of my favorites. If you do anything over this break (besides watch TV and eat leftovers) you must pick up at least one of these:

1. Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
Anyone living in North America has had some experience with Native Americans and the hardships that they face. But how much do we really know about their lives, their world and their culture? “Ceremony” tells the tale of a young Native American war veteran who returns to the reservation where he grew up. To help him cope with the trauma surrounding his experiences, the elders of the community decide to conduct traditional ceremonies and healing rituals. This book provides great insight into the ancient traditions of Native Americans, which is incredibly interesting (who said you can’t learn for pleasure?). It also happens to be a “Penguin Classic” so the writing is most definitely exceptional.

2. What is the What by Dave Eggers
This recommendation comes straight from CollegeCandy’s wonderful editor. She is also probably the tenth person to recommend it, so I decided I had to give it a go. “What is the What” is a fictionalized memoir of Valentino Achak Deng, a real hero and refugee of the Sudanese civil war. After years trying to piece a life together in refugee camps, Valentino makes his way to America, where he finds that perhaps the hardships of making a life there may be greater than his time in Africa. Most people believe that once a refugee is in America or another “safe” land, their life becomes a fairytale; as we see in this story, that not the case. “What is the What” is a fascinating story and a powerful read; definitely a good one to sink your teeth into over the break.

3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Everyone is familiar with the Wizard of Oz and, of course, the mysterious villain, the Wicked Witch of the West. But, just like any other villain, the Wicked Witch has her own story. Gregory Maguire has taken this strange, misunderstood character and weaved an entire biography, explaining every evil thing she does. I just love the creativity of the author and how he leaves no stone unturned, from her strange color to her capture of Dorothy and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch. The musical “Wicked,” which was inspired by the book, is probably more well-known than the book and certainly a lot “brighter” as far as storyline goes, but the book is captivating. From the way Maguire addresses social issues to creative way he weaves in the story of Oz as we know it, you won’t be able to put this down.

4. Get into a SERIES!
This one is a bit more general, but with all the free time you’ve got for the next few weeks it’s the perfect time to get into a series. There are so many out there, but here are a few recommendations:
Twilight: Duh. The books aren’t worthy of a Pulitzer, but the story will definitely suck you in.
Harry Potter: If you haven’t picked up a HP book, now’s the time. Regardless of the audience these books were intended for, anyone and everyone will enjoy this series.
Something Borrowed: It’s a total beach read. Your typical “girl in New York on her quest for love,” but they’re good. And quick. And really, really good.

There are tons more out there, so get to that bookstore and search!

4 & 1/2. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
I don’t care if I reviewed this one a month ago (that’s why it’s only a half).  YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. I find myself still thinking of it and how wonderfully it is written. The lesson in this book is just so absolutely profound. I don’t think I can even write down in words how awesome it is and the feeling I got while reading the ending. Just read it. Do it,.

Usually the late November snow signals me to bust out the Christmas decorations and movies (can anybody say Elf?!) and indulge in the holiday spirit. But this year I’ve had to create all the spirit myself.

Besides watching Christmas special after special, I’ve turned to cozy holiday books to get myself in the mood, and The Gift, by Cecelia Ahern, is just perfect for the job. Many of you may remember this blockbuster hit from last Christmas season. Well, it was originally a book and I managed to snag myself a bargain copy of the hardcover a couple months ago. I decided to wait for a more appropriate time to bust it out and – seeing the Christmas lights being hung all over time – that time finally arrived!

“The Gift” switches between two seemingly parallel stories. One is of Lou Suffern, an overworked business man who is constantly faced with the conundrum of being in two places at once with his busy life. The other features Raphie, an older policeman (or Garda as they call them in Ireland!) and Turkey Boy, a young boy who threw a turkey through a window and is now at the Garda station. Lou’s story is actually being narrated by Raphie, who is telling Lou’s tale as a warning to Turkey Boy.

Lou’s story essentially begins when he meets Gabe, a homeless man who sits outside Lou’s multi-million dollar office building in Dublin everyday. One day Lou decides to purchase a coffee for Gabe and they end up chatting. Gabe seems very wise and intrigues Lou. Gabe also tips Lou off on a suspicious lunch meeting that Lou’s co-worker and boss had, so Lou decides to get Gabe a job in the mail room of his building. He figures that Gabe will be able to keep his eagle-eyes on Alfred, Lou’s suspicious co-worker and also, that it’s a good deed.

However, once Gabe begins working for Lou’s company, Lou quickly regrets his decision. Gabe magically seems to be able to be in two places at once and everyone else in the office (including Lou’s hard-to-please boss) are beyond impressed. Lou instantly feels threatened and regrets his decision…until Gabe also helps Lou to be in two places at once. Through his journey Lou learns about what is truly important in his life.

I found “The Gift” to be a wonderful, uplifting and perfect Christmas read. It was light-hearted and kept my attention. It is the typical “chick-lit” read and was a great way to relax in between studying for exams. The characters are believable and natural and I found it interesting that Ahern was able to make me feel compassion for both Lou and Gabe, even when Lou resents Gabe.

I think everyone who reads “The Gift” will also learn a lesson about what is truly important in their lives. And there is no better time to appreciate the people around you and blessings you have than this holiday season!