Reading is often regarded as one of the most monotonous activities by most people I know. I’ve tried multiple times to get at least one of my friends into reading but have failed. One thing that I’ve heard from my friends is that for most books with a good plot, the writing is too ‘fancy’ for them to enjoy the book. Reading can only be fun if you’re reading a good book with an engaging plot. Here are some books with a good plot and easy language.

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Alosa is a pirate who lets herself get captured onto a ship containing a valuable map so that she can steal it. The map is essentially a treasure map, and she must find it so that she can give to her father, the Pirate King. The only obstacle is Riden, the ship’s unfairly attractive first mate. Sparks fly between the two as Riden’s suspicion about Alosa increases and boils over. Underestimated by almost every pirate she meets, Riden’s suspicion is a fresh challenge for Alosa. She is determined to not let anything stop her. After all, she is the Daughter of the Pirate King.

This book was a really fun book to read! The plot is engaging and the characters are funny and witty. I love Riden’s energy and Alosa’s girl boss vibes 🙂

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Alessandra has a plan consisting of 3 steps to steal the throne from the mysterious Shadow King:
Seduce the Shadow King.
Marry the Shadow King.
Kill the Shadow King, seize and rule his kingdom.

As Alessandra slowly goes through the motions of her plan, she finds out that she isn’t the only one trying to kill the king. The more time she spends with him, she finds herself desperate to keep her king alive.

The Shadows Between Us is the perfect mix of romance, humor, and mystery. The plot is intricately crafted with excellent timing and pacing. Written by the same author as the previous book, Levenseller’s books are perfect for new readers.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Set in a dystopian world, this novel is a part-romance and part-superhero fiction novel. After an epic war, the Renegades emerged. The Renegades are crime-fighting superheroes with extraordinary abilities.

Nova Artino is a 15 year old girl who was taken in by her uncle after witnessing the brutal murder of her parents. She has every reason to hate The Renegades. But, when she’s sent on a mission to spy on the Renegades, she meets Adrian, a sweet boy who believes in justice and Nova’s ability to do good in the world. As she spends more time with the teens part of the Renegades, she begins to question her alliances.

This is one of my favorite novels of all time. Renegades has dynamic characters and a fun romance. I absolutely loved watching Nova slowly find her place in the Renegades and Adrian understand that the world isn’t in black and white. These two characters complement each other perfectly.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Set in dystopian and post-apocalyptic Chicago, the people who live there are separated into factions based on human qualities: Abnegation for the selfless, Dauntless for the brave, Amity for the forgiving, Erudite for the smart, and Candor for the honest.

Each year, the sixteen-year-olds must participate in the Choosing Ceremony. Beatrice can make the decision to stay with her family in Abnegation, or leave her family and choose the faction she desires. Once she does, a series of challenges must be completed for her to truly join the faction. But, Beatrice has been hiding a deadly secret. When a conflict arises between the factions, she must make a difficult choice regarding her secret.

This was the first dystopian novel I read. I love Beatrice, who changes her name to Tris, later in the book. I especially love the people she encountered over the course of the novel. Her friends, Christina, Will, and Four(yes his name is actually like the number), are really fun characters to read about! Divergent was also adapted into a major motion picture in 2014. This book is perfect for people looking to read books like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Personally, I liked Divergent better, because the characters were more dynamic.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Catherine Pinkerton was a baker first, Queen of Hearts next. At 17, all she wants is to open her bakery and fall in love, but as the king’s favorite her future is set. That is until she meets the royal court’s newest addition, Jest. Catherine, finding the passion she’s always wished for, but she must choose between Jest and her family.

I loved this book so much. When I reached the end, I had no words. I loved all the characters, especially Hatta, who later became the Mad Hatter. The book was whimsical and charming. Jest and Catherine’s love for each other broke my heart. Towards the end, there is a giant twist that made me think of nothing but the book for next week. The book was also adapted into a musical penned by a group of sophomores in Utah.