Summer is a time for relaxing and taking it easy between jam-packed semesters — and what better way to spend your downtime than lying out with a good book? Here are five books for summer reading that you won’t be able to put down:

1. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky

We all feel like a wallflower sometimes, which is what makes Stephen Chbosky’s novel so poignant. The coming-of-age story is told through a series of letters Charlie writes about his freshman year of high school. A group of seniors invite him into their friend group, where he discovers first love, sex and drugs, and comes to terms with a childhood trauma. Charlie is lovable from the first sentence: “Dear friend, I am writing to you because she says you listen and understand and didn’t try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have.”

2. “It” by Stephen King

This is my favorite book from my favorite author. It’s the story of seven friends, terrorized by a being who takes on the form of their worst nightmare and feeds on children. The story is told through two alternating narratives; during childhood and adulthood. Though, at over 1,000 pages, reading it is a bit of a feat. I promise, it’s totally worth it — but if you’re not feeling up to tackling something so big, give “Christine” or “The Shining” a go instead.

3. “The Princess Bride” by William Goldman

Goldman’s book contains all the laughs, action and romance of the movie and then some. It’s filled confessions of love such as “’That’s all you need? Easy. I love you. Okay? Want it louder? _I love you._ Spell it out, should I? I ell-oh-vee-ee why-oh-you. Want it backward? You love I.’“ that hopeless romantics like myself will eat up. Seriously, how could anyone not love this book?

4. “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer

Have you ever wanted to burn all of your money, break away from society and hoof it around North America? “Into the Wild” is the true story of Chris McCandless, who did just that. The book follows McCandless’s two-year journey on the road, which ultimately resulted with his death in the Alaskan wilderness.

5. “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien

“The Things They Carried” is more than a book about the Vietnam War; it’s about the men who fought. It’s about both the tangibles (mine detectors, medical kits, love letters, Bibles) and intangibles (love, humanity, memories, posttraumatic stress disorder) the soldiers carried in the jungle and through their lives out of the war zone. This novel has beautiful lines and heartbreaking stories that will make you bawl like a baby upon reading. PSA: don’t read this in public.