I read everyday - here's the five books you must read when you need a bit of escapism

Books are a great way to relax, pass the time or learn something new - and choosing your favourites is a very subjective matter. They can leave an impression on a young mind, or offer guidance in a time of need, as well as provide a bit of escapism from reality.

I have compiled a list of some of my favourites and why I believe everyone should read these if they require some escapism. Here are my top five books to add to your autumn reading list - and perhaps controversially one author's books crop up not once, not twice, but three times.

Counting as three of the five entries, The Hunger Games series is set in a dystopian future and follows Katniss Everdeen, a young women who volunteers, in her younger sisters place, to take part in the Hunger Games, which is annual televised event that involves tributes from each district fighting to the death until there is only one person remaining. The series explores themes of survival, sacrifice, rebellion and the corrupt power of a totalitarian government and I think it is enjoyable for anyone to read at any point of their life. In order, the books are The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

The Midnight Library follows a woman who is struggling with unhappinesses and discontenment. When she finds herself in a magical library between life and death, she is forced to explore all of the "what could have beens" in her lifetime. Here, she learns a huge lesson about what it is she truly wants from life and it's a very relatable read. The book details on some home truths about life that we all know but sometimes need to be reminded of, realising that you have to choose the path you want to go down and it's not all up to fate. I would recommend this book to anyone as, as much as it is about a dark time in life, it's told in a light-hearted and relatable way.

For a couple of years I had been tempted and intrigued by Austen's books but was somewhat intimidated to pick them up. Once I started reading McDermid's modern retelling, which was based on Cat (Catherine), a home-schooled girl who spends her summer in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival, I felt I could then read Austen's original. The book is largely inspired by Gothic mystery and it was a real treat to read, I'd urge anyone to read an Austen adaptation to get over any trepidation before reading her novels.