Books that help me escape reality... at least for a bit

Some authors really have a gift for immersing their readers into their world, and having them temporarily forget about the stress of daily life. I am no literary expertise, but here are a few books that helped me forget about the real world and take me out of reality for a bit of time! If only I could go back in time to relive them for the first time...

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: This story revolves around a magical competition between two powerful illusionists. Let's just leave it at that for now... Easily one of my favorite books of all time. It's so beautifully written and I can picture everything in my mind perfectly. You can visualize everything the author is describing and can even smell the descriptions of food and hear the sound of people in the book. It is a slower read because it's more character driven, but I literally want to jump into this book and be a character. I swear, it's like a movie playing in your head the whole time. The true definition of: magical!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab: Another book that had really pretty descriptions throughout. This book involves a girl who has made a deal with the devil and in exchange for freedom, she is cursed to live forever with nobody remembering her. It really captivated me and made me temporarily forget about my daily life. I thought the writing in this book was beautiful and the descriptions of the setting and characters really helped immerse myself into this world.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: Sci-fi isn't my go to when it comes to reading. This book, however, caught my attention. People immerse themselves to escape the depressing reality of their lives into a virtual reality known as the OASIS. The story follows a teenager named Wade on the hunt for an easter egg, hidden by the late creator of the OASIS, that promises fortunes to change someone's life. The stakes are so high in this book I simply could not put it down, and the world is so immersive. However, I was a bit disappointed with the movie adaptation.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: This one is a classic throwback to the childhood book series. Everyone knows the story of a boy wizard fighting off an evil dark lord. I mean any book in this series instantly transports me to the wizarding world every child dreams to be a part of. My friend and I had recently gone to see the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play on Broadway, and it triggered this wave of nostalgia in me. The last time I read a Harry Potter book was when I was completely obsessed with it from the ages of 11-13, and as of recent, I have been currently re-reading the Goblet of Fire. After years, it kinda feels like I'm reading a brand new book and I am once again immersed in the magical world that captivated me as a kid. The epitome of an "escape from reality"!

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Do you have any other recommendations for books that make you forget about daily life or books that can transport you to places you could only wish to see?

-N