Reading is an escape that I’ll never be able to depict infallibly. Recently, I have been on a huge John Green kick. One thing that stands out in each of his books I’ve read so far is that the female lead, is always such a strong character on her own. She doesn’t “need saving” and the male lead isn’t a stereotypical, knight in shining armor. Sometimes, he’s a nerd, and I love this because this feels more like real life. I finished reading “Paper Towns,” the other night and this book made me really think about people and current relationships.

In the book (sorry for spoilers, but you still need to read it!) Quentin and Margo were childhood best friends. They were next-door neighbors and even discovered a dead body together. Years later… life happened. Margo was beautiful and popular and Quentin, was not. They had two totally different groups of friends but one night Margo climbed through Quentin’s window and asked him to go on one revenge journey, truly an offer he (and any sane human) couldn’t refuse. They had a memorable night and the next day at school, Margo never showed up and it’s later discovered she ran away, leaving clues for Quentin. He enlists some help from his friends and one of Margo’s friends to help find her, when they begin to discover the real Margo, the independent, crazy and even a little depressed, Margo. They finally begin uncovering the real life version, not the picture perfect person they all thought they knew.

I think this is a common trend with how people perceive others. So much is based just on the outside appearance even though it takes more than a single, quick glance to get to know someone. One of my favorite lines from the book is, “what a treacherous thing, to believe that a person is more than a person.” This could not be more precise. I am too guilty of this and creating false ideas of people that I meet. This is treacherous because in the end, I only blind myself from the real person and their true motives for their actions, whether good or bad. I already overanalyze just about everything, so this doesn’t help.

I was told recently that I am reserved, and I used to hate hearing that because it made me feel I was utterly boring, and that was the only word used to describe me all through school, until college. Today, I’m not as bothered by this and I know it wasn’t meant as criticism, but I still couldn’t resist a good eye roll when I heard it.

When people meet me, I have no idea how they perceive me. Reserved, stylish, weird, boring, nerdy, cold as ice and even a princess are a few descriptions I’ve heard. I only hope to truly be remembered for being kind (and stylish). But, that’s left up to those who give more than just a quick glance and truly put in the time to understand me and anyone else for that matter. People are great, some are not, but this is something you can’t truly figure out until we get out of our own heads and get to know people, versus the versions we have created.

Steal my look today: Black Jennifer Lopez pant: Kohl’s, Sheer Kimchi Blue top: Urban Outifitters