For years, I have been a loyal fan of dystopian young adult novels. I've spent more than a few late nights wide awake reading books, so engrossed with a futuristic story that I was willing to sacrifice any semblance of a good night's sleep. From the epic fights for freedom to the swoon-worthy romances, I was often transported from the real world into a place where my own troubles seemed laughable. But while I was reading the books for sheer escapism, I never realized I would actually be able to apply some of the lessons to my adult life.
This past spring, as I planned and prepared to get married, I was pretty floored at how much I had retained from some of the great dystopian YA novels with their radical marriage customs. We think weddings are dramatic now? In the future, we're looking at young women getting auctioned off like cattle or competing in reality competitions to win a prince's hand in marriage. All of these books provided vital lessons as I walked down the aisle. Some were surprising, some were helpful and some helped me steer clear of being a bridezilla.