Have you been wanting to get back into reading but don’t know where to start? I know that it can be overwhelming to figure out when there are sooooo many books out there. If you’re not plugged in to the bookish community, then it can seem daunting. But fear not! I have put together a list of 10 books over various genres that I have read and loved. So next time you’re at the bookstore or library and don’t know what to do, use this list as your guide.
1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This historical fiction book follows two French sisters during World War II as Germans occupy their country. Each sister fights is faced with impossible situations as they try to fight for their country and survive the war.
2. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This twisty thriller/mystery features famous artist Alicia who one night shoots her husband in the face. After the incident, she refuses to speak again. Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist tries to get her to talk and uncover why she shot her husband.
3. Beach Read by Emily Henry
A romance about two writers living in cabins next door to each other one summer in Michigan. January is a romance writer; Augustus is a literary fiction writer. They agree to write a book in each other’s respective genre and take each other on outings in the name of research.
4. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
This contemporary fiction piece follows Nora as she enters “the midnight library,” a place between life and death where every book you pick up shows you a version of your life you could have lived if you had made different choices. Nora must decide what she truly values and which life she would be happiest in.
5. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
This historical fiction features Elizabeth Zott, a chemist working on an all-male research team in the early 1960’s. After many unexpected events in her life, she finds herself out of the lab and hosting a cooking show called “Supper at Six.” Elizabeth is unapologetically feminist and causes ripples as she encourages her viewers to challenge the status quo.
6. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
In this fantasy romance (the first in an unfinished series), Violet Sorrengail is forced to enroll in her country’s war college where she will train to be a dragon rider. Beyond the dangers of surviving the training, she also must watch her back as many of her peers want her dead just because of her last name. And unfortunately for Violet, number one on that list is Xaden Riorsan, a handsome third year wingleader.
7. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This historical fiction is told in an interview style and follows the fictitious band Daisy Jones and the Six at the peak of their success. In the 70s, the band mysteriously canceled their tour and broke up soon after, and this is the first time they are giving the full story.
8. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
A contemporary fiction novel that features two childhood friends, Sam and Sadie, who come together in college to create video games. Their debut game is a worldwide success that launches their careers. Over the span of 30 years, the two must figure out what their relationship is, and how they will survive the tumultuous events life throws at them.
9. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
This romance follows Olive, a third-year Ph.D. candidate, and Adam, a professor at her university. The two come to a mutually beneficial agreement in which they will fake-date. But as they spend more and more time together, the experiment gets a little muddy.
10. The Measure by Nikki Erlick
In this contemporary fiction, everyone wakes up to discover a box with a string on their front door. They soon discover the string is an indicator of how long an individual’s life will be. The story follows 8 individuals who all deal with the strings in various fashions and whose lives unexpectedly connect to one another.