As someone who reads several books a week, and has done so for years, I’m often asked for book recommendations.
Most of the books I read are pretty good. I get really excited about books I actually love.
How does a book reach “love” status for me? It might be terrific writing, a fantastic plot, surprise twist, interesting setting, great dialogue, unique characters — or all of those things!
Since it’s so hard to find books we love, I thought I’d share my list of favorites with you. Some are new, and some are oldies but goodies.
By clicking on each title below, you can read the summary on Amazon.
If you’d like to read more in-depth thoughts about the books I recommend, sign up for my updates, here.
I continually add to this list, so check back often to see updates.
Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. I’d especially like to hear your book recommendations, as I’m always on the lookout for great books to read.
Book Club Picks:
A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles
A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
Beartown – Fredrik Backman
Before We Were Yours – Lisa Wingate
Big Sky – Kate Atkinson
City of Girls – Elizabeth Gilbert
Life After Life – Kate Atkinson
Little Fires Everywhere – Celeste Ng
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand – Helen Simonson
Olive, Again – Elizabeth Strout
Once Upon a River – Diane Setterfield
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong
Orphan Train – Christina Baker Kline
Pachinko – Min Jin Lee
Saint X – Alexis Schaitkin
Searching for Sylvie Lee – Jean Kwok
Small Great Things – Jodi Picoult
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan – Lisa See
The Bridal Chair – by Gloria Goldreich
The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah
The Guest Book – Sarah Blake
The Island of Sea Women – Lisa See
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
The Lager Queen of Minnesota – J. Ryan Stradal
The Language of Flowers – Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd
The Song of the Jade Lily – Kirsty Manning
The Storyteller’s Secret – Sejal Badani
The Red Tent – Anita Diamant
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane – Lisa See
The Testaments – Margaret Atwood
Us Against You – Fredrik Backman (sequel to Beartown)
Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
Thrillers/Mysteries:
Begging to Die – Graham Masterton
Disappearing Earth – Julia Phillips
I Am Pilgrim – Terry Hayes
Lady in the Lake – Laura Lippman
Never Tell – Lisa Gardner
Orphan X – Gregg Hurwitz – and all the other titles in this series
Scrublands – Chris Hammer
The Butterfly Garden – Dot Hutchison
The Current – Tim Johnston
The Escape Artist – Brad Meltzer
The Girl in the Moon – Terry Goodkind
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson
The Husband’s Secret – Liane Moriarty
The Snowman – Jo Nesbo
Watching You – Lisa Jewell
Non-Fiction:
A Chance in the World – Stephen J. Pemberton
Content Chemistry – Andy Crestodina
It’s Great to Suck at Something – Karen Rinaldi
The Art of Gathering – Priya Parker