25 Unputdownable Books
I am by no means a literary expert. In fact, I often times go months without reading a single book, not counting cookbooks. Creating recipes for my blog, social media, and TV shows can fill the available time I might have for reading. But since my latest injury, I’ve made time for books (the paper kind that I prefer!), rekindling my love for reading and making me wonder what took me so long.
The following list of books are ones that I’ve read over the last couple of years, including eight that I’ve read in this year alone. There are others, but these are books that I’d recommend. I’ve tried to list them in order of light to heavy, without a ton of analysis. Apparently, I have a thing for WWII novels, because the last five took place then.
The Orphan Train and The Poisonwood Bible are two of my favorite deep reads on this list, while the first three listed (by Fredrik Backman) are some of my most current easy reads. A Man Called Ove is what started my latest book obsession. It’s the perfect book for anyone, and I’ve passed it on to a handful of friends already.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was probably the hardest book for me to follow at times. It details a little boy’s struggle with losing his father in the 9/11 Attacks in NYC. I enjoyed it, and it gave me a lot of perspectives, but it took me longer to read.
I’ve read all of Jodi Picoult’s novels, not just the two I’ve listed. I enjoy her style of writing, and the stories often end with a twist. They are easy summer reading.
The Girl on The Train, Gone Girl, The Martian, and Me Before You are books I’ve seen in movies too. Why is it that I ALWAYS enjoy books so much more than movies? These are all quick reads, perfect for rainy days or summer vacays on the beach.
The Woman in the Window: A Novel
After some recommendations from my sister and Oprah’s Book Club, I’ve shopped for a slew of other books that are in my Amazon cart, making it easy for me to hit “pay with one click” when I need a new read! Don’t you just love (some) technology?
I’d love to hear what YOU are currently reading, or what you could recommend to me. Please?
Let’s get back to reading, peeps!! 🙂
(These books are Amazon Affiliate links.)
A Man Called Ove: A Novel 
Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel
Beartown: A Novel
Little Fires Everywhere
The Husband’s Secret
The Girl on the Train
Broken Harbor: A Novel (Dublin Murder Squad)
Gone Girl
The Martian
Before We Were Yours: A Novel
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Storyteller
Small Great Things: A Novel
Room
The Life We Bury
Orphan Train
The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel
The Nightingale: A Novel
by Daniel Brown
Sarah’s Key
I’m so glad I found this list! From this list of books it seems that you and I have a very similar taste in books. Unbroken and boys in the boat are two of my favourite books ever and all the light we cannot see is also great. I have also read many Jodi Picoult books and also really like her writing style and also read Room (great book!) me before you and gone girl. Excited to now read my way through the rest of this list!
I actually need to share another round of books! It’s on my to-do list! Enjoy. 🙂
Glad this is a repost. You are giving me ideas for my next read. I am so excited! I just finished A Woman in the Window. I heard it will be a movie on Netflix soon. I love to compare books to movies! It was slow for me to get into it. I was reading before bed and I would get sleepy, BUT then… I couldn’t put it down.
What do you do with your books when you are done?
I want to keep them to see what I have accomplished but, I also want to declutter spaces.
Keep on reading, friend! 🙂
Craig and I just listened to “The Woman In the Window” on audible on a road trip to Iowa. It was a good premise and we liked the surprise ending, but we thought the author used too much detail, or what Craig calls “flowery language”. It took forever to get to the point. I like the use of descriptive detail, especially when you see the connections to important events later in the book, but I have to agree that this one went too far. This is one case when we think the movie will be better than the book, if a movie is made.
We also listened to “Girl On the Train” on a previous road trip and thought that one was better than the movie.
Favorites of mine are, “A Man Called Ove”, which Craig didn’t like, “Boys On the Boat”, (which we both really liked) “The Martian”, “Gone Girl” and “Me Before You”. I also read “All the Light You Cannot See”. Good book as well.
I’m now reading Hamilton (a fantastic historical novel about the life of Alexander Hamilton). It’s a very long, but interesting, story about our Forefathers, the Writers of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, the creation of the US Mint and the beginning of The US military… The author favors Hamilton, but it’s worth reading.
Next up on my book list is “Being Mortal”, by Atul Gawande. It’s about the current medical approach to aging and dying in the US and other parts of the world. Recommended by a trusted friend and avid reader.
I can’t believe Craig didn’t like “A Man Called Ove”! That was one of my favs!! “Hamilton” sounds interesting. We need to do a book swap!
Putting me to shame. I have some work to do. At least, I know some good books to read!
🙂
I am one of those friends who goes to Sue for book advice. I would love to read more but, I seem to let chores get in the way. However, when I read I enjoy it so much. I have read Me before you and saw the movie. I agree with Sue, the movie is always so much better. I have Sue’s copy of , A Man called OVE and loving it. Girl on the train was lots of twist and turns. Again, the book was better than the movie so, get to reading. My kids read Poisiknwood Bible for school and when I told them it was on the blog, they agreeed that looking back it was a good book. They said, they would not have read it on there own. I guess I will have to pick it up and read it on one of those patio/deck days.!!! Thanks for the recommendations , Sue.
Thanks for your feedback, Michelle! I’ve got more books for you when you are ready. 🙂