12 Books to Help You Read More



Did you make a New Year's Resolution to read more?  

Are you currently in a reading slump?  

Need help picking books that will help you stick with your resolution to read more books?  

You came to the right place!  

I have a fail-proof list of books that will keep you entertained for hours (days) and leave you wondering why you  didn't read these books sooner...


"When you buy something using a link from our stories, we may earn a small commission."


1) When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is beautifully written and one of the best books I have ever read. Dr. Kalanithi would probably become one of the best writers in our century, had his life gone the way he planned: 20 years as a neurosurgeon/neuro scientist + 20 years as a writer.  
Warning: Tissue Box required and a book hangover might be a side effect.



2) A Court of Thorns and Roses is the first book in the fantasy series by Sarah J. Maas.  It’s constantly labeled as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, being the tale of a kidnapped girl, two Faerie High Lords and a curse that needs to be broken. I’d like to think it’s Beauty and the Beast meets Twilight, but that’s just me. Grab your favorite snack and enjoy this unforgettable adventure.
Note: even though this book is constantly found in the YA section of bookstores, it  should really be in the adult fantasy section due to some highly steamy scenes.  You have been warned...




3) You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria goes behind the scenes of a latin telenovela and the necessary chemistry needed to make it believable.  What happens when the on-screen attraction becomes real?  I loved how the author showed the complexity of these characters, and how trust and communication are the most important things in any relationship (both on and off screen).  It's basically impossible not to get swept away by this one!




4)  Recursion by Blake Crouch - I’m a sci-fi fan and even though the whole concept of time-travel has been explored in a lot of books and movies, Crouch was able to explore a new angle, one that merged actual scientific advances into a fictitious reality that might not be too far from the near future.
His narrative is fast-paced, leaving the reader with no time to think twice when turning the pages.  To make it even more interesting, there’s also a love story ♥.


5) Take a Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert  ~ Dani Brown is all focused on her career and too busy for romantic relationships, but when the video of super-hot security guard Zaf carrying her out of the building goes viral, a new hashtag starts trending: #drrugbae.  What could possibly go wrong from a "friends with benefits" agreement between these 2?  I don't know about you but I was never that lucky when it came to security guys...just saying.  This one is perfect for those that like a romance high on the steamy meter.


6)  Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala is a heartbreaking story about coming of age in a conservative immigrant family.  Iweala takes us on a journey of self-discovery with Niru, who is torn between the guilt of not being the son his parents expect him to be and the freedom to accept (and love) who he truly is.  His brother OJ, advises him to not pick fights he can't win, when it comes to their parents, but Niru finds it hard to believe his brother would suffer the same judgement from their father.    


7)  A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness takes us to a world with magical creatures: Witches, Vampires and Daemons...and an enchanted manuscript.  Diana Bishop, a descendant of the Salem Bishop Clan, is about to find out that she is the most powerful witch alive. Her parents were murdered when Diana was young and she has decided to live her life without using magic. Here comes Matthew Clairmont, a jaw-dropping good looking vampire who is also a geneticist.  When Diana somehow calls the enchanted manuscript, she unknowingly sends out an universal alarm that makes all magical creatures (good and evil) aware of who she is. She can no longer hide.  To make matters worse, it is forbidden for a witch to fall in love with a vampire! Can you guess what happens next?

8)  Sadie by Courtney Summers is the story of one girl and the radio presenter that starts investigating her disappearance.  Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger, so you can't wait to read the next chapter.  This back and forth helps the story flow and keeps you hoping that the clues Sadie leaves behind will help West McCray (the investigative reporter) find her.  The closest he gets to where Sadie is, the more you want to keep reading...until the very last page.

9) Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce - By combining humor with the voice of the young Emmy, Pearce's novel showed us how people had to carry on with their lives and find hope in the midst of war.  A well-written novel about friendships and the lives of women during the war...PERFECT for lovers of historical-fiction!⁠

10) The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo is a novel in verse that captures the struggles of an Afro-Latina teenager growing up in Harlem, with a highly religious mother, an almost invisible father and a super intelligent twin. Xiomara has a hard time fitting in and she starts writing about her frustrations, anger and pain. Writing becomes her way to cope with everything around her, and when a teacher encourages her to join the Slam Poetry Club, Xiomara starts finding her own voice.  Acevedo's words are as powerful and realistic as the Xiomara I imagined in my head. A force not to be reckoned with. A Grand SLAM ⁠💥

11) Beach Read by Emily Henry will make you fall in love with the characters.  January is a hopeless romantic and Gus is a "life is shit" kind of guy. But not everyone is just one thing, is it? And as they start knowing each other, the layers start coming off, and they might discover that they are not so different after all.⁠  Add to that a nice dose of sarcasm combined with that twisted humor and endless eye rolls that make sparks fly, and you'll be singing love songs by the last page.

12) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is dark, magical and extravagantly imagined! A tale within a tale that takes you in as if in a dream...and we all know that in dreams anything can happen, so be ready to be WOWED!⠀


If you'd like to purchase any of these books, please visit Bookshop.org and help raise funds for local bookstores.  

https://bookshop.org/lists/15-books-to-stick-with-your-resolution-to-read-more


10 comments

  1. I like the variety of books on this list. My co-blogger read Sadie when it was first released and I have it as an audiobook, I will get around to listening to it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I rarely read this genre but I loved Discovery of Witches

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great list! I've read quite a few and loved them too :)

    Anika | chaptersofmay.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I totally loved Poet X and Night Circus too.. while a few of the others are on my I need to read soon list.. and considering the list they are in, I think I need to add the rest to my TBR :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for your great list. I haven't read any of them. I've made notes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've read the Discovery of Witches series and loved it - the Sarah J. Maas trilogy is on my TBR list too :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is such a great list! I am always after book recommendations! I read some of them and added The poet x to my list and The Night Circus, thanks for sharing x

    Cristina | thegrumpyolive.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. So many I agree with or am intrigued by (or even plan to read soon) on this list!!

    ReplyDelete