Having read fifteen books so far this year, I’ve been actively researching what your next adventure should be. Whether you like Sci-Fi or Historical Fiction, I’ve got something for you or maybe a starting suggestion for a genre you have yet to explore. In no specific order, here are five books that I have read this year that I think should at least make it onto your TBR list, should you not pick one up right after this article!
The Martian – Science Fiction
The Martian was one of the first books I read this year, and quite frankly, it set the bar quite high. I could not stop laughing out loud, nor could I put it down, a dangerous combo if you ask me.
The Martian follows Mark Watney, an astronaut who gets left behind on Mars when his group’s mission falls through. You follow him through his survival, turmoil, and possible rescue. The humor is refreshing and wildly entertaining while depicting a terrifying situation for even the most qualified botanist (IFKYK).
If you are a sci-fi reader this is right up your alley and even if you aren’t (neither was I) this book is easily digestible and a quick read if you give it a chance. Not to mention, if you’ve heard anything good about Project Hail Mary the book or movie, this is the same author of this year’s space masterpiece.
Animal Farm – Classic, Fiction, Politics
If you haven’t read a classic yet, Animal Farm would be a good start for many reasons. Less than two hundred pages, this political and social allegory presents relevant topics not only to the time it was published but also present day. It serves as an important reminder to continue to question the leadership and systems around us.
Without giving away too much, Animal Farm is going to spark questions that we should be more open to discussing. Not to mention, once you finish this book there are plenty of video and written essays that you can indulge in to continue the book’s experience and further challenge your own thinking. What you get out of this little book is up to you.
Molly’s Game – Memoir
As for Molly’s Game, I admittedly watched the movie on Netflix first, breaking my movie before book rule in the process. Although I was so intrigued that the next day I hunted for the paperback at the thrift store. (Which if you aren’t thrifting your older titles than you’re paying too much for them!) The story was so frenzied and frantic that I wanted to know how Molly Bloom originally wrote it herself. Following a washed up Olympian this book is witty and provides an interesting insight on the celebrities of Hollywood that we may only recognize from popular movies. Bloom’s writing style is deeply entertaining and makes you feel like you are standing right beside her as she describes the events of her life. Dealing with millions of dollars at a time, drug use, and an investigation through the FBI, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat and wondering if it could get any more wild.
Onyx Storm, The Empyrean Series – Romantasy
Although I would recommend starting with the first book, having read up to the third book I can promise you that this is a dragon’s tale that will carry you far into your imagination. Fantasy is admittedly a genre in which I rarely indulge, and yet this series which was also recommended to me by my friends had me captivated from chapter one.
The Fourth Wing series follows Violet Sorrengail, a future Scribe within the Basgiath War College, or so she thought, is suddenly being forced to be a cadet in hopes of accomplishing dragon rider status and become a part of the most respected and fierce group within Navarrian culture. In a complicated and adventurous story of friends, love, and rebellion, read this page turner to find out if Sorrengail has what it takes should she not fall to her fragile exterior… or will the intimidating and brutally mannered Xaden Riorson get to her first?
This is the perfect read to start as the fourth installment of the series was just released, and you don’t wanna have too much fomo when the fifth one rolls along too. It’s a commitment, but you might as well buy the book set all at once because if you feel anything like the way I did after finishing each book, you’ll want to start the next one immediately!
The Nightingale – Historical Fiction
I saved the best for last, my most recent read, a book that left me in a pile of tears and tissues. I don’t intend to scare you away with that statement, if anything my hope is to convey that this story is beyond moving and tells the tale of women in WWII. A perspective we usually don’t get to hear about too often. Written by Kristin Hannah, her elegant and captivating style of writing led myself and others to consider this her best piece of work from her catalog of over twenty novels.
Nightingale follows two sisters in occupied France as they battle to survive, find ways to rebel, and discover who they really are in the ugliness and madness of war. You not only start to root for these characters but you feel their pain, loss, and triumph on every page.
That being said I recommend reading this book in the comfort of your own home for fear of shedding some understandably ugly tears. This is by far the best book I have read this year, beating my previous top contender, The Martian.
Honorable mention:
Being the true reader that I am, I couldn’t stop at five, so here are two more titles that I will leave you to investigate yourself. I want to recommend No Country for Old Men, a western thriller set in the 80’s which follows a multi person manhunt and delivers a philosophical conversation for those who are curious enough. I would also like to offer up Heated Rivalry as one of this year’s must reads if you haven’t hopped on the band wagon yet. This book follows two male hockey players who start as a hookup but later become something more in a time when it was incredibly taboo. It’s the perfect romance for anyone who’s obsessed with that genre.
In a time when it feels like reading is dying and literacy comprehension is down, reading is so important and hopefully one if not many of these books made it onto your list if they aren’t already in your hand. Reading is such a pleasure and only gets better when you share it with friends. The next time you finish a book make sure to pitch it to your friends and book worms alike, you never know when you’re going to recommend someone their next five star read.