Are you in a reading slump? Has it been weeks or months since you’ve picked up a book and enjoyed reading it? Do you want to get back into the feeling of frantic page turning and suspense? Listed below are a few of my all time favorite novels I turn to when I want to get back into the habit:
- The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Do you love the glamor of old Hollywood, romance and mystery, and a plot twist that will have you putting the book down in disbelief? Then this fast-paced novel is perfect for you. The story follows the life of the mysterious and reclusive Evelyn Hugo, the former starlet of the silver screen, as she’s interviewed for the first time by the tenacious Monique Grant. This book will have you laughing, crying, and arguing with the pages- sometimes all at once. The novel contains central LGBTQ+ representation as well as important discussions when it comes to the whitewashing of the movie industry. It’s a reasonable 400 pages with many paragraph breaks and manageable chapters, but you’ll find yourself unable to put this book down the day you start it. Bonus points if you have red hair or you love the color green.
- The Other Boleyn Girl by Philipa Gregory
If the name Anne Boleyn is ringing a bell, that’s probably from the “divorced, beheaded, died” list of King Henry VIII’s infamous list of ex-wives. Anne Bolyen was the beautiful and ambitious courtier who convinced King Henry to divorce Queen Katherine of Aragon in order to marry her. Her story is well known, but history has forgotten about her sister Mary Boleyn. This novel follows Mary as she finds herself as the object of the king’s desire in a court filled with plans and lies. Gregory’s descriptions of court life will take you from your bed into a room filled with masquerade dancers and scandal. Although this novel is longer than average, the drama and suspense will make it fly by. If you love historical fiction or a good romance, this is the story for you.
- Circe by Madeline Miller
The second novel by the author of “Song Of Achilles”, Miller deserves the hype with her retelling of ancient Greek heroes and myths. The sea witch Circe is featured in Homer’s “The Odyssey”, but really only appears to be one of Odysseus’s lovers on his sojourn home after the Trojan War. In this feminist retelling, Circe is her own goddess with struggles and triumphs in an patriarchal culture and world. If you’ve always dreamt of having powers over nature or living alone on a magical island, you’ll love this book. For the mythology nerd and novice alike, Circe’s story captures the heart and imagination of the reader.
- Bridgerton- The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
If you were anything like me, over quarantine you became obsessed with the series Bridgerton. The first season is based on the first novel of the Bridgerton series. Julia Quinn spins the tale of Daphne Bridgerton, eldest daughter of eight children in the noble Bridgerton family, and her quest for love. This is a short but spicy novel that I will definitely be reading on the beach this summer. If you’ve ever imagined yourself in an English court or falling in love with the one person you can’t have, definitely add this to your bookshelf. It is a little predictable, but in today’s world, that can be exactly what you need.
- An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
My absolute favorite John Green novel never gets any love when it absolutely deserves it. This book had me laughing so hard my sides hurt. A coming of age story that takes place over the course of a road trip has no reason to be this hilarious, but it is. The novel follows Colin Singleton, a self-proclaimed washed up genius, following his heartbreak with his 19th girlfriend named Katherine. Yup. You read that right. 19 girls named Katherine have dumped Colin over the course of his life. Colin’s best friend Hassan decides to pull him out of his funk by road tripping across America- but they come to a halt in Kentucky. A tampon string factory, a spitfire named Linsey, and a love of Taco Bell will give them the summer of a lifetime. If you’re looking for a somewhat absurd story to drag you out of seasonal depression and make you look forward to the summer, this is it! John Green is an incredible author whose spunky characters and voice will make this novel fly by.