I have spent the past year reading a lot. However, I am always looking for new books, series or classics that have gone unnoticed to put on my TBR (to be read). So, I asked some of the Her Campus Northern Colorado members what they have on their TBR lists. We all have fantastic taste, so I’ve compiled them to share!Â
Sara
On Sara’s TBR is Betty by Tiffany McDaniel. This coming-of-age novel follows a young, mixed, Indigenous woman named Betty who grows up in mid-50’s rural Appalachia. Sara’s partner recommended the book to them, assuring that it would be an excellent and heartbreaking read. (Google the trigger warnings for this one!)
EmersonÂ
Emerson is looking to read A Short Stay In Hell by Steven L. Peck, a novella where, like Jorge Luis Borges’ story The Library of Babel, a character is forced into a Hell that is a giant library. Peck’s novel offers more characterization than Borges’ story, however, and follows a Mormon named Soren as he tries to find the book that contains his life. Emerson has this on his TBR as a recommended follow-up to Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves.Â
HannahÂ
The Secret History by Donna Tartt, a book all about satirizing academia, is on Hannah’s TBR. Being very popular on social media (for a reason, in my opinion), The Secret History follows Richard Papen as he tells the reverse story of one of his classmates’ murder. Hannah has been told that this is a very “her” book by friends, and wants to know what they mean by that!
Addi
Addi adores Irish fiction, so on her TBR is Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth. A sapphic coming-of-age story, Addi has Sunburn on their list to read and experience a unique and complex queer-centered narrative.
Lili
On Lili’s TBR is Women Hollering Creek by Sandra Cisneros. This collection of short stories highlights Mexican-American heritage. Cisneros also wrote The House on Mango Street, a book that Lili loves and wants to find more similar stories to!
Brooke
Brooke has recently been going through a classic series, The Hunger Games. She has finished the first novel and now has the second in the trilogy, Catching Fire. Having never read the YA trilogy before, she’s quickly catching up and is excited to continue reading.
Julie
Another Hunger Games fan, Julie has the prequel A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes on their TBR. They are currently reading Sunrise on The Reaping, another prequel, starring Haymitch as the protagonist and narrator. However, they are a little nervous about reading A Ballad because the narrator is the primary antagonist of the main series, President Snow.Â
Jenni
Jenni has a long, but rewarding series on her TBR: Dungeon Crawler Carl. The series, a literary RPG, follows protagonists Carl and Donut (an anthropomorphized cat) as they try to work their way through and survive an inter-galactic “hunger games.” Though Jenni states they recognize the premise is a little goofy, they have been recommended the series for its emotional complexity and characterization, along with its polished plot lines.Â
Alana
I have lots of different books on my TBR, but one that I’m constantly meaning to start is The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Not only have I heard that McCarthy is a fantastic writer, but I also know The Road is a devastating post-apocalyptic novel that has intense apocalyptic themes which only get more applicable every day.Â
I hope everyone has their own TBR’s out, because all of us at Her Campus UNCO have incredible and diverse books on ours. I certainly know that I added to my list, and if any of these caught your eye, give them a try!