Do you love to get lost in a story? Have you ever found yourself staying up way too late reading that one chapter because you just can’t put it down? If you’ve ever felt passionate about books, then you’ll want to read on. I’ve got seven book recommendations that are perfect for book lovers. From magical to emotional to bittersweet, there’s a book here for every reader.
The Wishing Game
About the Book
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Genre: Fantasy
Book Review
A whimsical, heartfelt tale about how favorite childhood books have the power to change lives.
Sarah, a broke teaching assistant, wants nothing more than to adopt her sweet protege, Christopher. But her finances block her from even being considered as a foster parent for him. Instead, they share a love of the Clock Island Adventures book series and dream of a better tomorrow.
When Sara gets invited to the real Clock Island to participate in a competition run by the reclusive writer, she has to confess to Christopher she’s been there before: she once ran away from her unloving home to seek refuge on the island. The prize would secure her and Christopher’s future, if her knowledge of the book series and its creator is enough to win.
Sara’s great as Christopher’s fierce protector, who believes above all else he deserves to be loved. She also meets a fascinating cover artist named Hugo, who’s made his own home on the island for several years. Sparks fly as the two begin to figure out what makes the other tick.
Clock Island is part fantasy, part run-down dream. The creator of the book series started to bring his books to life on his own private island, but never finished. It’s a playful place, where the numbers of the clock are marked by places: the lighthouse at twelve, the beach at five, the wishing well at eight.
This book reminds readers of the power of imagination and a will to make dreams come true.
The Midnight Library
About the Book
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Genre: Literary Fiction
Book Review
This one deserves all the hype! I loved it just as much as I expected to.
After a series of failures and regrets, Nora doesn’t want to live anymore. But instead of dying, she finds herself in the Midnight Library, where she gets to see all her “what ifs.” What if she hadn’t quit competitive swimming? What if she’d stayed in the band? What if she’d never let her cat roam around outside? The librarian tells her she needs to find a life where she’s happy enough to stay.
As someone who likes to daydream about my own “what ifs,” this book was intriguing. I’m pretty happy in my life, but what if there were a life out there where I was richer? Better looking? Happier? Nora gets to play around with all the possibilities, and one by one eliminate her regrets.
This is a book I will read again and again. It’s an instant top-ten of all time favorite.
Amelia Unabridged
About the Book
Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Book Review
This book is for every girl who’s dreamed of meeting and falling in love with their favorite author. Hopefully that wasn’t just me!
When Amelia’s family falls apart, she’s staring into a bookstore window when Jenna sees her. Jenna pulls her into her happy life and family, and the two girls bond over their favorite books: The Orman Chronicles. The two girls plan to best friends forever, and sign up to be roommates at the same college.
As a graduation present, they travel to a convention to meet the legendary, reclusive author, N.E. Endsley. But only Jenna meets him when she bumps into him shortly before he cancels his scheduled appearance. Amelia is bitter, but when Jenna dies two weeks later in a car accident, Amelia’s world is ripped apart again.
When a mysterious limited-edition copy of the book arrives in the mail, Amelia is sure it’s a sign from Jenna. Following a clever wind, she tracks down the sender, finding the damaged N.E. Endsley himself. Do they recognize kindred hurting souls in each other? As Amelia learns more about him and how he built the world of Orman, she begins to doubt everything. Does Amelia still want to follow Jenna’s plan for her life or forge her own way?
This left me with tears in my eyes (the good kind) and a smile on my face. This book is like one giant hug for everyone who’s ever fallen in love with the world of a book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing this advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Library of Lost Things
About the Book
The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey
Genre: YA Contemporary
Book Review
Darcy Wells lives her life in fear that someone will discover her mother’s hoarding. She’s afraid they’ll get kicked out of their rented apartment. She’s afraid to invite friends from school over. She’s afraid the hoard will take over her last sacred space – her room. She finds comfort in the pages of books instead, until a cute boy and her best friend push her towards a fuller, free life.
The Cartographers
About the Book
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
Genre: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction
Book Review
Nell Young’s dad had a secret he was willing to die to protect. At first, when he dies at his desk at the New York Public Library, police think it must be an accident. Then Nell ends up a suspect, due to a very public disagreement with her father that ended her career in cartography. Nell’s convinced her dad was working on something big, something that may have attracted someone sinister. The more she retraces his steps, the more danger she finds herself in.
This book is a delightful mash-up of fantasy, thriller and literary fiction. I loved the touch of whimsy, combined with a sinister feeling. Despite some plot holes that were never fully explained – why did things HAVE to be that way? – it kept me flipping pages until the very end. I guessed some of the twists but had to keep reading to find out if I was right.
Nell also has a second-chance romance with the college boyfriend who walked out on her after her career tanked. He’s now a single tech bro who can’t stop thinking about her, and I enjoyed seeing if their reconnection would lead to anything.
The best part of the book, however, is glimpses back of Nell’s dad and his group of friends, all just starting their careers with big dreams. Their idealism, smarts and close friendship made me want to be a part of their friend group. Each character is so well developed and compelling, even as lines get crossed and they all get pushed towards catastrophe.
Must Love Books
Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson
Genre: Literary Fiction
Book Review
“Nora began to think of life as a battle between herself and the creature. It lurked in the shadows of her mind, always watching, always waiting for a moment when she was vulnerable enough to listen to what it had to say.
Nora’s stuck in a dead-end editorial assistant job that even cuts her pay. She’s struggling as the company lays off people and dumps the remaining work those left. When she gets a sandwich order wrong, serving avocado to the allergic and handsome Andrew Santos, he flirtatiously accuses her of trying to kill him. They keep running into each other, but Nora’s feelings for him get tangled up in the fact that if she brings his book to a publishing company, she may finally get the role she deserves.
This book gives a nuanced look at depression. Nora struggles to let her more successful friends see her true state. But I loved that when she did finally share, everyone was there for her and helped her figure her way out of the giant mess she made of her life. Nora’s search for happiness was relatable.
I thought the book got a little slow in the middle, but I really enjoyed the ending.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.
We Are Inevitable
We Are Inevitable by Gayle Forman
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction
Book Review
Aaron thinks everything in his life is as inevitable as the extinction of the dinosaurs after the asteroid hit. His family is falling apart after the death of his brother, and their family-run bookstore rarely has any customers. In his book, inevitable is never good. That’s why he signs a contract to sell the store without telling his dad, Ira. But then he meets Hannah, who’s reading his favorite book, and their romance seems inevitable.
This book is full of the quirky characters who make small-town life interesting. Chad, the paraplegic who was a jerk in high school but regrets it, and practically forces Aaron to be friends with him after forcing him to build a wheelchair ramp into the store. Ike, Richie and Garry, the retired lumberjack crew, who practically force Aaron and Ira to remodel the store. And then there’s Bev, the newcomer to town who loves books and may be beginning to steal Ira’s heart.
This book deals with addiction and what it means to be the family member of an addict in a way that’ll pull on your heartstrings. These characters are unforgettable.
TW: addiction, mention of former drug and alcohol use
Thank you to BookishFirst and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Need more recommendations? Find more of my book lists here.
