As an avid bookworm, I’ve spent hours digging through piles of books on my shelves and in my closet to find the best recommendations for friends. Sometimes, all it takes is that one recommendation to pull someone else into the world of literature.
Below, I’ve outlined some of the best books to help you fall in love with literature, and my favorite quotes from each.
Fantasy: “To Kill A Kingdom,” Alexandra Christro
“Some people burn so brightly, it’s impossible to put the flames out.”
“To Kill A Kingdom,” is my favorite reimagining of “The Little Mermaid.” Christro brings a sharp edge to a beloved tale, following Lira, a siren princess who collects the hearts of princes, as she falls in love with the pirate prince Elian, who hunts sirens. This book is full of political intrigue and hilarious banter. It subverts all expectations in every right way, yielding a stunning result any new reader can fall in love with.
If you like this novel, try: “These Violent Delights,” Chloe Gong; “Daughter of the Pirate King,” Tricia Levenseller; “House of Salt and Sorrows,” Erin A. Craig.
Fantasy: “This Savage Song,” Victoria Schwab
“It was a cruel trick of the universe, thought August, that he only felt human after doing something monstrous.”
The story of a pair that should be enemies — the daughter of a crime lord and a monster who feeds on souls — Victoria Scwab’s “This Savage Song” is a vicious delight. The novel navigates monstrous tendencies and human nature with realistic motives that challenge the idea of good and evil. Filled with action that’ll have every reader on the edge of their seats, this novel is an emotional, fast-paced adventure anyone can love.
If you like this novel, try: “We Set the Dark on Fire,” Tehlor Kay Mejia; “Wicked Saints,” Emily A. Duncan; “They Both Die at the End,” Adam Silvera.
Science fiction: “Ready Player One,” Ernest Cline
“That was when I realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real.”
Made popular by the 2018 film of the same name, Ernest Cline’s “Ready Player One” is a thrilling adventure in the world of virtual reality. In the novel, Wade Watts tries to win the prize of all prizes at dangerous costs, escaping from his life in Oklahoma City and into the Oasis — a virtual reality everyone is connected to. This book is witty, charming and an easy starting point for anyone interested in dystopian fiction.
If you like this novel, try: “Fahrenheit 451,” Ray Bradbury; “Scythe,” Neal Shusterman; “Red Rising,” Pierce Brown.
Science fiction: “Cinder,” Marissa Meyer
“Mirrors have an uncanny way of telling the truth.”
One of the best retellings of Cinderella, “Cinder” is the star of “The Lunar Chronicles” series. The dystopian novel follows the story of Linh Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg who falls in love with a prince. Pulled into a political struggle and flung into a world of secrets, Cinder finds herself holding the fate of the world on her shoulder. This book is witty, hilarious and action-packed — a perfect place to start for anyone looking for a thrilling adventure.
If you like this novel, try: “Skyward,” Brandon Sanderson; “Honor Among Thieves,” Rachel Caine and Anne Aguirre; “The Girl from Everywhere,” Heidi Heilig.
Mystery: “Looking for Alaska,” John Green
“And then something invisible snapped inside her, and that which had come together commenced to fall apart.”
Whether it’s through his “Crash Course” videos on YouTube or his series of New York Times Best Sellers, John Green has made tremendous impacts on high school life. My favorite work of his is “Looking for Alaska” — the heartfelt, fast-paced novel packed with dry-humor and teenage essence. The story isn’t a traditional “whodunnit” mystery book, but the suspense and puzzles surrounding Alaska Young’s disappearance is an all-consuming whirlwind. Not only is this book an excellent place for anyone to get into reading, it’s something no reader will be able to put down.
If you like this novel, try: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Stephen Chbosky; “I’ll Give You the Sun,” Janey Nelson; “This Is Where It Ends,” Marieke Nijkamp.
Mystery: “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” Holly Jackson
“Can you promise me you’ll live a good life? A full life, a happy one. Live well, and do it for him, because he can’t any more.”
As much as I enjoyed them as a child, mystery books as an adult are much harder to love. The plots feel repetitive and motives are spelled out. Holly Jackson does none of that. In her award winning series, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” high school student Pippa Fitz-Amobi investigates a cold case that shook her town. A high-suspense thriller full of swoon-worthy characters, this novel is a classic example of mystery done right and a great story to start a reading journey with.
If you like this novel, try: “One of Us Is Lying,” Karen M. McManus; “The Inheritance Games,” Jennifer Lynn Barnes; “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife,” Ashely Winstead
Romance: “You’ve Reached Sam,” Dustin Sam
“If the ending is this painful, I don’t know if this was worth it all.”
The next great romantic tragedy after Orpheus and Eurydice, “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Song of Achilles,” “You’ve Reached Sam” is an ode to grief itself. Dealing with the recent death of her boyfriend Sam, 17-year-old Julie Clark discovers she can still talk on the phone with him. Stricken with grief, she comes to terms with all that has happened and leans on Sam more than ever. This book is filled with sweet sorrow and beautiful moments, and is a must for new and old readers alike.
If you like this novel, try: “I Fell in Love with Hope,” Lancali; “The Fault in Our Stars,” John Green; “The Sky Is Everywhere,” Janey Nelson.
Romance: “The Unhoneymooners,” Christina Lauren
“You don’t get to choose the circumstances. That’s the point of luck: it happens when and where it happens.”
I love romantic comedies — whether it’s on screen or spread throughout pages; critically acclaimed, Christina Lauren’s “The Unhoneymooners” is vivid enough that it feels like both. Following the maid of honor and the best man — who can’t stand each other — going on a honeymoon in place of the bride and groom when the rest of the wedding party gets sick, Lauren packs as many jokes as she can into this hilarious adventure. When they’re not at each other’s throats, the main couple is sweet and heartfelt. This novel is enough to get anyone into all of Lauren’s books, and a great starting point for those who love watching romantic comedies on the big screen.
If you like this novel, try: “Red White and Royal Blue,” Casey McQuinston; “To Love and to Loathe,” Martha Waters; “The Boyfriend Candidate,” Ashley Winstead..
Realistic fiction: “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” John Boyne
“We’re not supposed to be friends, you and me. We’re meant to be enemies. Did you know that?”
The simplest tragedy to come from historical fiction set in World War II, John Boyne’s “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” follows the son of an officer as he befriends a prisoner his age in a neighboring concentration camp. Boyne’s writing has an elegant simplicity that makes the novel feel like it is written from a child’s perspective, and is a great starting point for anyone wanting to get into literature — or just have a good sob.
If you like this novel, try: “The Book Thief,” Markus Zusak; “The War That Saved My Life,” Kimberly Brubaker Bradley; “The Alchemist,” Paulo Coelho.
Realistic fiction: “The Outsiders,” S.E. Hinton
“Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.”
If this book hasn’t already been a required reading, the whole class is missing out. One of her many vivid contemporary fiction novels, S.E. Hinton captures the gritty, polarized climate of enemy sides of town. When a fight between 14-year-old Ponyboy and members of the other side of town ends poorly, Ponyboy and his friend flee, leaving Tulsa, Okla. to fall into violence. This book is a great starting point for anyone looking to get into reading, as it opens the gateway to S.E. Hinton’s long list of classics.
If you like this novel, try: “That Was Then, This Is Now,” S.E. Hinton; “This Is How We Change The Ending,” Vikki Wakefield; “Long Way Down,” Jason Reynolds.
