Tired of Netflix? Can’t bring yourself to reread Harry Potter for the 50th time? I’ve compiled a list of books that really grabbed ahold of my attention and I’m hoping you haven’t read at least one of them! Enjoy!

Be sure to check out the apps Libby and Overdrive to see if you can rent these books :)

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

“Ashley Cordova, the daughter of legendary reclusive director Stanislas Cordova, commits suicide. With the belief that Stanislas Cordova was heavily involved in her death, disgraced investigative journalist Scott McGrath reluctantly teams up with exuberant aspiring actress Nora Halliday and the mysterious and aloof Hopper to determine what really happened. Throughout the investigation the trio interview a variety of people who were closely associated with both Cordova and his daughter, only to discover that the truth of what happened may be beyond natural, scientific explanation.” - source

Anything by Gillian Flynn

A true queen of thrills. Gone Girl is an absolute classic, but Dark Places and Sharp Objects are great too. They’re quite dark though, so make sure you can handle it before diving in.

Anything by Dan Brown

Now before you exit out of this list, hear me out!! Dan Brown may be the Nickleback of authors, but his books are great for passing the time. I usually use them on airplanes because I can finish them in one sitting and am distracted by them, so if you want a relatively easy read that will take up a few hours of your day, give Dan a go. Like the Da Vinci Code, Origin, or the Lost Symbol. Just maybe avoid Inferno as it delves into viruses and disease…

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

I feel like this book is so appropriate for social distancing because, if you’re like me, staying at home has turned into standing by your window watching the world go by. You wonder where the people are walking to, or maybe you get to know the exact times your shopkeeper likes to come out and zap mosquitoes and you’re concerned when she doesn’t show up for her usual 4pm zap (obviously speaking from experience haha) This is all about voyeurism and it takes more than one turn you won’t expect.

The Martian by Andy Weir

Part thriller, part comedy, this book is just as entertaining as the movie but goes into even more detail. This is a book that will take you some time and you’ll get lost in it! You should also give his other book Artemis a try!

Anything by Tana French

Tana French is the mastermind behind the Dublin Murder Squad series (starts with In the Woods but you don’t need to read them in order.) I loved the Likeness and all the others in the series, along with her stand-alones like the Witch Elm.

Murder on Black Swan Lake by Andrea Penrose

A bit like Sherlock and Holmes but with more alchemy and absolute sass. “In Regency London, an unconventional scientist and a fearless female artist form an unlikely alliance to expose a cold-hearted killer . . .” - source

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

I’ve already mentioned this in my list of favorite books of all time. It will have you asking yourself some pretty deep philosophical questions while simultaneously balling your eyes out. It has an equally incredible film adaptation!

Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman

Equally as calming and dreamy as the film, this book will make you want to lay out in some Italian sunshine.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I will not bore you with another sentence of me talking about these but pls watch my video about them or just go straight to your library and get the ebooks!!!!

Rivers of London (Midnight Riot) by Ben Aaronovitch

This is not your typical fantasy novel. Set in London, we follow a cop who finds himself in the middle of a strange murder investigation, which only turns stranger when his main witness is…a ghost. It’s a bit more adult and is written to be more of a comedy than a mystery but it had me tearing through it and laughing out loud!

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Yes, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: This was originally a book! It’s such an enchanting read and is even better than the film adaptation. If you loved the Studio Ghibli work, you will absolutely adore this. It’s a very young adult book (leaning more towards a children’s book) so you can finish this is a day if you really want to!

Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab

More London, more magic! In this series, London is split into three worlds/dimensions and only a few are able to travel between them. They each have different levels of magic (some with all of it, some with none) and they’re trying their best to coexist. But of course, that wouldn’t make for an interesting story now would it? ;)

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

You’ve probably heard everyone talking about this book for years now, but I’m here to remind you! The multi-generational story follows a family that has their lives transformed by the Japanese colonization of Korea. The novel takes place mostly in Japan where even to this day many Koreans still live and face harsh discrimination. It’s a heartbreaking but fascinating story.

Black Flower by Youngha Kim

Black Flower tells the story of a piece of history I never knew existed. Thousands of Koreans were brought to Mexico with the promise of land and good jobs, only to find themselves indentured servants on plantations. It was such an interesting story and I wouldn’t have known anything about that time period without this novel!

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

I’v mentioned this as one of my favorite books and that still stands true! It covers the very beginning of psychology while trying to solve a case involving a serial killer. A bit graphic, but incredibly interesting especially if you love turn of the century New York City!

The Historian by Elisabeth Kostova

To be honest I’m not really sure where to put this book genre-wise but I want to recommend it nonetheless! If you’re a fan of history, train travel, and Dracula, this could not be a more perfect book for you.

The Book of Joy by Douglas Abrams

There is SO much wisdom in this book and I feel like I’m right there with the author as he spends time with these two incredible men.

Just Kids by Patti Smith

This is truly a book about best friends. Patti Smith looks back on her time with her best friend and lover Robert Mapplethorpe and the amount of unconditional love will really have you thinking about and appreciating the relationships in your life. One of my favorite books to date!

The Moth Presents: All These Wonders

These short pieces of spoken word that were written down for this book will have you laughing and crying and laughing again. If you need some faith in humanity restored, the stories of these people will do the trick.

The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson

This might not seem like the best material during a pandemic, but it shows how with good science we can get ahead of a disease and stop it in its tracks. “It's the summer of 1854, and London is just emerging as one of the first modern cities in the world. But lacking the infrastructure—garbage removal, clean water, sewers—necessary to support its rapidly expanding population, the city has become the perfect breeding ground for a terrifying disease no one knows how to cure.” - goodreads

Need a Quarantine Read? Here Are My Recommendations!

Be sure to check out the apps Libby and Overdrive to see if you can rent these books :)

Anything by Gillian Flynn

Anything by Dan Brown

Anything by Tana French