With a lot new years’ resolutions being to improve English grades or to simply read more, I find it’s quite difficult to establish these goals without knowing what to read. BookTok isn’t particularly helpful when it comes to finding a book with actual substance, and going to the library to randomly pick out a good book can be a hit or miss.
As an avid reader, I’ve been through most genres and I’ve compiled a list of the best books here. Whether you’re into murder mystery, dystopian, fantasy, romance, self-improvement, or philosophy, I guarantee one of these books will be your cup of tea. If you’re an avid reader, still take a look at this list. Some of the books are pretty niche, so you’ll probably find something you haven’t read before.
Mystery
Hear me out when I tell you that murder mysteries are light reads. They are so immersive and fast-paced that it’s hard to put them down and you can finish one in an hour. Keep in mind that these recommendations will reflect my need for fast-paced reads though; there will be no intricately woven 2342463563452 chapter plot books here.
- The Westing Game, by Mac Barnett
Possibly one of the best quick-reads possible, and it’s perfect for those who want to get into mystery. There’s a decent amount of complexity in the plot, and the language is pretty simplistic. Don’t be fooled by its simplistic language; there’s so many twists and facets of the book that you’re sure to be surprised.
2. The Puzzling World of Winston Breen, Eric Berlin
It’s actually the first of a series, but I’ve only read this one so far. Again, the language is decently comprehendable and nothing beats a good modern-day mystery. Because it’s fast-paced, this book makes a wonderful light read. If you love a good puzzle, I strongly recommend this book.
3. One of Us is Lying, Karen M. McManus
Absolutely loved this book. The actual mystery was great, don’t get me wrong, but I was personally a huge fan of the characters. Yes, they followed typical high school character archtypes, but McManus managed to give them a bit more depth in this book. There’s also a sequel called One of Us is Next, and a third called One of Us is Back, but I think this first book was the best.
Philosophical
Are you likely to have read some of these in English class? Maybe. But these books are seriously so, so, soooo good if you like a little food for thought. Plus, if you read them before your English class does, then you can still enjoy the book.
- I Who Have Never Known Men, by Jacqueline Harpman
This book was very complex. I had to pause several times while reading it just to digest. I’m sure even after having read the book so many times over that I’m still missing a lot of the philosophical messages about the meaning of culture, segregation, and the passing of time. There was a lot of material that I didn’t understand going through it the first time, so be prepared to be a little bamboozled. I’m going to be honest: it’s a dense read. But if you’re persistent, I promise it’s worth it.
2. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
One of the most classic, well-written allegories ever, Animal Farm is a satirical novella that shares Orwell’s take on the Russian Revolution and on the corruption of those in power. It was first recommended to me by one of my closest friends when I was thirteen, and three years later I still remember it. The allegory was the perfect combination of clever, funny, and a little bit morbid, and it got the message across. If you read anything in this genre, you should read Animal Farm.
3. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
Did you read this in second grade? I don’t care. It’s a good book, and the awesome thing about philosophical books is that their significance changes as you age. So I still recommend you read this one again. And if you haven’t read The Giver yet, what are you doing? Go read it!
Sci-Fi and Dystopian
Sci-fi is one of my favorite genres ever! It’s almost like a mix of futuristic fantasy and understandable philosophy all in one fast-paced novel. I’ve read the majority of the books of this genre in my school library.
- When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
So well written. If you’re wanting a light-read time-travel novel, this is the perfect afternoon read. No more needs to be said.
2. Rabbit and Robot, by Andrew Smith
This one has a bit of crude language and some mature themes. But the central futuristic theme of the book really hooked me in, and its projections on the future seemed quite a bit like those of the Disney movie WALL-E. If you enjoyed that movie and don’t mind a foul main character narrative, this book is pretty good.
3. 1984, by George Orwell
A little bit morbid and a little bit cautionary, 1984 is another novel by George Orwell with a whole ton of hidden meaning behind it. It’s banned in many countries for its political and social themes (it discusses the dangers of totalitarian government), which is how you know it’s a really good book. A little bit on the denser side, but if you read it and unpack it before your English class does I can guarantee you that you’ll enjoy it.
Romance
Don’t roll your eyes. Romance can be a pretty good light-read, and you’ll find yourself rooting for a ship along with a whole fandom if you pick a popular book. But also be careful when you pick out your romance novels; you don’t want to flip open an innocent-looking book of open-door spice on accident.
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Jenny Han
Probably the book that got me reading romance. It’s like a rom-com, but in a book form and super cute! The language is also okay; for a romance book, it has some pretty nice rhetoric use. I also love the characters: after all, who doesn’t love Peter Kavinsky?
2. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Also super, super cute. I don’t even know how to describe how well-written this book is without spoiling it, so I will just tell you that the language is great, the plot is great, the trope is great, and you should definitely read it.
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J. Maas
There’s a whole fandom for this one. And yes, it is technically fantasy, but it’s the romance that really takes front and centre. Just stay away from the last 3 books of the series; in my opinion they’re a little gross and the plot just dies off. But the first few books are great! The characters, the plot, and the world-building is done pretty well.
There’s so many more books that I need to recommend, so stay tuned for pt 2!