Best Books to Read — From One Bookworm to Another

Okay, so let’s talk books. Not the ones you’re supposed to read — like those classics they made us pretend to enjoy in school — but the kind you actually want to stay up till 3 a.m. reading with one eye open and the other crying. Yeah, those.

I wasn’t always a reader, by the way. I had my fair share of “I’ll just wait for the movie” phases. But somewhere between heartbreak and boredom, I started picking up random books… and wow. Total game-changer. Like, books get you. They don’t judge, they don’t interrupt, and they take you places — without you leaving your bed.

So if you’re looking for books that feel like something — you know, the ones that stick to your ribs — here’s my list. It’s not ranked, it’s not “the best literature of all time,” and honestly, I don’t care about awards. These are books I read and thought, “Ugh, why did it end?”

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Okay, hear me out — this one feels like stepping into a dream. It’s all black-and-white tents, secret magic, and impossible things. But not in the flashy, loud fantasy way. It’s slow. Soft. Feels like reading poetry but without trying too hard. If you want a book to wrap around you like a cozy fog, this is it.

2. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

This one broke me. Like ugly-cry, throw-the-book kind of broke me. It deals with love and pain and those in-between moments we don’t talk about enough. If you’ve ever loved someone but knew deep down it wasn’t good for you — yeah, buckle up.

3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

So much drama. So much glamour. But also — so much heart. Evelyn Hugo is one of those characters who stays with you long after the book ends. She’s bold, flawed, powerful, and soft in unexpected places. I couldn’t stop highlighting lines.

4. Atomic Habits by James Clear

I didn’t think I’d love a “self-help” book, but this one? Wow. It doesn’t talk down to you. It’s super clear, no fluff, and the strategies actually work. If you’re tired of setting goals and forgetting them two days later — this book might help you get your act together (gently).

5. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This one was a surprise. I picked it up because everyone wouldn’t shut up about it — and I’m glad they didn’t. It’s got a bit of mystery, a lot of nature, and some gorgeous writing. Feels like you’re right there in the marsh, watching the world unfold.

6. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Okay, this book is written like an interview transcript — which sounds weird, I know — but it works. It reads like a juicy music doc, like those behind-the-scenes VH1 specials. The characters feel so real, I literally Googled if the band existed (they don’t. I’m still mad).

7. Circe by Madeline Miller

Greek mythology, but from the POV of the misunderstood witch goddess. Yes, please. Circe is fierce and soft and angry and wise all at once. The writing is stunning — like, underline-every-other-sentence level stunning.

8. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor is… not your typical heroine. She’s awkward and blunt and quietly broken. And yet, watching her slowly open up to the world is kind of magical. This book snuck up on me — didn’t realize how invested I was until I started tearing up in chapter 20-something.

9. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Yeah, it’s on every “must-read” list. But for good reason. It’s short, simple, and feels like sitting down with a wise old friend. It’s one of those books that finds you when you need it most. Definitely one I come back to when I feel lost.

10. Normal People by Sally Rooney

This one’s messy. Not in a dramatic way — more like real-life messy. Miscommunication, heartbreak, timing… ugh. Connell and Marianne frustrated the hell out of me, but I couldn’t stop reading. It’s quiet, but it hits hard.

Bonus Picks (Because 10 Is Never Enough)

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – For anyone who’s creative and scared.
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – If you like crying about fictional kids during WWII.
• Verity by Colleen Hoover – Thriller, creepy romance, plot twists galore.
• Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – Sweet, simple, heartbreaking time-travel book set in a tiny café.

So yeah — those are the books I’d recommend to literally anyone who asks me, “Hey, what should I read next?” They’re all different — some will rip your heart out, some will patch it back up, and a few will make you question what the hell you’re doing with your life (in a good way).

Read them curled up with a blanket. Or on a bus. Or during that weird post-lunch slump when you’re tired of scrolling Instagram. Doesn’t matter. Just — pick one. Open it. Let it pull you in.

And hey, if you finish one and love it? Tell me. If you hate one? Also tell me. I love that stuff. Books are weirdly personal like that.

Anyway — happy reading

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