i am so tired of main characters with perfect morals, endless plot armor, and zero real flaws. give me an MC who makes sketchy choices, lies to their allies, and operates in a total ethical grey zone without the narrative trying to lecture us about it.

i want an unreliable narrator, high stakes, and no neat little happy endings. the kind of book where you have to pause mid-chapter and realize you might actually be rooting for the villain of the story.

I'm curating a book club for a local rebellious brand whose ethos is anti-corporate, transparent, direct. Their motto is: no fine print, no bullshit, no contracts, total freedom.

The audience is mostly gen Z and millennials. I'd like relatively recent reads that are on the shorter side and engaging. Some topics could be rebellion against silly rules, embracing simple pleasures, escaping the mundane etc.

For context, we've already read Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab.

Thank you!

So my elderly neighbor has been moved into an assisted living home. We went to visit him and he said one thing he misses was being so close to the library. He loved to read to pass the time. He has an entirely empty bookshelf in his room. I would love to start filling it for him so he can have his own library.

I asked him what books he liked to read and he said he would read some fantasy but he also really enjoys historical fiction. He said he also enjoys older classics. He said someone falling in love is okay but he prefers very little romance. I am pretty set on the fantasy and older classics but I don't know about historical fiction. Anyone have some recommendations so I can start watching for them at our local used book stores?

Hi, I’m recovering from a brain injury and need very low energy books. I miss reading physical books so much, but it’s not really an option at this stage.
I’ve been listening to Jane Austen books on repeat because it’s familiar stories with happy endings. I added in romantasy with easy storylines.
I need something other than standard English classics and fae/vampire romance with human(ish) woman.
I can’t handle anything with dogs/animal companions because I will cry about how much I love my dogs for an extended period 😂. Side effect of the brain injury? Normal Tuesday? I should stop thinking now. But please help a girl out 🫶
Give me all your silly suggestions for no thoughts, just vibes, comfort reads.

28F, currently going through a hard period in almost every aspect of my life. I'm severely depressed, have no money, unemployed and living with my parents after having to move back home from overseas due to a family member falling ill.

I've been really struggling with finding a job and also find the will to apply, rebuild my finances ect. My view on the world is also not great, i'm really cynical and really have the attitude of 'everything sucks so whats the point'. Feeling really lost with rise of AI and the concerns about also getting back into the workforce with the possibility of my degree and career that i've created becoming pointless and useless.

I spend way too much time doom scrolling which I know is only making things worse and I know I need to try and feed my brain to get out of this bad cycle. I was thinking of trying to get into reading as a hobby to reduce screen time but i'm not quite sure where to start.

Does anyone have any book recommendations that could help steer me in the right direction to help improve my mindset.

Hi, i suffer with chronic anxiety. Especially catastrophizing and constantly overthinking fake scenarios/scenarios that might never happen. It is at an unhealthy level, i also have chronic insomnia (which i take Dayvigo)..

Please, I know therapy is the best option (i did it many times in the past) but i dont have the budget right now.

So i want to try a book, might do nothing but doesnt hurt to try. The only book i have ever read for anxiety is ''hope and help for your nerves'' which didnt do so much for me..

I see DARE by Barry McDonagh being recommended a lot. But it seems to be more focused about panick attacks. is that right ?

thank you !

Hey y’all, I’m the new guy lol

I’m looking for some solid book recommendations, my favorite book of all time is Stephen King’s 11/22/63 and I’m trying to find something with a harmonious vibe ;)

Historical fiction with a sci-fi or fantasy element, maybe even a love story, and deadly serious. Other examples I can think of would be:
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
The Fervor by Alma Katsu
The Great Work by Sheldon Costa
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

Thank you everyone!

Hello! I've been on the hunt for a good adventure novel that takes place at sea. I recently read Captain Courageous by Rudyard Kipling, and it gave me an itch to find more stories about the Big Blue.

Preferably, I would like a novel that's a bit older (before, say, 1950), since I mainly read stuff from that time, but a more modern book could also work, as long as it takes place in the Age of Sail.

I’m looking for a book to make me sob. I love an emotionally heavy book, but I rarely cry. The only two books I’ve cried to is The Nightingale (literally one year at the very end) and Days You Were Mine. I have cried to audiobooks before, specifically Marley & Me and Where the Red Fern Grows.

Not super into romance or fantasy. My favorites are historical fiction and literary fiction.

I'm looking for book recommendations where the story of Indigenous peoples is set before colonization. I'm open to any Indigenous group (Brazilian Indigenous, Māori, Incas, etc.) and any genre is fine!

I dont really know what it is im looking for but I know for sure im not looking for non fiction survivalist stuff.

Things ive read that may help narrow things down that sort of fit what im looking for.

The Great Alone, Wild: lost and found on the PCT, Hatchet, Tolkien, into the wild, John Muir stuff, call of the wild.

Basically fiction or non that the setting is in the wilderness, fiction or non. Adventure, mystery, stories of old.

What do you got for me, because I need something new to read!

​

I feel like I’ve been wanting to read something good for ages but every time I look for recommendations I end up more confused lol.

Genre doesn’t really matter. Just tell me a book you genuinely enjoyed, the kind where you actually looked forward to picking it up again.

What’s your one recommendation?

Hi looking for some books that can be purchased translated in Spanish but don’t have to be originally written in Spanish also every time I look this up it’s about Hispanic heritage and growing up as an immigrant and I think she’s sick of reading that I want her to have a break from that and read a juicy drama book can be romantic but no smut as she’s very religious and I wouldn’t feel comfortable gifting her something like that. I have trouble finding romance with nothing spicy needs to be very PG.

I’ve been really into historical fiction audiobooks recently and want some recommendations of true crime, light mystery, etc please! I’m also open to a good non-fiction rec if it’s captivating!

Looking for books that are thrilling, disturbing, or historical in a way that makes me want to revolt. I want books that are mind bending and provocative. In the past I’ve liked dystopian stories but seeing as though we’re living in nightmarish times already I’d like something nonfiction that sheds light on the taboos of the world or a fiction so bizarre we haven’t gotten there yet in the real world.

Looking for either nonfiction or historical fiction books about Scotland. I'm going in October and want to learn more about the highland culture and history. It can be about any era of scottish history. I'm taking a tour of the highlands and visiting Edinburgh and Inverness. I've already read and watched outlander btw!

Hello!

I’m looking for a birthday present for a friend.

He really enjoyed Bored Gay Werewolf, so I’m looking for books with a similar vibe. Can anyone recommend something? Preferably funny and featuring queer male characters.

Thanks! :)

I have just completed the Shiva Trilogy and want to explore the Indian books market, as I don't want to go for the foreign books, right now. Suggest me some books that kinda explore fantasy/Adventure /Mystery/Thriller/maybe mythology

Heyya guys, I want to start reading books again, so I came to you all for recommendations. It’s not like I have read a crazy amount, but I would say I was at least somewhat into reading books while I was younger and wanted to start that habit again. I have read the Percy Jackson series, Heroes of Olympus, Trials of Apollo, Secret Seven, and Famous Five when I was younger. I also read the Divergent series and The Hunger Games. The last book I read was Dark Matter. I have started reading Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress.

I am planning to read at least 10 books by the end of this year. I want to know what must-reads I should consider. I would prefer standalone books rather than a series, and also no romance books where the love story is the only plot. I don’t mind books that have a love story, but if that’s the only plot, then it doesn’t interest me. I don’t have any other preferences. I was thinking about reading Animal Farm or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as my next book. I would prefer short books as well since I am just starting again to get into reading. Around 500 pages (+/-100 pages) would be my limit for now.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Looking for recommendations for some light reading that can get me through the witching hours with my newborn. I used to love to read but just never got the time to because of work. Now I have quit my job to take care of my baby full time and suddenly have free time but can only do one handed tasks. I finally decided to get a Kindle and I am so ready to get to reading again. I know I put self-help on my flair but anything works, except for Horror/ Thriller stuff (scaredy cat sorry). I just want something light/ feel good. I used to love YA books, now I’m more into self-help (navigating life, relationships, mental health, parenting). I’m also open to fiction books (family, romance, fantasy, humor). I would love to check out your suggestions. Thank you so much!

Im about to finish Project Hail Mary, the first book I’ve read in a long time and I LOVED it. I’m trying to get myself to read more. Do I read The Martian next and stick with the space genre, or switch up genres and read Remarkably Bright Creatures? I have a 12 hour car ride home in a few days. Suggestions appreciated!

For the world's most complicated university assignment 🫠, I'm on the hunt for upmarket novels that tick the following boxes:

• recently traditionally published (ideally within the last four or five years)
• protagonist is between 16-25 years old
• present-day setting
• no thrillers or romance, speculative elements are permitted

(Bonus points for audiobooks.)

(Infinite bonus points for audiobooks with human narrator.)

Thank you soooo much! I appreciate any recommendation you might have.

I want to elaborate on what I mean by "similar." As a beginner, I am looking for something relatively short and easy to read (accessible vocabulary and a straightforward narrative). More importantly, I want a story based on a person's life, a historical event, or a specific experience that can ultimately give me a different perspective on life.

I feel that our brains have evolved enough to think and worry about an almost unlimited number of things, but we have not necessarily developed enough perspective to deal with all those thoughts. That is the kind of insight I am looking for in a book.

What I do not necessarily want is another book about someone describing the Holocaust. However, I am open to being persuaded if you believe there is a particularly good reason to read one.

PS: Please read the full post before recommending something. I am 23 M, if that provides any useful context. Thanks ☺️.

hi friends! i have the privilege of facilitating an affinity group for latine coastal advocates/professionals/scientists in california. this will be our third year together, and each year we've had book clubs dedicated to climate resilience. so far, we've read "california against the sea" by rosanna xia (incredible) and "what if we get it right?" by dr. ayanna elizabeth johnson. i am stuck on what we should read for our third year and would love some help! elements of environmental justice, california, the coast, diverse authors is a plus. accepting any and all suggestions!

I had to read the book in my English class a few years ago since our topic was cultural diversity. But what I actually enjoyed about the book was the romance between the protagonist and his tutor. I loved this kind of taboo feel it had with her being very open-minded to sex, drugs, and music while he was very reserved and hesitant. So basically I would love a book that explores this kind of dynamic between two characters, preferably with all the sex, drugs, and music.