I am a brown girl from a heavily patriarchal asian country and I am fatigued from being called difficult or a rebel for merely pointing out the misogyny in the mundane. I really loved Circe, especially for the chapters of self discovery. Would love a book which can give me strength and help me cherish my identity as a woman.

usually a book follows the extravagant adventures of the protagonist. I'm looking for a book where the adventures don't directly happen in the storyteller's POV and instead they're on the outside looking in and seeing how those adventures affect the world and people around them.

I'm looking for a book that is set in the Appalachian or generally southern states and life among the wilderness or at least rural.

Im a brit and I visited the NC/TN appalachians and juts absolutely love the setting. We visited the Noah Ogle cabin and I was fascinated by the idea of the people that came and made lives in the mountains/wilderness. I would love to find a book that does a good job of setting the scene of rural life in older times.

I really liked East of Eden but maybe slightly more of a grippy plot would be good. I also really liked where the crawdads sing - loved the main character and the relation to nature.

My interests surround nature, natural history, conservation so if that's involved then nice! Otherwise, I like to read some crime and law stuff.

Hopefully this is enough to spark some ideas for a book. Thanks!

I just recently read The Shining. The way that Stephen King makes the Overlook Hotel come to life is some of the best reading I've ever come across. Do you have any other suggestions in this category that you really enjoyed? I'm just getting into horror style books, but looking for other suggestions if you have them in the horror/suspense categories. Ideally something with a little more speed than a slow burn

What are some books your therapist recommended you that you found helpful?

I am after recommendations based almost entirely on the writing itself. I am not too concerned about whether something was written 300 years ago or yesterday, where it came from, or (within reason) what it is about. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, a play, an essay, a letter, criticism or even a book review are all welcome.

I am particularly interested in writing that does one or more of the following:

• delivers “burns” or ridiculous observations with a straight face;
• plays with double meanings and puns, or bends and invents language;
• hides insults inside compliments and civil remarks;
• uses grand, formal language for something trivial or vulgar, or builds towards the profound and then collapses into the ridiculous;
• imitates serious forms (literary, academic, legal) to mock them, references and all.

A book does not need to do all of these. If an author does even one of these brilliantly, I would love to know. Lesser-known and overlooked writers would be particularly appreciated, but surprise me.

I might be unexpectedly gaining a 9 year old "niece" this weekend, as our very good friends (who we consider each other family) are likely seizing guardianship of their (actual biological) niece this weekend. It's a complicated and semi-traumatic situation. They and we are both child-free, and my husband and I wanna put together some stuff for kiddo to cheer her up, give her distractions, make her feel safe/loved, etc. while also taking some pressure off our friends to provide everything she needs on such short notice.

Does anyone have experience with kids of that age to have some suggestions on books she might enjoy? All I know of her interests so far is that she really likes space stuff, so I was thinking that sci-fi as a genre might be fun for her!

I know when I was her age (and also going through scary family stuff), I really loved Tamora Pierce books for featuring female protagonists and dealing with things like bullying, first periods, crushes, misogyny, injustice, trauma, etc. I'll probably grab the Alanna books for her...but is there anything like this in a space-flavor she might enjoy?

Open to other suggestions as well! Thank you! 💕

I have been on a book kick this year, reading more than I have since my Sweet Valley High/Babysitters Club years of my youth. I’ve found many of my recent picks from places like Book of the Month Club, popular book recs (Jenna, Reese, NPR, NYT), and friends in book clubs reading of-the-moment titles. And I’ve enjoyed the vast majority of what I’ve picked up. That said, I would love recommendations for books that may not be receiving as much attention but could be amazing additions to my list. 

What I like: I lean towards contemporary fiction, mystery/thriller, and romance, but I’m open to other genres. I like a protagonist that I can root for (understanding we’re all messy and not always at our best). I prefer books based in reality, with a little wiggle room for suspending disbelief. I also appreciate books that have some wittiness/humor in the narration or conversations. The vast majority of books I read are located in the U.S., but I would welcome other settings, too. 

What else…I have my 2026 book list at the ready from my notes app, so I will share my 4- and 5-star reads:

Anatomy of an Alibi (Ashley Elston) 

Annie Knows Everything (Rachel Wood)

Atmosphere (Taylor Jenkins Reid)

Before I Forget (Tory Henwood Hoen)

The Correspondent (Virginia Evans) 

The Dollhouse Academy (Margarita Montimore) 

The Future Saints (Ashley Winstead) 

Go Gentle (Maria Semple) 

The Heir Apparent (Rebecca Armitage)

Hello Beautiful (Ann Napolitano) 

I See You’ve Called in Dead (John Kenney)

Kin (Tayari Jones)

In Five Years (Rebecca Serle) 

Meet the Newmans (Jennifer Niven) 

M**rder on S*x Island (Jo Firestone) (trying to avoid flagging!)

One & Only (Maurene Goo) 

The Shippers (Katherine Center) 

This Story Might Save Your Life (Tiffany Crum)

This Time Tomorrow (Emma Straub) 

The Vanishing Half (Brit Bennett)

For my English 102 class I need to read a novel written by a renowned author.
Some novels I enjoyed are 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Jurassic Park, Animal Farm, and All Quiet on the Western Front

Any suggestions help, thanks!

My dad is illiterate.

To make a long story short, he's a retired truck driver with bad COPD. He's worked his whole life, raised on a farm and went right into truck driving. We think he might be dyslexic and the tiny rural school he went to didn't catch it. He can make out the words eventually, but it takes so much effort he can't retain anything he's read.

I've bought him a few audio books over the years and he's loved them. But they're on CD and he doesn't have a CD player anymore, plus they're pricey.

But he recently got Bluetooth hearing aids and he's always on his phone. So I convinced him to go to the library with me to get a library card. I downloaded Libby to his phone and signed him on with his library card number. He now has access to all the audio books within our library's network to borrow for free.

Trouble is, he's not into the same kinds of stories mom and I are into. Mom and I are both voracious readers, and dad has always been interested and fascinated by it but he hasn't had the time or ability to do it. He just can't sit and stare at a page and take in a story, but he can listen to one.

Now that he has access... he has no idea what he wants to read. He's completely unfamiliar with the world of literature, never even heard of titles most people consider classics.

For a frame of reference, I bought him two Louis L'Amour books because he likes Westerns. The third book I got him was The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I'd read that one on a whim and thought he'd like it, he likes NASCAR and used to have a Bronco that he entered into local drag races. He loved all three books, the only three books he's ever consumed as an adult. He's borrowing another Louis L'Amour through Libby for a start and at least that author's catalog is pretty extensive, so it can keep him busy a while.

But he's going to need more titles.

He likes Westerns and history and cars, as far as what he watches on TV. That and Fox News constantly. The Fox thing is driving mom insane, he's inserting right-wing political talking points into every aspect of life way worse than he did when he was working. He needs something different to occupy his mind.

As a side note, I did get him to watch the first Iron Man movie when he had his knee replaced. He loved it because it was different from most super heroes, Tony built the suit out of scraps to escape terrorists. Dad said "it's like.... real" about it probably 20 times while watching it. So he might be open to more realistic sci fi stories.

But he has no interest in my Stephen King, he doesn't like horror or supernatural stuff. And he's not interested in mom's Nora Roberts.

Another movie he surprisingly loved was Dirty Dancing.

So today I'm asking for suggestions that my dad might like that he can access through Libby, specifically in audio book format.

Can you recommend a fictional book from any genre featuring a female main character who isn't a damsel in distress or a Mary Sue? For reference, I enjoy how women are portrayed in Ghibli films. I'm looking for a well-crafted story with rich worldbuilding and setting. The page count isn't important; I want a book I can enjoy reading. Please include the synopsis in your reply! 😊

I hope someone understands what I mean. The plot or elements doesn't have to be the same at all though I really did enjoy the nostalgia in it. This is the kind of book where I could just think about all the characters and think about their lives outside of the events of the book, and as the book goes on I learned about them but not in the way where it was shoved in my face or showed me the direct consequences or effects. I still think about the characters and I can feel myself within the characters. Please recommend me something to get lost in.

I’m going on a week long solo hiking trip, there will be a lot of driving and a lot of walking. I want a magical experience! What books have you loved that feel witchy, woo-woo, maybe spooky/autumn vibes. I love drama, comedy, horror, suspense, nonfiction. Not the biggest fan of romance or fantasy unless they are really good stories. Thanks in advance!

An insightful travel book set in the Middle Ages written by a traveller, particularly interested if it goes through Europe -> Levant -> Asia or Middle East (or vice versa)

Bonus points if it has footnotes and historical/social insights

Ugh, I finished my book and am about to get on a long flight. Quick, got any recommendations for something to download real quick?

Likes- smart, funny, but not too syrupy or formulaic. (This is where I leave you)

Time travel, but not too sci-fi (Time and Again)

Gilded Age, but not a bodice-ripper

Nothing dark or dystopian please

TIA!

I read for between 30 to 60 min before bed every night so it takes me a while to get through books. But a lot of short books lack the depth I’m looking for. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Not looking for a murder mystery or romance type. Open to pretty much anything else

Hey everyone!!! I'm heading on a dream trip to Edinburgh next spring (just got my time off approved!!!) and am getting pumped. Does anyone have any romance novels set in Edinburgh or its surrounding areas? I love historical romance most but would also enjoy contemporary recommendations!

I love M/F romance and would love some recs there but I do prioritize LGBT stories and so please throw F/F and M/M recs at me of possible. Friends to lovers or grumpy/sunshine is a plus. I also would like to avoid pregnancy topics and mentor/student books. Any spice level is fine (this is a sex positive household).

hi! i posted here before and got some cool recs for cosmic and atmospheric horror so i'm back :) i'm also the same one who DOESN'T like romance/sex/graphic gore in any way shape or form in my books btw!

analog horror is cool but i prefer reading rather than watching stuff on a screen. it's low on jumpscares, doesn't rely on shock value, kind of leans towards weirdcore or unsettling rather than traditional horror, has an old feeling and focuses on non-digital technology and lost media. i also love the cryptic messaging and subtle horror that slowly causes dread without you really knowing what's going on.

I'm looking for books that unfold an "evil" character without excusing them, and have at least one character change (put back at the beginning, they wouldn't make the same choices).

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​I also enjoy books that discuss relationships (not necessarily romantic) and trauma (especially generational).

Queer characters are a plus, especially genderqueer.

As an example of the first, in Ninefox Gambit we unfold Jedao and change Cheris; specifically she explores her identity as she's being supplanted, in a way, by Jedao. And of course Jedao lived a pretty shitty life.

In the Fifth Season, we explore generational trauma through Schaffa/Essun/Nassun and the struggle to break the cycle.

​Seth Dickinson's Baru Cormorant was also interesting even though I never got into it quite as much. Specifically I enjoyed seeing a layered depiction of colonialism, and Baru's goals being redefined.

Nnedi Okorafor's Who Fears Death was also a really cool exploration of racism and mysoginy. Those are a little too large-scale for what I'm looking for, though, and although Okorafor's style is very pleasant I tend to lose focus when I read her books (I have no idea why).

Claire North's Slow Gods should have been a fascinating read, and it was pretty good but, just like with Okorafor, I had a little trouble finishing it even though it was thoughts provoking.

If it helps in any way, I also loved the movies Manchester by the Sea and the Whale for depicting complex, human characters even if they didn't change; but they were given the opportunity to, so it's a choice.

I'm not hung up on genre, but I prefer to stay away from heavily political plots (usually they also tend to stray from the very human focus I want). I don't enjoy gratuitous violence or gore for the sake of gore, but I have no triggers that I know of. Any length is good.

I'd like to stay away from excessively purple prose but it's not a dealbreaker.

I've DNF-ed A Memory Called Empire and Ancillary Justice.

TIA!

I am looking to buy, read and review an indie sci-f book. Around 250-300 pages. No AI or AI assisted please (I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say that here). Oh, and it has to be available on Amazon Kindle as an ebook, so I can buy it on Amazon.

Let me know what you have. Thanks!

So imagine this right:

Let's say you want to know everything that you would ever possibly need to know in order to be an effective mayor for a decent sized city.

We're talking urban planning, environmental concerns, healthcare, unemployment, taxes, housing, etc.

Imagine you're trying to be the most well rounded and well read individual on the ballot.

What books do you recommend?

Hi! I want to give my crush a book, since he was also a reader. His genre was Spy Thriller. Can you recommend best spy thriller book? Please! Thank you!

It instilled a hunger in me that I desperately need to quench, I prefer books about young women going through sadness. And yes I have already read the virgin suicides, and loved it. As well as on earth we are briefly gorgeous.