Must-Read Books – Top Picks for Every Genre
Whether you are lounging at the pool, on a long drive, or cozy in bed on late summer nights, books and audiobooks are essential! Here is a list of must read summer books amazing books for all types of readers.
Fantasy
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
Famous from HBO’s acclaimed television series Game of Thrones, George R R Martin delivers an engrossing, expansive world of fantasy that readers from all over the world have devoured. A Song of Ice and Fire follows multiple families of lords and ladies, all pieces in the great game of thrones. The characters are well known for their detailed arcs and development throughout the story.
Other novels that might interest fans of A Song of Ice and Fire are Patrick Ness The Knife of Never Letting Go, Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, or Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind.
Romance
A Walk to Remember by Nicolas Sparks
Lovers of romance should be familiar with Nicholas Sparks. With thirteen books and counting, it’s no wonder readers can’t get enough of his stories. A Walk to Remember is a great summer read because it’s short and sweet. This novel will leave an impression on your heart and your goodreads account! (spoiler alert – you WILL cry!).
A few alternative romance reads (with a bit happier endings) are Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, and any novel by Sarah Dessen.
Dystopian
Legend by Marie Lu
The Hunger Games craze ended in 2012, right? Not! The success of novels like Legend by Marie Lu proved us wrong! Authors continue to find fresh twists on this genre, keeping lovers of dystopian novels hooked! Legend is a fast-paced, action-packed story following a wanted criminal and an elite military leader in training. Their stories collide beautifully.
Some other great picks from this genre are Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, and The Selection by Kiera Cass.
Horror
Carrie by Steven King
Where the king of horror started it all! Carrie follows an outcast in high school, Carrie White. Her progressive discovery of her telekinetic powers lead her to an epic confrontation at senior prom. This is a great novel for newbies to the horror genre, as well as seasoned readers who love classic horror.
More novels that might interest fans of Carrie are Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Shining by Steven King and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
Poetry
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Fans of modern poetry will love Rupi Kaur’s The Sun and Her Flowers. Kaur delivers her raw story in enchanting prose. The novel is split into four sections, wilting, falling, rooting, rising, and blooming. Her first novel, Milk and Honey, is an excellent debut structured similarly to The Sun and Her Flowers.
Comparable poetry reads include Crank by Ellen Hopkins, The Witch doesn’t Burn in This One by Amanda Lovelace, and The Chaos of Longing by K. Y. Robinson.
Mystery
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie is a go to mystery gal! And Then There Were None is a story filled with suspense, betrayal and her world-famous mystery. It’s best to read her novels on a binge, so set aside a cozy night to read this engrossing tale!
Similar novels include Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.
Personal Growth
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
If you want something well written and inspiring, Eat Pray Love is your book. This novel is a stunning true story about a woman’s (the author, Elizabeth Gilbert) year- long travels in Italy, India and Indonesia. In her experiences, she grows in her spirituality, cultural knowledge and sense of self. Gilbert is witty, uplifting and humble in her writing.
Other novels readers might enjoy are The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
Science Fiction
The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancy
Sci-fi readers who love out of this world stories will adore this read! The Fifth Wave follows multiple teens who have survived an alien apocalypse. They have attacked in waves – the first wave was shutting down Earth’s electronics, the second wave was a world-wide tsunami, the third was a deadly plague and the forth was individual attacks as the aliens appeared as humans on planet Earth. Now the fifth wave is coming, and the story shows you the journey of the teens who have survived so far, and whether or not they will survive the fifth wave.
A few other books Sci-fi fans might enjoy include I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, The Martian by Andy Weir and The Host by Stephanie Meyer.
Comedy
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Feeling down? Laughter is the best way to bring you back up! Hyperbole and a Half is favorite among comedy lovers, complete with embarrassingly true stories and hilarious graphic representation. It’s easy to love Brosh’s story as she unfolds her journey with wit, color and some classic humor.
Alternative comedy novels include The Duff by Kody Keplinger and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jessie Andrews.
