There are some books that we read, and we hate them. We count the pages we have left to finish, and we procrastinate doing so with everything in our heart. Likewise, there are books that we read, and they’re OK. We give the novel 3/5 stars on Goodreads, and we don’t look back.
But every once in a while, there are books that are life-changing — books that touch our hearts, make us cry, and leave us breathless once we reach the last page.
Here are five books that I will never stop recommending, the five books that are overwhelmingly amazing and life-changing, to me.
- Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
You might have heard this title on Netflix. The series, Firefly Lane, stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as lifelong best friends, Tully and Kate. And while the show is OK, the novel by American writer Kristin Hannah is both heartwarming and heart-shattering. It begins in the 1970s and spans over the next three decades, depicting the whirlwind of a friendship that Tully Hart and Kate Mularkey share. Tully is beautiful and popular with a devastating secret; Kate is nerdy, awkward, and shy, always surrounded by her loving family. Polar opposites, the girls befriend each other on a fateful summer’s night, and so begins their thirty-year long friendship. They experience the excitement of new careers, the beauty of motherhood, and the sting of jealousy and betrayal. You will NEED a box of tissues while reading this, and you might also want to call your longtime best friend afterwards.
2. Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern
If you don’t like the monotony of reading, try this book. I promise. While Cecelia Ahern’s Love, Rosie is 512 pages, it took me all of one day to read. Why? This charming story about two friends destined for one another, is told in e-mails, letters, notes, and instant messages, to list a few. You’ll feel like you’re diving into someone’s mind while reading. However, the storytelling technique isn’t all that I loved about this book. Rosie and Alex have been best friends since childhood. On the brink of adulthood and just as they start developing feelings for one another, Alex gets accepted into Harvard, and Rosie finds out she is pregnant (!!!) from a one-night stand at prom. Their lives are diverging in two completely different directions — Alex on the path to success, Rosie doomed to single motherhood — until fate intervenes, and these best friends experience the beauty (and frustration) that destiny has in store.
3. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab
I’m no fantasy fan. In fact, if you look at my Goodreads shelves, you’ll find dozens of contemporary rom-coms listed, one after the other. I don’t know where I heard about The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab, but I am so, so thankful I did. Told in lyrical, beautiful prose, this novel begins by depicting the frustrated and desperate spirit of Addie Larue, a young woman in France, 1714. She essentially makes a deal with the devil that allows her to live forever. The catch? No one remembers Addie after they’ve met her. For three centuries, Addie experiences life as never before, traveling the world, stealing from others, and leaving no trace of herself behind. That is, until she meets someone in a bookstore in New York City, 2014. And he remembers her. This book will remind you of the beauty of words and the magic of life.
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. A classic? Seriously? When I was assigned to read Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre the summer before my senior year of high school, I felt the same way. But this novel captivated me. If you haven’t read it, you haven’t experienced literature (and if you’re a Taylor Swift fan like me, you’ll know she’s referenced Jane Eyre in her one of her songs). Set in early 19th century northern England, this novel depicts the life of a young and simple girl, Jane Eyre. Spending her childhood with her cruel and terrible aunt, and then at an even crueler boarding school, Jane finally leaves these grim life conditions and works as a governess for a ten-year old girl. Upon arrival of her new job, however, she meets the handsome and brooding Mr. Rochester, and she falls in love. However, Rochester has a secret — a secret that destroys Jane and forces her to focus on her independence and identity as a woman before deciding if she will give him a second chance at love. This book is a must-read!
5. Verity by Colleen Hoover
If you’re familiar with BookTok, you’ll know Colleen Hoover. Verity is insane. It is unlike any other novel I’ve ever read, with an original, stunning, heart-stopping plot (and loads of references to Jane Eyre!!). When young and struggling author Lowen is asked to finish the famous series by bestselling writer Verity — who is injured and unable to write the rest of her books — Lowen stumbles across Verity’s hidden autobiography, revealing dark, family secrets, and causing Lowen to question everything about Verity, her husband, and her children. This book has it all: romance, thrill, and darkness. I brought this to the beach last year, and I literally had to stop myself from finishing it all in one sitting. It also has some pretty explicit scenes, so be warned. But all in all, I’ve recommended Verity to more people than I can keep track of, and they’ve all loved it.
I have plenty more recommendations, but these are the five that my heart belong to. Read them, and let me know!
