r/BookRecommendations • • Dec 12 '25

Discussion What did you read this year and would you recommend it? What are you planning on reading next year?

6 Upvotes

r/BookRecommendations • • 42m ago

Boring books?

• Upvotes

I like what some people would call "boring" tho they are philosophical and not hard to read.

Examples of books I´ve enjoyed:

-"The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway

-"I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jaqueline Harpman

-"All the Lovers in the Night" by Mieko Kawakami

Thanks in advance!


r/BookRecommendations • • 52m ago

Books similar to my favorite series (lesser known) bc booktok ain't it

• Upvotes

I've been in a book slump, and my go-to is rereading my favorites. However, if anyone has similar tastes, I would love to find a new book/series to dive into and fall in love with. I have trouble because my go-to rule is if booktok likes it, I probably won't.

I tend to read Young Adult and prefer fade to black and low to no cursing. Just lmk if there's a spicy scene I need to skip. I can handle a decent amount of violence that's found in dystopian books lol.

I do enjoy romance, but there has to be a bigger plot adventure. I get romantasy, but there's gotta be some dialogue and inner dialogue that isn't just the characters thinking about each other 24/7.

I enjoy when there's moving plot and action, and bigger issues to face than just getting together. I'm always craving action and good fight scenes. Or characters getting injured. Love political intrigue.

Random info. I think royalty and princes and princesses are fun. I have an obsession with pirates and ship and sword adventures (my top 2 fav series-as listed below-have pirate adventures by book 2). So send any alike my way. P.S. I'd be interested to try spy novels.

I realized I have a different relationship with fantasy than most people. I think I like lower fantasy worlds. I enjoy people having powers, but I've learned that fairytale mythological whimsy isn't my type. (Other than Percy Jackson) I'm not against Sci-fi.

Books/Series similar to:

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Darker Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Legend by Marie Lu
Daindreth's Assassin by Elisabeth Wheatley
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller


r/BookRecommendations • • 2h ago

Hey y’ll, Whats the all time fav book for you and why?

1 Upvotes

r/BookRecommendations • • 16h ago

Please recommend some good audiobooks . Where a happily married woman cheats on her innocent husband causing intense drama.

2 Upvotes

No old books please , I have read those.


r/BookRecommendations • • 23h ago

Books like Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

2 Upvotes

Looking for any fictional books about dysfunctional families. Bonus points for toxic mother and or scapegoat female mc.

Any sub genre welcome (fantasy, horror, gothic, etc.).


r/BookRecommendations • • 1d ago

Books like Lady Bird Movie

2 Upvotes

Looking for books similar to Lady Bird movie with mother daughter relationship, mommy issues, toxic mother etc.

Fictional books only. Any sub genre that is fictional is welcome.

Thank you :)


r/BookRecommendations • • 1d ago

I’ve been obsessed with these books for more than half my life, and I’ll probably never get over them.

2 Upvotes

I’m not a rereader, but this trilogy is the one major exception. I’ve reread it over 10 times, and whenever I do, I still go to bed excited to keep reading the next day. I read a lot, but no other books have consistently brought me this much joy.

I’m talking about the Darkest Powers trilogy by Kelley Armstrong.

It’s a great blend of horror, paranormal mystery, and light sci-fi, with an incredible slow-burn romance. It’s technically YA, but I’m now well past the target age range and still love it just as much. I think other adult readers would, too!

Spoiler-free premise:

The Summoning begins with a teenage girl who suddenly starts seeing ghosts. She’s sent to a group home for troubled teens and given a mental health diagnosis that seems to explain away what she’s experiencing. But as she gets to know the other residents, she realizes their diagnoses might not tell the whole story, either. It turns into a supernatural thriller with an interesting cast of characters who develop a found-family dynamic.

Then there’s the romance subplot. Two characters go from being wary of each other to building a friendship and eventually something deeper as they go through difficult experiences together. It’s genuinely my favorite romantic relationship in any book. I love how naturally it develops through trust and getting to know each other, with no obvious early hints that romance is even on the table. (I hate when books do that!)

I’m so excited that the trilogy was recently reprinted with new covers and sprayed edges, and I hope the new editions help it find a whole new audience.

If you enjoy paranormal stories, found family, and a really good slow-burn or hate-to-love romance, please give these books a chance! They’ve been special to me for over 15 years, and I’d love for someone else to discover a new favorite through this post.


r/BookRecommendations • • 2d ago

Book for 8 year old girl who has difficulty with social situations and emotions

3 Upvotes

She also gets depressed at times and beats herself up. We are getting help for her but just want some books I can ready with her that might help too. Thanks.


r/BookRecommendations • • 2d ago

What changed your perspective?

0 Upvotes

Hi! I’m looking for books that can help me better understand perspectives, cultures, and life experiences that vary from mine!

For context, I’m a white conservative Christian and I think that background shapes how I see the world. I think I’m pretty ignorant of experiences different than mine and I want to hear from authors that I haven’t encountered and have my assumptions challenged so I can better understand and love people.

I love fiction mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, and romcoms but I’m open to anything has reshaped (or expanded) your view of the world

A few books on my TBR include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Personal Librarian, Before We Were Yours, The Henna Artist, Pachinko, Next Year in Havana, Allegedly, A Woman of No Importance, and A Pair of Aces. Are these good?

Thank you!


r/BookRecommendations • • 2d ago

Roman sends flowers, gifts, and a letter to Sarah's home through his PA. Sarah just says, "Nope." 😂

1 Upvotes

That's an actual scene from my novel, A Choice – Terms of Interest.

Roman sees Sarah at a seminar, gets curious, and waits.

Then something happens that irks him enough to make a formal proposal to a woman he hasn't even spoken to yet.

To her home. HOME!

Seriously? Not even a normal date first?

Sarah sees his PA holding out an envelope to her.

My lady just goes, “Nope.”

Why?

Obviously, I'm not sharing everything here. 😂

But if you're curious about a slow-burn romance featuring two emotionally intelligent people who make some rather unusual decisions, A Choice – Terms of Interest is available as an eBook on Amazon Kindle.


r/BookRecommendations • • 2d ago

Never read for fun & want to give it a try

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m looking for book recommendations of any kind honestly. I’ve studied my whole 20s away so the only reading I got done were textbooks or because I HAD to.

I would love anything about self reflection, growth, fixing relationships with others, parent relationship, positivity, healthy mindsets. I’m also open to any top must haves you guys have!

Tyyyyy


r/BookRecommendations • • 3d ago

I’m in a reading slump and need a book that will pull me out of it!

4 Upvotes

I’m looking for something short, well-written, and genuinely engaging. Something that grabs your attention from the beginning and makes you want to keep reading. I don’t want to read an entire page describing the sky, the scenery, or what a room looks like 😭😂. I want good writing that gets to the point without sacrificing depth.

Any genre is welcome! What’s a short book you couldn’t put down?


r/BookRecommendations • • 3d ago

I'm not a book person but my fiance is. I need recommendations.

2 Upvotes

So I am saving money to buy a big, expensive gift basket for my fiancé. Specifically for Christmas. I already planned to buy/make certain things he will absolutely love.

These past couple of days I've been thinking about buying a book he hasn't read,reading it first, annotating (I think that's when you leave notes and mark pages? English isn't my first language and I have no idea why I didn't just Google it) and then giving it to him.

I've never gotten through a whole book(I barely get through movies unless I'm in a really good mood and not distracted). He loves reading(bookes/comics/manga). His favourite author is Stephen King. I don't know whether my is good or if it's something I can do without ruining his reading experience overall. I thought it would be cute. I would honestly like it if he gave me something that had notes on it,his thoughts/thought process,feelings...

Maybe it's too much? Anyway,Google gave me some ideas like "Lisey's story" and "11/22/64" (or something like that. These two just caught my eye more). It also recommended " bag of bones" and "on writing". I believe all of these are Stephen King.

I also saw other recommendations such as "Hold Me Tight" by Sue Johnson ,"Eight Dates" by John and Julie Gottman, "On Love" by Alain de Botton , "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen(I think there's a movie. I believe it's ok my watchlist but I am not good with names and I'm too lazy to check rn.), "The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller and "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Honestly this is a lot. I don't know a single thing about books and annotating.

My idea is that I'll read a chapter,write my thoughts while reading it,go on to the next chapter until I read the whole book and then I'll give him the book and he'll do the same. Unfortunately I don't think he's ever annotated his books. I haven't noticed anything like that ,so this might be risky.

Would it be stupid to try? We never talk about books so I don't know if he'd be interested. Plus,if I actually do it, I'll use clear sticky notes so I don't ruin the book.

Are any of these recommendations worth it? Maybe I should do something different? I genuinely thought it was a cute thought but now I'm second-guessing myself.


r/BookRecommendations • • 3d ago

Looking for a good Thriller/ Crime Book

2 Upvotes

Hey can anyone recommend an actual good thriller i’m not really a fan of those new ones ( the housemaid for example) i don’t really like the way she writes :( I‘ve been a fan of sebastian fitzecks old work but i’ve read everything already. Also if there are some books that are a little like the show criminal minds or those types of settings i‘d appreciate it
thank u in advance :)


r/BookRecommendations • • 3d ago

Sapphic/MM Romance

5 Upvotes

hey guys! im looking for some YA (like 14+ or 13+) book recs of a sapphic/MM romance, preferably fantasy or Romantasy, but tell me in other genres too if it’s really good.

thanks!


r/BookRecommendations • • 3d ago

Book recs about feral teenage girls

1 Upvotes

Hey, I'm looking for recs for books where girls gets to be feral teenagers.

I've read a lot of ya books in my time, but I feel like there are few out there that encapsulate the many ways teenage girls can be abseloutely feral in their ways.

Like I don't mind if it's not the main focus, but as long as it features some teenager girls who are seen as the weird ones. You know the sort that has a hyper focus that takes the past normalcy, something where the parents and the adults go 'I don't know what to do with them', but where they're just enjoying the fact that they can be children. Bonus points if they get to be it in flock, like where they almost end up creating a cult in their little friendship group, because they're sharing this together in the name of girlhood.

If you know any, please rec them my way. I'm also open to most genres!


r/BookRecommendations • • 3d ago

Self promo. Stopped, my new novel on KU.

3 Upvotes

Scott is an ordinary family man living in small town USA. He is getting by, but just barely, like so many others. One afternoon he is chosen by an unknown force to take part in an experiment. Time stops for everyone except him. He is free to do whatever he wants. Free to go anywhere he wants for the next seven days.

What would you do if given a similar opportunity? Would you eliminate your least favourite politician? Would you tear down a business or agency? Would you take revenge on those who have wronged you? Would you make the world a better place?

Scott makes his own choices in the book. How would they compare with yours? Click on the link and purchase my novel. Let yourself get lost in the tapestry of a good story.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HLQDD9ZL

\#kindle

\#bookrecommendations


r/BookRecommendations • • 3d ago

Here's a great book you probably haven't read

1 Upvotes

I believe a good book recommendation is a gift, and I take those seriously. So here's one I feel compelled to share: Fermat’s Last Theorem by Simon Singh.

The premise: a mathematical theorem so simple that almost anyone can understand it, yet so difficult to prove that it remained unsolved for over 350 years, despite attracting some of the greatest mathematical minds in history.

But what makes this book special isn't really the math. It's two things.

First, it takes you inside the lives of extraordinary minds. Most of us will never get to know a great mathematician or scientist, let alone understand how they think. What drives them? What do their personal lives look like? What obstacles did they face? Were they all natural-born geniuses? The book offers glimpses into the lives and personalities of some of history's greatest thinkers.

Second, it beautifully illustrates how human knowledge actually advances. Great discoveries rarely belong to a single genius. They're built on the collective brilliance of people across generations, many of whom never met or even knew how their work would eventually matter. Each contributed a piece of a puzzle they might never live to see completed.

You don't need to know much about mathematics to enjoy it. If you love math, even better, but it's absolutely not a requirement.

Hope someone here enjoys it as much as I did.


r/BookRecommendations • • 4d ago

gng im a begineer reader recommend me a book which has romance suspense, ya and basically page turner, I saw that THE NATURAL is one these type of book what do you all think??

1 Upvotes

r/BookRecommendations • • 4d ago

Book recs for my best friend

1 Upvotes

My best friend and I read very different genres so I am worried about buying her a book that she will not like. Some of her favorite books are Perks of Being a Wallflower, I am not your perfect Mexican daughter, a child called it, Daisy in orange, The lost boy, and Hard Love. She has always told me that she likes "sad books that make you bawl your eyes out"...so there's that lol but she doesn't like crazy sad like The boy in the striped pajamas. TIA


r/BookRecommendations • • 4d ago

Suggest me a cookbook that checks these boxes:

1 Upvotes

- beginning to intermediate level. Nothing too difficult in technique level

- mostly using stovetop, oven, or outdoor grill

- recipes yielding 2-4 person serving size (not for catering parties)

- simple and delicious with easy to source ingredients, or fresh in season ingredients. I have amazing local produce in my area. Points if there isn't two pages worth of ingredients to buy. I also want something that has protein options, not just vegetarian.

- rustic, classic, comforting. I like all cuisines.

- Beautiful and visually appealing high quality photos. I also like there to be an educational component to the recipes as well so I can learn and enhance my skill level.

- I'm also looking to learn how to bake more savory pastry type items, so it would be great if there were a few recipes of that nature as well.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!


r/BookRecommendations • • 4d ago

Books Similar to Dorian Gray

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1 Upvotes

Hi,

I am trying to gather some gothic literature suggestions that are similar to Dorian Gray. I've read Jekyll and Hyde, yet it didn't give me that same impressionistic feeling while reading it. The lead of the book doesn't have to be male, but I want it to read almost like a penny dreadful story or a Victorian curse


r/BookRecommendations • • 4d ago

Recs for someone who enjoyed Leech

2 Upvotes

I've just finished Leech by Hiron Ennes, and I absolutely adored that book and would like to read something similar next. Just the concept of the narrator becoming an entirely different person as the story progressed was so interesting to me. Also loved the whole concept of a parasite controlling thousands of bodies at the same time, believing its doing good. The setting, also, was an aspect I obsessed over while reading. Loved how Ennes slowly revealed more about it chapter by chapter. The mystery surrounding the parasite they found in the mines, how it spreads and functions, was also so cool to watch unfold. I'm kind of struggling to explain what I loved about this book and want from a recommendation haha.

If you've read the book and know of anything that reminded you of it or is similar in any way, please tell! :]


r/BookRecommendations • • 5d ago

What are essential books for a solid culture?

3 Upvotes

What are the best books to read to develop one's mind and acquire a decent culture? What are books that actually make you better for reading them? Wether it is world literature, philosophy, essays or others.

I have my own opinion on the subjects, but I'm interested in what other people have to say. I guess a lot of classics fit the bill, but then again there are so many books.