Hello! I am a lit fic/classics fan (but will read most anything recommended to me) who became a mom at the end of last year and dropped WAY down in my reading totals for 2026 (usually at 50-60 books/year, this year, sadly, sitting at 18. Boo.) I’m trying to use naptime to read as much as possible and really just need some books to finish out the year and feel like I’ve accomplished something NOT motherhood related.

Here’s what I’m thinking I’m looking for:

1. Something with genuinely good writing. I’m not a fan of “easy readers” (Kristin Hannah, Colleen Hoover etc are NOT my vibe). I appreciate beautiful literature.
2. Something classic- or classic-adjacent. I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo, and very much enjoyed it. It doesn’t have to be old, though- I want a great plot.
3. Something that’s NOT 5829285 pages long. Love me some Dumas, trying to get through Stephen King, but man, I just need some books that won’t require a month of naps to get through.

Some books I’ve read recently and enjoyed:
The Count of Monte Cristo
Shutter Island
A Woman is No Man
Holler Rat
Far from the Madding Crowd
The Lincoln Highway
I Know This Much is True
A Suitable Boy
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Lonesome Dove

As you can see, I’ve really enjoyed some LONG novels. But I need to get some new ideas that aren’t as much of a time investment and are just easier, enjoyable reads.

Thank you for any thoughts or suggestions!

I'll be having surgery the week before Thanksgiving and will need to basically lay about and rest for two weeks, so naturally I want to line up some truly excellent SF to read. Strong preference for humor and interesting settings. What I don't want is enemies to lovers romantasy (unless it is hilarious sapphic romance in an interesting setting like "How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying" which I loved), books that make you stare at the wall in despair when you've finished or anything that is basically a downer. I can and do read books that would fit into all of those excluded categories - I just don't want them for this specific time frame.

Books that I have read and really enjoy (and find hilarious or at least funny enough and SF enough) include Veal, Gideon the 9th, the Dark Lord duology, most everything by T. Kingfisher, the Zoey Ashe series (reading right now, loving all day long), The Wayfarer series and the Monk and Robot series, and Murderbot (all of them). I'm sure there are other funny SF books that I've read but cannot remember right now.

I've also read a lot of Adrian Tchaikovsky, John Scalzi, and most Hugo award winners from the 80's and 90's. I truly, seriously dislike Grady Hendrix (so much promise, so much disappointment). I'm not averse to gore but please no gratuitous SA or unnecessary animal violence.

A quick summary or even an interesting line from the book helps so much my friends, and is truly appreciated. For example, for Gideon the 9th, I read someone describe it as "Teenage lesbian necromancers in space."

Heck. Yeah. (trying to be mindful of language)

-And in exchange for your time and thoughtfulness, if you would like me to blurb any of the books I've listed, I will happily do so.

I just finished reading something super slow and quiet and honestly it was the most engaging thing I've read in months. There's no big plot twist or action sequences, just like... people existing and thinking about stuff. Does anyone have recommendations that hit that same vibe? I'm tired of forcing myself through books with constant drama.

I know it's self-serving and indulgent, idc. Since most of MAGA will likely never realize it, I'd love to read something that would at least give me the feeling I would get if they did. Like if the full Epstein files were released, for example.

I tried Disgrace by JM Coetzee and it didn't work for me at all because David never admitted that he was wrong. I've ordered Crisis by Karin Boye and hoping that scratches the itch, but would love more recs in case it doesn't deliver.

Thanks in advance 🙏🏻

There's no groundhog emoji so please squint!

My very niche request is for a short term time loop. An involuntary time loop. None of this voluntary time travel spanning years stuff. I want to witness some poor bastard getting groundhog day'd.

I wanna give examples but the only book I can think of is a YA one I read 20 years ago where this boy gets trapped in the first day of summer camp and thinks it's because he participated in bullying but actually it's because he forgot to brush his teeth. I want more of that!

Can anyone recommend me a book set in a small american town, where something is off, slightly supernatural, slightly spooky vibes?

The crispy fall air has finally come and me and my family are outside more. We’ve hiked this week, visited local parks, picked up trash along the beach.

I’d love some reccomendations for real stories of women hikers/climbers, women in conservation, anything environmental as the main focus of the woman’s life or book.

I hope this makes sense. I can try to clarify more if it doesn’t.

I read my first Agatha Christie book a little over a year ago and havent been able to stop since. Im down to just about 5 of her books i havent read yet (im saving And Then There Were None for last!) But i dont want to lose my interest in reading once i make it through all of them! If anyone here loves AC as much as me I would love recommendations for other books or authors you enjoy!

Some things I like about Agatha Christie books are the mystery genre (though im open to others! Any genre except romance) and the kind of nostalgic aspect. I grew up in the US but my family is from England so bonus point for anything that would hit that same spot. I grew up reading every Enid Blyton books ever published, especially the mysteries!

Thanks so much for any suggestions!

It's time to set up my November TBR, and I have a book prompt for the month ahead. It's getting me to read a book with an antagonist everyone loves to hate because they're so awful. I'm at my wits' end with seeing any book on my TBR that has this! I would really love to hear everyone's recommendations!

I’m currently loving the stormy weather in England and craving something to add to it.

Historical and coastal, bonus points for south coast smuggling or highwaymen.

Love a bit of Folk horror. Dark gritty vibes.

Make me want to stew whimsically out into a storm.

Next months book club’s theme is “read like a divorcee” with the description: Messy? Yes. Empowering? Absolutely. November is for midlife reinvention, post-breakup chaos, female rage, self-discovery, and the glorious glow-up that happens when someone finally walks away.

You all always have the best suggestions!

I've seen plenty of people recommend excellent action novels, like The Gray Man, or Bourne, or Reacher, but nothing seems to have that sort of glamorized, fantastical, criminal underworld. With the traditions and rituals, and fancy clothes, and gold coins in the modern world, and all that stuff. Does such a novel exist? I'm just looking for something to scratch that same itch. Action novels are all well and good, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't search for something more in a criminal noir sort of genre?

Hi all! TW ‼️

My mentally unwell Dad refuses to talk to anyone or get help but he loves to read so I thought a book might be a nice way to extend my olive branch out to him.

He is 66, very obviously undiagnosed neurodivergence and possible bipolar. He had a traumatic upbringing (possible SA) that he doesn’t reveal anything about. He is separating from my mum as his mental health has destroyed their marriage. He feels like a failure of a man, a dad, a husband, a person. He isolates himself, gets very angry and is skeptical about the whole idea of ‘mental illness’ and doesn’t want to change. I don’t want him to change who he is, I want him to change his mindset. His depressive episodes have become a lot worse in recent years and I am truly worried about what he might do.

Can anyone recommend a non fiction, physical book that focuses on older men’s mental health/neurodivergence/breakdowns/how to understand himself/trauma/validates his masculinity. It needs to be non patronising, straightforward and realistic. Nothing about how neurodivergence is a ‘superpower’, or makes him feel more alienated than he already does. Something more suited to a blue collar, working class older man with lots of anger. He isn’t very academic but still loves to read so the language needs to be easy to comprehend otherwise he won’t read it, no medical jargon or scholarly terms.

Anything that will make him feel like he still has a purpose in society, is valued as a man, and that he isn’t alone. And just how to understand himself and be kinder to himself

Sorry if this is confusing I’m not even really sure what I’m looking for myself but thank you in advance x

Just finished reading all of Robin Hobb and Brandon Sandersons works. Guess I love to broad world building and clever uses of magic. But now what do I read?

Tempted to go for something darker. Really enjoyed Joe Abercrombie (yup read all of those) and Black Company.

I’m on book 5 of DCC and those are a blast but super fast reads so I could use some recommendations for a good classic fantasy series with an edgier side. Prefer finished series that are at least three books.

I’ll greatly miss Fitz and the Fool

Hello,
I am currently a college student and haven’t read many books aside from the ones required in school. I was hoping to get more into reading to help replace my doomscrolling and just get into the idea of reading.

I tend to have a problem of not being able to finish books and tend to stop halfway so any tips to combat this would be appreciated. With that in mind I am interested in shorter/ not as intimidating books that keep you engaged. Crime solving and medival/fantasy themed books tend to keep me the hooked the longest but overall I’m open to any genera.

I am also currently studying finance so would be interested in any books covering that topics aswell( ie. Habit building, self improvement, investing, ect)

Can anyone recommend me a book with the feel of "and then there were none"? I want all the tropes, isolated island, mansion, mysterious host, people murdered one by one, the works.

- Ideally not a take on the genre / a satire of the tropes.

- Ideally all of / most of the characters are murdered

Books I've already read in this category

An Unwanted Guest – Shari Lapena

One by One – Ruth Ware

And then there were none - Agatha Christie

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates

Hello

First post here! I'd love to hear some book suggestions in the style of Red Rising and Ender's Game. Honestly I'm looking for books with large scale conflicts, romance, character growth and flawed MCs. I really like war themes, and it doesn't matter if it's sci fi or not. Looking forward to hearing your recommendations!

Heya,

I want non-ficion. Preferred by a Ph.D. or somebody really into this particular sociology research.

Been reading:

Asian Americans in an Anti-Black World by Claire Kim

Louder than The Lies by Ellie Yang Camp

Racial Innocence by Tanya Kateri Hernandez

The myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power by Jared A. Ball

Caste The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

They were her Property White women as slave owners in the American south by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers

Is there a book where it tackles about this phenomena of I-POC (either first generation or more or recent BI-POC immigrants) seeking money/prestige as a way to feel validated on said system plus power all while...well, it converts into a final leopards ate my face?

So after reading and loving the expanse, it occurred to me that Bobby Draper is pretty much my fem shep (she was a vanguard) and I just love her archetype. Big strong lady just seeking justice in a crazy world.

I’m open to sci fi or fantasy, I’ve already read the adventure of Amina Al sirafi and loves those books as well.

Thanks in advance

Can anyone else relate? I want to so badly fall in love with reading but I usually can't even make it past the first couple pages. I've read the Alchemist and didn't like it. I tried reading the Lord of The Rings and it took me forever to get through it. As someone with a short attention span for books, does anyone recommend anything that could get me back into reading? I can't read any slow books; they need to pique my interest in the first page. I wish I could read books the way I can watch TV shows!

I used to read a lot of series in middle/high school. I remember reading one about fairies, that vampire one with the smiley faces, just random fantasy novels. The books I own now are all spiritual or references. Cook books, herbalism books, general witchy diy fun stuff, astrology and dream books. But those aren’t really “reading” books.

This is super random, but I started the first book in the Welcome To Tyler series (first one is by Nancy Martin, it was published in 1992) because it was in a surprise book box I bought. It’s technically a romance, and I wouldn’t say I’m terribly into romance but this one has been interesting because it’s not too sappy. If I like it I might buy the rest of the series because I doubt it’s in libraries anymore, but I did not intend on starting a series.

I’m also VERY interested in reading The Mad Wife by Meagan Church but it’s got like 10 people in front of me on hold from the local library, so I guess it’s super popular right now.

My TV watching preferences are specific, I don’t watch a lot of TV. Brooklyn 99 and Scream Queens are 2 shows I’m watching currently. When it comes to anime I much prefer demon/creature animes but nothing that takes itself too serious. I liked Ouran High School Host Club too, because of how silly and dramatic it was, but I’m not that interested in reading mangas quite yet.

I’m 26F, a new mom with not a lot of time, but trying to reduce my screen time. I like the short books because it feels like I’m making a big dent even if I only get 30 minutes a day, but I don’t mind a longer read.

I just got my library card for the first time since middle school, so I do intend on just going to the library and looking around, but given the context of this post & the small summary of my likes/dislikes I provided, are there any recs that anyone would give to me to look at specifically before rummaging around the library?

Thank you!! 🩷

Going to Madeira for a week and looking for a book to get me in the spirit. Will be doing a lot of hiking and adventuring along the coast so ideally looking for an island or nautical themed adventure. Thanks!

I’m looking for books that have similar prose to V.C. Andrews (Flowers in the Attic, My Sweet Audrina, etc.) or Kate Elizabeth Russell (My Dark Vanessa). Any recommendations?

I read Kafka on the shore this year and honestly I think it’s my favorite book of all time. What I loved about Kafka on the shore is how it felt to capture a feeling of a daydream and loneliness so well. It’s like Haruki Murakami met my soul halfway. I’ve also read Norwegian wood, South of the border west of the Sun, and Men without women. But they didn’t connect with me like Kafka on the shore. But a book that did connect to me in a similar way was The remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Let me know any recommendations I’m open to anything! Thank you!

My boyfriend and I just broke up. It wasn't unexpected, but it still hurts. I loved him a lot, even if we were together a short time in the scheme of things, and I need to know my person is still out there.

Any recommendations where the FMC is getting over a breakup and tries to find herself/her person?