Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Books Everyone Is Talking About
61
items This list started—and still functions—as a personal TBR. Some titles I’ve read, some I’ve listened to, and others I’m still exploring. Each one made the cut for a reason: emotional payoff, standout narration, a compelling premise, or the kind of buzz...
Sections
10
💜 Romance & Dark Romance
🔍 Mystery & Thriller
🐉💘 Romantasy
📖 Memoirs & Biographies
Books About Books
🧙♀️🎃 Witchy, Haunted & Hard to Put Down
💜 Romance & Dark Romance
Messy love, magnetic tension, and emotional payoff—these stories lean dramatic, sometimes taboo, and always unforgettable. Whether it’s slow-burn angst, enemies-to-lovers, or high-stakes chemistry, each one offers a journey worth exploring. I’ve read...
Magnolia is London’s most photographed heartbreak, and BJ is the bad-boy she can’t quit. Their love is a slow-motion car crash—beautiful, brutal, and impossible to look away from.
Audio available—I’ve heard it’s a great listen, though I haven’t tried...
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Rex is a famous football player. Abby’s the bartender he never forgot. Their marriage of convenience is messy, tender, and unexpectedly real.
I listened to the audiobook—great narration.
💍 Homecoming King by Penny Reid
💘 Second-Chance Romance | 🏈...
Homecoming King by Penny Reid, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Adeline inherits her grandmother’s haunted mansion—and gains a stalker named Zade. He’s obsessed, dangerous, and disturbingly magnetic. Their relationship is twisted, intense, and emotionally brutal.
I’ve listened to the audiobook—great narration.
�...
Hunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Rowan and Sloane kill bad people for fun—but their annual murder game turns into something tender, obsessive, and weirdly sweet. He’s a chef with a soft heart. She’s an artist with a scalpel. Together, they’re messy, magnetic, and unforgettable.
I’ve...
Butcher & Blackbird (Ruinous Love Trilogy #1)
Scarlett, a marine biologist, is paired with her best friend’s ex, an Olympic diver with secrets of his own. Their research project dives into grief, guilt, and a slow-burn connection that’s emotionally charged and kink-aware.
✨ Pending read—early bu...
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood, Paperback
It Ends With Us — Colleen Hoover
A deeply emotional contemporary romance about love, resilience, and breaking cycles. Heavy at times, but widely read and often recommended for its impact.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Dark, villain‑centric modern fairytale retellings. I’ve read part of the series so far and found Wretched especially well‑balanced, but I’m waiting until I finish all six before choosing favorites. I’m reading them in order and enjoying seeing how th...
Never After Series | Barnes & Noble®
Dark Notes
A taboo, obsessive teacher/student romance that’s darker than it looks but anchored by a surprisingly emotional core. Heavy, intense, and impossible to look away from.
Tags: taboo, dark romance, trauma themes
Dark Notes by Pam Godwin, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®
Still Beating
A trauma‑bonded love story that hits hard emotionally and doesn’t pretend healing is linear. Dark, raw, and ultimately hopeful.
Tags: dark romance, trauma bond, emotional wreckage
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Beautiful Venom
A revenge‑laced hockey romance with sharp edges and addictive pacing. Morally gray choices, messy chemistry, and a heroine who refuses to be small.
Tags: sports romance, revenge, high spice
Beautiful Venom (Standard Edition) - Rina Kent - Barnes & Noble
Psychotic Obsession
Possessive, unhinged, and unapologetically high‑spice. An age‑gap fixation romance that leans fully into obsession.
Tags: dark romance, age gap, obsessive MMC
Psychotic Obsession by Leigh Rivers, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
🔍 Mystery & Thriller
Twisty, unsettling, and impossible to put down. These thrillers dig into secrets, lies, and the psychology behind them. I’m drawn to layered suspense and emotional stakes—sharing what’s kept me up past midnight.
Best experienced in audio—see Great Listen section for full breakdown
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®
When Asher’s girlfriend is found dead, his mother, Olivia, must confront the secrets of her past—and the possibility that her son may not be who she thought.
✨ A layered mystery about identity, trauma, and the fragility of love.
🎧 Dual narration by ...
Mad Honey (GMA Book Club Pick) - Jodi Picoult - Barnes & Noble
🐉💘 Romantasy
Fantasy worlds filled with emotional stakes and slow-burn chemistry. These stories blend immersive magic, tension-rich romance, and layered characters—whether it’s dragon riders, cursed lovers, or enemies who can’t stay away. Expect dual POVs and sto...
Lily dies and wakes up in a bureaucratic Afterlife where demons need help sorting souls and fae flit between realms. She builds a “Hellp Desk” in literal Hell, forging unlikely friendships and a slow-burn connection with Bel, a demon general. It’s qu...
For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn | eBook | Barnes & Noble®
Ophelia Grimm enters Phantasma, a deadly magical competition run by devils, to save her sister. The manor is filled with illusions, monsters, and seductive bargains—including one with Blackwell, a mysterious phantom who offers help in exchange for te...
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
A shy librarian escapes magical upheaval with a suitcase of forbidden spellbooks and a spider plant named Caz. On her childhood island, she brews charms, sells jam, and slowly opens her heart to a nosy merhorse farmer.
✨ Cinnamon-roll magic, quiet re...
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®
The war is over, but the scars remain. Violet and Xaden face a new enemy—one that threatens not just their bond, but the fragile peace they’ve fought for. Expect political intrigue, emotional reckoning, and dragons that don’t play nice.
✨ Sequel Stak...
Onyx Storm (Standard Edition) by Rebecca Yarros, Hardcover
📖 Memoirs & Biographies
Raw, reflective, and deeply personal, these memoirs offer insight into fame, family, and identity. Some are laugh-out-loud funny, others quietly devastating, but every one is worth the listen.
Jennette McCurdy’s memoir is raw, darkly funny, and emotionally devastating. She recounts her rise to fame on iCarly, her mother’s obsessive control over her body and career, and her long path toward healing.
Balances heartbreak with resilience, and ...
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, Hardcover
From Broadway to Stars Hollow, Kelly Bishop reflects on a life of stage, screen, and sass. With behind-the-scenes stories and heartfelt reflections, this memoir is a love letter to theater, motherhood, and the magic of reinvention.
✨ Theater Roots | ...
The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop, Hardcover
A fast-talking, heartwarming ride through Lauren Graham’s life—from early auditions to Gilmore Girls and beyond. Narrated by Lorelai herself, this one’s a must-listen for fans of Stars Hollow, behind-the-scenes stories, and self-deprecating charm.
✨ ...
Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to ... - Barnes & Noble
From Rocky Horror to Clue to It, Tim Curry reflects on a life of iconic roles, reinvention, and surviving a stroke—with wit, grit, and that unforgettable voice.
✨ Narrated by Curry himself, with archival clips and behind-the-scenes stories.
💬 From a...
Vagabond: A Memoir by Tim Curry, Hardcover
The real-life friendship behind Gavin & Stacey—from script scraps to BAFTA wins, and everything they never said onscreen.
✨ Narrated by both authors, with cast messages and exclusive script excerpts.
💬 I’m genuinely excited for this one—it’s war...
When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story of Love ...
A love letter to fandom, awkwardness, and finding your voice online. Felicia Day’s memoir is quirky, candid, and surprisingly moving—perfect for anyone who’s ever felt like the weird kid on the internet.
✨ Geek Girl Gold | 💻 Early YouTube | 🎧 Narra...
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost): A Memoir
Books About Books
A charming, book‑lover’s escape set in the Scottish Highlands. Light, sweet, and heartwarming — perfect when you want something gentle and bookish.
The Bookshop on the Corner: A Novel by Jenny Colgan, Paperback
A warm, emotional story about second chances, community, and the magic of books.
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, Paperback
A heartfelt novel about how books bring people together in unexpected ways.
The Reading List: A Novel by Sara Nisha Adams, Paperback
A whimsical, atmospheric story about a mysterious bookshop and the lives it touches.
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
A gentle, uplifting story about secrets, family, and the healing power of stories.
The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick, Paperback
🧙♀️🎃 Witchy, Haunted & Hard to Put Down
From cursed romances to haunted houses and primal pacts, these reads bring eerie tension, emotional depth, and just the right amount of spice. Whether it’s witches in love, demons who don’t play fair, or secrets buried in the walls, each story casts ...
🧛 Vampyre Politics | 🐺 Arranged Marriage | 🌶️ Explicit Spice
Misery Lark, a Vampyre outcast, agrees to marry a ruthless Werewolf Alpha to uphold peace—but she’s got her own secrets. Hazelwood’s paranormal debut blends biting humor, primal tension,...
Bride by Ali Hazelwood, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
A human scientist and a dominant Alpha clash over territory—and desire. Hazelwood’s second paranormal romance is primal, funny, and deeply steamy, with emotional stakes that bite hard.
✨ High spice, supernatural tension, and fierce chemistry.
🎧 Full...
Mate (B&N Exclusive Edition) - Ali Hazelwood
A folklore researcher returns home to find his family unraveling—and the local legends watching. Darkly funny, a little unhinged, and unsettling in all the right ways.
✨ Satirical horror, family secrets, and eerie small-town dread.
🧠 Southern Gothi...
All Trap No Bait by Joseph Worthen, Paperback
A possessed property, a sharp-tongued heroine, and a haunting that refuses to play fair. Harrison blends biting humor with genuine chills.
✨ Sharp dialogue, spooky vibes, and emotional grit.
👻 Haunted House | 💅 Feminist Horror | 🌶️ Mild Spice
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison, Hardcover
Something’s wrong in the village—and it’s spreading. Creeping dread and eerie atmosphere for fans of Midsommar.
✨ Moody, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling.
🌕 Folk Horror | 🧬 Small-Town Affliction | 🌶️ Low Spice
ITCH!: The darkly feminist horror novel crawling under your skin for Halloween ...
A crumbling estate, a grieving heir, and a legacy soaked in blood. Atmospheric and emotionally rich.
✨ Gothic immersion and BookTok-ready chills.
🏰 Gothic Horror | 🩸 Epic Stakes | 🌶️ Low Spice
King Sorrow: A Novel (Signed Book) by Joe Hill, Hardcover
1765. A silver mine. A girl who might be cursed—or something worse. Historical horror meets romantic tension.
✨ Gothic vibes, emotional heat, and creeping dread.
👹 Demonic Possession | 💘 Forbidden Romance | 🌶️ Moderate Spice
The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas, Hardcover
A forbidden vampire romance set in a crumbling estate where secrets bleed and desire bites.
✨ Atmospheric, steamy, and emotionally intense.
🎧 Audio available (romantic tension well delivered)
🏰 Gothic Romance | 🩸 Forbidden Secrets | 🌶️🌶️ Modera...
My Blood Is Yours|Paperback - Chiara Forestieri
After his sister’s death, Tate retreats to Cape Cod—only to meet Wren, a woman whose past is tangled in spirits and silence.
✨ A haunting love story about grief, connection, and the thin veil between life and death.
💬 I’ve been counting down for thi...
Remain: A Supernatural Love Story by Nicholas Sparks ...
Series I’m Exploring Next
A mix of multi‑book worlds I’m curious about — the kind of series that keep popping up in recommendations, conversations, and reader circles. These are the ones I’m planning to dive into next, whether for the worldbuilding, the characters, or the she...
A foundational fantasy series that keeps coming up in reader circles for its sharp worldbuilding, clever magic system, and high‑stakes character arcs. It’s the kind of series people reference when they talk about “big, immersive reads,” and it’s been...
Mistborn Series | Barnes & Noble®
A paranormal‑leaning series with a grounded, modern edge — the kind of story that blends mystery, danger, and supernatural elements without feeling over‑the‑top. Readers describe it as fast‑moving and addictive, with a tone that sits somewhere betwee...
League of the Moon (5 Book Series) Kindle
🎧 Great Listens
These audiobooks shine through narration—whether it’s emotional chemistry, immersive pacing, or a voice that pulls you in. I’m exploring them for re-listen potential and emotional payoff. If you have favorites that fit this vibe, I’d love to hear abo...
This dark romcom about two vigilante serial killers somehow manages to be hilarious, romantic, and deeply twisted. The full duet narration by Lucy Rivers and Joe Arden brings Rowan’s golden-retriever energy and Sloane’s chaotic brilliance to life.
I’...
Butcher & Blackbird (Ruinous Love Trilogy #1) - Barnes & Noble
I first experienced this one in audio, and I genuinely believe that’s the best way to hear it. McCurdy’s narration is intimate, biting, and deeply personal—like a private confession you weren’t meant to hear but can’t stop absorbing.
One of those lis...
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, Hardcover
Jaysea Lynn’s Afterlife rom-com blends snark, soul work, and slow-burn tension in a way that’s made for audio. The narration brings Lily’s sarcasm and Bel’s brooding warmth to life, making this a standout listen for fans of genre-blending romance.
I’...
For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn, Paperback
Emily McIntire’s Wretched delivers a dark, emotionally charged romance with sharp narration that heightens the tension and character depth. Evelina and Nicholas are magnetic, messy, and unforgettable.
I’ve listened—great narration that amplifies the ...
Audiobooks, Emily McIntire
Emily McIntire’s Twisted delivers a dark, emotionally layered romance with narration that sharpens every power play and vulnerability. Julian and Yasmin’s dynamic is intense, manipulative, and magnetic—perfectly suited for audio.
I’ve listened—great ...
Twisted (Never After Series #4) by Emily McIntire, Paperback
Haunting Adeline’s narration pulls listeners into a tense, obsessive relationship steeped in psychological darkness and gothic dread. The voice actors deliver an intimate, chilling performance that heightens every moment of suspense and emotional tur...
Haunting Adeline: Cat and Mouse Duet, Book 1
None of This Is True unfolds like a true crime docuseries—complete with interviews, voice memos, and layered narration that blurs fiction and reality. I first experienced it in audio, and I genuinely believe that’s the best way to hear this one. The ...
None of This Is True: A Novel by Lisa Jewell, Paperback
From Rocky Horror to Clue to It, Tim Curry reflects on a life of iconic roles, reinvention, and surviving a stroke—with wit, grit, and that unforgettable voice.
✨ Narrated by Curry himself, with archival clips and behind-the-scenes stories.
💬 From a...
Vagabond: A Memoir by Tim Curry, Hardcover
The real-life friendship behind Gavin & Stacey—from script scraps to BAFTA wins, and everything they never said onscreen.
✨ Narrated by both authors, with cast messages and exclusive script excerpts.
💬 I’m genuinely excited for this one—it’s war...
When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story of Love ...
Frankie, a sexologist who uses a wheelchair, seeks advice on accessible rope play. Jay, a rigger with a soft spot for chaos, offers help—and sparks fly. Their dynamic is playful, respectful, and emotionally grounded, with kink explored through trust ...
Knot My Type by Evie Mitchell, Paperback
Renner’s raw, intimate memoir of survival and recovery—narrated by him. Gritty, hopeful, and unexpectedly tender.
Memoir | 💔 Resilience | 🎧 Author-Narrated | 🌿 Emotional Depth
My Next Breath: A Memoir by Jeremy Renner, Hardcover
This one is pure chaotic fun in the best possible way. Earth gets turned into a deadly game show, and Carl — plus the world’s most unimpressed cat — has to fight his way through levels that get stranger and more unhinged as he goes. It’s sharp, weird...
Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl Series #1)
A lone astronaut wakes up on a ship with no memory and one impossible mission, and somehow it becomes one of the most emotional, hopeful sci‑fi stories out there. The mystery unfolds piece by piece, and the friendship at the center of it is the kind ...
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Paperback
Great Rereads
Books I’ve returned to more than once because they deliver every time. If you want guaranteed good reads, start here.
A sweeping, time‑bending epic that blends history, romance, and adventure. If you’ve ever been curious about the series, this is the perfect place to start.
Outlander Books Series | Barnes & Noble®
A gothic, emotionally rich classic about resilience, self‑respect, and choosing yourself even when the world tells you not to. A deeply intimate reread that always lands with new meaning.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
A sweeping, multigenerational story of longing, sacrifice, and impossible love. Epic in scope, devastating in moments, and endlessly rereadable for its emotional honesty.
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, Paperback - Barnes & Noble
A sharp, witty, and enduring classic about love, misjudgment, and personal growth. A cultural touchstone that still feels fresh, clever, and deeply satisfying.
Pride and Prejudice (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)
Warm, humorous, and emotionally grounded. A story of sisters, resilience, and the balance between heart and reason — with some of Austen’s most charming character moments.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
A timeless, comforting seasonal reread about redemption, generosity, and the possibility of change. Short, meaningful, and grounding year after year.
A Christmas Carol (Chiltern Classics) by Charles Dickens, Hardcover
Atmospheric, haunting, and beautifully written. A psychological gothic classic that pulls you in with its mood, mystery, and unforgettable sense of place.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Quietly devastating and unexpectedly warm. A story about grief, connection, and the way ordinary lives can become extraordinary through love and community. A deeply human reread that hits just as hard — and just as beautifully — every time.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
When I Need a Reset
Books I return to when I need clarity, grounding, or a gentle reset. These aren’t traditional “classics,” but they’ve earned their place through usefulness, inspiration, and the way they support reflection and journaling.
A simple, encouraging guide to intention‑setting and clarity. Easy to revisit, great for journaling, and one of the few personal‑growth books that genuinely helps me reset when I need direction.
Write It Down Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want And Getting It