These are the books that made me pause, reflect, and feel something deeply—across genres, styles, and stories.
Sections
3
Fiction that made me feel something
Nonfiction that made me think differently
Spiritual reads that shifted my perspective and deepened my awareness
Fiction that made me feel something
—stories I got lost in and didn’t fully leave behind.
My favorite book of all time. Characters that you easily become heavily invested in. Spiritual warfare. Intense highs and lows.
The Stand: King, Stephen: 9780307947307
My favorite Steinbeck by far
East of Eden, John Steinbeck Centennial Edition
A more realistic telling of a relationship
Normal People: A Novel - Sally Rooney
Potentially my favorite coming of age story
The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Chbosky, Stephen
Heartbreaking, but a must read
Flowers for Algernon: Keyes, Daniel: 9780156030083
It will make you reflect (especially as a woman) on what your life could have been like in a different time
Valley of the Dolls
Gripped me from the very beginning
The Secret History
"But now I say that I know the meaning of my life: it is to live for God, for the soul. And that meaning, in spite of its clearness, is mystic and wonderful. And such is the meaning of all existence."
Anna Karenina
My second favorite coming of age story
A Separate Peace
Do not judge this book by it's cover
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Just allow this book to take you on it's journey, it wont be what you expected.
I Who Have Never Known Men
The only bookI've ever read that I had to take a break from because it was so emotionally overwhelming
A Little Life
The descent into madness
The Catcher in the Rye
“Like the drink, but spelled different”. John Coffey will tug at your heart like no other.
The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel
Nonfiction that made me think differently
—about people, the world, and myself. The kind that quietly expands your perspective.
Bawled my eyes out at the end
Modoc: True Story of Greatest Elephant
Purposely waited until I was traveling to Chicago to read it. Erik Larson truly writes so compellingly that Non-fiction reads as fiction
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
I had no idea how long The Troubles truly lasted or how recently they ended. Highly recommend.
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Spiritual reads that shifted my perspective and deepened my awareness
These are the books that are full of highlighter marks and underlines. These books taught me incredible lessons and provided needed insight.
Perfectly ties spirituality and psychoanalysis together. The first line is iconic: “Life is difficult”
The Road Less Traveled, Timeless Edition: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
As someone who endured 12 years of Catholic school, this was a great read.
The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life
Very Very Powerful
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
One of the first spiritual books I picked up
The Ego-Less SELF: Achieving Peace & Tranquility Beyond All Understanding
One I've come back to time and time again
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
