As an avid reader, these are my favourite reads. Books with plots so good they have me thinking about them when I’m not reading and thinking of how soon I can reread them while still reading!
Sections
5
Historical Fiction
Fiction
Coming-of-Age
Clean Romance/YA
Romance (16+)
Historical Fiction
Ranging from African, to Middle Eastern, to European, and everything in between. These books show that to measure the true extent of the harm war has caused, we must look at the ones who survived.
In recent times, nothing could be more of value; remember your humanity.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh, Paperback
1960s Nigeria. Biafra. The lasting impact of colonialism in Africa. Tribalism. Messy.
Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“I am always finding humans at their best and worst.”
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
It’s not the most widely read book in African history for nothing!!!
Things Fall Apart: A Novel (African Trilogy) - Chinua Achebe
“We do not ask the right questions when we are young, so we miss the important answers…"
Mine Boy - Peter Abrahams
“To go on, capable of being moved and yet to have lost all sense of destination, to have no desired place, to have nowhere go direct the urge that rises within and seeks a way out, that is an unending torture.”
Why are We So Blest?- Ayi Kwei Armah
“If you don't understand where you've come from, you'll never really understand who you are or where you're going.”
We Are All Birds of Uganda - Hafsa Zayyan
“There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someones right to the truth.”
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
Fiction
“This is all there is, this fragile breathing in and out. Where have all the years gone, and have I made the most of life? But what is the final measure for making the most of life, and how would I know if I have?”
Dream Count - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Coming-of-Age
Imagine waking up to find the rotation of the Earth has changed. The days and nights are growing longer, human behaviour has changed, gravity is affected - essentially everything above and below the sun is not as you once knew. What do you do?
The Age of Miracles - Karen Thompson Walker
“Things started to fall apart at home when my brother, Jaja, did not go to communion.”
Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Clean Romance/YA
No spice, wholesome only.
Enchanted, Taylor Swift.
Don't Be In Love by Liana Cincotti
Academic rivals to lovers, fluff, feel-good, relatable romcom.
I Hope This Doesn't Find You - Ann Liang
Type A meets Type B.
Audre & Bash Are Just Friends - Tia Williams
If all the romcoms had a book baby, it would probably be this.
Better Than the Movies - Lynn Painter
“Jack . . . why are you wearing glasses?” “So I can see your jealous scowl more clearly.”
Beg, Borrow, or Steal (When in Rome, #3) - Sarah Adams
“Maybe growing up means disappointing the people we love.”
Everything Everything - Nicola Yoon
Romance (16+)
🌶️
“I never got to fall out of love. I just had to move on.”
Love and Other Words - Christina Lauren
“He wondered if he could ever look at Lily and not feel like he'd been struck by lightning.”
The Neighbor Favor (The Greene Sisters, #1) - Kristina Forest
“Time is a miracle. It shows you what you had, and sometimes it brings it back to you. Different. Better.”
The Ex Vows - Jessica Joyce
“I’m a cynic. And a cynic is a romantic who’s too scared to hope.”
Funny Story - Emily Henry
“You can tell a lot about a person by how they react to someone’s truth. Talk to them straight, without all the social niceties, and they’ll let you know sooner rather than later if they’re someone you can trust.”
Between Friends & Lovers - Shirlene Obuobi
“I don’t know how anybody would let you walk away, and it isn’t going to be me. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Are we clear?”
All Rhodes Lead Here - Mariana Zapata
“Are you sure you know what you’re getting yourself into?” "“One hundred percent.” “You know I’m crazy.” “You’re my best friend. I know you’re crazy.”
