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Must-Read Books
41
items I have been an avid reader all my life and these are books that have left a lasting impression on me.
Sections
4
2025 A-Z Reading Challenge
Contemporary
Historical Fiction
Nonfiction
2025 A-Z Reading Challenge
This year, I'm working on a challenge to read a book with a title that starts with each letter of the alphabet. To round it out to an even 30 books, I'm also going to read a book with a one-word title, a color in the title, a number in the title and ...
A
Set in present-day Mexico, American Dirt follows Lydia, a bookstore owner who flees Acapulco with her son after her journalist husband is murdered by a ruthless drug cartel, forcing them to embark on a harrowing journey as migrants toward the U.S. bo...
Set in present-day Mexico, American Dirt follows Lydia, a bookstore owner who flees Acapulco with her son after her journalist husband is murdered by a ruthless drug cartel, forcing them to embark on a harrowing journey as migrants toward the U.S. bo...
American Dirt
D
Dopamine Detox explores how constant exposure to instant gratification—through social media, gaming, and other quick-fix pleasures—rewires the brain, leading to decreased motivation and productivity. What sets this book apart is its practical, scienc...
Dopamine Detox explores how constant exposure to instant gratification—through social media, gaming, and other quick-fix pleasures—rewires the brain, leading to decreased motivation and productivity. What sets this book apart is its practical, scienc...
Dopamine Detox: Beat Addiction & Wasting Life
F
Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal flips the traditional hustle narrative on its head by showing that you don’t have to grind yourself into burnout to get things done. Drawing from his experience as a doctor turned YouTuber and productivity expert,...
Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal flips the traditional hustle narrative on its head by showing that you don’t have to grind yourself into burnout to get things done. Drawing from his experience as a doctor turned YouTuber and productivity expert,...
Feel-Good Productivity: Do What Matters
H
Set in 1972 in the rundown Chicken Hill neighborhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store follows a diverse community of Jewish and Black residents who band together to protect a deaf Black boy from institutionalization, r...
Set in 1972 in the rundown Chicken Hill neighborhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store follows a diverse community of Jewish and Black residents who band together to protect a deaf Black boy from institutionalization, r...
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel
L
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is a historical adventure novel set in 1954, following 18-year-old Emmett Watson as he embarks on a road trip with his younger brother, Billy, intending to start fresh in California. Their carefully laid plans take ...
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is a historical adventure novel set in 1954, following 18-year-old Emmett Watson as he embarks on a road trip with his younger brother, Billy, intending to start fresh in California. Their carefully laid plans take ...
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
M
My Notorious Life is a historical fiction novel set in 19th-century New York City, following the rise of Axie Muldoon, a poor orphan who becomes one of the city’s most controversial—and sought-after—midwives. Inspired by real-life figures, the book o...
My Notorious Life is a historical fiction novel set in 19th-century New York City, following the rise of Axie Muldoon, a poor orphan who becomes one of the city’s most controversial—and sought-after—midwives. Inspired by real-life figures, the book o...
My Notorious Life: A Novel
The Orphan’s Tale is a historical fiction novel set in World War II Europe, where a young woman hiding from the Nazis joins a traveling circus and forms an unlikely bond with a Jewish aerialist also in hiding. What makes this book especially compelli...
The Orphan's Tale: A Novel
Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning by C. Edward Watson and Jose Antonio Bowen is a friendly, forward-thinking guide for educators navigating the brave new world of artificial intelligence in the classroom. The authors ...
(Read this one as part of the USD faculty/staff book club and so glad I did!)
(Read this one as part of the USD faculty/staff book club and so glad I did!)
Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide
W
Set during World War II and the Vietnam War, The Women by Kristin Hannah follows a young nurse, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, as she volunteers to serve in Vietnam, facing the horrors of war and the harsh realities awaiting her upon returning home. With...
Set during World War II and the Vietnam War, The Women by Kristin Hannah follows a young nurse, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, as she volunteers to serve in Vietnam, facing the horrors of war and the harsh realities awaiting her upon returning home. With...
The Women: A Novel
Yellowface is a contemporary literary satire set in present-day Washington, D.C., following the story of June Hayward, a struggling white author who steals the manuscript of her recently deceased, more successful Asian American friend—and publishes i...
Yellowface: A Reese's Book Club Pick
Contemporary
From heartfelt dramas to thought-provoking page-turners, this section features contemporary novels that capture the complexities of modern life, love, and human connection.
Set in present-day Mexico, American Dirt follows Lydia, a bookstore owner who flees Acapulco with her son after her journalist husband is murdered by a ruthless drug cartel, forcing them to embark on a harrowing journey as migrants toward the U.S. bo...
American Dirt (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
This contemporary mystery-drama, set in modern-day London, follows Emma, a renowned obituary writer, whose carefully constructed life unravels when her husband discovers she has been lying about nearly everything—including her name. With lyrical pros...
The Love of My Life: A Novel
The Sentence is a contemporary literary novel set in Minneapolis, blending the supernatural with real-world events as a haunted bookstore employee navigates the aftermath of a crime and the turmoil of 2020. Erdrich’s signature lyrical prose and dark ...
The Sentence
The Wind Knows My Name is a contemporary novel with historical fiction elements, exploring the lives of two displaced children—one escaping Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938 and another fleeing violence in El Salvador in 2019—whose fates connect through ...
The Wind Knows My Name: A Novel
The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri is a poignant and immersive novel set in a near-future world where climate change and political unrest have forced people to survive in ways we can’t quite imagine. It follows the story of a woman named Nuri as she...
The Book of Fire: A Novel
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is a crime fiction novel set in a small California coastal town during the present day, following the lives of a troubled sheriff, a convicted criminal, and a young girl seeking justice. With its lyrical prose, d...
We Begin at the End
Historical Fiction
One of my favorite genres! Step into the past with richly woven stories that bring history to life. This section features immersive novels filled with compelling characters, meticulously researched settings, and gripping narratives that transport you...
The Women by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction novel set during the Vietnam War, following a group of women who serve as nurses in a combat zone. The book uniquely explores the emotional and psychological toll of war, highlighting the women’s ex...
The Women: A Novel
The Yellow Bird Sings: A Novel is a historical fiction set in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II, following a young Jewish girl named Shira and her mother's struggle for survival. The novel stands out for its vivid portrayal of resilience, blen...
The Yellow Bird Sings: A Novel
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry is a historical fiction novel set in 1940s England, following the story of two sisters separated during World War II. The novel uniquely blends magical realism with deep emotional depth, exploring ...
The Secret Book of Flora Lea: A Novel
The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel is a historical fiction novel set in Champagne, France, during World War II and the years following. The story weaves together the lives of several characters, uncovering secrets and betrayals as they navigate t...
The Winemaker's Wife
Our Woman in Moscow: A Novel is a historical fiction set in the early years of the Cold War, following the journey of a young American woman caught in the web of espionage in 1950s Moscow. With its intricate portrayal of loyalty, betrayal, and identi...
Our Woman in Moscow: A Novel
Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a historical fiction novel set in 1960s Alabama, following the story of Civil Townsend, a young nurse who becomes embroiled in the lives of two Black girls who are subjected to a controversial medical experimen...
Take My Hand
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger is a historical mystery set in 1958 in a small town in Minnesota, where the unresolved murder of a local war hero resurfaces after a flood. Krueger blends rich, atmospheric writing with deeply developed c...
The River We Remember: A Novel
Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang is a historical fiction novel set in late 19th-century China and the American West, following the journey of a young Chinese girl, Ai Lin, who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Through poetic prose a...
Four Treasures of the Sky: A Novel
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a beautifully inspiring tale set in the deserts of Egypt, following Santiago, a young shepherd, on his quest to find a hidden treasure. Along the way, he learns deep lessons about pursuing your dreams, listening to yo...
The Alchemist: 25th Anniversary Edition
The Great Divide: A Novel of the Panama Canal is a historical fiction set in the early 20th century, during the construction of the Panama Canal. The novel weaves together personal and political conflicts, exploring the human cost of the monumental e...
The Great Divide: A Novel of the Panama Canal
The House of Eve is a historical fiction novel set in 1950s and 1960s America, following the intertwined lives of two young women—one from a poor, Black family in Washington, D.C., and the other from a wealthy, but troubled, family in Philadelphia. W...
The House of Eve
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd is a historical fiction novel set in 1st-century Judea, following the life of Ana, a young woman who dreams of a life beyond the constraints of society and eventually becomes the wife of Jesus. Through lyrical pr...
The Book of Longings: A Novel
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie is a historical fiction novel set in 1940s Japan, following the life of Nori, a biracial girl caught between her mother's neglect and her aristocratic grandparents' disdain. The novel's rich prose and deep characte...
Fifty Words for Rain: A Novel
When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson is a historical fiction novel set in Iraq during the 2003 invasion. The story follows the lives of three women—each with a hidden agenda—as they navigate the complex political landscape of a country on the br...
When the Apricots Bloom: A Riveting Novel
Nonfiction
This collection features inspiring and thought-provoking nonfiction, with a focus on personal growth, motivation, and self-improvement. They have had a profound impact on the way I live and view the world in recent years. Whether it's a powerful memo...
All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols is a beautifully written collection of poetry and prose centered around themes of self-acceptance, growth, and finding peace amidst life's challenges. The book offers gentle, encouraging reflection...
All Along You Were Blooming: Poetry
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam M. Grant explores how individuals can unlock their full potential through a combination of science, psychology, and self-improvement strategies. Grant, a renowned organizational psycho...
Hidden Potential: Science of Achieving More
52 Ways to Walk: The Science of Walking for Joy by Kimi Raikkonen offers an exploration of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of walking. The book blends scientific insights with practical tips, encouraging readers to embrace walking as a t...
52 Ways to Walk: Science of Walking for Joy
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod presents a transformative morning routine designed to elevate every area of life, focusing on six key practices: silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading, and scribing (journaling). Elrod, a survivor of...
The Miracle Morning: Transform Your Life
Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life by Roxie Nafousi offers a practical guide to harnessing the power of manifestation through seven transformative steps. Nafousi blends personal anecdotes with actionable advice to help readers align their tho...
Manifest (International Edition)
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown explores the complex emotions and experiences that define human connection, offering a map to help readers understand and navigate their feelings. Drawing on research and personal stories, Brown examines 87 emotions ...
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Connection
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life explores the concept of "ikigai," a Japanese term meaning "a reason for being" that blends passion, mission, vocation, and profession to promote a fulfilling life. Authors Héctor García and Frances...
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Happy Life
Clean(ish) by Gin Stephens explores the concept of intermittent fasting and its benefits for both physical and mental health. Stephens encourages readers to embrace a flexible, non-restrictive approach to clean eating, emphasizing sustainable habits ...
Clean(ish): Eat Clean, Live Clean, Self-Clean
The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings for Living Well by Chelsey Luger and Thosh Collins offers a guide to living a balanced, fulfilling life through the lens of Indigenous wisdom. Drawing on their own Anishinaabe and Navajo heritage, the authors e...
The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings
In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown explores the power of embracing vulnerability, authenticity, and self-compassion to lead a more fulfilling life. Through personal stories and research, she encourages readers to let go of perfectionism and cu...
The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniv. Ed.
Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey provides practical strategies for overcoming procrastination and turning ideas into completed projects. Gilkey, a productivity expert, offers a step-by-step guide to help readers break do...
Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done