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Books That Stayed With Me
12
items A mix of books I’ve read and genuinely loved, stories that stuck with me, made me feel something, or I still think about long after finishing. If you’re looking for your next good read, start here
Sections
3
Books that BROKE me 💔
Books that made me think 💖
Quieter but still stayed with me 😭
Books that BROKE me 💔
The ones that really got to me. Not always easy to read, but the kind of stories that stay in your head long after you finish them.
I went into it expecting something similar to The Kite Runner, but this felt more intense and a lot more personal.
It’s definitely not a light read, but it’s the kind of story that completely pulls you in. I got really attached to the characters, and...
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This is one of those books that just sticks with you. It follows two boys, Amir and Hassan, growing up in Afghanistan, and their friendship is… complicated (no spoilers, but yeah, it gets heavy). There’s a moment in the book that genuinely made me st...
The Kite Runner (20th Anniversary Edition) by Khaled Hosseini, Hardcover
This book is a lot.
It follows a group of friends, but really centres around one of them, Jude. You slowly learn more about his past as the story goes on, and it just gets heavier and heavier.
This isn’t an easy read at all; it’s probably the most ...
A Little Life: Million-Copy Bestseller, Booker Shortlist
This one was harder to read than I expected, but in a good way.
It follows a woman during the Great Depression just trying to keep things going for her family, and everything feels very real, like it doesn’t hold back on how tough things were.
It’s...
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Books that made me think 💖
Stories that go beyond just the plot! These made me think more about history, people, and different perspectives.
I don’t see people talk about this one as much, but it’s honestly so good.
It follows a Palestinian family over years, and you kind of just grow with them as everything changes. I went into it not knowing loads about the history, but it didn’t feel ...
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
It’s set in Nazi Germany and follows a young girl, Liesel, who finds comfort in books during a really difficult time. The story is told in a really unique way (which I didn’t expect at first), but it actually makes it even more memorable.
It’s not c...
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This one’s structured really differently from most books so stick with it!
Each chapter follows a different person, moving through generations of the same family. At first it feels a bit disjointed, but once you realise how everything connects, it a...
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
I read this a while ago and still think about it, which says a lot.
It’s set during the Nigerian Civil War and follows a few different characters whose lives all connect. What I liked about this one is that it doesn’t feel like you’re just reading a...
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Quieter but still stayed with me 😭
Slightly softer or slower reads, but still just as memorable in their own way and still a MUST read.
A quieter read compared to others on this list, but one that lingers.
Set during WWII, the story follows two separate lives that slowly move towards each other. It’s not driven by big dramatic moments, but by small details and atmosphere, which make...
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Basically about first love, timing, and how things don’t always work out the way you expect.
I wouldn’t say it’s as heavy as the other books on my list, but it still has those moments where you stop and think about it after.
It’s more of a quiet ki...
The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
A WWII story, but told through two sisters rather than focusing on the war itself.
What stood out to me was how different their lives became, even though they started in the same place. It shows survival in very different ways, which made it feel mor...
The Nightingale: Multimillion Copy Bestseller
Set in a quiet marsh town, following a girl who grows up completely on her own.
It’s a mix of: nature writing, coming-of-age and a bit of mystery.
Very slow-paced, but that’s kind of the point. It’s more about the atmosphere and her life than anyth...
Where the Crawdads Sing: Delia Owens