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my bookshelf
25
items If a book’s on here, it’s because it left a mark on me—and I hope it does the same for you. ❤️
Sections
5
detective
romance
fiction
historical
horror
detective
If you’re craving a smart, satisfying mystery that keeps you flipping pages, these are the ones I’d hand you off my own shelf.
Moody, atmospheric, and emotionally layered. It’s not just a mystery—it’s a psychological deep dive. I loved the eerie tone and flawed narrator. The ending will stick with you (and maybe haunt you a little).
In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, #1) by Tana French
Dark, twisted, and beautifully written. Camille Preaker is the kind of messy, fascinating protagonist I can’t get enough of. This isn’t just about solving a crime—it’s about unraveling people.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
If you like clever, meta storytelling, this one’s so fun. Horowitz inserts himself into the narrative as a character, and the result is part detective novel, part puzzle-box. Think Sherlock Holmes meets modern crime fiction.
The Word Is Murder: A Hawthorne & Horowitz Mystery
No list is complete without the queen. This book is a masterclass in suspense. I’ve read it multiple times and it still gives me chills. No Poirot, no Marple—just a perfectly structured, closed-circle mystery.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Cormoran Strike is a classic gruff-but-brilliant detective, and the London setting is so vivid. This series grew on me fast, and I loved the tension between him and his partner Robin. A solid modern take on the genre.
The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike, #1) by Robert Galbraith
romance
If you’re in the mood to fall in love (or cry about fictional people who did), this is the list for you 💌
Witty, sharp, and self-aware. This one hit me hard. It’s about two bookish people who are so not meant to fall in love… but obviously do. The banter? Impeccable. The emotional depth? Surprising. A love story and a love letter to complicated women.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
This book is not your typical romance—it’s heavy, honest, and incredibly personal. It broke my heart in the best way and made me think about love and strength differently. I didn’t expect to cry this much.
It Ends with Us: A Novel by Colleen Hoover
STEM girls + fake dating + grumpy/sunshine energy = yes, please. This one made me laugh out loud, and Adam is peak tall, broody, secretly-soft boyfriend material. Loved every second.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Okay, technically more literary fiction than classic romance—but the love story in this book? Unforgettable. It’s glamorous, devastating, and powerful. Evelyn’s voice will live in your head forever.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The slowest slow burn of my life… and I loved every painful minute. It’s all about timing, missed chances, and the kind of love that takes years to find its way. If you believe in fate (or want to), this is your book.
One Day in December by Josie Silver
fiction
If you’re looking for fiction that hits a little deeper, stays in your head, and keeps you turning pages late at night, these are my favorites—for all the right (and wrong) reasons
Quiet, raw, and so achingly real. This isn’t a love story in the traditional sense—it’s about connection, communication (or the lack of it), and two people who can’t quite figure each other out. It left me with a knot in my chest—and I weirdly loved ...
Normal People by Sally Rooney
If you want something magical but not fantasy-heavy, this one is pure enchantment. It’s slow and atmospheric, but it completely swept me away. The world-building is beautiful, and the romance is haunting in the best way.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book made me want to run away to a moody New England college and study dead languages while solving a murder (??). It’s pretentious in a delicious way, dark, intellectual, and addictive. If you love morally gray characters and slow unraveling, t...
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
This one caught me off guard. It’s about video games, but also so not. It’s about friendship, creativity, grief, and growing up. The writing is poetic without trying too hard, and I think about it all the time.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
This one is not for everyone—but if you’ve ever been tired of life and wanted to disappear under a duvet for a year, this is your kind of weird. It’s sharp, darkly funny, and quietly sad. I was obsessed.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
historical
If you're in the mood for beautifully written stories that take you somewhere else—physically and emotionally—these are the ones I recommend most.
I don’t think I’ve ever cried harder over a book. Set in Nazi-occupied France, it tells the story of two sisters and what resistance—and survival—really looks like. It’s gut-wrenching, beautiful, and stayed with me for weeks after I finished.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Narrated by Death , this story is haunting, poetic, and full of heart. Set in WWII Germany, it focuses on a young girl discovering the power of words amidst horror. It’s technically YA, but trust me—it's timeless and unforgettable.
The Book Thief: Full Book Summary
This one is quiet, literary, and achingly beautiful. It reimagines the life and loss of Shakespeare’s son, and I was honestly stunned by how emotionally devastating and gorgeously written it is. It’s not about history—it’s about grief, motherhood, an...
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
For book lovers and Paris romantics—this one’s a dual timeline story about librarians at the American Library in Paris during WWII. It’s a love letter to books, resilience, and found family. Made me want to move to a dusty library in 1940s France.
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
A heartbreaking, true-story-based novel that somehow finds moments of hope and love in the darkest of places. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one. If you’ve ever doubted the power of human connection—read this.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel
horror
If you're into horror that actually messes with your head — not just jump scares — these are the ones that did it for me.
This one hit hard. It’s eerie and sad and beautifully written — a mix of supernatural revenge and cultural reckoning. The horror creeps in slowly, then pounces. Highly recommend if you want something smart and unsettling.
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
A lush, creepy slow-burn that turns into full-blown gothic madness. Think moldy mansions, twisted families, and something very wrong in the walls. I couldn’t stop reading, even when it got deeply disturbing.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
I kept flipping back and rereading parts, trying to piece together the mystery. Definitely not for everyone, but if you want something experimental and unsettling, it’s worth it.
Books - House of Leaves: Mark Z. Danielewski
Body horror warning: this one is nasty. A group of boys on a remote island, a biohazard gone wrong, and some of the most graphic scenes I’ve read in years. If you like your horror gruesome and intense — this is it.
The Troop by Nick Cutter
Imagine The Exorcist meets Mean Girls. It’s scary, yes — but also funny and surprisingly heartfelt. I didn’t expect to get emotional reading a horror-comedy, but here we are. Also: excellent ‘80s vibes.
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix