Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
2025 Reading List (shoot for 100 books!)
26
items As an avid reader (and history graduate student--you read a LOT of books), I set a goal to read 100 books every year. This list comprises all the books I've read for the year (individual manga volumes but complete sets/collections are included) and a...
Sections
9
Science Fiction
Classics
Fantasy
Horror
Historical Fiction
Romance
Science Fiction
Spaceships that go pew-pew, traveling through space and time, far off planets and the distant future. These are the books I read in my favorite genres.
"Before the Coffee Gets Cold" is a book (and series) I desperately want to love (and in theory should because coffee and time travel) but I can't. In fact, this is my SECOND time reading it and I still don't like it. There's something missing (heart,...
“In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. Local legend says that this shop offers something else besides coffee—the chance to travel back in time. Over the course o...
*Not recommended
“In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. Local legend says that this shop offers something else besides coffee—the chance to travel back in time. Over the course o...
*Not recommended
Before the Coffee Gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi
This is a collection of short stories by one of the greatest science fiction and literary minds of the 20th century--Octavia Butler. It features several thought-provoking science fiction stories. Even months after reading, I still think of each and e...
Octavia Butler is one of my all time favorite authors and I cannot recommend her enough. This collection is a great introduction to her works.
*Highly Recommended*
Octavia Butler is one of my all time favorite authors and I cannot recommend her enough. This collection is a great introduction to her works.
*Highly Recommended*
Bloodchild and Other Stories - Octavia Butler
“Terminal Boredom” is a collection of five short stories by Izumi Suzuki. The stories are all science fiction based and pack a lot of punch. One thing that impressed me about each was how she balanced a great narrative with world building and left ea...
Terminal Boredom: Stories - Izumi Suzuki
Classics
Books and short story collections I read that are considered classics.
Ryunosuke Akutagawa is considered the master of the Japanese short story and this collection makes it very clear how well-deserved that title is. This collection featuring not only one of his most famous works, Rashomon, but seventeen short stories r...
I had never read anything by Ryunosuke Akutagawa prior to picking up this collection but in the time sense he's become one of my favorite authors of all time. His stories pack a punch and while some stories are better than others (as with any short s...
*Highly Recommended*
I had never read anything by Ryunosuke Akutagawa prior to picking up this collection but in the time sense he's become one of my favorite authors of all time. His stories pack a punch and while some stories are better than others (as with any short s...
*Highly Recommended*
Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories - Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Confession: I adore the Warner Bros “Secret Garden” movie from the 90s but it wasn't until this year that I read it. There are a couple differences between the two (such as how Mary's parents died, Malaria vs. an earthquake) but both are fantastic in...
The Secret Garden centers on Mary Lennox, who begins living with her uncle in the English countryside after the death of her parents. She is a difficult, contrary child because her parents showed her no affection. After discovering a secret garden, h...
The Secret Garden is a story of transformation and how trauma can be helped by a change of circumstance and the world around us.
*Highly Recommended*
The Secret Garden centers on Mary Lennox, who begins living with her uncle in the English countryside after the death of her parents. She is a difficult, contrary child because her parents showed her no affection. After discovering a secret garden, h...
The Secret Garden is a story of transformation and how trauma can be helped by a change of circumstance and the world around us.
*Highly Recommended*
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
From Barnes and Noble: “The Way of the Samurai provides an intriguing exploration of bushido and other valued qualities such as rectitude or justice, courage, politeness, veracity, honor, loyalty and self-control. It also explores the Samurai's more ...
This is an easy read and I enjoyed the reflections of Nitobe. There are parts that don't feel well-explained but overall it is a good analysis of the “way of the samurai” as a cultural piece.
*Recommended*
This is an easy read and I enjoyed the reflections of Nitobe. There are parts that don't feel well-explained but overall it is a good analysis of the “way of the samurai” as a cultural piece.
*Recommended*
The Way of the Samurai - Inazo Nitobe
Kappa is narrated by Patient No. 23, a patient in a lunatic asylum. In the story, he recounts how, while out hiking in Kamikochi, he spots a Kappa. He decides to chase it and, like Alice pursuing the White Rabbit, he falls down a hole and into the re...
This was a must-read for my after reading a collection Ryunoksuke Akutagawa's short stories earlier this year. I enjoyed it and found it to be an interesting social commentary for the period. It's not for everyone but a must-read for those who are a ...
This was a must-read for my after reading a collection Ryunoksuke Akutagawa's short stories earlier this year. I enjoyed it and found it to be an interesting social commentary for the period. It's not for everyone but a must-read for those who are a ...
Kappa - Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Fantasy
Fantastical tales involving elves, witches, magic, shape-shifters and much more
Every villain has an origin story and “Wicked” is Gregory Macguire's book imagines how the Wicked Witch of the West from the "Wizard of Oz" became “wicked." Following the story of Elphaba from before her birth through her emergence as a villain and encounters with Dorthy and crew.
This book inspired the now popular musical, and that musical later inspired the 2024 film. I decided to pick up this book (along with a best friend) to read after watching the movie in late December. Considering it took me weeks to read (struggle thr...
*Not Recommended*
This book inspired the now popular musical, and that musical later inspired the 2024 film. I decided to pick up this book (along with a best friend) to read after watching the movie in late December. Considering it took me weeks to read (struggle thr...
*Not Recommended*
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Gregory Maguire
The second books in the Chronicles of Prydain Series and book that inspired a Disney movie, the Black Cauldron is a classic.
“In the land of Prydain, evil is never far away. Arawn, Lord of the Land of Death, has been building an army of dark warriors to take over Prydain, and the only way to stop him is to destroy the Black Cauldron he uses to create his dreaded soldiers. ...
Those who have seen the Disney movie be aware that there are more than a few differences between it and the movie (e.g, plot lines, entire major characters)
“In the land of Prydain, evil is never far away. Arawn, Lord of the Land of Death, has been building an army of dark warriors to take over Prydain, and the only way to stop him is to destroy the Black Cauldron he uses to create his dreaded soldiers. ...
Those who have seen the Disney movie be aware that there are more than a few differences between it and the movie (e.g, plot lines, entire major characters)
The Black Cauldron (Chronicles of Prydain Series #2) - Lloyd Alexander
Horror
Spooky things are happening at the house on the left!
It seems a bit of an oxymoron to label “The Summer Job” a “cozy horror” but that's exactly what it is.
"Massive nights, picturesque days: there is nothing Claire doesn't love about her summer job in Mission, Massachusetts. Claire is just trying to keep her head down and start a new life after burning out in the city, but those kids out in the woods se...
I've read two of his other books (Clown in a Cornfield, Con Season) and met him at a nearby convention. They may not break new grounds in the horror genre but they're consistently fun and cozy reads (with a bit of violence and death) and unique.
*Recommended for horror fans looking for something unique*
"Massive nights, picturesque days: there is nothing Claire doesn't love about her summer job in Mission, Massachusetts. Claire is just trying to keep her head down and start a new life after burning out in the city, but those kids out in the woods se...
I've read two of his other books (Clown in a Cornfield, Con Season) and met him at a nearby convention. They may not break new grounds in the horror genre but they're consistently fun and cozy reads (with a bit of violence and death) and unique.
*Recommended for horror fans looking for something unique*
The Summer Job - Adam Cesare
I adore Vanessa Morgan's books and commentary about niche horror movies. This was the third book of hers I've read and I immediately got it as soon as it was released. Her books about evil children and animals in horror movies I highly recommend chec...
As the title suggest, “Meow” focuses on the role of cats in horror, science fiction and fantasy movies, with contributions from not only Vanessa Morgan (who edited this book) but other film critics. There were several movies I was unaware of (that ar...
*Recommended*
As the title suggest, “Meow” focuses on the role of cats in horror, science fiction and fantasy movies, with contributions from not only Vanessa Morgan (who edited this book) but other film critics. There were several movies I was unaware of (that ar...
*Recommended*
Meow!: Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Movies - Vanessa Morgan
I grabbed “Out of the Attic” on a whim and I had heard many things about V.C. Andrews as a horror writer. This book was disturbing, well-written and one I still think about because of its narrative.
Corrine Dixon is married to the wealthy Garland Foxworth following a wildfire romance, and an unexpected pregnancy. She is often alone in the mansion of Foxworth Hall, with only the servants and her somewhat estranged young son, Malcolm Foxworth. The...
*Recommended*
Corrine Dixon is married to the wealthy Garland Foxworth following a wildfire romance, and an unexpected pregnancy. She is often alone in the mansion of Foxworth Hall, with only the servants and her somewhat estranged young son, Malcolm Foxworth. The...
*Recommended*
Out of the Attic (Dollanganger Series #10) - V.C. Andrews
Historical Fiction
Books that involve a bit of history.
Isla Mackenize travels from Scotland to Japan research her family’s history. While there, a vicious typhoon sends Isla one hundred and twenty-eight years backinto the past, to the dawn of the Satsuma Rebellion. Unable to return, she begins to bond wi...
This is a easy read but one that ultimately disappointed me. On paper, Japanese history merged with time travel should be right up my alley and I wanted to like this book so much but ultimately it falls short. It does look pretty though!
*Not Recommended*
This is a easy read but one that ultimately disappointed me. On paper, Japanese history merged with time travel should be right up my alley and I wanted to like this book so much but ultimately it falls short. It does look pretty though!
*Not Recommended*
Gate to Kagoshima - Poppy Kuroki
Beloved is a Pulitzer Prize winner my acclaimed writer Toni Morrison. At its core it's a ghost story, a story of loss and trauma that stretches across time.
Sethe is a former slave you escaped to Ohio where her mother-in-law lived and the story opens up eighteen years later. Her two sons have left, her husband never made it to Ohio, her mother-in-law is dead and her 18-year old daughter is a recluse. The...
This is a powerful book and not an easy read. The latter is not only because of the content, it is heartbreaking, but also Toni has a way of writing that you really have to pay attention to. With that in mind, there's a good reason this got a Pulitze...
*Recommended*
Sethe is a former slave you escaped to Ohio where her mother-in-law lived and the story opens up eighteen years later. Her two sons have left, her husband never made it to Ohio, her mother-in-law is dead and her 18-year old daughter is a recluse. The...
This is a powerful book and not an easy read. The latter is not only because of the content, it is heartbreaking, but also Toni has a way of writing that you really have to pay attention to. With that in mind, there's a good reason this got a Pulitze...
*Recommended*
Beloved - Toni Morrison
Romance
Love is in the air and in these books
I rarely read young adult fiction but there was something about Dating and Dragons that really appealed to me. Which is probably why I binge read it in a day.
"Quinn Norton and her family have moved to a new town and she's hoping that a new high school will provide a fresh start. She meets a group of friends who play D&D, something that she is also into, and livestreams their weekly sessions. The group...
This is such a fun read and all the characters really clicked well together. I have played D&D in the past and appreciated how that was incorporated into the story.
*Recommended*
"Quinn Norton and her family have moved to a new town and she's hoping that a new high school will provide a fresh start. She meets a group of friends who play D&D, something that she is also into, and livestreams their weekly sessions. The group...
This is such a fun read and all the characters really clicked well together. I have played D&D in the past and appreciated how that was incorporated into the story.
*Recommended*
Dating and Dragons - Kristy Boyce
“Pumpkin Spice Cafe” is a cozy romance mystery. When Jeanie’s aunt decides to retire, she offers her Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor to her. Jeanie sees it as a chance for a fresh start and accepts. Jeanie hears a strange noise a...
I really wanted to like Pumpkin Spice Cafe as someone who loves the occasional cozy book and coffee shops but this just fell short of expectations. It had trouble finding its identity as a cozy book and romance and the result was a dud. Some people w...
*Not Recommended*
I really wanted to like Pumpkin Spice Cafe as someone who loves the occasional cozy book and coffee shops but this just fell short of expectations. It had trouble finding its identity as a cozy book and romance and the result was a dud. Some people w...
*Not Recommended*
The Pumpkin Spice Café - Laurie Gilmore
I'd heard a lot of good things about “Role Playing” before giving it a shot and I'm glad I did. It is one of the few “gaming romance” books out there.
"Role Playing" follows Maggie, a 48-year old introvert whose son has moved away to college and Aiden, a fifty-year old who moved to be closer to his ailing mother. Maggie's son challenges her to “get out more” and her response is to join a new online...
I really wish there were more romance books that were well-written and developed like this. As a gamer, I appreciated the incorporation of gaming aspects (e.g., MMOs, guilds) and how the author navigates the trauma both Maggie and Aiden have experien...
*Recommended*
"Role Playing" follows Maggie, a 48-year old introvert whose son has moved away to college and Aiden, a fifty-year old who moved to be closer to his ailing mother. Maggie's son challenges her to “get out more” and her response is to join a new online...
I really wish there were more romance books that were well-written and developed like this. As a gamer, I appreciated the incorporation of gaming aspects (e.g., MMOs, guilds) and how the author navigates the trauma both Maggie and Aiden have experien...
*Recommended*
Role Playing - Cathy Yardley
After reading “Role Playing” by Cathy I was in the mood for other gaming romances and decided to settle on this. Sadly it was a disappointing decision.
Emma is ranking up in Nexus Legends Arena in a gamer cafe when a stranger approaches her adn congratulates her on ranking up. That stranger is Alex, also known as MisterX, a professional gamer who is currently benched due to a wrist injury and doing ... After meeting Emma, the two reconnect and he offers one on one training to rank her up to one of the highest levels in 30 days. Will she make it? Will romance bloom?
I really wanted to like “Good Game, Gamer Girl” because it sounded like a sweet read but it missed so many marks. It is well-written and cute but it didn't click with me because the romance felt rushed and I wasn't sure how accurate some of the e-spo...
*Not Recommended*
Emma is ranking up in Nexus Legends Arena in a gamer cafe when a stranger approaches her adn congratulates her on ranking up. That stranger is Alex, also known as MisterX, a professional gamer who is currently benched due to a wrist injury and doing ... After meeting Emma, the two reconnect and he offers one on one training to rank her up to one of the highest levels in 30 days. Will she make it? Will romance bloom?
I really wanted to like “Good Game, Gamer Girl” because it sounded like a sweet read but it missed so many marks. It is well-written and cute but it didn't click with me because the romance felt rushed and I wasn't sure how accurate some of the e-spo...
*Not Recommended*
Good Game, Gamer Girl - Reina Zoric
I rarely read paranormal romance but having just finished rewatching “New Moon” (and being team Jacob) I had an interest in reading a werewolf book. This book scratched that itch. It isn't groundbreaking per se, but it is well written and has an inte...
Brielle is a doctor and lives with her three best friends, Leigh and Shay, and all three are werewolves. Brielle has a secret, however, that she cannot transform into a werewolf for long (what's known as a psi). When the leader of werewolves calls an...
Brielle is a doctor and lives with her three best friends, Leigh and Shay, and all three are werewolves. Brielle has a secret, however, that she cannot transform into a werewolf for long (what's known as a psi). When the leader of werewolves calls an...
Fated to the Wolf Prince - April L. Moon
History
Books I read focused on history.
“The Lost Tomb” is a collection of articles published by Douglas Preston (who currently writes for “The New Yorker” and “Smithsonian”) about ancient and modern mysteries, with a heavy emphasis on archaeology. “The Lost Tomb” contains stories of burie...
I absolutely adored this book as someone who loves history and a bit of mystery tied in. I had trouble putting it down thanks to Preston's fantastic writing. If you enjoy history, archaeology, or mystery this is a must-read.
*Highly Recommended*
I absolutely adored this book as someone who loves history and a bit of mystery tied in. I had trouble putting it down thanks to Preston's fantastic writing. If you enjoy history, archaeology, or mystery this is a must-read.
*Highly Recommended*
The Lost Tomb: And Other Real-Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder - Douglas Preston
I adore Aaron Mahnke's story-telling and Cabinet of Curiosities is his most recent walk into the strange world we live in. Cabinet of Curiosities collects several strange tales from across the world and history itself and organizes them thematically....
Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre - Aaron Mahnke
Mystery and Thriller
Something mysterious is afoot.
“The Villa” centers on two best friends, Emily and Chess, who travel to Italy to reconnect. The house they're staying in, Villa Aestas, is a high-end holiday home with a torrid past. In 1974 it was the site of the murder of upcoming musician Pierce S...
“The Villa” switches back and forth between the past and present, and is written with great transitions and style. I found it hard to put down but it is not a warm and fuzzy read. Without diving into spoilers, there's a lot of commentary on abuse (ve...
*Not Recommended*
“The Villa” switches back and forth between the past and present, and is written with great transitions and style. I found it hard to put down but it is not a warm and fuzzy read. Without diving into spoilers, there's a lot of commentary on abuse (ve...
*Not Recommended*
The Villa - Rachel Hawkins
Alicia Berenson’s life is married to a famous painter, Gabriel, and lives a seemingly perfect life. However, one Gabriel returns home late and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word. She is locked inside a mental...
This is a very well-written thriller with a fairly unexpected twist at the end.
*Recommended*
This is a very well-written thriller with a fairly unexpected twist at the end.
*Recommended*
The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides
Manga (One-shots and Collections)
Manga finished in one volume and collections. I will not be including any single volume reads here.
I adore manga short story collections and I adore Moto Haigo. This collection features several short manga stories from between 1971-1991 presented in a beautiful hardback edition.
Moto Haigo's stories are always refreshing and sometimes boundary testing, and this collection is no exception.
*Highly Recommended*
Moto Haigo's stories are always refreshing and sometimes boundary testing, and this collection is no exception.
*Highly Recommended*
A Drunken Dream and Other Stories - Moto Haigo
I love Peanuts (Snoopy in particular is my favorite fictional character) and this was a must-read for me. It follows the life of Charles M. Schulz from childhood until his death.
It is a bit of a light-hearted and happy-go-lucky read, even in the face of tragedy, and its a breeze to read through. If you enjoy Peanuts, this is a must-read.
*Recommended*
It is a bit of a light-hearted and happy-go-lucky read, even in the face of tragedy, and its a breeze to read through. If you enjoy Peanuts, this is a must-read.
*Recommended*
Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz - The Creator of Snoopy and Peanuts
“Ten elite space cadets, from different races spread across the galaxy, are assigned to board a decommissioned spaceship as their final test. Their orders are to survive as long as they can with what they have. Once in the ship, they find that their ...
I adore Moto Haigo (and this is the second book by her I read this year) and her stories like to test boundaries. They Were 11! is no different. It does have slow moments story wise and I was not impressed with some motivation changes that occurred i...
I adore Moto Haigo (and this is the second book by her I read this year) and her stories like to test boundaries. They Were 11! is no different. It does have slow moments story wise and I was not impressed with some motivation changes that occurred i...
They Were 11! - Moto Haigo