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BOOK HALL OF FAME 📚
35
items Books I have rated 5 stars and my thoughts on each. Contemporary fic, litfic, horror, thrillers, sci-fi/speculative, and more! I will be continously adding to this list. (All linked products are affiliate links)
This is a god-tier thriller. An absolutely insane amount of twists, turns, and surprises. For the best experience, read this in one sitting during a snowy day. This story and atmosphere will literally make the cold seep into your bones, even when you...
No Exit by Taylor Adams
Get ready to be emotionally devastated and haunted by this lyrical literary fiction tale of a girl's upbringing in rural Appalachia. It's heartbreaking, yet hopeful. One of my favorite books of all time. I've read it twice, which is not something I c...
Betty: A novel by Tiffany McDaniel, Paperback
The most thought-provoking speculative concept I have read about. This book follows 8 or so different characters (who are somewhat interconnected) and we get to see how their lives change after the revelation of The Measure. I loved exploring how som...
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Hidden gem alert because I never see anyone mention this book. Beautiful little story about an American woman who is starting her life over in a Central American village. The story introduces us to characters in the village and how they, and the hote...
The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard
Alternate-history fiction about a small town in Nebraska during the Dust Bowl. We are introduced to several unique characters and situations happening in town, favorites of mine being a prairie witch who holds onto townspeople's secrets in her mind a...
The Antidote by Karen Russell
Absolute must read for anyone interested in the parallels of how trans & gender non-conforming people were treated during the Holocaust compared to present day. This book shook me to the core
The Lilac People by Milo Todd
I promise you do NOT have to be a sci-fi reader to enjoy this book. This story balances science, quirky humor, and character development really well. The biggest/best part of the story is not mentioned in the description, and it should stay that way ...
Project Hail Mary
A mix of genres, thriller, romance, lit fic…overall a great story
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker
This book literally explains EVERYTHING. It answers a lot of questions about the polarity of our current politics, particularly how we got to be this way. This is a full account from the whistleblower himself about how Cambridge Analytica used social...
Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America
This is like reading the weirdest psychological horror/thriller movie you have ever seen. Very fun puzzle aspect to the novel involving morse code, a lot of strange references, mixed media, and “Old House Lore" to discover within the pages. Your brai...
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
Totally underrated book following the life and tragedy of a fictional modern-day princess (with details heavily borrowed from the story of a real modern-day princess…)
The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland
One of my favorite time travel books. It made me cry a lot.
The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain
I was addicted to this story and characters (pun intended)
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
The main character girl is creepy as shit and the family decides to make a documentary about it. Recommend if you like possession, demons, the exorcist etc. This one snuck up on me, wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did.
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
Combine OnlyFans, wrestling, and writing that is actually, genuinely funny and that's this book. I promise you have not read a book like this before.
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Very simple yet effective horror.
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Group dynamics and nature adventures make a really great combo
In the Heart of the Canyon by Elisabeth Hyde
The best Kristin Hannah book, and one of my favorite historical fiction books ever.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
This book had a lot of surprises - there is not one, but THREE mysteries to solve! Also by far the best ~true crime~ thriller I've read - I like that it took the internet forum route rather than a podcast, because they all seem to do that now.
This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
Daiyu's story is heartbreaking, but also interesting to read about what Chinese immigrants went through in getting to/ making a life in the US. This is a western historical fiction mixed with some magical realism and it blends together perfectly
Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Probably the best example of speculative fiction that I can think of. This is a group of interconnected short stories detailing a mass extinction of humankind resulting from climate change. You will also cry btw
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Riley Sager's books have been trending downhill for me over the last few years, but I still read every single one because I'm trying to chase the high that THIS book gave me. If you like the show Haunting of Hill House, you will enjoy this too!
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
My other favorite Riley Sager book. This is a perfect summer read with the girls camp vibes and some great twists.
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
The Donner party story with supernatural elements and a spooky twist. I love the personalities and characterizations given to the more famous members of the party.
The Hunger by Alma Katsu
hidden gem alert! If you like Charlotte McConaghy's books, especially Wild Dark Shore, I think you will love this. Gorgeous writing and it's a pretty calm and quiet mystery (if such a thing exists) but it's sooo good
The Lightkeepers by Abby Geni
ANOTHER hidden gem alert! This is an engaging multigenerational dystopian/sci-fi story with some unique characters and scenarios. Described as being for fans of Station Eleven, but I liked this way better.
Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan
My advice for this one would be: savor it and don't read too fast. It is a chonker, but too good a book to fly through. Barbara Kingsolver writes the main character, Damon so convincingly and I feel his story is really important. Definitely a modern ...
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Best way I can describe this book: it's a cross between Lock Every Door by Riley Sager and season 5 of American horror story (the vampire one). The vibes are immaculate, and has well-developed characters for a horror novel.
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
This is so purely wonderful and I can't imagine someone disliking this book. The life and trials of a giant as told through the perspectives of several close people in his community. I liked the blend of Amish, football, wrestling, and Wisconsin cult...
Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo
This book helped me gain a larger interest and appreciation of nature, and understand how thru-hiking works (and, incredibly, how people were able to do that before the internet)
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
I'm always seeking out books that are similar to this one and never finding anything quite like it. It is a multigenerational story about TREES and climate change. This was the perfect read on my trip to British Columbia.
Greenwood by Michael Christie
You'll find this on a lot of best thriller lists. MAJOR trigger warnings as this book is insanely upsetting and enraging, I do not recommend if you're not used to reading about dark topics. But if you're willing to take it on, it is so good and one o...
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Quiet and contemplative book, my favorite from Charlotte McConaghy
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
A tale of revenge that is so satisfying. A boy and his class are victims of a school shooting. His mother takes matters into her own hands against the powerful men who allowed it to happen
Lilith by Eric Rickstad
Great book about mental health and how unexpected twists and turns in life can actually turn into something better and more hopeful. This one grows on you so much while reading
The Wedding People by Alison Espach