Books That Stole My Heart

Your Go-To Guide for Must-Read Fiction

There are certain books that you experience that will stick with you for the rest of your life. In this post, I want to share some of my favorite reads that serve as a reminder of why I will always be a book lover. These books will come from a variety of genres, including romance, historical fiction, fantasy, and more. 

Books That Shaped Me

In my first article, Wanna Get Into Reading and Don’t Know Where to Start?, I touched on how my love for reading began at an early age and continued to blossom from there. When I think of the books that have shaped my current tastes, I realize they are the ones that have had the most impact on my personal growth. These are just a few of the books that come to mind. 

1. Looking For Alaska by John Green

• Thinking back to the formative years of my teens, one of the first books that comes to mind is this. Looking for Alaska was the first book that moved me in such a large way that still sticks with me to this day. I’m not sure how I would feel if I reread the book now at 24-years old, but to my teenage-sized brain, this book was everything and more. 

2. The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

• Where do I begin? Experiencing this series with my best friend was the first time I felt how books could connect people in such a meaningful way. Romance, fun, drama, something to giggle with my friends about…what else could I possible want? The Selection Series is the reason I continue to love romance novels today. 

3. Divergent by Victoria Roth 

• I’ve read many dystopian novels throughout my life, but when I think back to the one that really solidified my love for the genre, Divergent comes to mind. This book symbolizes the first time I ever felt truly glued to another world. Divergent made me love emerging myself in a completely different society and discovering all of the possibilities there. 

Comfort Reads

I’m not typically one to reread a book, but there are often times where I think of characters from books that bring me comfort. Books with themes like found-family, friends-to-lovers, and beach reads are usually the ones that fall into the “Comfort Reads” category. Here are some of my favorites. Be prepared; they’re all romance. 

1. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren 

• Friends-to-lovers and second-chance romances aren’t really my favorite tropes, but something about this book really scratched the itch in my brain. A beautiful story of two friends recounting their childhood love and continuing that love in their adulthood. This is the epitome of a feel-good romance, so it would be crime not to include it in this list. 

2. Book Lovers by Emily Henry 

• This is easily one of my favorites from Emily Henry’s catalog. Not only is this a book with a swoon-worthy romance, but the underlying theme of how sisterhood changes as you grow older is something that really resonated with me. My sisters and my closest friends have taught me what true sisterhood is throughout my entire life, so to see that reflected so well in this book made me feel all the feels. 

3. The Right Move (Windy City Series) by Liz Tomforde 

• This series truly has everything you could ever want in a romance. When I think of my ideal romance novel, this is one of the first books that comes to mind. There really isn’t even much else to say. Read it. 

Books That Made Me Think

1. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 

• Have you ever read a book that just left you staring at a wall? A Little Life made me put the book down to have a stare down with the wall almost too many times to count while I read it. I have so many thoughts, but not nearly enough words  This is the only book that has ever made me feel the true weight of how horrible someone’s life could be. It’s such a devastating story that I almost wouldn’t even recommend it. 

2. The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros 

• One thing I will always love is a well-written book. The Things We Leave Unfinished is just that. A devastating, beautifully-written romance novel that highlights all the great things that love is, all while touching on the harsh realities of it as well. If you want to explore contemporary romance meets historical fiction, this is definitely a book I would recommend. 

3. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

• When I think of what really made me get back into reading in my adulthood, I  think of this book. Did I think I would love a retelling of The Trojan War? No, I did not, but I certainly loved this book more than you could ever imagine. This action-packed romance novel is my absolute favorite historical fiction I’ve read so far. Miller’s writing is so captivating and I look forward to reading more of her work.

You may have read, or will eventually read, one of these books and feel completely different about them than I do. That’s okay. That’s the whole point really. Books can evoke so many different feelings for different people and to me, that’s the beauty of it all. If you have read any of these novels, I would love to hear your thoughts. If you haven’t read any of these and you have some of your personal favorites that can fit into these categories, please share in the comments below. I would love to check them out! 

Until Next Time, 

Monique