Books are, of course, the reason I want to be an author. I’ve read over 500 books, and all of them have influenced me and my writing. In this blog post, I want to share the twenty-five books that have impacted me the most, and I can safely say are my all time favourites.
I read a lot of books. Just one look at my Goodreads will tell you that. What is not so easy to express is my all consuming love for some of the books I have read. These books have made me laugh and cry, made me turn back the pages out of shock and flip back to the start as soon as I am done. I’ve learned lessons from the characters that live in these pages, and spent all my wishes that I could join them in their worlds.
So, although it is hard to narrow it down, I want to share with you my Top 25 Books of All Time. These books are not numbered (because that would be too hard), so I have grouped them generally as 25-16, 15-6 and the final top 5 books.
For the sake of the length of this post, I will keep my reviews brief. I won’t explain any plots, just how they made me feel.
Books 25-16
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
I’ll need to keep my reviews brief, which is hard because I have so much to say about this book. I love Fredrik Backman, but this series is so wise. More people need to read this because of the perspective it gives, the lessons it shares and the characters that so closely reflect real scenarios.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
This is the only contemporary romance on this list. I’ve tried a few romances, but in most cases I can’t get behind the couple or the plot. Emily Henry is a different breed. The emotional intelligence that accompanies her books is incomparable. Happy Place is a close second, but Beach Read’s characters hold a special place in my heart.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
I only read this three books ago, but I can confidently place it on this list. From the first page, I was swept away with the intelligent writing, beautifully crafted characters and the sheer good vibes of this book. My mum is not a Sanderson fan (she was a big Wheel of Time fan) but I am going to keep throwing this book at her until she reads it.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Before I read this series, it had been a long time since I felt truly connected to a series. Then came these incredible worlds, these fierce and damaged characters. Each book is so short, but nothing is ever wasted. It’s also the most simply diverse series I’ve ever read, showing how easy it is to include other perspectives and how effective it can be.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
I love audiobooks, and Sadie should be an advert for them. Multimedia books will appear a lot on this list, and this one shows what you can do with a book, how you can tell a story so well in a unique medium. This is a book I recommend to everyone, but you should definitely grab the audiobook.
A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin
I can be sceptical of series that follow different characters across different books, but I have never related to a character like Eliza. Her arc is one of my favourites I’ve read, and Melville… that is all.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
This book contains the best last page of a book I’ve ever read. I was recommended this book because I love Stranger Things, and while the 80s vibes are strong, the real place this shines is in its depiction of girlhood and female friendships.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Amaze amaze amaze. I read this the day before I saw the movie and I loved every minute of both. This was one of those reading experiences where every word felt real, like Grace and Rocky were really up there. I’m not big on sci-fi (as you will be able to tell by this list) but this book is truly something special.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Another recent read that I was somewhat apprehensive to pick up. I knew that Morgenstern’s writing was very lyrical, and I usually struggle with books that don’t have a strong guiding plot, but this one swept me away, straight into all its mystique.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I remember reading this when I was 15. I used my first ever paycheck to get the second book Hollow City. I’ve never since read a book that uses found materials the way this one does, and constructs the perfect eerie atmosphere with love and friendship. These characters inspired the first book I ever wrote, and I’m currently rereading the series nearly ten years later.
15-6
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins-Reid
I wanted to instate a rule to only include one book from every author on this list, because of Taylor Jenkins-Reid. I’ve read everything she has published, and if she were to publish her shopping list tomorrow I’d get a special edition. I’ve read this book physically and with the audio, and both times I was consumed by the characters in all their messy glory.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Cue Kate Bush. I own fifteen copies of this book. Yes, it’s depressing and dreary and moody, but it is so beautifully written. This is not a romance, it is a revenge story, and I loved every moment of seeing these terrible people do terrible things.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Continuing the theme of depressing books. Ironically, The Bell Jar is a bit of a comfort book for me. Every time I read it, I understand more about myself and my place in the world. I do not recommend this book to everyone, and would suggest that you look up the trigger warnings if you are interested, but commend this book for the truths it holds and the relevance it painfully continues to have.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
I am very picky with murder mysteries. I either love them, or end up passing them on. Richard Osman, however, just gets it. I adore the niche British references, the sense of community this book makes you crave and of course the characters. My favourite character on this reread is Ibrahim. I’m currently about to reread The Last Devil to Die so I can finally get to The Impossible Fortune.
Pet Semetary by Stephen King
Stephen King writes a lot of very long books, and I’ve only been able to finish a handful. He says this is the scariest book he has written, and I agree. I think about this book at least once a week. It’s horrific, gruesome, morbid. It’s genius. This is the best allegory for grief I’ve ever read.
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
According to Goodreads, I’ve read this twice. I’ve definitely read it more than that. I pick this up when I’m having a bad time. It’s simple, but the words on these pages are things we tend to forget as adults. I can’t wait to read this to my child someday.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
One of my favourite series ever. I love the movies. I love the books. This was my first “fandom” you could say. Over the past ten plus years, I’ve read these books cover to cover several times, acquired a Mockingjay pin and yapped endlessly about this story and how well it reflects our society. I LOVED Sunrise on the Reaping and cannot wait for the film in November. Thinking of cosplaying Maysilee Donner for the premier.
The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
This list could just be a top twenty-five books by Rick Riordan, so maybe I’ll write that list someday. This series is truly why I write, and it was very very hard to pick one book. While I have read The Lightning Thief at least five times, my personal favourite from the Riordanverse is The House of Hades. The angst. The Tartarus chapters. Bob. BOB! I read this in one sitting. It is 700 pages.
The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
I wouldn’t have picked this up without my book club, and ended up reading it in a day for said book club. While I wish I’d spaced out my reading of this, I got so absorbed by the sisters that I cannot imagine reading this another way. This is another book I consider should be required reading. It made me love historical fiction, and I also highly recommend The Women by the same author.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
This is whimsy as a book. I met TJ Klune and when he signed my copy, he wrote “Be Like Chauncy”. I live by that passage, following my dreams no matter what and working to be the person I want to be. I will give an honourable mention to The Bones Beneath My Skin, but I had to include this book for just how happy it made me.
Top 5
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Everyone reads a classic at 16 and makes it their personality for at least their 20s. This is mine. I’ve read it countless times. I have several copies, and a framed artwork of the original cover. This taught me the lesson of loving the idea of something more than you truly love it, which I am guilty of in several factors of my life. This book has had an overwhelming input on my personality and the person I want to be. (And I do think that the true author of this book is Zelda).
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
I mentioned before I love mixed-media. This trilogy is a masterclass in character development. I love Pip, and the last book in this series had me absolutely gagged. If you haven’t read this book, please go do it. Not only is the mystery perfectly crafted, but the thriller aspects hold the tension perfectly throughout.
Babel by R. F. Kuang
I cried. A lot. I understand how this book might not be for everyone, but the second half of this shook me. For a long book, it had me on every single page. I mixed the audio and physical book for the ending, and wow. I felt like the book threw me across the room.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I mentioned before a one-author rule, but I had to break it. Sorry. Not Sorry. This book is just incredible from start to finish. The old Hollywood vibes are so perfect, and the way you go through Evelyn’s life makes her not only feel real, but like a friend.
The Humans by Matt Haig
When I think about books that define who I am, that challenged the way I thought and made me want to write, this is the one. I don’t hear this book talked about enough (especially since The Midnight Library took off) but this is such a beautifully written, funny, sad, joyous, gut-wrenching book. It’s one I’ve turned to in dark periods of my life, whenever I need a reminder of what’s good in life. Go read this book!
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