38 Bookstagrammers Reveal the Books You Need To Read
I like to spend my birthday the same way I like to spend most of my days: thinking about books. This birthday – my 38th – I decided to take it one step further. A nerd to the core, I thought it would be fun to dedicate some of the time leading up to my birthday – and part of my birthday itself – to compiling a compendium of book recommendations from the people I turn to when building my TBR: the ladies and gentlemen of bookstagram.
In case you don’t know, bookstagram is a gloriously nerdy subsection of instagram. As you likely could have guessed, the bookstagram world is unapologetically book obsessed. And since I, too, never feel a desire to minimize my absolute devotion to the written word, it’s a place where I fit right in.
If you’re looking for your next read, consider some of these must-reads, recommended by the well-read and the book-obsessed.
Image courtesy of @3starsandup
1. @3starsandup
All the Bright Places
by Jennifer Niven
It’s a heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die. I read it for the first time 3 years ago & my heart still hasn’t recovered (I also met my husband while reading it!)
Image courtesy of @basicbsguide
2. @basicbsguide
The Girl with the Louding Voice
by Abi Daré
Binge-worthy literary fiction at its best. A story that will stay with you long after.
3. @biblioreviews
A Woman Is No Man
by Etaf Rum
We live in a wonderfully diverse country and encounter so many people. We need to be aware that not everyone’s life, experiences and culture looks like ours and we should strive to have a better understanding of different cultures and the things that connect us.
Image courtesy of @bookapotamus
4. @bookapotamus
Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
It’s so deliciously spooky and unique! Is it weird to describe a horror story as beautiful?!
5. @booksaremagictoo
The Book of Lost Names
by Kristin Harmel
The Book of Lost Names I'm not often one to pick up a historical fiction title, but this one stole my heart. With an incredible writing style and a story full of hope when there may not be any left, made this title a hands down favorite of 2020 for me!
Image courtesy of @bookishhollow
6. @bookishhollow
Slay
by Brittney Morris
This book is a must-read because it is true to the nerd experience, has great characters, features a female MC who codes, and has its fair share of surprises!
7. @brianas_best_reads
The Night Swim
by Megan Goldin
The Night Swim has a shocking and intense ending that readers will never forget!
Image courtesy of @cassidys.bookshelf
8. @cassidys.bookshelf
The House in the Cerulean Sea
by TJ Klune
Even if you aren't a fantasy reader, your heart will not be able to resist the charming and unique cast of characters in The House in the Cerulean Sea. A book filled with hope, acceptance, and standing up for what is right is what everyone needs right now. If you find yourself hugging the book upon finishing, don't worry, I did too.
9. @coldbrewbookreviews
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
This book is a beautiful fantasy, but it is also an allegory for what racial divide exists in our country. The reader will feel so immersed in this world and in love with the characters.
Image courtesy of @coldbrewbookreviews
10. @daniellesreadinglife_
On the Jellicoe Road
by Melina Marchetta
It is an amazing Australian young adult book that blew me away!! It had interwoven stories that make your heartache in both good and bad ways. You have to get past the first 40 or so pages but it’s just a great story!
11. @dearmrhemingway
The Heart’s Invisible Furies
by John Boyne
One of my favorite books of all time! The Heart’s Invisible Furies spans the 1940s-present day in Ireland and is rich in Irish culture, self-discovery and the quest to find the answers to life’s biggest questions. Boyne writes of love, family and life’s complexities with the most heartfelt prose that will literally make you laugh and cry all at the same time! An Irish saga like no other, Cyril Avery’s life will forever stay in my heart.
Image courtesy of @dclazygirl
12. @dclazygirl
The Book of Essie
by Meghan MacLean Weir
This is one of those books I can’t stop thinking about. I read it in one day, it was so fast-paced and so much drama! I’ve read 100 books so far in 2020 and this is the only one where I’ve written the author to gush about my love for the book.
13. @drink.read.repeat
An Abundance of Katherines
by John Green
I’ve spent years reading angsty YA reads hoping to recapture the magic that was my first reading of what remains my favorite book of all times, An Abundance of Katherines. Like most of Green’s novels, the writing is sharp, the themes meaningful, and the smart humor peppered throughout. This book in particular earns bonus points for creative use of footnotes – not something you typically find in fiction. Whether you’re still coming of age or have already reached maturation, this is one to add to your TBR.
14. @gareindeedreads
Please See Us
by Caitlin Mullen
It is a gritty and chilling crime fiction thriller that sets itself apart from the usual by giving more focus to the female victims of a serial killer than the serial killer himself - a perfect blend of a character-driven novel combined with an eerie serial killer plot; it’s the perfect thriller.
15. @jennie.b614
A Great and Terrible Beauty
by Libba Bray
As a high school English teacher I am constantly reading YA books, whether I use them in my classroom or not I am drawn to them. I read this book years ago but am so enchanted by this storyline. The entire trilogy is magical!
16. @kelly.likes.to.read
Spinning Silver
by Naomi Novik
The writing is so good. And the way it melds fairytale and fantasy and social issues (like anti-semitism) is just so well done.
Image courtesy of @marilynjgon
17. @lauras.always.reading
What You Wish For
by Katherine Center
This book is perfect for anyone at anytime but particularly for this year. The theme of choosing joy is so important and the universal plus Center's writing is just extraordinary.
18. @marilynjgon
Don’t Look For Me
by Wendy Walker
Great for fans of thrillers and domestic suspense, thrilling captivating twists with complex deeply dysfunctional characters and storyline. Will keep you engrossed chapter to chapter.
Image courtesy of @momming_and_reading
19. @momming_and_reading
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From
by Jennifer DeLeon
This is a magnificent look into the life of a teenage girl, dealing with racism, her father’s deportation, and trying to be the best she can be in difficult circumstances. A must-read for educators, for sure.
20. @mrsboomreads
The Things We Cannot Say
by Kelly Rimmer
I was completely swept up in the dual timelines of this historical fiction novel. Alina’s life in Nazi-occupied Poland forced her to grow up quickly, work for seemingly unattainable survival and, make impossible decisions in the name of both love and compassion. Alice’s modern SAHM reality in 2019 was relatable, feeling the juggle between home, children and sustaining a marriage. The unconditional love she had for her grandmother, as she carried out last wishes, was achingly apparent. This was an exquisitely nuanced, heartbreaking, hopeful story that I will recommend to everyone.
Image courtesy of @novelgossip
21. @mynovelmenagerie
Resistance Women
by Jennifer Chiaverini
I experienced every emotion under the sun while reading this historical fiction (based on real women of the resistance). This novel exemplifies true courage and value what the women of the resistance brought to the fight against the Nazi regime and I felt emotionally connected to each character.
22. @novelgossip
The Things We Cannot Say
by Kelly Rimmer
As a parent to a special needs child, this is one of the few books that made me feel seen. It was a powerful experience for me and a book I’ll never forget. Rimmer does the most painfully beautiful job of shedding some light on autism and how that experience can look. People should read it because it’s so important for us to try and understand those that are neurodiverse.
Image courtesy of @pawsitivelybookish
23. @pawsitivelybookish
A Separate Peace
by John Knowles
People may remember being forced to read this one in high school but it doesn’t often make “must-read classics” lists. It’s a book that really focuses on the struggles of morality and loss of innocence. This is a timeless piece that will stick with you for years to come
24. @queenbee_reads
Red, White & Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston
It’s actual perfection!
Image courtesy of @readaholic19
25. @readaholic19
You Deserve Each Other
by Sarah Hogle
This is an absolutely wonderful debut by Sarah Hogle. Here are two people who are engaged to one another, but clearly don’t like each other anymore. I seriously did wonder to myself – is this really a romance? Will these characters even get a HEA? The writing from Sarah Hogle was so poignant and heartfelt. I had tears streaming down my face or I was laughing out loud. I have so many passages highlighted because the words are simply so beautiful. If you’re looking for a book that has the perfect amount of humor, sadness, angst and sweetness then pick up this book! This is easily one of my favorite books from this year so far.
Image courtesy of @secretreadinglife
26. @reading.betweenthewines
Know My Name
by Chanel Miller
Chanel Miller manages to write an overwhelmingly empathic memoir that gives you the opportunity to see the world and the legal system from the eyes of a sexual assault victim, but she does this in such a moving and nonjudgmental way you can’t help but keep reading; so much so that if I were in charge of such things I would make this mandatory reading for high school/college-aged youth. I laughed, I cried, I cheered and I ended the journey feeling mostly hopeful and in awe of Chanel Miller. I will read anything else Chanel Miller writes.
27. @readingladies_book_club
Transcendent Kingdom
by Yaa Gyasi
In the running for my favorite read of 2020, Transcendent Kingdom is my choice for a need-to-read book because it’s a respectfully written and heartfelt family drama with thoughtful themes of faith vs. science, addiction, racism/prejudice, grief/depression/regret/mental health, a mother’s fight, and a daughter’s burden. Lots to ponder and discuss here!
28. @readitandquip
Where The Forest Meets the Stars
Glendy Vanderah
The characters are unique, vivid, and real. You’ll find yourself rooting for closed off Joanna, gruff Gabe, and unearthly Ursa. Fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and the Great Alone will feel right at home in this lush landscape.
Image courtesy of @readingwithjamie
29. @readwithjamie
Craigslist Confessional: A Collection of Secrets from Anonymous Strangers
by Helena Dea Bala
Craigslist Confessional is one I normally wouldn’t have picked up, however it is one I desperately needed this unprecedented year we’ve all had. This collection of confessionals from strangers off a Craigslist ad was cathartic, raw, authentic and heartening at times. I highly recommend picking this one up, plus the author that recorded these confessionals is an absolute gem.
30. @romancereviewed
The Simple Wild
by KA Tucker
It’s one of the best contemporary romances I’ve ever read. It has so much to love- enemies to lovers trope, amazing banter, an epic setting, a relatable, slightly messy heroine who goes on an emotional (and physical) journey. It’s just truly a special book with sticks with the reader!
Image courtesy of @staxonstax
31. @staxsonstaxs
Something to Talk About
by Meryl Wilsner
It is the perfect sapphic romance that just captures the beauty of the slow burn!
32. @secretreadinglife
Know My Name
by Chanel Miller
It’s not an easy book to read, but I believe one that should be read by everyone, especially young people. Chanel Miller writes this raw memoir that will move you and make you want to do something about our judicial system.
33. @suzysbookshelf
The Heart’s Invisible Furies
by John Boyne
It is the best book I’ve read in ages or quite possibly ever. John Boyne has written one of the greatest characters in literature. This beautiful story is full of heart, humor, sadness and love. You won’t be disappointed and I guarantee it will stay with you forever.
34. @t_and_books
I Know This Much is True
by Wally Lamb
The depth and intricate story telling is remarkable.
Image courtesy of @thebookclubmom
35. @the_towering_tbr
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë
Jane Eyre is my fave classic because it isn’t pretentious and it has amazing gothic vibes that make it feel modern. It’s a good one to read if you want a classic under your belt.
36. @thebookclubmom
The Most Fun We Ever Had
by Claire Lombardo
It’s the best family drama I’ve ever read. I did not want this book to end.
Image courtesy of @thebookend_diner
37. @thebookend.diner
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
by V. E. Schwab
It took me a solid week to read about Addie LaRue because as much as I wanted to know her story, I also didn’t want her story to end. I didn’t want to miss a piece of her beautiful life and the world that she saw. I felt as if I were walking along beside her through this three hundred year journey of loneliness. Can you imagine? Three hundred years of being alone, of no one remembering your name, and not being able to leave so much as a footprint in the snow behind. But, yet, she did, and she became stronger with each year that passed.
Image courtesy of @whatjenreads
38. @whatjenreads
The Good Sister
by Sally Hepworth
It’s an accurate, absolutely lovely depiction of a woman with Autism. The author captures all of the quirks and unique qualities of someone on the Spectrum in an exquisite way. Fern is one of my favorite characters of all time! This is Sally Hepworth’s best work yet.
