One of the questions I get the most from people that know I love to read is what is my favorite book. It is impossible for me to answer that! I have read so many amazing books that I can’t just pick one favorite. I thought it would be nice to put together a post of my most recommended books. These are books that I loved (rated 5 stars!) and that I think appeal to a broad audience.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
What is it about – This book is set in the 1960s on the North Carolina coast. Kya has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home. Everyone she’s ever cared for has abandoned her. This is the story of how she survived alone in the marsh, the few relationships she had and how she became a suspect in the murder of Chase Andrews
Why I recommend this book – You have probably heard of this book. It was one of the most hyped books of 2018/2019 and I can say for me it lived up to the hype! It is beautifully written and I was instantly drawn to the story. The character development is so well done. The book is split into two parts, the Marsh and the Swamp. Part one introduces us to the beautiful marsh and it has a happier tone and part two is the swamp which portrays a darker story. This book is about isolation, abandonment, love and prejudice.
Buy it here!
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
What is it about – Vivian Morris, a 95-year-old woman recounts her life from the time she arrived in NYC after dropping out of an elite college. Her story covers how she was figuring her life out before, during and after WWII.
Why I recommend this book – The writing is amazing, I felt immersed into the 1940s (I actually wanted more of the 40s!), I wanted the “City of girls” show to be real so I could go watch it, and I want to be friends with Vivian. I loved every page of it and couldn’t get enough of the theatre parts. It is a unique love story with a unique ending that was perfect for Vivian. The first part of the book is all fun, its all about being young and careless in NYC. Then the second part of the book gets a little heavier as it gets into WWII and the post war years. I loved that it didn’t have a typical love story, it didn’t necessarily wrap up everything and it covers many important themes. This book covers themes of female sexuality, friendship, the idiosyncrasies of true love and how to live a fulfilled life without conforming to society’s norms.
Buy it here!
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
What is it about – A coming of age story of Ana, a Dominican 15 year old, in NYC in the 1960s. She’s forced to marry a 32 year old in a business arrangement and move to NYC. This story follows Ana’s life in the US and the challenges she faces. It’s a story of what it means to be an immigrant in America.
Why I recommend this book – Ana’s story is heartbreaking, the writing is beautiful and it covers very important topics. I am Puerto Rican so I think I have a different perspective reading a story like this. I am very fortunate and my story and my family’s story is very different to Ana’s but there is a connection I felt to Ana that I can’t explain. The story covers topics of immigration, the American dream, and challenges women face. I loved the writing style. It is very different, there are no quotation marks for the dialogue. I think it helped portray Ana’s youth. Sometimes I would forget how young she was since she was forced to be a woman and wife so quickly. The Spanish intertwined throughout was spectacular and I just felt like I could hear them talking, it was very authentic.
Buy it here!
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
What is it about – Young and Park Woo are the owners of Miracle submarine, a pressurized oxygen chamber that treats patients with autism and other disabilities. One day there is an explosion and two people die. The story unfolds in the courtroom during a murder trial related to the explosion.
Why I recommend this book – I loved this book because it kept me guessing the entire time! At the end of each chapter I thought I knew who committed the crime and I kept changing my mind constantly. There are so many layers to this book. The topics covered include, the sacrifices parents make to protect their children and immigration. Many aspects of the book were inspired by the author’s own experience, after reading this book go read some of the author’s interviews.
Buy it here!
A Woman is no man by Etaf Rum
What is it about – This is the story of three generations of Palestine women who are oppressed by their culture told in two different time periods. Isra moves to Brooklyn after an arranged married and finds herself in an abusive relationship and shamed for not having a son. Years later we also follow Deya, her daughter, who grows up in Brooklyn mainly raised by her grandmother and suddenly finds herself battling with the same circumstances her mother had to endure while at the same time trying to find out what happened to her parents, who died when she was young. Deya feels she has no voice and is not allowed to make any choices for her life.
Why I recommend this book – I am so glad I read this book, it is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time. I felt so many emotions while reading it. I really felt for the three women, I was angry at them, I felt sorry for them, but at the end of the day I respected them. This book opened my eyes about what goes on in some cultures and makes me appreciate my freedom. I get to choose who I marry, who I love, what I do with my life, I even get to choose to read a book and they don’t. These women were denied these things simply because they were women. If you are a fan of the Kite runner (one of my all-time favorite books) or A thousand splendid suns you’ll enjoy this book. It was emotionally draining so you’ll need something light and fluffy to read afterwards.
Buy it here!
I hope this list helps you pick your next 5 star read! If you read them I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on my instagram account!
