Are you a new reader who wants to kick start the reading habit? Or you may be returning to reading books for pleasure after a long gap? Either way if you are looking for book recommendations, I got you covered.
Are you a new reader who wants to kick #starttheReadinghabit? Or you may be returning to reading books for pleasure after a long gap? Either way if you are looking for #book recommendations, I got you covered. Share on XHow to choose books to help you read more?
My criteria for this starter pack for new readers would be books that are
- short
- currently relevant
- funny and romantic
- thrillers and horrors
- adapted into Series/movies
- Non fiction / self help books
Books to kick start the reading habit
Let us get on with my recommendations, shall we?
1) A Man called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This is one of those heartwarming books that would bring a smile to your cold heart.
Ove is a mean, grumpy and opinionated old man, who looks forward to the day he would join his late wife, Sonja. What happens to this grumpy old man when he unwillingly meets his messy neighbors, forms the rest of the story.
Read my review of A Man called Ove by Fredrik Backman here
2) Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Red, White & Royal Blue is such a cute, sweet and funny LGBTQA romance that will definitely keep your lock down sorrows go away.
The sons of the first families of The USA and the UK hate each other dislike each other and the world knows it. The first families and their PRs decide to intervene and stage a fake Instagram relationship. What starts as a fake friendship between them blossoms into something more.
Read my review of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston here
3) The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
Satoru and his feral cat Nana, have settled into a comfortable companionship. But Satoru suddenly decides to give away Nana and they embark on a journey to find a suitable home among his friends. Read The Travelling Cat Chronicles to join the duo on their travel through Japan and Satoru’s childhood memories!
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a feel good book, with a bittersweet ending. Be prepared to cry, laugh and snicker throughout!
Read my review of The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa here
4) Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Maddy led a very sheltered life all through her life due to her illness. She has never stepped out of her house in years and her mother and her nurse are the only one she interacts with. Them and her book blog. Until a new family moves to their neighborhood.
You might like this short YA romance with a twist you wouldn’t see coming!
Read my review of Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon here
5) To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is one of those rare movie adaptation that was as good as the book.
The story revolves around Lara Jean, an introvert who writes letters to her crushes to get it out of her system. Unexpectedly those get delivered to all those boys and hilarity ensues.
This Young Adult book and its movie adaptation took everyone by a storm. You will love it if you are looking for a cute romance with teenage angst!
Read my review of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han here.
6) When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Dimple Shah has ambitious plans for her life and has been accepted to Stanford. But her parents have other plans for her. Dimple ambushed by her parents hates Rishi even before she gets a chance to know him. Does her opinion about Rishi changes after she knows him better?
When Dimple Met Rishi is a cute YA contemporary romance that would make you grin in all the right places.
Read my review of When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon here
7) One of us is lying by Karen M. McManus
One of us is lying begins at detention with five students that fit the popular stereotypes (the Breakfast Club?)
Things go haywire when one of them dies of an allergic reaction right in front of them at the detention center. The police suspect foul play and the other four teens are brought under spotlight.
Did the fact that Simon was going to publish their secrets on his website the next day had anything to do with his death? You will have to read One of us is lying to know more.
One of us is lying is definitely an easy to read book and I finished reading it in a few hours. And needless to say it was un-put-down-able. Perfect to start your reading habit!
Read my review of One of us is lying by Karen M. McManus here
8) The Woman In The Window by Finn A J
Dr. Anna Fox’s daily routine includes drinking a lot of wine while being highly medicated, watching retro movies and peeking into her neighbours’ house through their windows.
But when she sees something untoward happening at her neighbors’ she has no grounds to report about it. How she proves that she did not hallucinate and finds out the culprit form the rest of the story in The Woman in the Window.
The Woman in the Window will keep you occupied and might even turn to be unputdownable. With the movie version coming before the end of the year, you might wanna read it already.
Read my review of The Woman In The Window by Finn A J here
9) The Hate u give by Angie Thomas
Stuck between the two worlds and parents who have different views about their lives, Starr feels an outsider in both places. Starr understands her lives are universes apart and has never had to choose between them – until the fateful night, her unarmed friend Khalil gets shot by a cop in front of her eyes.
Should she remain silent, as her mother and uncle want her to be, and save herself from the wrath of the public and her own peers at school? Or should she put her life in danger, give a voice to the cause that may lead nowhere?
The Hate U Give is essentially a coming of age story in the present American scenario, dealing with racism, bullying and violence. It is inspired by the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, obviously but is much more than that.
It is an honest account of a strong black family that has nothing to do with the gangs or drugs but is put to trial because of their skin colour.
Read my review of The Hate u give by Angie Thomas here.
10) The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Set in not so distant dystopian future, women have lost all that they won in the recent past, at least partially – the ability to chose what they wore, what they did for life or even handle money. They are forbidden from reading, writing and even speaking freely.
Their existence is based on their functionality – the wives (in charge of the household), the helps (Marthas), the teachers (Aunts), the wombs (Handmaids), the sexual toys ( Jezebels) and the outcasts (Unwoman) are sent to Colonies where they are left to harvest cotton or clean up the radioactive waste.
Offred, our narrator, a handmaid belongs to Fred, who is on her third and final attempt to conceive a child with a government appointed ‘Commander.’
Offred falls for Nick, the Guardian for the commander, a crime that could lead them both to be publicly hung. Was the risk worth taking? Did she learn anything about her family? Read to know more.
The Handmaid’s Tale might be a little hard to get into, yet once you are into it, you can not stop it. You can not read The Handmaid’s Tale as a breeze through the weekend. You can not unsee once you have been to the Republic of Gilead and not relate it to the real world.
Read my review of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood here.
11) The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The book follows the journeys of a young shepherd boy on his search for ancient treasure. The philosophical theme that ‘the universe conspires to help us achieve things we want’ is well written and shines through.
This simple and brief fable took the world by storm when it came out. The message is still relevant today. And perfect for someone who wants to kick start the reading habit.
Read my review of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho here
12) Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
The book is divided into two parts, a short story and then the relevant message. The basic theme of the books is how to deal with change and the importance of the right attitude in life.
While it is usually classified as a business subject, it is equally possible for anyone if us to implement them in our life.
Read my review of Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson here
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Let’s chat
What do you think about my choices? Would you recommend these books to someone who wants to start the reading habit? If you are someone who is starting the reading habit just now, let me know what you choose. Let us talk.
Great choices! I’ve read and loved Who Moved My Cheese? and The Handmaid’s Tale, although right now I am just not able to stomach dystopian because reality is one lol. I have One of Us Is Lying on my more immediate TBR and am excited to read it!
The Handmaid’s tale is one of favorite ever.
I’ve read 1, 4 and 10 and have quite a few of the others in my TBR pile. Great list. I adored A Man Called Ove.
Same here. I keep recommending it to everyone.
Good choices. I’ve read some of these and heard of most of them. This convinced me to read the others
Yay, I am glad to be of use.
I’ve heard of quite a few of these books but the only one I’ve actually read is The Alchemist, which I enjoyed. Thank you for introducing me to books that are new to me – I like the sound of Everything, Everything.
I hope you get to read it!
The Handmaid’s Tale and The Alchemist are two of my favorites!
They both are great choices.
I haven’t read A Man Called Ove but my husband bought is Things My Son Needs To Know About The World for us to read after we had our son. While it’s totally different from this, it’s a good one!
I will have to check that title out!
These are good choices! Hope you are safe and well.
Yes I am thank you!