I need to block out some work anxiety, so I’m looking for one (or more!) of those books where you’re *in it* from the first page. You start reading and it immediately pulls you in. You make time to keep reading, and maybe even cancel plans so you can find out what happens next. The kind of book that is so engrossing, the rest of the world disappears for a time.
So… what do you recommend?
I’m curious to hear what the fine folks of this sub love, but if you want to tailor your answers to what I think I’m looking for, here are some books that have fulfilled this need in the past (in no particular order):
* The Devil and the Dark Water, by Stuart Turton
* Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke
* Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
* The Expanse series, by James S A Corey
* The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern
* Babel, by R F Kuang
* The Andromeda Strain, by Michael Crichton
* The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley
Some things that definitely do NOT fit the bill for me:
* Romantasy or romance. Not my thing. Sorry.
* Project Hail Mary. Already read it, was disappointed that it wasn’t more similar to The Martian
* Dungeon Crawler Carl. No interest there.
by National-Rhubarb-384
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Uprooted by Naomi Novik.
*The Murderbot Diaries* by Martha Wells. I was skeptical of the hype, but got totally into it from the start. I suppose if you’ve seen the series, maybe not such a good recommendation
The Red Palace by June Hur
I’ll Stop the World by Lauren Thoman
Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
Almost anything written by Harlen Coban, hook starts are his specialty.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt!
If you liked Babel, you will LOVE Katabasis. If you’ve already read that, try The Library at Mount Char (an all-time favorite), Ten Thousand Doors of January, or The Book Eaters.
I just finished The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb and was shocked at how much I was sucked in from the first few pages.