I'm trying to get more into reading. I've read some classic series like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Hunger Games, all which I absolutely loved. I also read the Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy by Holly Jackson and they're probably some of my favorites. I'm willing to try just about any genre and enjoy a good romance subplot. Doesn't have to be YA either! Just something with good, solid characters I can fall in love with.
by Aggravating_Ride_424
13 Comments
Lord of The Rings Trilogy. Incredible story telling.
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I’m willing to try just about any genre
*Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers* by Mary Roach
and
*Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus* by Bill Wasik & Monica Murphy
Happy reading!
I read The Ever King by L.J. Andrews a while back and WOW that book had me in a choke hold for a while. It’s a dark romance novel but its not very smutty from what I remember, the emphasis is more on the characters and world building.
I also second the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit books. Loveable characters, fantastic storytelling.
Check out Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. Funny, strange, sort of philosophical, with a bit of fantasy thrown in. If you enjoy his writing, all of his other books are worth checking out as well. I’d recommend Still Life With Woodpecker and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues after JP.
Try Christopher Moore. He has a bizarrely unique and quirky sense of humor. Amongst his many books is a trilogy about a young woman who unwittingly is turned into a vampire and she has to figure it all out. The first one is “Bloodsucking Fiends”.
The Outsiders by S E HINTON (she wrote it before she graduated HS)
The Anne of Green Gables books
I re-read Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children series recently, you might enjoy that. The first one is Clan of the Cave Bear.
Terry Pratchett, many ways to read them. Based upon your request I’d suggest read the books in the Discworld series around the witches in chronological order from when they were written. The characters are amazing and there are other books to read – but you’ll love how well the women are written. You will love all the characters, but this one will be women centric.
The books are addictive for me – but in a great way. Usually I suggest the standalone Small Gods because it has such a great story about religion and humanity, is a short and easy read and made me laugh out loud.
If you like the series – you can go back and read the others in a number of ways – but this will get you started and moving along with a whole new set of wonderfully written characters.
You might like If We Were Villains by ML Rio or The Secret History by Donna Tart.
I highly recommend *I am the messenger* by Markus Zusak.
It has a great mix of humor and seriousness with a romance element too
The main character is 19 if that draws you. I think I first read it around that age.
Once again, *highly recommended*
I enjoyed similar books back in the day and we’re pretty close in age so here’s a few I think you’d like!
*Iron Widow* trilogy by Xiran Jay Zhao: science-fantasy series, upper YA, has a good romantic plot line, a complex fmc, and an emphasis on patriarchy in a fantasy setting inspired by Chinese historical figures and culture
*Fred the Vampire Accountant* series by Drew Hayes: urban fantasy, hilarious, well done romance, mostly lighthearted adult fiction, I’m obsessed with every single character
*Cemetery Boys* by Aiden Thomas: queer supernatural romance in an urban fantasy setting, YA, elements of murder mystery
*Market of Monsters* trilogy by Rebecca Schaeffer: more urban fantasy YA, it’s what I read straight out of my Percy Jackson phase and I was obsessed
*The Fever King* duology by Victoria Lee: dystopian science-fantasy YA, romance iirc but it’s been a second since I read that one
And then because you said you’re open to exploring other genres, here’s a few more of my personal favourites that are less tailored to the other details of your post:
*Project Hail Mary* by Andy Weir (sci-fi)
*The Hollow Places* by T. Kingfisher (horror)
*Invisible Women* by Caroline Criado Perez (nonfiction)
*Circe* by Madeline Miller (mythology)
I know he’s been cancelled but American Gods by Neil Gaiman is a load of fun, it’s pretty brutal but it’s great. Maybe try pick one up second hand so no money goes to him (don’t really know details or if he’s been cleared or it’s all alleged, apologies for my ignorance in the matter)