10 Specific Books for What You Need Right Now

With so many books yet so little time, we compiled a list of ten ultra-specific book recommendations based on what you are going through or need right now. We hope you find your next can’t put down read. 

1. If you haven’t read in a while and are trying to get out of a reading slump

Any book by Agatha Christie, the queen of mystery, will end your reading slump.  

Some of her best books include And Then There Were None, Murder On The Orient Express, Crooked House, Death On The Nile, and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

2. If you are struggling with your Mental Health 

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottesa Moshfegh

My Year of Rest and Relaxation explores the dark struggle and intense inner thoughts of a young girl who seemingly has it all. To heal her depression, she undergoes an experimental year of alienation from the world with the help of a cocktail of prescription pills.

3. If you want fantasy without committing to a large fantasy series

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

The Memory Police is a hypnotic, dystopian fantasy novel set on a mysterious island where objects keep disappearing, causing the inhabitants to forget due to the oppressive “Memory Police” set out to control everyone by forgetting the past.

4. If you are grieving 

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

A thirteen-year-old boy, Theo, and his mother spend time at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. During their visit, a bomb goes off, resulting in Theo’s mom dying. In his disorientated state, Theo grabs the famous painting “The Goldfinch” by Carel Fabritius. As he grows up, he bounces around to different homes across the country and is pulled into the criminal underworld.

5. If you believe in paving a different path, even if that means going against societal expectations 

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

A thirty-six-year-old woman who has struggled to fit in her entire life finds purpose and fulfillment working at a convenience store in Tokyo. Although she is happy, everyone in her life thinks it is necessary to pressure her to find a proper career and look for a husband.

6. If you want the opposite of The Great Gatsby

Stoner by John Williams

Stoner is an emotionally poignant story of a man who lives an ordinary life and is forgotten upon death. A European cult classic, it explores what happens when everything goes wrong: marriage, work, and parenthood.

7. If you want a book that explores every human feeling and experience imaginable and will leave you wanting nothing

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Frequently hailed as the most extraordinary novel ever written, Anna Karenina is more than a tale of an extramarital love affair. It is many novels in one- all comprised of many characters woven together in Russian high society, providing wisdom to all aspects of life.

8-9. If you are looking for an enjoyable read on the sands of someplace warm

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

A quintessential beach read with mystery and drama that explores the complexities of female friendships. Daphne, a plus-size influencer, is shocked when her ex-best friend, Drue, asks for a giant favor after not talking for six years. What could the girl who has always had everything need from her?

The Shell Seekers by Rosamude Pitcher

The Shell Seekers is a beloved classic that recounts the life of a middle-aged woman, Penelope, who discovers that her father’s painting, her most cherished possession, is now worth a fortune. Upon realizing her family’s true character, Penelope must decide if her family can stay together or be broken apart.

10. If you want to heal your inner child

Homecoming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child by John Bradshaw

A self-help book that teaches how to validate your inner child through affirmations and break free from toxic familial roles while managing challenging relationships. 

Are there any books that should have been on the list we missed? Please leave your recommendations below.