My Favorite Books & Recommendations

Iskari by Kristen Ciccarelli – “The old heroes were called Namsara after a beloved god, he said. So she would be called Iskari, after a deadly one.” This trilogy saved me in a hundred ways. Saved my inner child and freed my old, romantic soul. Words fail my love for Asha, Roa, Safire and Eris, four of the strongest women in high fantasy. And no one writes dragons like Ciccarelli. This is a story about the lies we believe and the light no one can take from us. The Caged Queen, the second book in this series, is my all-time favorite.

The Anne of Green Gables Novels by L. M. Montgomery – When asked who my favorite thinker is, I am sure to respond with, “L.M. Montgomery.” Maud, as I usually call her, not only told me the timeless story of one red-headed orphan with a heart deeper than the ocean, but also changed the way in which I view my own surroundings. After all, “you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” My favorite classic is Rilla of Ingleside, the last in this eight-book series. It was published shortly after WWI and is a heartfelt, tragic and overall incomparable story of the bonds of family, love during wartime and keeping faith. All eight novels depict tremendous character development (particularly in Rilla!), and if you don’t want to live on Prince Edward Island by the end of the series… well… it can’t hurt to read it again.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – This is the book of my spirit. The book that gets me. The story of a college freshman who thinks like me and walks like me and gets lost in fictional worlds like me. Cath gets broken, and then she gets brave. She loses, and then she finds real love. I’ve read a lot of books (like, a lot, a lot), but this is the only one whose negative reviews actually pain me. Fangirl is hilarious and breathtaking and honest and kind and hopeful. It’s something good. It’s everything good. Even if you’ve never opened your heart to fandom, there’s something here for you.

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery – I hardly have the words for this one, maybe because I keep deleting them and starting over (or because I love this story so darn much). The Blue Castle is about taking back one’s power. It’s about our capacity, both individually and collectively, to love. It’s about family and honesty and authenticity. So, come—shed what is no longer serving you. Even if it’s an old jar of potpourri.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – Caseworker Linus Baker has always done the right thing. The thing he’s supposed to do. But rules and regulations kind of go out the window when you’re faced with a gnome, a forest sprite, a wyvern, a green jelly-like creature, a were-Pomeranian and the six-year-old Antichrist. How Linus is supposed to protect the children of Marsyas Island Orphanage is a question for which his handbook is underprepared. But with a little (a lot) of help from the orphanage caretaker, Linus is about to find the color his life has always lacked and the family he doesn’t know he needs. This book rocked my world and soothed my heart. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli – Emeline Lark is welcome to leave her grandfather’s house, but that won’t stop the woods from coming for her. They want to hear her sing a true song—and she just wants to get through her set without the forest interfering. But when the Wood King’s tithe collector comes for Pa, Emeline must put her musical ambitions aside to bring him home. Her grandfather may not remember her name, but something about the enchanted woods—about the way Hawthorne Fell looks at her—is familiar to Emeline. A story about forgetting, remembering and the kind of love that survives in the dark.

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart – is everything I love about humanity and the world. Young Reuben Pedley faces off against the mysterious man known only as “The Smoke” to save his mom, his city and to bring closure to a prominent family on a small island. This book is about the unlimited power of storytelling, finding lifelong friends in unlikely places and what happens when we choose honesty over heroism. It’s funny and heartwarming and Stewart’s poems give me life. I would give up cheesecake if it meant I could meet Penny and Jack Meyer in person.

Little Women by L. M. Alcott – Oh, how many, many directions I could take this recommendation! Suffice it to say that Little Women is dearer at the age of 20 than it is at 14, that Laurie and Amy had it coming, and that Jo March is my spirit character (Is that a thing? Let’s make it a thing). And take this quote, too: “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – I had half a mind not to read this book, for fear it wouldn’t live up to over a decade of traitorously high expectations. But there it was, on my bookshelf—all dingy and glorious and used by, perhaps, a hundred middle schoolers before me—and I just had to chance it. You’ve read it. You know the rest.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – There is no telling what love I have found in this book. No, really. Dorian Gray is totally off the rails, many of the supporting characters wind up dead, and a story about beauty and youth swiftly becomes a story of vanity and deception. But every time Dorian compares the face in the mirror to the face in the picture, I feel his hurt, his fear, his utter dismay. The power of the written word is so exquisitely clear in these pages. I will have to read it again.

My Lady Jane by the Lady Janies – Jane is marrying a total stranger and robbing her dying cousin of his throne… and that’s before Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows really take an ax to history. Surprise! Lady Jane Grey was the queen of England for a flummoxing nine days before they beheaded her—but the Lady Janies have given her the story she deserved. It has politics and peril and magic. Loads of magic. And laughter (because comedy). Ugh, I wish I could un-read it so I could experience it all over again!

The Nyxia Triad by Scott Reintgen – I was hooked to this series from jump. Maybe even gripped by it. Not bad for my first dance with a book subscription box (LitJoy Crate FTW). The Genesis crews got under my skin, undoing biases I didn’t know I had and giving me a family, I didn’t know I needed. For a space adventure, these books feel like home, particularly the final installment, Nyxia Uprising. Each puzzle piece builds upon the last, explodes, regroups and comes back stronger with every chapter. Billions of dollars in prizes for pioneering an alien planet? Sure. But there will be sacrifices. There will be pain. Perseverance. Shoulder to shoulder. Fathom?

The O’Malley Series by Dee Henderson – The O’Malleys aren’t your typical siblings. They’re actually a group of seven orphans who, after being released from the foster care system at 18, legally changed their last names to become their own family. In their 20 years together, they’ve battled each other’s demons as well as their own. But they still show up for each other at the drop of a hat… or the emergency pager alert. They play basketball like it’s a fight to the death, and their inside jokes are so relatable, it hurts. These seven novels are perfect for readers who enjoy award-winning romance with their mystery/suspense. My personal favorite is book four, The Truth Seeker, which asks some of the world’s hardest questions about faith.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn – Osla, Mab and Beth have nothing in common—until they’re each summoned to Bletchley Park to break Nazi codes. The Official Secrets Act binds them together long after they would rather remain estranged. But on the eve of the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, one of these fierce BP women must be broken out of an asylum in time to decrypt a final code. Only Rose can prove that there was a traitor at Bletchley Park—and only these oddball codebreakers can crack it.

Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi – Raw, real and refreshing are just a few words I would use to describe this YA contemporary masterpiece. It was Rainbow Rowell who told the literary world that Penny and Sam are tangible enough to warrant care packages shipped to their doorsteps, and I couldn’t agree more. These college students make emergency contacts look like the best part of the young adult experience, and for a book this loaded, that’s saying a lot. It’s high time we confront, dissect and accept our own humanity, and this book does exactly that. From parenting, to friendships, to roommates, to lovers, to coffee, to class and everything in between, this story is honest. And there is no higher compliment in my world.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han – is the trilogy I didn’t know I needed in high school. Lara Jean Song Covey discovers and grows and loves with such extravagant generosity. I had to declare snack breaks just to take it all in! This is a first love story, but it’s also a forever family story, an evolving friendship story and a beautiful tribute to baking as a mindfulness practice. Lara Jean and Peter K. always. Song Girls forever. And all the heart emojis just for fun.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan – Have you ever been so full of emotion that your system overloads, and you go completely numb? (Gosh, does that only happen to me?!) Every page of this book is a lesson in life, business, humanity, the universe…. You name it, Pino Lella saw and survived it. Experience WWII from Italy’s perspective in this vivid tale of real-world heroism. And here—take this quote with you: “We can’t stop loving our fellow man, Pino, because we’re frightened. If we lose love, all is lost. We just have to get smarter.”

Lovely War by Julie Berry – Is all truly fair in love and war? You’ll have to ask Aphrodite. She’s on trial for cheating on her husband, Hephaestus, and she’s not going down without a fight. Enter Hazel, James, Aubrey and Colette, some of Love’s finest work. In the face of the Great War, they find each other and hold on for dear life, busting out piano solos and letters of devotion, even when all seems lost. Here lies the hope that makes us human. Here lies the beauty that makes us divine.

Permanent Record by Mary H. K. Choi – “In art, the purpose is in the creation, not the result. Grow as you build.” Permanent Record is what happens when a woman who refuses to beat around the bush writes a book about new adults. And how we think. And feel. And act. And it’s extraordinary. It is not cute; it’s not fluffy. It’s not even all that romantic. But, like Emergency Contact, it’s raw, and it’s real. It’s honest. To the point of being agonizing. But like, necessarily. Mary H. K. Choi doesn’t waste words. Bring snacks (and plenty of them).

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes – is a glorious testament to the beauty and power of love and friendship. Join packhorse librarians Alice, Margery, Beth, Izzy, Sophia and Kathleen as they traverse the picturesque (and often dangerous) landscape of rural Kentucky. The packhorse librarians deliver, rain or shine and whether or not there’s a shotgun aimed in their direction. Moyes’s signature wit brings grace and balance to this overwhelming story of grit and perseverance. It’s for book lovers. It’s for women. It’s for humans. It’s for life.

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman – Oooh, we got me started on WWII, and there is no escape (JK, but I’m on a roll now)! In a heroic feat, Blankman combines fact and fiction in a jarring duology about family, faith, freedom and truth. Enter the complex maze of Hitler’s mind from the perspective of his “niece,” Gretchen, as she wrestles with her hazy past and even hazier future with Jewish reporter, Daniel. But be forewarned: You didn’t learn this stuff in middle school, and you can’t un-see it once you do.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – is the single most heartbreaking book I have ever read. Going into it, I knew I liked the title. Coming out of it, I knew I had been changed. Even my history-obsessed heart and WWII-packed mind were not prepared for this story. I finished it anyway, paid for it with one very long sleepless night and regret nothing. “All your life you wait, and then it finally comes, and are you ready?” (Also, OCEAN DESCRIPTIONS FTW.)

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt – “Don’t be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life.” This book is magnificent in its simplicity. Short, yet riddled with life’s most human questions. The Tucks’ story feels familiar, homey even, as if it lives in all of us from the moment we’re born. Join Winnie Foster as she leaves the confines of her touch-me-not life and learns why the thing we call “time” is less important than the way we use it. It’s an adventure for the ages.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer – In my heart of hearts, I recognize that space travel would not suit my borderline claustrophobic self, but I have always been mesmerized by the moon, the stars, other planets and the sheer prospect of tens of billions of galaxies in our universe. This series took me on the space adventure that I’ve always dreamed of but never truly considered pursuing. Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Queen Levana and Winter are gorgeous reimaginings of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Evil Queen and Snow White, and their varying stories of identity are packed full of unexpected twists that will leave both sci-fi and fantasy readers breathless. These six books, my favorite of which is Stars Above, combine all the glory of futuristic space travel with timeless fairytale elements that you’re sure to recognize. Climb aboard the Rampion and hold on to something because “Safety first…. We are fragile things” (and also because Thorne is a terrible pilot).

Jane of Lantern Hill by L. M. Montgomery – The house at 60 Gay is anything but happy. All Jane Stuart knows are her grandmother’s manipulative ways and her cousin’s condescending tone. And then, one day, a letter arrives from her father—a man Jane assumed was dead. Suddenly swept off to his home on Prince Edward Island, Jane falls in love with island life, the sea and the idea of reuniting her parents. This book is so underrated. I think it’s one of Maud’s best.

Last Reality by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller – “Technology will destroy us the day we can’t tell the difference between the real and the unreal.” I am not a techie. My definition of an exciting video game is Super Mario Galaxy for Wii. The dangers of augmented reality never crossed my mind… until I read this trilogy. Simon, Kat, Busara and Elvis are all-too-familiar with the dark side of seemingly innocuous tech startups. In a race against the baddies at the Company, they must find a way to save humanity before the line between real and unreal is gone forever. A heart-pounding and ultimately satisfying thriller.

Kat and Meg Conquer the World by Anna Priemaza – Many people wonder how my best friend and I make our relationship work (including us). She’s bold, and brave and knows someone wherever we go. I’m a listener, a fairly silent observer and have to remind myself to leave my writing desk sometimes. Thankfully, dance is accepting of everyone and brought us together without apology. In other words, we’re Meg and Kat. They have next to nothing in common, which makes them the perfect world-conquering team. Set in snowy Canada, this book is everything good about best friendship and fandoms. Be awesome!

Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma – Have you ever read a book that spoke into your soul, as if it was written especially for you? This book connected with me on that deep and incredibly rare level. I was home from the first page, and that sensation didn’t leave me when I finished the last. Kate and Caleb are brutally honest narrators, which makes their quest to answer one of life’s greatest questions–what is love?–a truly life-giving account. It’s a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, complete with private airplanes instead of horses, set in America. This story took me completely by surprise, and for that, I am forever grateful.

Firehorse by Diane Lee Wilson – I never quite grew out of my obsession with horses, and this book didn’t help. The Great Boston Fire, the rise of feminism and hard-hitting questions on ethics are all experienced from the viewpoint of teenage Rachel, who speaks straight into your horse-loving heart. The year 1872 isn’t spoken of but lived in from cover to cover. It’s fast-paced, easy to read and will leave you smiling.

The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen – If anyone had told me that my younger brother’s favorite book series would end up being one of mine, I would’ve laughed. Luckily, no such atrocity ever occurred. I have never turned pages so fast as I did while reading the first book in this trilogy, The False Prince. Never have I yelled at characters so ruthlessly, only to apologize profusely during the next chapter. Sage keeps readers so far on their toes, they barely touch the ground. This is an epic and borderline-irritatingly shocking story of identity, daring, love and war, set in medieval times. Prepare to scream at all of your favorite characters (not that they didn’t get enough of that from me, but you get the idea).

The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross – What I want to do is line up all my favorite quotes from this duology and bask in the ethereal beauty of Rebecca’s writing style. Unfortunately, copying and pasting entire books is bad manners, so I’ll just give you the facts. Watching Brienna transform into a badass heroine with a realm and a family to protect was everything I never knew I needed in a story. When she said, “I will raise this house,” I almost overcame my fear of needles in a split-second desire to get a tattoo. Then, that moment passed, and I wrote myself a note instead. And then I wrote it again. And again and again and again until it was part of me. I RAISE THIS HOUSE. And you raise yours. And together, we’ll build something that lasts—just like Maevana.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart – “Grow the lawn and mow the lawn. Always leave the TV on. Brush your teeth and kill the germs. Poison apples, poison worms.” Here, we have another series which was recommended to me by my younger brother (Can you tell we like to read at my house?). I started reading this four-book series before bed and promptly stopped doing that (i.e. I can’t watch horror movies). Reynie, Sticky, Kate and Constance are a few of the most brilliant characters whom I have ever had the privilege of encountering (and are rather mysterious themselves). These books are simultaneously chilling and lighthearted, and the writing just makes my soul happy, to be honest. I will give nothing away, but I will say that my favorite of the four books is the prequel, The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict (I mean, what a title!).

The Emily Books by L. M. Montgomery – combine the spunk and sass of Anne with all the darkness of Rilla. This is a truly masterful trilogy, and the final book is my favorite of all. Emily’s brave, loyal, ambitious nature is perfectly suited for her quest of climbing the “Alpine Path” to literary success. And she’s psychic! A story for writers.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes – I’m such a sap. But I was full-fledged ugly-crying by the end of this book. Lou Clark taught me to love boldly, and though it didn’t end as I had hoped, this book truly promotes life. It asks the world’s weightiest questions and isn’t afraid to say, I don’t know. It’s funny, and romantic, and heartbreaking and perfectly British. I turned page after page and was dumbfounded when I ran out. This book is something good.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale – is the three-book series that made me want to read 24/7 when I was ten years old. Since then, I’ve read the first and second books, Princess Academy and Palace of Stone, more than five times each. Miri is a vibrant and knowledge-thirsty protagonist, and her adventures are nothing short of magical. Far from being prissy princess books, these stories ingrained in me a deeply rooted appreciation for home. The lead and supporting casts alike experience incredible growth over the course of each book (particularly Palace of Stone). This series could turn your goldfish into an avid reader.

Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery – A two-book story about home, family and the places where love resides. Pat belongs to herself, vibrantly alive, yet different from Maud’s other, more ambitious heroines. This is a cautionary tale about the futility of preventing change and a love letter to all of us who have tried.

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass – “You are not the world, but you are everything that makes the world good.” This story drove me crazy in the best possible way. America, Eadlyn and I disagree on many things and found similar values in many more. The Hunger Games in ball gowns, these five books are a uniquely heartfelt testament to the endless power of love. I laughed at the dialogue, cried about my lack of control over… well… everything and gasped through the continuous stream of plot twists. Princess competitions may not be your style now, but they will be after finishing The One.

The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale – Some of my dearest friends can be found in these four books, my favorite of which is the third, River Secrets. Isi, Enna, Dasha and Rinna are powerhouse leading ladies with real fears and flaws. You may find yourself completely lost in the magic of this series, but fear not—you will always find yourself once more on the edge of your seat. It’s a story of loss and hope, betrayal and friendship, love and war, geese and princes and lots and lots of fire. If I were going to vacation in a fairytale world, I’d pick Bayern.

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock – This book dragged me out of a serious I-have-nothing-to-read coma and didn’t waste any time making me comfortable in Ben’s kingdom. Princess Ben is just plain stubborn, which makes for both laugh-out-loud and oh-for-the-love-you-did-not-just-do-that moments that kept me turning pages far into the night. The plot is grippingly unpredictable and tearjerkingly heartwarming, and I return to it most summers for my annual dose of medieval sarcasm.

Sisters of Sword & Song by Rebecca Ross – Evadne knows her older sister isn’t a coldblooded killer… so why is Halcyon being tried for the murder of one of her closest friends? When Hal is sentenced to over a decade of incarceration, Eva volunteers to take a portion of the punishment—only to find herself neck-deep (literally) in a plot to save the queen. This lush fantasy is threaded with themes of family, loss, myth and magic for a heart-stopping take on Ancient Greece.

The Stargirl Collection by Jerry Spinelli – “Do not follow me! Let’s just be fabulously who we are and where we are!” Stargirl taught me more about shameless originality in two books than I’ve ever learned anywhere else. Though extremely different individually, both of her stories are identity-driven, uplifting and will make you feel good about being alive. Will also give you a new appreciation for the desert. *thumbs up*

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Fredrick – is like fourteen books in seven. My favorite is the sixth, Wish You Were Eyre, in which Jess, Cassidy, Megan, Emma, Becca and their mothers read—you guessed it—Jane Eyre. Following Fredrick’s characters through middle and high school is a gift and a joy. I laughed, cried, laughed till I cried and taught myself to sew because of this series. The Book Club is one of those casts of characters that lives in you.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – My love for fictional people about broke me during my reading of this series. I was told countless times, “It’s about kids killing other kids,” which is possibly more devastating than anything that happens in these four heart-wrenching books. This is a story about oppression, survival, rebellion, manipulation and—ultimately—revolution. It’s bloody, and painful and worth every moment spent reading because as flawed as she may be, Katniss authentically embodies the spirit of hope in darkness. These books are about that hope.

Percy Jackson and The Olympians by Rick Riordan – I could not memorize the themes of the Greek myths that I was required to read in sixth grade. The stories were too slow, had too many unfamiliar words, and everyone died in the end anyway, so what was the point? The older of my younger brothers had to beg me to give Percy Jackson’s world a try, and I feel bad about that now. What I came to love about Percy and his friends is that they rarely know what they’re doing, and they don’t always win, but when they fail, they do it epically. Plus, Annabeth made me memorize the Greek myths without even mentioning it. I even smile when I think about them. My favorite in this five-book series is The Last Olympian, in part because of the significance of the title. What a gem.

The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan – Pardon the unpopular opinion, but Percy Jackson can take care of himself, and I fell in love with Jason, Piper and Leo in about six seconds after starting The Lost Hero. The seven heroes, Nico and Reyna could’ve lead me into outer space, and I would’ve followed. Their adventures are high-energy, packed with twists and turns and kinda sorta revolve around the fate of the world, so I feel that I did my part by reading and laughing/crying accordingly. There was also some yelling and several late-night debates in the kitchen with the younger brothers.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman – Ow. Just ow. This book had a peculiar way of angering me to the point of throwing it across the room, while being impossible to really put down. It’s the fictional yet haunting story of three brilliant teens who have about as much control over their lives as fruit flies. It asks rock-hard questions about family and the meaning and value of a single life. It moves lightning fast and could leave a blue whale breathless.

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling – One of my favorite stories to tell is the one about Harry Potter living in my closet, but it’s kind of long and very complicated, so I’ll cut to the chase. My favorite of Harry’s seven magical adventures is The Half-Blood Prince, mostly due to my love for Snape and Draco. I’m a proud Hufflepuff, my patronus is a white stallion, and my wand has surprisingly swishy flexibility. I also think Sectumsempra is scarier than Avada Kedavra, TBH.

Divergent Series by Veronica Roth – I read this trilogy and its story collection at the end of my year-long dystopian/utopian reading frenzy and was not disappointed. Tris is a smart and honest protagonist while also being a flaming mess, and I love her for that. The series shines an alarming light on the flaws in perfection. It depicts characters that grow and evolve both with and against society and kept me asking, “Why?” until the very last page.

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen – Tears were shed on the last page of this book for a variety of reasons, the most significant being that there were no more pages. Getting all up in the heads of Bryce and Juli was painfully awkward at times, but their story is nothing short of hysterical. They’re honest, complex and all-around iridescent. Prepare to fall in love with your friendly neighborhood trees.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Of every historical time period, I have always found the Holocaust to be the most moving (Non-fiction bonus favorite: Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies). Set in a small town in Germany, this book is the fictional story of Liesel Meminger and her adoptive family, who, as so many brave souls once did, hide a Jewish man in their basement. It is a vivid and unsettling account of life during what was one of the most horrific wars the world has ever known. Every character is a puzzle, each street alive like a living nightmare, and far from being easy to read, this book moves through you like that honey mustard that just won’t come out of the bottle. But it will almost certainly change your worldview. Every word was worth that change in me.

Five Little Peppers by Margaret Sidney – The first five of these books were assigned to me in middle school, and I devoured them like perishable gifts. Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie and Phronsie are not living on much in the usual sense, but their lives are far more rich in love, joy and patience than those of most other people. My favorite of the first five stories is Phronsie Pepper, which was published in 1897. I would consider it an honor to visit the little brown house again in the remaining seven books. If you get there first: make yourself at home. The Peppers love that.

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild – I have spent most of my life in ballet shoes and felt immediately connected to this book when I first read it and to this day. Pauline, Petrova and Posy are vivacious, clever and immensely talented orphans who each want to make very different lives for themselves. Their story is one of triumph, tragedy and… well… theatre. They dream big, fail big and keep moving forward because we only get one life here!