One of my favorite things about having a YouTube channel is that it has given me a place to talk about books with people who are just as obsessed with reading as I am. I started sharing book recommendations years ago, almost on a whim, simply because I was reading so much and constantly wanted to tell someone, “You need to pick this one up.” Somehow, those videos became a little tradition, and every few months I sit down with a stack of recently finished books and tell you what I thought.
This post is a little different because the video below is actually a compilation of two of those recommendation videos. Instead of letting them disappear into the YouTube archives, I thought it would be nice to bring them over here as well. I know some of you prefer reading to watching videos (which honestly makes sense on a blog), and this way I also get to share a few extra thoughts that didn’t make it into the final edits.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
I picked up this book because I absolutely loved Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Whenever I discover an author that really connects with me, I immediately want to read everything else they’ve written, and that’s exactly what happened here.
The story follows A.J. Fikry, the owner of a small bookstore who is going through a difficult period in his life. His wife has died, his business is struggling, and one of his most treasured possessions has disappeared. Then something unexpected happens that slowly changes not only his own life but also his relationship with the people around him.
I have a soft spot for books about bookstores and readers. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent so much of my life surrounded by books, but there is something magical about stories where literature becomes part of everyday life. I loved all the references to other authors and the feeling that the entire town somehow revolves around this little bookstore. It may not be my favorite book of all time, but it was a lovely reading experience and I also thought the movie adaptation was very well done.
The Girls Who Disappeared by Claire Douglas
I read a lot of thrillers, probably enough that I’ve become a little difficult to surprise. Most of the time, somewhere around the middle of the book, I have convinced myself that I know exactly who did it. Claire Douglas is one of the few authors who still manages to prove me wrong.
The premise is fantastic: four girls are involved in a car accident, but only one survives. The other three disappear, and years later a journalist arrives in town to investigate what really happened. The fact that the investigation revolves around a podcast also gave the story a slightly more modern feel.
Without spoiling anything, I can say that this is one of those books that keeps introducing new pieces of information just when you think you’ve solved the mystery.
Seven Exes by Lucy Vine
I almost didn’t read this one because I thought it might not be for me. At the time I had been reading a lot of heavier books and wasn’t sure I wanted something so light. I was completely wrong.
The main character discovers an article claiming that one of her seven significant exes is actually the love of her life, so she decides to track them all down and find out which one it is.
It’s funny, charming, and the kind of book that reminds you that reading can simply be fun. I flew through it in a couple of days and it was exactly what I needed at the time.
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid has been one of my favorite authors for years, but somehow I had never gone back and read some of her earlier novels.
This one follows Hannah, who has to make one small decision at the end of a night out: does she leave with her best friend or stay with an old flame? From that moment, the book splits into two parallel timelines.
I really liked the concept and how differently both stories unfold. Even though I still prefer some of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s later books, I thought this was an entertaining and very original read.
The Marlow Murder Club Series by Robert Thorogood
This compilation actually includes several books from the Marlow series because once I started reading them, I didn’t really want to stop.
The first book introduces Judith, an older woman who becomes convinced that her neighbor has been murdered and decides to investigate despite the local police not taking her seriously. Along the way, she teams up with two other women and together they form a wonderfully unlikely detective trio.
I later read Death Comes to Marlow and The Queen of Poisons, and they confirmed that this series is one of my favorite recent discoveries. What I enjoy most is that the mysteries are clever, but the characters are what really keep me coming back.
I also ended up watching the television adaptation and, for once, I thought it captured the atmosphere of the books really well.
The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini
This story begins with a woman falling from the roof terrace of a building and another woman immediately becoming the main suspect. She insists she barely knew the victim and that she actually tried to save her.
I managed to guess some parts of the ending before the final chapters, but I still thought the plot was original enough to make it worth reading, especially if you enjoy legal thrillers and unreliable narrators.
The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine
I always think recommendation posts should include the books that didn’t completely work for me as well. This novel follows a woman who has no memory of her life before meeting her fiancé and a man whose wife disappeared years ago. You can probably imagine that those stories become connected.
I know many readers love Liv Constantine, but I personally found some of the twists a little too dramatic for my taste. That doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it, especially if psychological thrillers are your thing, but it wasn’t a personal favorite.
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
One of the highlights of reading this book was that I also had the chance to attend its launch event here in New York and meet Liane Moriarty.
The story starts on a flight where a woman suddenly begins telling passengers the exact age and cause of their future deaths. Nobody believes her at first, but then some of those predictions start coming true.
I thought the premise was incredibly original and I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded through the perspectives of different passengers. Hearing the author talk about how she came up with the idea made reading the book even more special.
A Few Final Thoughts
Looking back at all these books, I realized they represent exactly the kind of reading life I enjoy most. I don’t stick to one genre and I don’t really want to. Some months I want a thriller that keeps me guessing, other months I want a cozy mystery, and sometimes all I need is a fun romantic comedy that I can finish over a weekend.
I hope this little collection gives you a few ideas for your own reading list. And if you’ve read any of these, or if there’s a book you’ve loved recently that you think I should know about, I’d love to hear about it. Some of my favorite reads over the years have come from recommendations in the comments.
Thank you for reading, thank you for watching my book videos, and thank you for continuing to share this little corner of the internet with me. I’m already working my way through another stack of books, so I have a feeling there will be another recommendations post before too long.
