53 (Grown-Up) Books For Your Own Reading List

Michael Farina said:  I know: sci-fi? Hear me out. The introverted protagonist does its very important job just well enough to avoid disaster, while trying to avoid annoying people and stealing time for its guilty pleasure – binging soap operas.

Shila said:  The Good Sister covers a complicated relationship between two sisters - now adults - raised by a single, narcissistic mother. Once Sally Hepworth drops details on an unspoken childhood mystery that left someone dead, every chapter thereafter will have you shifting back and forth final predictions!

Though disturbing at times, some characters are quite likeable and there is a scattered amount of witty humor throughout the dialogue to maintain a light balance in this twisted plot.

Alexandra F. said:  I am a huge fan of fantasy, and while epics like Lord of the Rings will always have a special place in my heart, Jim Butcher's mystery/fantasy series, The Dresden Files, are the books I read over and over (and over) again. Harry Dresden is a modern day wizard and private investigator who uses magic to solve mysterious crimes in his home city of Chicago, usually as a consultant for the police. And, in case this short intro sounds silly to you, I promise the books are well-written, have fantastic characters, and tell great (even meaningful) stories that keep me, at least, eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Lisa R said:  Dani never wanted kids and she's not thrilled that her new flame is a divorced dad of two. However, they eventually move in together and she finds herself growing close to the kids over the course of their seven year relationship. Not a parent, not even a step-parent, what are the boundaries of the role she plays in their life and what right does she have to keep them in her life after her relationship with their dad ultimately crumbles? Told with a sense of humor, Dani isn't afraid to put all of her faults on the table, making this a compelling story about personal growth and modern family relationships.

Kelly R. said:  A charming story about a cranky but lovable old man whose solitary life is changed when a young family moves in next door.

Alexandra F. said:  I had the great privilege of going to school where Bryan Stevenson taught as a professor, and hearing him speak about his life's work defending children, the poor, and those on death row was one of the most moving and inspiring experiences I had as a student - and that is exactly how I felt when I read his book years later. Just Mercy recalls an early case where he represented a man sentenced to death who insisted upon his innocence. It is a powerful, transformative, and eye-opening book - one that rocks you because of the injustice he encounters, yet somehow still leaves you feeling hopeful and believing you can make a difference.

Lindsay Fairbrother said:  This is the first of a beautiful and brilliantly written trilogy on the life of Thomas Cromwell, counselor to Henry VIII of England. I recommend the entire trilogy, but if picking just one, I certainly recommend the first. Hilary Mantel is an exquisite writer. She brings Cromwell's story to vivid life among the court intrigues and political machinations of the time. She makes Cromwell so interesting that you almost forget all the more famous members of royalty that surrounded him.

arikad said:  Believe Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels is a great book for women who are wanting to live a life of purpose. So many wisdom nuggets and transparency. This book changed my life.

Kelly R. said:  Eleanor Oliphant is NOT completely fine, but I won't give away much more than that. This book by Gail Honeyman slowly unravels your first impression of an eccentric character to unveil how she became who she is.

Kelly R. said:  This is a beautifully written book about life and loss that happens to be told from the perspective of a dog. Enzo looks back on his years as beloved companion to a race car driver, and all of the ups and downs that have come along the way. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cry some more.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Richard Paul Evans is one of my favorite authors because his books are not only expertly written, but they are touching with deep meaning. Lost December is the story of a father and son's relationship through the best and worst of times. It is about forgiveness and appreciating what you have after you have lost it all. It is heartwarming, emotional and deeply moving. I truly love all of the author's books. They are not terribly long and even busy moms will find they breeze through them, because they are true page turners as well.

Katie G. said:  You may remember the 1992 movie starring Brad Pitt. This semi-autobiographical book was published when the author, Norman Maclean, was 74 years old. It was his first novel, published at his family's encouragement after he retired from 30 years as a university professor. A true work of a lifetime, the book includes a novella and two short stories, all taken from Maclean's youth in the Montana mountains. It's unique and powerful in its simplicity.

Tim Ponisciak said:  Travelers-at-heart will love this story of the open road. While John Steinbeck is best known for his fiction, he has also written a couple of non-fiction works, and this is perhaps the best. He tells the story of his trip across the U.S. back in 1960, accompanied by just his dog, Charley. Steinbeck helps the reader picture America as it was back in 1960 writing eloquently about both the positives and the negatives.

Kelly R. said:  Trevor Noah (of The Daily Show) shares unapologetically honest, alarming, and often hilarious stories of his experience growing up in South Africa under apartheid. As the child of a white father and black mother, his very existence was illegal. I love that this memoir is formatted as a collection of stories, and found them entirely entertaining and deeply moving.

Kelly R. said:  I become a bigger fan of Fredrik Backman with each of his books. He does such a fantastic job of writing characters, and while Anxious People has many of them, each one is unique and memorable. The story, about a failed bank robbery and so much more, is surprising, heartbreaking, and really funny.