If you don’t judge books by their cover, you’re lying. Luckily, the following is a list of books that have incredibly storylines and have some beautiful covers as well. As summer is hopefully just around the corner, now is the perfect time to put yourself on that hold list at the library or put in a big order at the bookstore. Speaking of ordering books online, I have a few places that sell books for DIRT CHEAP. This isn’t sponsored, I just love them. Like www.abebooks.com or www.thriftbooks.com. Both great places to get a cheap book! Now without further ado, the 25 books you’re going to want to add to cart right after this.
1. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
An incredibly insightful journey into the mind of a powerful 16 year old who just happens to stumble upon a missing clue in a hundred thousand dollar mystery all the while dealing with her extreme anxiety. John Green is always a knockout.
2. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Abandoned as a young child, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped searching for her mother and when she stumbles into 2 friends who just might help her solve her mystery, you won’t be able to put this book down to see what happens next. Not only is it a riveting novel, the things that you will learn about elephants through the mother’s old job will make you immediately want to go out and save all of the elephants everywhere. The ending is completely unexpected and had me in tears throughout the entirety of Jenna’s journey.
3. One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
Anything by Jojo Moyes is a hit in my book. This one tells the story of Jess and the hardships she faces along with her stepson and her math whiz daughter. When Jess stumbles into the lap of a tech mogul, the unlikely friendship that blossoms won’t allow you to stop grinning from ear to ear for the rest of the book. Perfect for a day at the beach or a road trip.
4. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
This one is becoming a tv show on HBO this year! Tess arrives in NYC at the ripe young age of 22 and somehow lands a job at one of the most coveted restaurants in New York. Navigating the dining room floor, the other kitchen staff, and the eclectic patrons of the restaurant, Tess indulges in more than just the great food in her first year of city life. In this raw look at her coming of age, you’ll watch as Tess tries to find herself and taste some amazing food along the way.
5. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
You all know Big Little Lies, well this is the author behind it. Also behind What Alice Forgot which is a great book too. Cecilia Fitzpatrick’s husband wrote a letter only to be opened in the case that he had died. Well, he’s alive and Cecilia found the letter. What’s inside alters not only her life but those in her community as well. Exploring the lives of the women in the same Australian town, you won’t want to put the book down until you know the whole story.
6. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
When a town is built on the premise that everything is perfect, you’re setting yourself up to have someone come in and destroy it. Enter Mia Warren who comes to Shaker Heights with her daughter and threatens to throw out the status quo that Elena Richardson has worked so hard to keep running. Elena is determined to unearth Mia’s past and with that will come some consequences. (This will also be a tv show in the near future!)
7. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
This is coming out as a movie this year! When Rachel decides to finally meet her boyfriends father and spend the summer in Singapore she envisions a quaint family and a lovely vacation with her, hopefully, soon to be fiance, Nick. What she doesn’t see coming is that he is part of the wealthiest family in Singapore and currently is marked as the nations most eligible bachelor. Coming to the country with all eyes on her, including Nick’s mother who holds impossible standards for her to live up to.
8. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Fun fact: I work with this author’s cousin! This story is all about a family and the four children who on the brink of adolescence take a visit to a physic who tells them their futures, including the day they will die. Follow the four siblings journey throughout their lives to see how it all ends.
9. She Regrets Nothing by Andrew Dunlop
Laila Lawrence became an orphan at 23. When 2 estranged cousins show up at her mother’s funeral, Laila finds herself thrown into a whirlwind of family, secrets, and scandals as she uncovers what really happened to her family all those years ago.
10. The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin
Zadie and Emma are longtime best friends who bonded during their time in medical school. Now, years, husbands, and kids later, a former colleague shows up and unearths a gigantic secret one of them has been holding in. This book takes you on a journey of friendship, heart ships, and how your circumstances can affect the rest of your life.
11. Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeny
This physiological thriller takes you on a wild ride of Amber Reynolds accident, aftermath, and all the blurry details in between. From the perspective of Amber who can’t open her eyes, speak, or move, all she can do is listen as her life pans out unwillingly before her.
12. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
Ella Durran is living her dream as she snags a Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford, her dream since she was 13. When her first day becomes a wash, she begins to question if it was all worth it, but a smart mouthed local becomes an unlikely connection and her thoughts suddenly change. As the year continues and a budding romance blossoms, the final days are encroaching and she must choose: love or career?
13. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
Anthony Peardew is a keeper of lost things. Constantly finding what others have been missing and writing stories about them. Upon his last day, he bestows this purpose to his assistant Laura who begins to find things on her way of returning those Anthony has found. This story delves into one particular item of Eunice’s and how Laura is the key to Eunice’s redemption.
14. This Love Story Will Self Destruct by Leslie Cohen
Eve and Ben are not compatible. Eve is a free-spirited, where-your-heart-on-your-sleeve kind of gal and Ben is a structured engineer who craves organization. What happens when Eve and Ben continue to run into each other over and over again? This book follows their journey as they struggle to navigate first dates, first breakouts, and maybe first love.
15. Still Me by Jojo Moyes
The third installation of the After You series that I am so excited for! This time, Louisa Clark is headed for New York City! Coming over for a job in high society New York, Louisa struggles to keep her relationship with ambulance Sam alive, especially when Joshua Ryan walks into her life. Louisa has an internal battle with finding herself and the courage to follow her heart and wherever that may lead.
16. What You Don’t Know About Charlie Outlaw by Leah Stewart
When actor Charlie Outlaw flees to a remote island to gain some peace and quiet after a breakup, he stumbles into a more dangerous world than he imagined. Josie, on the other hand, isn’t doing so great as an actress and continues to miss Charlie. But getting him back is a bit larger of an endeavor, and a bit more treacherous than she imagined.
17. Love Rules by Joanna Coles
From former Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Joanna Coles gives women of the digital age a straight up guide to navigating the dating world. Joanna gives 15 rules in this book on how to use dating apps effectively and weed out the weirdos.
18. Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley
This collection of essays is witty, hilarious, and full of charm. Her essays become more serious than her previous novels, but do not lack in emotions or insights. With her delightful way of telling relatable stories and asking the tough questions (i.e. should you freeze your eggs), you’ll feel as if you’re chatting over a cup of coffee with your new best friend.
19. White Houses by Amy Bloom
This book gives a fictional account of the relationships between Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickock, who largely lived in the White House and has been a fascinating topic for years. Amy Bloom explores this unique relationship and makes you question how far you would go for love.
20. The French Girl by Lexie Elliot
Six friends head on vacation to France to commemorate their college graduation. Little do they know that when they return home their neighbor, Severine, will be missing and they’ll be walking into a full on police investigation that doesn’t have any evidence. 10 years later even though the friendships have diminished, someone from their past comes back and stirs up some unsettling details about what actually happened that week.
21. Mrs. by Caitlin Macy
Any novel about the elite of New York is a novel for me. This one dives into the lives of the upper class of a group of Upper East Siders who are all connects by an elite private elementary school. When Phillippa Lye comes into the picture and marries into one of the wealthiest families, all the eyes start to turn to her. But when one of the members, Gwen Hogan, starts to dig into Phillippa’s past she finds out things that could ruin everything Phillippa has made.
21. Everything Happens for a Reason: and Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler
A new mom and theologist at Duke Divinity School, Kate Bowler’s world is shaken when she is diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Struggling to understand why God would do this to her, Kate fights with her mortality and what she thought she knew about her own faith.
22. How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
What would you do if you didn’t run out of time? Meet Tom Hazard who ages incredibly slowly. He may look 40, but he’s actually 400. In order to keep himself safe he is a member of a secret society whose rule is to move often and not develop any long-term relationships, unfortunately Tom has a daughter that he’s desperate to find.
24. This Could Hurt by Jillian Medoff
This book takes you into the lives of five HR colleagues trying to navigate, work, life and the balance between them. Jillian Medoff takes you along on this hilarious journey to see how work can impact your personal life.
25. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Reese Witherspoon is making this into a film too! This book introduces you to your next best friend, Eleanor Oliphant. Eleanor is awkward, meticulous, and blatantly honest. But what happens when Eleanor meets Raymond, a quirky IT guy who could really use some help in the hygiene department and they somehow end up saving an elderly gentlemen that fell on the street? You’ll have to read to find out!
And there you have it! Have any more book recommendations you want to share? Add a comment below!
Until next time!
