Need some tried-and-true novels that everyone (a.k.a. YOU) should read?

When people tell me that they rarely read, I understand. It’s one of the most physically boring hobbies you can have right now, compared to much more engaging social media scrolling or binge-watching.

That’s not to say those things don’t have value. They can and often do.

But reading needs a place in everyone’s life. In YOUR life.

Without it, we find ourselves willfully ignorant of the actual world we live in. We’re consumed in our own experiences and continue to isolate ourselves, getting angrier and angrier at other people we simply don’t understand.

Books can also be an escape, a much-needed one. I don’t know about you, but for me, doom-scrolling is one of my favorite pastimes. Not that I enjoy it, but it’s a habit.

Whether you’re combatting book banning, trying to widen your own experiences, or simply wanting to have a good time, pick up a book.

But if you don’t know where to start, I’ve got you.

In this post, I’ll show you some novels that everyone should read!

7 Novels Everyone Should Read

As a new reader, I’d recommend starting with fiction. There’s a little bit of something for everyone.

If you want a fun time, try adventure or fantasy. If you want something beautiful and weird, try literary fiction.

Note: If you pick something up and don’t like it, DON’T FINISH IT. Although hate reads can be fun, it’s not a great way to get into reading. Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you’re not enjoying a book by the 100-page mark, put it down.

To get started, I want to recommend some of my favorite fiction books that I think everyone should read. This list will vary in genre, tone, and purpose, so you can absolutely find something you like!

1. Homegoing

 We believe the one who has power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there you get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.

We’re starting with a heavy one, but it’s for a good reason.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is a historical fiction book that follows two Ghanaian half-sisters who suffered from the slavery trade in the 18th century in different ways. One marries a slave trader and the other is sold into slavery and sent to America.

What makes this novel unique is how it’s told. We follow not just two sisters, but many generations after them.

We see how the slave trade (and racism in general) impacted two entire generational lines. Even though not everyone is directly enslaved, each person feels the effects of slavery as it trickles down the generations.

You should read this if you like:

• Historical fiction
• Discussion of race, power, and freedom
• Multiple perspectives
• Beautiful writing

2. The Fifth Season

 When we say “the world has ended,” it’s usually a lie, because the planet is just fine. But this is the way the world ends. This is the way the world ends. This is the way the world ends. For the last time.

The Fifth Season is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy book about a land called the Stillness. Ironically, this world is about as rocky as you can get. There are constant earthquakes, setting off new apocalypses.

There is a group of people called Orogenes, who can physically control seismic events. Even though they have so much power, they are seen as less than in society.

While reading the Fifth Season (and the next two books in the series), what gripped me was Jemisin’s world-building and plot twists. Just when you’ve figured out what’s going on, she throws a wrench in the equation.

You should read this if you like:

• Fantasy
• Trilogies
• Discussion of power, race, and class
• Multiple perspectives

Tip: Fantasy is a good way to get into reading, but there are different levels! High fantasy is a completely different world than ours, while low fantasy has fantastical elements that happen to a normal person.

3. The Mysterious Benedict Society

 You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn’t depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a book about gifted children. A man recruits a few young geniuses to infiltrate and take down the head of an evil school.

This book was my FAVORITE as a kid. Every scene is engaging, filled with riddle-solving and narrow escapes.

Be warned. You will fall in love with the characters and cry unexpectedly. It’s just a fact. If you don’t, you’re a monster, sorry.

You might be wondering why a children’s book is on this list. But, I’ve found middle-grade novels to be just as good if not better than adult novels.

Even though it’s geared towards middle-schoolers, anyone would like it. The riddles are hard to solve and there’s great discussion of morality. All in all, it’s a great book.

You should read this if you like:

• Middle-grade
• A fast read
• Trilogies
• The found family trope
• A TV show to watch afterwards

4. A Monster Calls

 Your mind will believe comforting lies while also knowing the painful truths that make those lies necessary. And your mind will punish you for believing both.

Some books you remember reading in just one day. They utterly consume you and ruin all other books for you. A Monster Calls did that to me.

A Monster Calls follows a young boy, Conor, who starts being visited by a monster. This monster shares stories, in the hopes that Conor will share his own.

Without giving too much away, this book made me absolutely break down crying. And it continues to do so every time I read it.

It’s so hard to see a young kid grappling with such a huge issue. It’s something that even adults can’t quite understand, so anyone can relate. But it’s extra emotional in this context.

You should read this if you like:

• Beautiful illustrations
• A fast-paced read
• Fantasy elements
• Discussion of grief and death

5. Jane Eyre

Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you.

I’m sure if you look at any other “Best Books” lists, they’ll have mostly classics. I’m not that kind of reader. Usually, I find that underrated books are the best books.

However, sometimes there’s an exception.

Jane Eyre is my favorite classic, although I hated it when I first read it. (I still think it’s a crime to make younger kids read confusing classics in school before they’re ready for them).

If you give Jane Eyre a chance, it’s captivating. From the ghost in the red room to Rochester’s deranged wife in the attic (sorry, spoilers are a given when a book is this old), there are so many moments that make this book worth reading.

And yes, I recognize the at-times abusive relationship between Rochester and Jane. But, in my opinion, this book is not about romance. It’s about Jane. And Jane has so many moments of standing up for herself against not only Rochester but every other abusive figure in her life.

So I personally find Jane Eyre a feminist, ahead of her time.

You should read this if you like:

• Classics
• Feminist lit
• Romance (?)
• Themes of class, independence, love

6. Interior Chinatown

 He is asking to be treated like an American. A real American. Because, honestly, when you think American, what color do you see? White? Black? We have been here 200 years. The first Chinese came in 1815. Germans and Dutch and Irish and Italians who came at the turn of century. They’re Americans. Why doesn’t this face register as American? Is it because we make the story too complicated?

Interior Chinatown is a book that reads like a film script. The main character is Generic Asian Man, and constantly aspires to be the highest role an Asian man can be: Kung Fu Guy.

This book takes a look at the film industry, critiquing how Hollywood has chosen to portray Asian people. It pokes fun at stereotypical tropes that not only impact actors but all Asian Americans.

You should read this if you like:

• Humor
• Discussions of identity, class, stereotypes
• Weird formats (like film scripts instead of paragraphs)

7. Before I Let Go

You can’t change what has already happened. What you did or decided. So you have two choices. Wallow in it, stay in the chokehold of guilt and shame that holds you back from the next phase of your life”—she taps the pad with the pen—“or decide you’ve punished yourself long enough for things you can never change and set a date when you’ll forgive yourself and move forward.

As a compulsive romance reader, I had to include one on this list.

Usually, I read romance for fun. They’re sexy, cute, and often one step too far from reality, making them the perfect way to dissociate while having a good time.

Before I Let Go is a little too real, but in a good way. It’s not just romance, but a story of an imperfect family finding their way back to each other. It’s sad, but ultimately hopeful.

You should read this if you like:

• A good cry
• Romance
• Beautiful writing

@extramediummedia

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♬ original sound – Extra Medium

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That’s all the reading recommendations I have today!

While you’re here, check out some more (amazing?) insights from a chronically online 24-year-old:

• Two Weeks Notice Movie Review
• Love Is Blind Review: A Lesson in Male Manipulation

Did your favorite book not end up on this list? Let me know in the comments! (I love getting new book recommendations)