I’ve always been a big reader. There’s something so cathartic about getting lost in another world and letting your imagination take over. I don’t get as much time to read as I used to, but I still find myself thinking about certain books I’ve read over the years.
When a book catches my interest, I always do some research. I use the app GoodReads to check reviews and see if any of my friends have read it before I commit. This may seem a little extra, but honestly, there’s nothing worse than getting a third of the way through a book and realizing it’s just not doing it for you.
That’s exactly why I’ve curated this list of my all-time favorites… So you don’t have to waste any of your precious time.
Disclaimer: I’m not big on romance novels, so you won’t find much of that here.
The Silent Patient (Psychological Thriller)
To me, this book is the epitome of a psychological thriller. If you haven’t read it yet, I am SO jealous. To be able to read this for the first time again would be a gift.
The book follows Alicia Berenson who shoots her husband and then never speaks again. A psychotherapist, Theo Faber, takes her on as his patient and becomes fixated on uncovering her truth. It offers a twist you will never see coming. You will not be disappointed in this book!
The movie is dropping this year with Anne Hathaway so this is your sign to read it first!
Malibu Rising (Domestic/Historical Fiction)
I’ve read (or listened) to this book at least 3 times – it’s one of my favorite summer reads.
Set in the 1980s, it follows four siblings as they host their annual end-of-summer party, the kind everyone wants an invite to. Throughout the night, you get glimpses into their past and the complicated childhood that shaped them.
They may have come from a famous musician father, but not everything is as shiny as it seems. At the core of it all is the bond between the siblings, which is what makes this story so special. It’s dramatic, emotional, and heartwarming all at once.
You Are A F*cking Awesome Mom (Parenting and Self-Development)
This book makes me emotional just thinking about it. I listened to it a few weeks postpartum, when I was feeling all the feels. I was so in love with my newborn, but also grieving my old life in a way I didn’t expect.
The mom guilt was heavy, and this book was exactly what I needed. It’s encouraging, but also real about how overwhelming and complicated motherhood can feel. Knowing other women felt the same way made me feel validated and less alone. <3
The Five-Star Weekend (Fiction, Beach Read)
Elin Hilderbrand is known as the “queen of beach reads,” and after reading several of her books, I get why! The way she writes about Nantucket makes it feel as though you’re there.
In this one, food blogger Hollis Shaw hosts a “Five-Star Weekend,” inviting women from different stages of her life to spend time together after the sudden loss of her husband. Secrets, old lovers and conflict occur and the weekend ends up taking some unexpected turns.
Her books often include some romance, but there’s always so much more to the story, and this one is my personal favorite.
The last Mrs. Parrish (Psychological Thriller)
Ugh, this book is so good!
Amber Patterson is done being poor and is determined to change her life. She befriends Daphne Parrish, a wealthy socialite, and slowly manipulates her way into her life… and her family. But everything is not what it seems.
It was a page turner and “thriller” is a very appropriate term to describe it. I couldn’t put it down!
When Breath Becomes Air (Memoir, Non-Fiction)
As a nurse, this book left me awestruck.
It’s about a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He writes about going from a physician treating patients who are dying to becoming a patient himself. He is forced to face the reality of his own mortality and the meaning of life.
It’s raw, beautifully written, and deeply moving. One of those books that makes you pause and appreciate life in a different way.
Sharp Objects (Thriller)
This was the first thriller I remember reading. It was the catalyst that sent me into an obsession with this genre.
Camille Preaker is a reporter who travels back to her hometown in Missouri to coverthe murder of two young girls. Being back in her hometown with her family forces her to face her past and the trauma that she experienced.
I remember finishing this book so fast and was so excited when it came out as a TV series. It’s dark, unsettling, and completely addictive. If you know, you know.
The Universe Has Your Back (Self-Help, Personal Growth)
I had heard a lot about this book before reading it. As someone who tends to want control over everything and struggles with anxiety, it really resonated with me.
In her book, Gabrielle Bernstein talks about the importance of letting go of control and trusting in a higher power. She notes that it doesn’t have to be religious if that’s not your thing, but trusting in a higher power can help conquer fear.
I’ve also listened to her on podcasts and loved hearing her narrate this book. I plan on listening to this book again this summer!
These are the books my mind always wanders to when I’m choosing my next read. Reading may look different in this season of my life, but spending my free time with a good book is always worth it. I hope you find your next favorite here. <3
XO,
Kassie
