Hello all. Big delicate ask. 

My darling friend (F49), who is a non-reader, just lost her youngest daughter (16) and it was extremely traumatic. Four weeks later, at a yoga class, she witnessed the woman right in front of her, snap her ankle and bone puncture through the skin. Four days later, her mum was taken into hospital with a broken shoulder. The next day, her mum died unexpectedly. She’s wrapped up in devastation and overwhelm. She’s coming to stay with me for a whole month and switching off her phone. I’m thinking of everything I can do to create the most healing, healthy environment. I suggested she get a kindle paperwhite for Christmas, and then, when she’s with me, she can read books, as opposed to going on her phone.

Please can you think of books that are EASY to read (imperative - I'm hoping she gets a sense of achievement from finishing a book). Nothing preachy. Nothing… sad? (I think she’s probably got that box ticked). Just something that may help her escape? Warm her? Give her a sense of hope? Help her learn something she might value learning. 

Her emotional EQ is off the charts high. She’s always been a really social, fun person who brings everyone together. She lights up the room without trying. She’s funny and generous, forgiving. 

Please, give me your best suggestions so I can load up her kindle, tuck her up and let her heal…well, as heal much as is possible.

Any thoughts, books, advice, welcomed. And thank you. This could make a real difference.

I’m so sick and tired of reading books that are just so poorly written. I hate to admit it, but I initially got into reading because of BookTok, and eventually made my way to a few classics. Lately, though, I’ve been so frustrated with the way women are portrayed in fiction. So many books reduce women to objects, and when I turn to literary fiction, it often feels like a woman’s entire character is defined by some deeply traumatic, abusive, or violent experience.

I just want to read books where women get to be happy. Where they’re allowed to be complex, interesting, flawed, and fulfilled without their entire existence revolving around suffering. Of course, women can have difficult pasts, and I’m not asking for stories without conflict. I just don’t want trauma to be the defining feature of every woman’s character.

it can be about any topic it just blew your mind and gave you so many holy s**t moments

Preferably about a woman or women mainly, I’ve been really interested in the day to day lives of medieval times. Does anyone have any recommendations? Any pretty historically accurate

Thank you!!

Also non fiction recommendations welcome!!

I'm currently rereading A Night in the Lonesome October, and I'm on the hunt for stories with other non-human characters living their own lives against the backdrop of a human world.

I'm open to most genres with romance my least favorite to read. I typically prefer sci fi and fantasy, and I'm into a gritty world and cast of characters.

Thanks in advance!

I would like a non fiction crime book that is gripping, preferably with shorter chapters.

I’ve got different categories of books (corporations, disasters, memoirs, nature, psychology, survival, and true crime), and it’s time to read a true crime book.

I’ve read and enjoyed the following books:

- American Predator by Maureen Callahan
- Bad Blood by John Carreyou
- Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink
- The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
- Dry by Augusten Burroughs
- The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
- Endurance by Alfred Lansing
- Murderland by Caroline Fraser
- Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey
- If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

I read but did not like In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (sorry, it put me to sleep) and Number Go Up by Zeke Faux (I think this one was just the subject matter - it was my last read, so I need something to knock my socks for the next one).

Thank you in advance!!

TW just in case. But, I lost my mother back in 2022 and I still do not handle it well. I get this intense, overwhelming feeling of her being just ... gone. Then my heart sinks all over again and I sob until it stops. I am not sure if a book on grief such as this that I feel would help but I suppose it is worth a try. Any suggestions?

TLDR: looking for a book to help me be kinder, calmer, and less defensive

I am looking for a book that offers perspectives, motivation, and ideas on how to be like my high school English teacher. He was the kind of person who could lose everything and still have the heart to say that everything will be alright. He attracted people in a way I had never seen, and it was through pure kindness and the sense of calm he brought people when the world was falling apart.

I have been on a never-ending journey of self-improvement, and I have been getting to a point where I can handle my anxiety, but in the process, I have found myself increasingly intolerant of very simple complaints and questions from the people in my life. I do not think I lack empathy, but I believe I struggle to use it when it comes to people's everyday issues. I can very clearly see, writing this out, that I probably do this to protect my own peace. I have had to do a lot to protect myself from others in the past, but I no longer need to do that, and I want to be able to break down those walls.

I don't only want to seem unbothered, calm, and trustworthy to others, but I also want to feel it. I don't want to feel so defensive or give others a reason not to come to me with their problems. I do not want to be angry with others for simple problems.

Super specific! I know! I hope someone has found a book that helped them with that. I am open to any genre or any author. Thank you :)

Edit: I love poetic literature for stuff like this, but if that wouldn't be the most helpful, I will take anything

I could watch these movies over and over again and never get tired of them…what book would you recommend?

Forrest Gump
The Goonies
Fried Green Tomatoes
Stand By Me
Fisher King
Big Hero Six
Good Will Hunting
Rain Man
Pineapple Express
Shutter Island
Almost Heroes
How to Train Your Dragon
Jojo Rabbit
The Avengers
The Truman Show
Step Brothers
Jaws
What About Bob?
Dirty Dancing
Tommy Boy
The Sandlot

I'm in a bit of a book hole and could use some fresh recommendations! Some of my favorites are:

Remarkably Bright Creatures

The Wedding People

Firefly Lane

Big Little Lies

I love character-driven stories with complicated, relatable people, meaningful relationships and/or unexpected friendships, and a good deal of emotional depth. I find myself drawn to books that balance humor and heartbreak and leave you thinking about the story and the characters long after you've finished.

I don't necessarily need a fast-paced plot or a perfect happy ending. I just love a story that makes me feel cozy, and laugh, cry, and feel deeply connected to the characters.

What books have stayed with you long after the last page?

Hello! I've been researching a specific kind of book and struggling, so I'm hoping someone here has an idea.

I'm searching for a novel told in verse, but not a collection of individual poems.

I work as a substitute teacher, and I've read incredible books with my students where every page is a poem, but it's one long story like a novel. Kwame Alexander is a popular author who writes in this style, and I just taught a unit with Sharon Creech's "Love That Dog." I really enjoyed reading these with classes, but I'd like to find books for adults in this style. Every list I've found is more Young Adult books, which I'm not looking for at this time.

I've found a few in Adult fiction, but they all seem to be in the genre of historical fiction with deeply depressing topics. I use reading as a way to escape the real world, so I'm not interested in historical fiction if the topic is war, oppression, etc.

Does anyone know of a novel written in verse, for adults, that's not historical fiction? (Or, I'm even open to historical fiction, if it's more of a drama and not focused on serious historical topics/settings.) I'm open to fantasy, sci-fi, realistic fiction, mystery, any other genre, really.

Thank you in advance and happy reading!

Graduated a few months ago with a master’s and i’m getting nowhere. I’ve interviewed at some places but didn’t get offers which destroyed my confidence. Now when I interview the lack of self-confidence peeks through and people tell me this.

I used to be much more confident when I was interviewing while in school. I just want to be that way again. Any books that will help with these feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem?

I’m looking for book that take place in San Diego California. When I worked in Los Angeles I used to love to sit and read the Harry Bosch novels in the place that Michael Connelly was writing about. It was a lot of fun. I’ll be going to San Diego soon and I thought it was be nice if I could do the same thing there. Anything you can think of in any genre. Thank you.

Hey so im in the process of getting my life together.

I want to get hired as an entry position at a local welding place doing yard labor and janitorial stuff but want to eventually move up in the company and learn the trade from them. What book can I read to understand how to do this best? Would it be a charisma book like "the charisma myth" or something like that? This is very important to me as im autistic so its hard for me to do without training myself

Famine, IRA, issues with the Brits and Northern Ireland. I’m an American with Irish ancestry and would love to learn more. Thanks.

Looking for a political sci-fi book/series in the same ilk as Dune. I tend to like political dramas that focus on the political actors and military decisionmakers. The drier and more convoluted, the better

Favorite books:
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
We Begin at the End
All the Colors of the Dark
Peace Like a River
All of John Steinbeck
Tom Lake
Plainsong

If you have loved any of these books, help me find more. I don’t know what to call books like these. They don’t quite feel like literary fiction. I don’t know. Help.

I'm in my late 30s, I've spent the last 15 years in tech and I quit a few months ago. I'm giving myself a sabbatical period to rest and focus on my family and move countries (from US to Europe) and the question in my head is: "what's next?" I don't know if i want to go back to tech, and I'm open to so many other career possibilities but I don't know how to tackle this. Can you recommend me a book that could guide me in this moment? Thanks!

Looking for an easy read.

Mystery/Thriller

Setting is mid 2000s or before (limited technology)

Urban downtown setting (I.e. Manhattan)

Mood rainy, TV left on at night, dingy apartment kind of mood.

Max Payne vibes. Depressing.

R rated.

Please suggest books that are set in the 1910s-1950s with cottage life/vibes. Kind of like tiny mouse in the country drinking tea. Bonus point for a more whimsical read but also ok with other genres that are not horror. Thanks!

Looking for a graphic novel recommendation. Must be:

📚 Adult centered

📚 Romantasy, fantasy, something along those lines. Not into sci fi

📚 Preferably a series I can devour

📚 Pretty artwork a bonus

I literally just discovered prose novels today; superhero comics written in traditional novel format. And I’m very curious to read a couple.

If anyone has any recommendations, particularly must-read novels about Batman or Spider-Man, I’d be very appreciative.

Trying to learn about the druids, celts, picts, saxons, etc.