Page-turners for Every Season: Must-Read Books to Add to Your Shelf

What was the last book that you read? If you’re not sure, it’s time to pick one up. I always try to keep a few on my night stand – sometimes I’ll start a few or if one’s really good, I just can’t put it down.

I don’t know about you, but I am always on the hunt for a good book. Typically, I find a good author and then I search for more books by that same person until I’ve read them all. Unfortunately, sometimes I tend to get in a rut with reading books (and re-reading books) by a few of my favorite authors. That’s why I love new book recommendations because often I’ll discover a fantastic new author.

I compiled this list of books after checking out all of the recommendations from my book clubs, online reviews, best sellers and most importantly tips from friends and family. I can’t wait to read some of these!

The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library. -Albert Einstein

I typically try to stop by our local library once or twice a month for a new assortment of books. I love that you can borrow an entire stack of books for free. Don’t get me wrong, I have quite a collection of books that I own, but if you read a lot – it can get really expensive. That’s why I tend to invest in those books that are new or that I REALLY want to read.

Coming into a bookstore when it’s raining is like grocery shopping when you’re hungry. -Overheard in Harvard Bookstore

This list includes my list of 16 books that I plan to read this year. I’ve also included some that were my favorite reads from 2019. With any luck you’ll stumble across one that you just can’t put down and it will have you reading late into the night! (To the great annoyance of your sleeping spouse!)

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1. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

A thriller with a twisty ending. If you’re a fan of Lisa Jewell, this one should not disappoint. If you’re new to Ms. Jewell, time to jump on board.

2. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The story of an artist who is committed for murdering her famous photographer husband and then refuses to utter a sound for years following the crime. This psychological thriller has gotten a lot of hype by the publisher and overall has 4 1/2 stars on Amazon. I read this one in January and I thought it was very interesting. Lots of intriguing twists and definitely worth the read, especially since this is his first book.

3. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

The story of a librarian who loses her job and moves to a new town to start over. There she creates a mobile bookshop where she inspires others and discovers her own adventure along the way.

4. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

This new book from the award-winning author of Station Eleven is due out in March 2020. It’s featured on the NY Times “books we’re watching for in 2020”.

5. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Released in January 2020 – a best seller on Amazon and NY Times. The story of the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed his entirely family. He struggles to find meaning following the loss of his family. “A reading experience that leaves you profoundly altered for the better . . . Don’t miss this one.”—Jodi Picoult

6. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

A friend of mine recommended this book to me after she read it and really liked it (after hearing David Sedaris praise it). Anyone local to the area will find the backdrop of the story – a lavish family estate in the suburbs of Philadelphia especially interesting.

7. Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

The author won the Pullitzer Prize for Olive Kitteridge. Olive, Again has been called just as wonderful as the original. These two books would be a great addition to a book club.

8. Educated by Tara Westover

This memoir has intrigued me for the last few months. It’s won a ton of literary awards and is on everyone’s book list. That’s not what I find intriguing, the story itself is very unique. Tara was born in Idaho to survivalists and was 17 before she first set foot in an actual classroom. She eventually makes her way to Harvard and Cambridge where she earns a PhD.

9. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

I’ve always been fascinated and a little spooked by psychics. This book revolves around the premise of four children who were each told their future date of death and the impact of that knowledge on that future lives. I’m excited to read this one – it was named book of the year in 2018 by numerous publications.

10. The Outsider by Stephen King – HBO limited series starring Ben Mendelsohn

11. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn – Soon to be a Major Motion Picture starring Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, and Gary Oldman

A woman in NYC who lives alone and spies on her neighbors. One night she she something out her window – or did she?

12. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

A family moving to the Alaska wilderness in the 1970s looking to start a new life.

13. 9 Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty – Soon to be a series starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy

From the author of Big Little Lies is the latest strange story of 9 strangers who meet at a health resort.

14. You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Author of The Wife Between Us – one of the most anticipated books of 2020.

15. Long Bright River by Liz Moore

“This is police procedural and a thriller par excellence, one in which the city of Philadelphia itself is a character (think Boston and Mystic River). But it’s also a literary tale narrated by a strong woman with a richly drawn personal life – powerful and genre-defying.” – People

“A thoughtful, powerful novel by a writer who displays enormous compassion for her characters. Long Bright River is an outstanding crime novel… I absolutely loved it.”
—Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl on the Train

16. Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

This highly anticipated, latest book by the author of The Woman in Cabin 10, promises an Agatha Christie level thriller.

Best Books that I Read Last Year

17. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng – Soon to be a Hulu series with Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.

For some reason when I picked this one up at the library it really wasn’t on my radar. In fact, I had no idea what it was even about. I ended up reading it in one day and was like…WOW! So much about this psychological mystery is unexpected.

18. Eleanor Olyphant by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor will win you over! Such a unique and fascinating character that will draw you in immediately.

19. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

This thriller is amazingly captivating and not at all what you think it will be.

20. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms

21. Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand

I love Elin Hilderbrand, I’ve read all of her books at least once. She’s a native of Collegeville, PA who now lives in Nantucket. Her books have this wonderful way of allowing you to experience the Nantucket way of life. Her books are always the perfect beach read. Summer of ’69 captures so much of the drama from that point in history while staying true to Elin’s signature style. If you’re an Elin fan or not…this is a great choice.

21 1/2 (Summer of ’79 – the next chapter, is available for 60 days only. Grab it while you can.)

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah – 1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture

If you enjoy historical fiction, especially WWII era, you won’t be able to put this one down. I read this and All the Light We Cannot See around the same time and found them both captivating.

Happy Reading!