There are books I usually gravitate towards, but every now and then I step out of my comfort zone. When I choose a book I normally would not consider, I am generally pleasantly surprised. These are 10 of the books that changed me as a reader. I can say with confidence that they made me the reader I am today.
Some of them are right up my alley, meaning thriller or suspense, but there are a couple on this list that I picked based on other reviewers recommendations. I am glad I listened and stepped out of my comfort zone. That allowed me to get acquainted with a wide range of new authors and genres. As a reader, I couldn’t be happier.
The following books are among my favorite all time books, partly because they changed me as a reader. I will not review these books here, as I already talked about some of them at length, but rather I will explain what it is about them that made me the reader I am today.
These are the 10 books that changed me as a reader.
Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney
As many of you know, I love Rooney’s writing style. Some people love her, some not so much, but I find her writing flawless and engaging. The sad millennial trope doesn’t bother me at all, I find it kind of refreshing to read about. And Rooney is the queen of the sad Millennial, as far as I’m concerned. Her writing is unique and captivating, and her storytelling style made me love the annoying, entitled characters.
The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
I’m not sure if you guys know, but I love ballet. So when a book is centered around ballerinas and the story has a thrilling element, I’m in bookish heaven. I loved everything about this book, from its cover to the content. It follows a group of ballet students through adulthood, and the way their relationships develop as their careers take off. The book deals with themes of betrayal, loyalty, and competitiveness in the ballet world.
If you want to find out more about it, read my review from a previous post here.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
This literary family saga is one of my favorite books of the year. The genre has grown on me lately, to say the least. I enjoy a good dysfunctional family drama story, especially when the author does such an amazing job, like Napolitano did for this novel. The complex, imperfect characters’ lives span over decades and their story is narrated with ease. This generational drama is at times hard to read, but it is beautifully written. If you weren’t familiar with the author, she’s worth a try.
Read my full review here:
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love this book! I read it not long after it was published in 2022, and I still think about it today. Yes, the characters are not particularly likable and are messy as they come. But that is why I liked the book even more. The strong character development of this contemporary literary fiction is one of the best executed in my opinion. If you were still on the fence on this novel, pick it up. Not only for the plot, but the cover is gorgeous. At least, in my humble opinion. Mellors made me crave novels with imperfect, infuriating characters with her impeccable writing!
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jenniffer Finney Boylan
One of the most eye-opening books of the year, I devoured it! I will not give away anything else, but my initial review contains some spoilers! If you aren’t familiar with the subject matter yet, I urge you to pick up this book. It will make you understand certain things you surely weren’t yet exposed to. Well developed and heart wrenching at the same time, Picoult has a way of making readers engaged until the last page. This book made me want to learn more about contemporary, taboo topics most of us are scared to tackle.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
I included this memoir on my list of books that changed me as a reader because of the impact it had on me. I never looked at sexual assault victims quite the same after reading this book. While it is still a very sensitive topic of discussion, Miller’s relating of the trauma she suffered is very honest and raw. You can’t help but feel strong emotions while reading this book, and I think everyone, whether they are male or female, should pick it up. At the very least, it can make you see both sides of a story that should’ve been prevented in the first place.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E.Schwab
Definitely out of my comfort zone, The Invisible Life of ADdie LaRue is one of the first fantasy books I ever read. Recommended by the Bookstagram community, it truly lives up to the hype.
I was never attracted by the genre, but the way Schwab writes converted me. At least for her work! She has a way of laying out the story that makes you fall in love with the characters and you feel as if you’re right there, witnessing the action live. Few authors have this gift, but she’s truly unique with her detailed and vivid descriptions. She opened my eyes and pushed me to choose books that I would otherwise probably never think to read.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The queen of psychological thrillers is without a doubt Gillian Flynn. After reading this twisted, gripping thriller, I never looked at the genre the same again. Sure, a few other authors that followed have managed to write compelling psychological thrillers, but none as addictive and disturbing as Gone Girl. The movie adaptation is also one of my favorite ever book-to-screen films I recommend. If you like messed up characters and surprising twists, pick it up.
What I loved most about this book is the way the author’s mind works. It takes a vivid imagination to be able to write such a gripping thriller!
A Little Life By Hanya Yanagihara
Although I find this book could have been a couple of hundred pages shorter, the author’s writing is so sublime that it didn’t even bother me. I must warn you, if you haven’t read it yet but intend to, prepare to cry and be devastated. The subject matter is very hard to read, so don’t pick up this book if you’re having a down period in your life. But the narration is probably one of the best I’ve read in years. Without a doubt, Yanagihara is one of the most talented authors of this generation, and her writing will make everyone fall in love with reading again.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson
And finally, last but definitely not least, the book that made me adore a new-to-me genre, Nordic Noir. To me, there’s no one that even comes close to the late Stieg Larson. His captivating, complex story and excellent character development is in a class of its own. Not to mention the dark, atmospheric settings that are present in his trilogy. After reading this first book in the Millennium trilogy, I was hooked. The other two books written by him gave me a thirst for Scandinavian authors and culture. Although I’m still planning to visit Sweden at some point, I haven’t had the opportunity yet. But it’s on my bucket list. And Larson is the reason why I want to experience for myself the country he lived in.
Read my review of the book here:
First Book Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Final Words
This sums up my list of 10 books that changed me as a reader. Which books are on your list? If you read any of these books, how did you feel about them?
Until next time, always looking forward to hearing about the books you’re reading.
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