Hey guys!
I have compiled for you a list of the books I absolutely loved across different genres. If you are planning to venture into any of these categories as a book reader, I highly recommend you pick these books up first.
Classics
Gone with the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell
Like many people, the idea of reading a classic gives me a shudder. But this was the first classic I ever read and I absolutely loved it. May be because it doesn’t have the bleak settings and floral language (that only literature students understand) in abundance. It greatly helped that I read it in e book format. So it was only after I finished the book, I was informed by a friend how lengthy the book is considered among English novels. I must say, I secretly felt proud. I loved this novel so much that I have cautiously ventured into the Classics realm multiple times ever since then, however, I’m yet to find another classic that even comes close to Gone With the Wind.
Historical Romance
The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever
by Julia Quinn
Long long before Julia Quinn became a household name, I read this book from another of her series. And trust me when I say this, this book (and the entire Bevelstoke series in fact) is much better than the Bridgerton novels. The Secret Diaries of Ms. Miranda Cheever was probably the first historical romance I read, and perhaps because of this very reason I found it so good. Cause let’s face it, all historical romances more or less follow the same plot- a rakish title holder and a unladylike lady get involved in a hate to marriage kind of situation, and before they know it, they are falling head over heels in love (and in each other’s arms) with each other. Never the less, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to dip their toes in the historical romance waters.
Contemporary romance
Battle For Bittora
by Anuja Chauhan
I’ve been a romance reader for…umm… over a decade now. And if you have as much experience as me in this genre, you would know that after a point, romantic novels seem so repetitive and predictable that they make you roll your eyes more than go weak in the knees. it was under these circumstances that I read Battle for Bittora. To be frank, I had read Anuja Chauhan’s other works prior to this and was kind of saving this one for that time in my life when I really really needed something to make me smile. And this author never disappoints on that account. its books like these that make you believe that the genre of romance can never be fully exhausted and will always have something new to offer. To read my complete review of this novel, click here.
Passionate Romance
The Ethan Frost Series
by Tracy Wolff
Now, this is a very Venn diagram kind of a category. Truly, every romance is a passionate romance. However, some novels highlight the steaminess in the romance A LOT. The problem is that many of these books translate ‘passion’ into putting a hot (can’t keep their hands off each other) scene on every next page. These books, in my opinion, make for neither good romances nor meet the benchmark for erotica. This series, on the other hand, presents just the right balance between story and seduction. I think this is the only series where I have read all the books one after the other. In the beginning, it does give the Fifty Shades vibe, but not much time is wasted either on the man trying to dominate, nor on the woman trying to resist (it gets very irritating when the girl and boy get stuck in an endless ‘chase the girl’ situation cause the reader already knows they will eventually get together). The winning point is that each book ends with a dha dha dha kind of turning point. And that makes you jump on to the next book immediately.
Mystery/ Thriller
The Robert Langdon Series
By Dan Brown
I don’t think I even need to say anything here. I was introduced to Dan Brown at a very late age. I mean, I remember all my friends were reading Digital Fortress back when I was in school (cause reading Dan Brown was a cool thing to do back then). This, however, meant that I could devower each book without any peer pressure to love or discuss the book. Also, I could space the books as and when I wanted to read a good book, rather than waiting for Dan Brown to churn out his next. I’ve done a detailed review of this series and to know what I thought about it, click here. Bottom line is that if someone is looking for a really good, fast paced, keeps you up at night, cant put it down, makes you go “oh my god!” at every next turn, kind of a mystery, and by chance if you haven’t yet digested all of Dan Brown’s books, I highly recommend you do so right now.
Sidney Sheldon books
The Stars Shine Down
by Sidney Sheldon
I know you would say, “hey! That’s not a real genre”. But I think Sidney Sheldon was one of a kind and no one has or will be able to spin tales the way he did. Not even Tilly Bagshawe (the author who completed some of Sheldon’s unfinished manuscripts, was able to replicate the style perfectly. You can easily tell those books are written by someone else.
I was introduced to Sidney Sheldon by my mother. And because of this, I was expecting a ‘mom like’ book. The Stars Shine Down was the first book I read by Sidney Sheldon. And I was sold at Lara Camron looking for her Lochinvar. Sidney Sheldon’s books mostly follow a similar pattern: they have a female character at the centre (who in the true sense is the heroine of the story), there is childhood trauma, the story spans several decades, going through the journey of the woman going from ‘simple’ to ‘feisty’. Even so, each novel is so unique and so beautifully composed, that trust me, if you had a chance to bring one person back from the dead, you will choose Sidney Sheldon in a blink.
World War II Fiction
Lilac Girls: A Novel
by Martha Hall Kelly
Okay. I know, you would be going, “she is just making up categories now”. But hear me out. I’ve read multiple books based around the second World War era. Some are written from the perspective of Jews who were put in Nazi camps, others are about French or British spies out on heroic missions, and a few even capture the point of view of German soldiers and people who became by standers to probably the most inhumane series of events. What is common among all of these is the quality to inspire within ordinary people like you and me, the feeling of such great strength: if these common men and women of those times could endure such atrocities and still fight back, then why can’t we? And what makes these tales more potent than an ordinary Clark Kent turning into Superman, is the fact that they are inspired by real incidents. I have loved every single book that I have read based on this theme and Lilac Girls is undoubtedly at the top of that list. To read my thoughts about this book, click here.
Humorous Fiction
The Rosie Project
by Graeme Simsion
To find the right balance between humour and a good plot is difficult. Or at least it seems so, considering there are such few authors who can find this balance. Most funny books tend to take the silly route in order to get a laugh out of their readers, compromising the story in the process. The Rosie Project, is one of those few rare books that strike just the right balance. Don’t get me wrong. There are silly moments. But when narrated from Don’s unique perspective, it all makes complete sense.
Young Adult
The To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Collection
By Jenny Han
Now this is a genre which has no definition. So for the sake of this list, I define ‘YA’ as books with teens or tweens as the main characters. Now, if you have read a few reviews of mine and have a highly insightful mind, you would know that I’m stuck at this stage of development. So the problem that I often face with typical Western YA fiction is that as an Asian, I can’t relate to them so well. And walla! This series is the answer. The book gave me that perfect balance of an Asian American school girl navigating the American dating scene. What sold the book to me was the fact that this girl had her first kiss at 17… and it was absolutely normal. Just kidding! It’s a well written series with many fresh twists and turns to offer and it maintains its momentum throughout the three books. I still get pangs for chocochip cookies whenever I think of this book. To read my complete review, click here.
Eutopia/ Dystopia
The Selection Series
by Kiera Cass
This pick of mine will tell you what a romantic I am at heart. Yes, my favourite book from the realm of the future world is no tale of some technologically advanced species fighting the ills of the society. It is a sweet love story which just takes humanity ahead in time, while at the same time regressing it to monarchical society. In brief, if a British prince from the 18th century conducted a season of The Bachelor, it would be the story of this series. Then again, if people raced to read a dystopian version of Big Brother- The Hungergames, then why not this? What I loved about this book is that the author didn’t overdo the building of the futuristic world. The emotions are still at the heart of this story. You find yourself liking, disliking and falling in love with each character right alongside America (yes, the heroine of the novel is named America). And this book makes a solid case for the ‘you don’t just love once’ philosophy.
Hope you found this list of recommendations across genres helpful. Drop in your thoughts about these books or tell us which is your favourite book in these genres down below.
