The Best Books for Adults to Add to Their Reading Lists

Reading is a great way to escape from the everyday demands and stressors of life. Books give people the chance to relax, gain perspective, learn, and be entertained. There are few things comparable to the enjoyment of experiencing an enthralling novel for the first (or sometimes even the seventh) time. Here are some books we recommend for adults to read next.

What to Consider in Adult Books

With so many books open to the world of adult readers, here are a few things to consider:

• Genre: Most people enjoy at least a couple of genres, whether they’re science-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery, fantasy, memoirs, romance, non-fiction, biographies, or others. With so many options available, you should be able to find some amazing adult books to add to your reading list.
• Voice: Stories are told in many ways, so consider the authenticity and intrigue of the author’s or narrator’s voice.
• Style: Consider which style is your preferred type, including prose, first-person/third-person, or even narration or time jumps.

Best Page-Turner: The Vanishing Half: A Novel by Brit Bennett

The Vanishing Half tells the stories of the Vignes twin sisters who grew up in a small, Southern, Black community and ran away at age sixteen. Everything becomes different for them; family, community, and racial identity. The book picks up many years later, where one sister lives with her Black daughter in the town she tried to escape, while the other sister passes secretly for white and her white husband knows nothing. Separated by miles and lies, the fate of the twins is intertwined.

Based on a True Story: Surviving The Forest by Adiva Geffen

A historical novel based on the true story of a Jewish Holocaust Survivor, Surviving The Forest is about a young woman and her family in Poland. After WWII breaks out, their lives are forever changed one night when they decide to escape the Gestapo by fleeing into the forest. With no idea what is awaiting them in the forest, they are forced to survive by any means necessary.

Best Plot Twist: What Happened at the Lake by Phil M. Williams

The Palmers go to the lake for a vacation in the sun, but Alex Palmer has a secret agenda. What Happened at the Lake tells the story of a brutal double murder and a man’s focus to keep his family safe and discover the truth of what really happened at the lake. With plot twists and an unforgettable ending, this story will leave readers shocked.

Best Coming of Age Story: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Set in 1969, Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of a quiet town on the North Carolina coast, where a man is found dead. The suspect is Kya Clark, a so-called “Marsh Girl,” rumored to have haunted the town for years. After she survives alone for years, the plot thickens when she opens her life to two strangers. A surprising tale of possible murder, the story reminds readers of the beautiful yet potentially violent secrets that nature keeps.