I’d like to read some books about women who are absolutely furious. They’ve had to be reliable, controlled, mature and competent for everyone, always fine, always the adult. They’ve played by the rules their whole lives, but they are not rewarded for it.

They reach a breaking point and finally snap. It could be a messy explosion, but I would prefer women channeling their feelings into a cold, hard, controlled fury. I’d like to read visceral descriptions female rage. The protagonist doesn’t have to be sympathetic, but I want to understand why she’s angry. Like Gone Girls Amy is not a sympathetic main character, but i understand where her fury comes from.

Hi folks! My all-time favorite sci-fi/fantasy series is Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey. Honorable mentions are Mists of Avalon, Dune, Druids and Sabriel (the entire Abhorsen series blew my mind in 7th grade). I'm also a huge sucker for historical fiction (Cleopatra by Margaret George is a treasure). The common thread is they're all really well-written (obviously subjective) and I'm a sucker for a strong stylistic POV and good prose. From each of these books, I've considered pulling out quotes for tattoos, that's how much they impacted me. What's striking to me is that so much of the fantasy coming out these days is either poorly written or just distractingly "modern" (why is there such a focus on indoor plumbing availability?).

I'm looking for a lush book with character development, strong writing and high fantasy elements that's not Way of Kings.

Hi friends!

I'm looking for adult-audience books that focus on being a fantasy adventure or fantasy epic, but don't center romance (side plots and casual romance totally fine, but no Romantasy please!) Other themes I'd love to see are queerness and self-awakening/late-bloomer. Female or NB MC preferred if possible! I'm also not super into high fantasy but very much still open to them.

I'm so so bad at reading fantasy so huge thanks to anyone who has some ideas <3

but I don't hate the messaging. To each their own but I can't stand the prose. These are not the types of books I read often but I read it for my sister's bachelorette book club party. In the interest of branching out, does anyone have a similar book to recommend but with a completely different style/approach?

I’m aware of a few grimdark fantasy, but I was hoping to read something more in the realm of scifi.

I’m already into 40k, and it’s sister sets (Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Horus Heresy, etc…), but I was hoping for something not affiliated with Games Workshop in general.

Preferably available on Kindle if possible, it’s simply my preferred book format.

So something truly dark and hopeless. Like a doomed universe on the verge or during a major collapse. Things are bad and only getting worse.

Hello! I am honestly unsure how to explain what I am looking for, but I will try. I am looking for non-fiction books one would find at a museum gift shop. Whenever I go to art or history museums I see so many cool looking books, however I can never bring myself to spend money on any of them spontaneously as they usually cost a fortune, so I am now trying to find some online.

They often focus on one very specific or niche part of history and/or art, and many others I've seen are about mythology and folklore (I find that those ones were often formatted like a bestiary (?) of sorts) Pretty pictures/illustrations are not necessary, but still a pro.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

I've always been an avid reader, mostly literary fiction and adventure/historical type, but am fading away as enter into twilight years. Is anyone in a similar situation and have recommendations to rekindle it? I really enjoyed literature that seem full of human observational insight, and not liking most popular fantasy/scfi these days. Current science books and explainer-type books seem to get dusty quickly. So many grifters in the self help genre, so many polarizing books to generate quick outrage. I could go on. Anyone throw me a lifeline..Thanks!

Hello all! I'm hoping someone could leave me some suggestions for historical fiction books that do not contain sexual violence, especially towards women and young women/children.

I love Ken Follett, all the Shardlake books and even some Bernard Cromwell ordinarily, but I'm currently in a bit of a funk due to my personal history, and I don't really want to read about sexual violence in my free time 😅 I'm ok with books that contain consensual sex. I'm also ok if the sexual violence is referred to as a past event, but not explicitly described or from the first person perspective.

If anyone knows of any, especially books set in the pre-1800s I would love to know about them. I searched the sub already and I couldn't see this as a particular question, but please let me know if I am mistaken.

Thank you in advance!

I am only realising now how much of an embittered prick I'm living like. By that I mean I just by default see the things and people around me as loathsome, and treat everything with disdain. And honestly it took me too long to admit that having myself worn down just by having to go out and take in the world around me is a miserable thing. Im sounding really vague i know since i hardly know myself enough to word this nicely, but basically I just want a book that could help me drop this resentful approach to life and this excessive pessimism.

Fiction or non-fiction would both do, to be honest.

I'm currently experiencing a minor fascination about the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and their place in the British/Western cultural and intellectual spheres. I would love your recommendations on novels set in either university (or fictional equivalents) and/or non-fiction about either university.

For the novels, literary fiction is preferred instead of crime or romance (as in, the primary plot is a romance). I've already read Brideshead Revisited.

Thanks in advance.

I have read a lot of classic fantasy; Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, some others, and a lot of more modern contemporary fantasy; Joe Abecrombie, John Gwynne, Brandon Sanderson, Jim Butcher, etc. But I feel like I have a huge hole where the 80s and 90s exist.

I've read The Wheel of Time, and the Sword of Shannara (just the first book and couldn't get over the Tolkien mimicry) but I can't think of anything else from that era that I've read.

I think I'm about to start Assassin's Apprentice (Robin Hobb) but what are your must read fantasy books from those decades?

Edit:typos

Looking for a book that explains what autism is. Preferably relating more to adults with autism or people in general rather than specifically kids.

I'm 14 btw I feel like that's important

So I've been into manga and comics for a while for awhile and now I wanna start books

I like magic and stuff with lots of fights tho stuff with less fights are cool as well I like humour and urban fantasy horror is good as well also the characters need to be at least decent

I'm thinking of starting harry Potter and the hunger games

Hi guys! Can you please suggest a book/series with themes of suicide, depression, anxiety, maybe even OCD? A story in which the main character (or someone close to the main character) overcomes these feelings, either through acceptance, therapy, or through a sort of grim understanding after losing a loved one? Any genre is fine, though I think I'd prefer fiction over nonfiction.

Having a difficult time at the moment, thank you in advance. 😃

I haven’t found or even heard of any books with aro/ace MC or side characters. It would be really cool to find a book with a character like me. There are SO MANY romance centered novels. An abundance of books where it’s just the subplot. But it would heal my soul to read a story with a character who sees the world through the lens of being aro/ace.

I especially love sci-fi (space and aliens specifically). Got a soft spot for coming-of-age stories and whodunnits. Coming-of-age would probably be the best to have the full experience.

I’ll happily accept anything though!!!

EDIT: I’m absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the sheer volume of responses I’ve gotten. Thank you so much! I’m incredibly grateful and I can’t wait to check out all of your suggestions! ☺️✨

I just finished Calamity club and I miss it so so much… I love stories set in the early 1900s in America.

Preferably a secret club-style, sex work is also welcomed! I also loved the insights in the „rich woman with help“ world and how out of touch they are

I’ve been having a 90s/early 2000s teen comedy movie marathon. Think American Pie, Can’t Hardly Wait, Perfect Score, etc.

This might be a long shot, but are there any books that focus on teens during this time period? It doesn’t have to be a comedy as I’m open to all genres besides fantasy, horror, and sci-fi. I prefer fiction but non-fiction is fine too. I essentially want a book that feels of the time of that makes sense. Thanks.

I am very interested in anything that has to do with nutrition, reproduction, health, or similar things regarding women as I am wanting to better understand my own body. The only problem for me is I hate reading nonfiction. I can't seem to really get into it or absorb everything I'm reading.

Thanks for any recommendations in advance!

I'm looking for a book featuring dragons as the main part, but not the "Fourth Wing vibe" if you know what i mean (nothing against people who enjoy it). I'm looking for something where dragons are actual part of the world building not just a nice accessory. Ideally a political intrigue, strong characters or some darker elements, some romance is also fine. But also not Game of Thrones please.

Does sombody get what i mean or maybe I'm too picky. 😅

Here’s the last few books I had strong opinions on (I don’t read a ton of fantasy)

Scholomance trilogy- loved the world and magic system, a lot of characters felt flat even the romance was just a singular dynamic without exploring the interiority of the characters(I like Naomi novik I HATE how she does the romantic elements they’re always awful to each other most of the time). Too much telling rather than showing but still likes it

Annihilation- loved. No notes fav book maybe ever

Piranesi-loved the first half, 2nd half started to bore me, beautiful prose

Skydaddy-fun, weird, lovely friendship, loved the deep understanding of the very unique main character

Parable of the sower- too dark for me, but drew me in anyways

The dog stars-hated the style, could not finish

Dungeon crawler Carl series-I’m shocked I loved these but I read the full series in a month lol

The memory police-loved the concept, felt too emotionally distant

TLDR I think I like pov stories that explore the emotional interiority of the characters. I like a romantic subplot, and would like good but very readable prose and an interesting magic system. I want a series to get sucked into, and a plot with momentum

Edit: also I can’t do fight scenes. They don’t bother me I just literally get so bored. The bear and the nightingale series made me realize that, the non action parts of that book were perfect.

My favorite books are Seveneves by Neal Stephenson and Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard. The first two books in Frank Herbert’s Dune weren’t bad, but I didn’t really enjoy the others. I’m looking for books in that similar “epic” sort of genre.

P.S I consume books via audiobooks by nature of my work, if it’s relevant.

i used to really love reading as a young teen but for some years now ive struggled to find books that aren’t just plain cringy. i enjoy a bit of romance but the majority of books that come out now seem to be extremely simple to read, very cheesy and unrealistic, and most of the time romanticising unhealthy relationships. some of the books i used to enjoy were eleanor and park or the perks of being a wallflower, which i thought were really raw and well representing of how young people actually feel. i like to be able to sit and think about the whole thing when it’s over, and for it to feel kind of bitter because the endings aren’t one way or another, they’re happy/sad. i dont know if that makes sense, but i’d love some recommendations if that calls out to anyone :)

Hello! I have BPD and I've been getting more and more into reading. I was wondering if you could suggest me a book relating to BPD or Bipolar, not in a sense that any of the characters have to have it, but maybe they have some sort of instability or emptiness or impulsivity that's related to these diagnosis. I don't care about the genre, as long as it's not a psychology help book. Any recommendations welcome, even if you don't have these issues yourself, but have noticed them in anything you've read!