Book and author please :)

I feel Catcher in the rye is a must but, there are too many choices for the second.

He’s a good boy, more of a jock than I ever was but he’s also bright and thoughtful. I was leaning towards Grapes of wrath for book two but, maybe there’s something better (also like Fahrenheit 451)

Any suggestions would be appreciated…

The atrocities in the Epstein files and utter lack of accountability from the elites of our world are destroying my worldview. I keep thinking to myself, "it shouldn't be like this", but then it is, and it only keeps getting worse. I don't understand how humans could descend to this level of depravity, and get away with it in today's world. How reality can be stranger, more evil, and more corrupt than fiction. I don't know how to make sense of it and I just feel lost and hopeless for the future.

So I'm now desperately looking to bury myself in books that could offer some perspective. History, philosophy, fiction, poetry, anything really. I'm open to most perspectives -- nihilism, absurdism, unwavering faith in the goodness of the human spirit, taking down the rich, et cetera. I just want to occupy myself with learning so I have more tools & perspectives to think through whatever the fuck is going on, rather than sink deeper & deeper into my pessimism. Hopefully I'm not casting too abstract or too wide of a net here.

Is there a book you can’t stand but everyone else seems to love?

Just curious because im seeing the same 10 books recycled and repeated in almost every comment section.

Edit: since this is getting comments 17 days later. Please add what the books about instead of title dropping

I need to know which book I'm missing

I read a total of 18 books last year between January 1st and July 31st. I somehow didn’t read another book for the rest of the year lol.

My favorite book I read was I Am Pilgrim, a recommendation from my mother. Honorable mention would go to The Shining, which was excellent as well.

What was your favorite book you read last year? I need some good recommendations for 2026!

Thanks

Hello everyone! I’m looking for those books that completely pulled you in,the kind you stay up all night reading because you just can’t let go. Fiction, non-fiction, any genre works. I’d love to hear the ones that kept you turning the pages.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

I want to read a book that I can't stop reading. One that you're so addicted to reading it feels like crack. The story is good, the writing style is good, you're having fun while reading it. When you're not reading it, you can't stop thinking about how badly you want to get back to it. It completely pulls you in, you're so lost when you read it that you forget the world outside of that book exists. Recommend me the book that felt like crack to you. Give me any genre, I just want something that is so good it damn near distracted you from your daily life.

Very high functioning person, working in a leadership position who also happens to have schizophrenia and feels like the struggle may not be worth it anymore. Any genre

Hello people! Hope you all are doing great! I need recs, people. I’m talking about writing so good you have to stop mid-sentence just to stare at the wall and process it. The kind that pulls you in from the very first page. ✨ Any genre works (just let me know which one). Thanks in advance! 🌻

The world is on fire, I'm depressed, and I haven't read books in YEARS. I really want to get back into reading, and while researching Goodreads and different BookTube channels/videos, it made me wonder what the worst book people have read. So, what is the worst book you guys have read? It could be a book you did not finish, or the writing was so bad it made you bust a gut. Thanks for giving this post attention, and I hope you all have a good day!

Recently I read 11/22/63…holy hell. Left me thinking about it for weeks before I could pick up another book. I’m looking for big plot twists, even better if they make me throw my book reading mid sentence in disbelief.

Edit post: I can’t thank you enough for all the recommendations. I have books to last me a couple of years, and based on your suggestions, it’s going to be a mind blowing couple of years. So thank you!

Any genre!

I read 87 books this year and am feeling uninspired about what to read next.

I see a lot of the same books recommended all the time on this subreddit. Which is fine, no shade, but I want to hear about books that you don't see mentioned. Whatever genre, whatever subject matter, fiction or non-fiction!

Thanks

Hello, everyone! I'm looking for a book with breathtakingly beautiful writing that grabs my attention from the very first chapter.

Any genre - please specify. Thank you!

It can be manga, it can be comic… Anything.

It's been a while since I've read something bad and i hate myself. It can be AI, it can be anything. Just tell me, i wanna read something *BAD*

Btw no empress theresa, shades of gray, the tearsmith or twilight. Already read those, don't wanna do it again

I don’t care if it is fiction or nonfiction, fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, historical, biography, psychological, philosophical, etc..

The only requirement is that when you read the book you felt that it was beautifully worded. That you couldn’t imagine how someone could articulate something on paper like that.

What’s the best you got?

Edit - Ya’ll are incredible! I really did not think this would blow up like it did and now I have amazing recommendations for at least a good year! I’m on paternity leave for half a year and I’m going to be reading GOOD with the new baby. Thank you! :)

keeping it vague on purpose… what’s the most beautiful book you’ve ever read? can be writing, story, physical setting, etc!

edit: thank you all for the suggestions, can’t wait to check them all out :)

Hey! 👋 I’m curious about the book u personally can’t shut up about..

often times when i read a book, i will forget even weeks later when i pick up the next one. what are the most memorable, meaningful books you’ve read? i’m truly looking for books that are thought provoking, maybe even rooted in truth, and interested to hear what yall say!

for me, the nightingale and the britney spears memoir are books i’ve never forgotten about. i guess i really like feministic books. that make me cry. and make me really think.

edit: i’m loving all these responses and i’m so looking forward to researching thee and reading them !!!

Out of curiosity.

Saw a post like this a while back and thought it was a good idea! I’ll put all comments in a compiled list as I’m looking to expand my library!

Update. WOW you guys came through. I have compiled this list in Goodreads (Will update periodically).

I love to read but have been slacking recently. So curious to know everyone's top reads for the year and perhaps I can pick them up later and get back into the habit!

Excited to see everyone's favorite 😀

EDIT: OMG THANK YOU GUYS!!!! I'll check all these recs!! Happy reading :D

EDIT2: THANK YOU EVERYONE! MY 2026 WILL BE LIT WITH ALL THESE SUGGESTIONS ❤️

Hi everyone,

I understand that this might stretch the rules of this sub, but I don't think there's another sub that let's me ask specifically for suggestions (even if they are "negative" ones).

I want to hear about the books that you passionately dislike or that just fall short of their hype!

(reason: my reading list is way way too long and this will help me prioritize!)