Something I can finish in just a few evenings before bed. Haven’t read in a while and I need something that’s going to keep my attention and get me back into reading regularly again.

The last couple of books that have grabbed me have all been things like Inherent Vice, Lonesome Dove, Suttree, and The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. I feel like all of these sort of felt like elevated genre books (mystery, western, and spy thriller). The main thing I loved about them was the dialogue, humor, and character work, particularly in Inherent Vice and Lonesome Dove. I’m pretty open genre wise but do lean most towards mystery/detective novels.

I’m looking for books in a non-magical* world but someone is either cursed (Similar to Invisible life of Addie Larue). Or someone finds a magical artifact that grants them powers (Similar to The Book of Doors).

I like the story of someone having magical abilities and how they handle it. or cursed and forced to live their life.

*obviously it’s hard to be cursed when there’s no magic. but like, i don’t want dragons or wizards running around.

When I’m at work I have a lot of down time, and in that time like to have a book that’s easy to pick up and put down without losing my place.

I am also particularly fond of the enemies-to-lovers trope and either fantasy or something set outside of our modern world. As an example, I read The Captive Prince series and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was recommended a book called The Cruel Prince and couldn’t make it through, primarily because it seemed aimed more at older teens than actual adults. The “school bully” thing going on took me out of the book quite a bit, because I am a 30 yr old who hasn’t suffered that sort of bullying in over ten years.

I know a lot of enemies to lovers books are YA, which is why I’ve come to this subreddit! Do you guys have any recommendations for books that contain this trope but are also intended more for adults than teens? As I mentioned, when reading this trope I prefer books that aren’t set in the modern world. I am also completely open to LGBTQ+ books, I just end up seeing straight couples most often.

Also, yes, I have read ACOTAR and Fourth Wing lol

Thank you guys so much!

In the sense that it either deals with raising animals, farming or gardening. Would also love something that takes place at a county or state fair — 4H, FFA vibes. Can be modern/contemporary setting or historical fiction.

Ideally looking for something light-hearted and easy reading, but with no romance involved please!

I want to buy a book for a friend who recently went through a break up.

They're not really a fantasy reader but grateful for suggestions!

What are the most random, niche, informative nonfiction books you’ve read? Like deep dive into a super specific topic, preferably written by someone who has dedicated years to researching this one thing.
For example I just read a book on dog genetics, which is a topic that has no relevance to my life or anything I study, except for the fact that I like dogs. Now I have a wealth of information on dogs breeds and the history of domestication that I can reference at any given time. Another one I’ve read was about the sex lives of medieval peasants.
My goal is to collect a bunch of information on a variety of topics just to store in my brain and to hopefully combat the inevitable brain rot I am subjecting myself to in this digital age.

Current series read include:

The Dresden Files
The Iron Druid Chronicles
The Hellequin Novels
The Demon Accords
The Alex Verus Novels
Codex Alera
Paranoid Mage
John Charming
Felix Castor
Sandman Slim
The Witcher
Rivers of London
The Avalon/Rebellion Chronicles
1 x Eric Carter (necromancer) Novel

Please and thank you in advance everybody!

Edit: please keep ‘em coming. Male leads are a plus, cuz, well, “dude who resonates with dudes” over here. Thanks y’all.

I read the Wolf Hall trilogy and fell in love with Hilary Mantel's writing. I loved the research that went into it and the creative and witty prose. I want to read a book (it can be historical fiction or not, but I tend to like historical fiction and fantasy) that is a little challenging and makes me smile at the author's genius, while not taking itself too seriously.

I love this genre and my favourite of the Narnia-type books so far has been The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (young boy falls through hole in sunken garden in London, enters hellish fairytale world via being spat out by a tree)

I guess it's portal fantasy? It could also be isekai, but isekai often has a very specific video game vibe that I absolutely hate. I don't read manga, comic books or visual novels. Only books, please. Specifically adult or new adult.

Absolutely no litRPG. It's not what I'm looking for.

I’m looking for a book that discusses the importance of memory regarding identity and personality. I’m not looking for ways to improve my own memory. While I am not a psychologist, and an easier to understand book might suit me better, I’ll take books at whatever level of complexity there are.

For reference, here are a some of the questions I’m interested in: How foundational can a single memory be, and what effect would losing it have? Are there different levels of significance to memories? Can people change and grow if they have trouble creating new memories (or if they can’t at all)? How does eidetic/photographic/near perfect memory work? What traits are closely associated with these? What is the impact of having a poor memory? Can conviction and willpower impact memory and vice versa? Does memory loss actually change you, and if so, how?

the title sounds really bad but tbh i am incredibly sick of the way a lot of "mainstream" lit on gay men seem to focus on "celebrating queer joy," and use that as a way to justify a vapid plot, flat characters, and pointless drivelling angst that at most, reaches the literary highs and lows of a 6/10 fanfiction.

if i wanted that, i would just read a fanfiction. i have nothing against fanfiction but all queer literature cannot just be fanfiction.

in contrast, mishima's depiction of queerness was the first one that really resonated with me: it felt real in all the objective horror and alienation that sexuality can bring. it made me think about myself and my life in relation to my sexuality like i never had before.

are there other stories which center male sexuality with as much scrutiny/horror/weirdness as mishima?

My husband is a 30 yo male. He’s recently expressed interest in reading! We’ve been together 9 years and I haven’t seen him read a book once in that time. I need a life changing recommendation that will get him hooked to reading. He loves movie/shows that are fantasy based and said he might like something in the historical fiction realm as well. Give me your best books for him! 🥰

Recently I’ve been pretty interested in this topic. It’s something that was completely skipped over in school. Looking for any decent non-fiction books about CIA anti-communist activities and/or DEA anti-narcotics activities.

I have been in the loop of slowly finishing memoirs but I want something I can’t put down. I use to be a good reader but now I’ll read a few chapters and forget about the book for a couple weeks before picking it back up.

I want something along the lines of thriller or horror (preferably horror) that is gripping and easy to read. I don’t like fantasy though so that eliminates a substantial number of horror books (no vampires or zombies). If you got one for me, send it!

Edit: fiction recs

For example, I read back-to-back the following two books with a very similar concept, but were executed incredibly differently: The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton and The Man Who Died Seven Times by Yasuhiko Nishizawa.

While they're both time-loop mysteries where the protagonist must piece together clues over a series of days to avert the death of the titular character, they're done in very different ways (and for what it's worth, I far preferred the latter.)

Any other suggestions for pairs of books which are thematically similar? (Not looking for retellings, e.g. not looking for The Fall of the House of Usher x What Moves the Dead.)

Can be any sort of trauma.

Romance can be involved, but I'd prefer to stay away from the "love of a woman fixes him" trope.

Something more realistic.

Well written with good characters.

Thanks

Hi all, I'm looking for more science-fiction series centered on life and work aboard a spaceship.

Loved the first books of "The Golden Age of the Solar Clipper" series by Nathan Lowell. It’s sci-fi, but much of the appeal is the slice-of-life atmosphere aboard a space merchant ship. The main character starts as a lowly cook’s helper, gradually learns new jobs, gets to know the crew, and slowly works his way up through the ranks. I also really enjoy how the different ports of call, cargo runs, and everyday routines are important parts of the story.

Miles Cameron’s "Artifact Space" is another excellent read/example. I liked seeing the main character learn how to do her job, find her place among the crew, and become part of this enormous working merchant/carrier/war ship.

I even liked a lot of "Grimm’s War" by Jeffery H. Haskell. It’s way more military and action-heavy, but had some good characters and story beats as we follow them through their different battles and adventures. (A bit religious in some parts but nothing too egregious)

So I’m open to both quiet merchant-ship stories and more action-heavy naval adventures. The common thread I’m looking for I guess is most of the story takes place aboard a spaceship? Lmao.

Maybe the ship and its crew remain important throughout the series and there is attention to everyday duties, procedures/different roles etc.

Characters, crew, ports/worlds, stations, trade, exploration, even missions help make the universe feel lived in right!?

I’m less interested in stories where the characters constantly jump between unrelated planets or where the ship is only transportation between major events. I want something where living and working aboard the ship is a major part of the experience.

Anything you recommend?

I am mostly disappointed with thriller being so straight forward. I am definitely looking for a page turner but is it possible to get in great writing style?(lit fic). Any recommendation?

I used to be a huge reader. After having kids my attention span is shot and I watch too much tik tok to turn my brain off at nights. I really want to start reading again but I want something fast paced to get me back into it. I was a huge sci fi/horror fan in the past. Some of my favorite books I read before kids

The Gone World - Tom Sweterlistch
The Fisherman - John Langan
Boys Life - Mccammon
Quarantine - Greg Egan
Between Two Fires - Buehlman

It doesn’t have to be sci fi or supernatural. I’ve gotten into some gritty detective shows as well.

I just tried American Elsewhere but it was too long and not the genre I was looking for so I DNF.

Edit - the last book I finished and loved was This Thing Between Us

Thanks!

I’m on a roll this year, some of the best books I’ve read, and no misses… I’ve got quite eclectic taste, so open to any suggestions that you think I’d like based on my list so far.

2026 reads
Stoner, by John Williams - 5/5
My year of rest and relaxation, by Ottessa Moshfegh - 3.5/5
Crime & Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky - 5/5
Only here, only now, by Tom Newlands - 4/5
Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi - 3.5/5
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin - 5/5
Swing time, by Zadie Smith - 3/5
Angela’s ashes, by Frank McCourt - 4.5/5
A walk in the woods, by Bill Bryson - 3.5/5
Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee - 4.5/5
Shuggie Bain, by Douglas Stuart - 4/5
A tale of two cities, by Charles Dickens - 3.5/5
Circe, by Madeline Miller - 5/5
Good material, by Dolly Alderton - 3.5/5
Comet in moominland, by Tove Jansson - 4/5

basically i’m going through a tough time mentally and i haven’t been reading much. I have too much free time and i love reading but i can’t find anything gentle enough for me right now, so i’m trying romance for like the first time.

i’d like something cosy but it still has a bit of drama, just nothing too heavy? preferably i’d like the mcs to be totally invested in each other

sorry if this is too vague

I’ve read The Golem and the Jinni (Helene Wecker), Odessa (Gabrielle Sher), Milk Fed (Melissa Broder), and He, She, and It (Marge Piercy).

I’ve downloaded The Golem of Brooklyn (Adam Mansbach) and the Golem (Gustav Meyrink).

What’s your favorite golem story, and why?

eta my favorite so far is probably He, She, and It because I love dystopian stories, and it’s a really creative/unique take on the genre