One of the changes I’m most excited about this year is that I’ve fallen back in love with reading fiction. Below are some of the best fiction books on my bookshelf that I highly recommend!
If you’ve followed me for a long time, you might remember that I used to read fiction regularly. Getting lost in a good story was one of my favorite ways to unwind and recharge. But somewhere along the way, that habit slowly disappeared.
Looking back, I think part of it was the grief we experienced after saying goodbye to C, whom we fostered for 8½ months after bringing him home from the NICU in 2020. Then life became very full with fostering and adopting David, getting pregnant with Micah, and navigating all the beautiful and demanding responsibilities that came with those seasons.
At the same time, I gradually replaced reading with other habits—especially scrolling on my phone at night and keeping up with politics. (Many of you know I’m a bit of a political junkie, even though I rarely talk about politics publicly!)
Little by little, fiction disappeared from my life. I still read nonfiction almost every day, but I missed the joy of getting completely absorbed in a great story.
My sister started gently encouraging me to pick fiction back up again, and this past year, I finally decided to make a change. I committed to reading for just five minutes before bed and started using the Opal app to block distracting apps after 8 p.m.
The results totally surprised me. Not only did I find that I almost always have at least 30 minutes to read each throughout the day (sometimes broken up in smaller snippets), but regularly reading fiction before bed is helping me sleep better, look forward to going to bed, and wake up feeling more rested!
Today, I wanted to share seven fiction books I’ve loved the most — in case you need some good ideas for what to read next.
My Favorite Fiction Books:
1. Salt to the Sea
I absolutely loved this book. It was well-written, super engaging, and I learned a lot about an event in history (that took place during WWII) that I’d never even heard of before. I also loved that it was the same story written from multiple perspectives, which made it really fascinating.
It’s a sad story, but the author handled it in a way that it would be appropriate even for younger readers. Our teens read it with me over the summer and we all really enjoyed it.
One thing I will say is that since it’s told from multiple perspectives, it may take a bit to get your bearings on who is who and what is what… but keep reading for the first 30-40 pages and you’ll probably then not want to stop reading!
Also, as a result of loving it so much, I went on and listened to all three of the author’s other YA books!
2. Dear Mr. Knightley
The book starts out slowly, but once I got to about page 40, I couldn’t put it down. It delves into some deeper issues of how past hurts and rejection can wound people so deeply that they hide their real selves for fear of further pain and rejection. It’s a beautiful story of healing and redemption and of how to love and reach out to hurting people.
Ever read a book that you just don’t want to end and when you finish it, you want to meet the characters in real-life? That was this book for me.
3. The Nightingale
I cried multiple times reading this book — especially the part where she says goodbye to the boy that had become like her son (if you’ve read it, you know!).
I was reliving so many of the emotions I felt of when we said goodbye to C — putting him in his car seat and telling him how much I loved him, and sobbing wondering if I’d ever see him again. Knowing it was best for him to reunify with his mama but also not knowing if I could stand the hole in my heart with him not in our home anymore. It was a beautifully moving book with many heart-wrenching but also redeeming parts.
4. The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip
This book was slow moving in some regards but there was honestly beauty in the slowness. I fell in love with Mrs. Kip and learned so much from her — and I actually got emotional near the end because of all that I had gleaned from her fictional life.
(I feel like the mark of a great fiction read is if it stays with you, it opens your eyes or teaches you something, you don’t want it to end, and/or you feel so connected to the characters and the writing that it makes you cry.)
If you are looking for a clean fiction read that is unique and will likely touch your heart, I’d recommend this one. I will say that there were parts where I felt like the writing could have used some tightening up as it seemed a little choppy, but because of how the book moved me, I still highly recommend it.
5. The Frozen River
This is the book I first picked up when I started regularly reading fiction again. It was a really interesting historical novel based upon a true story. I found it heartbreaking to hear how women didn’t have much of a voice at all during this time period. If you enjoy historical fiction, I definitely recommend this book.
6. Only the Beautiful
This is a heart-wrenching and heartwarming story of lives that people deem not really worthy of treating with compassion and value. There is one rape scene in it that I felt was more in-depth than it needed to be, but overall it was clean and it opened up my eyes to parts of history I didn’t know about. I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a good fiction read.
(Interesting tidbit: I actually finished this book in the hospital where I was staying a few years ago with Micah because he had gotten really sick due to a stomach bug.)
7. Remarkably Bright Creatures
So, this is a book I never expected would make my Top 7 list. But, it completely surprised me how much I loved it and grew attached to the quirky characters in it — including an octopus!
In fact, I started listening to it on audio (I had gotten it free from the library through Libby) and enjoyed it so much that I actually bought a copy so I could finish reading it instead of listening to it! I rarely do that, so you know I loved the book.
It’s a book with multiple unique characters telling their story from their own point of view and the way they all weave together in the end is beautiful and endearing. If you enjoy a good fiction story told from different vantage points that spans a wide variety of ages and interests, definitely check this book out!
Note: This is not a Christian book and has some crass language in it, but it is well-written and engaging story… and it made me want to learn a lot more about the octopus from it as it was fascinating and I learned so much just from the parts of the book included about it!
Want to Find More Time to Read?
Want to read more but can’t seem to find the time? You’re not alone — and it’s more doable than you think. Check out my post on how to find more time to read, even when life is busy.
My favorite trick? Audiobooks. Folding laundry, waiting in the carpool line, washing dishes — all of it becomes reading time with audiobooks, making it one of the easiest ways to sneak in more books without rearranging your whole day. Browse my favorite audiobooks here and find your next listen!
More Links You’ll Love:
What are your favorite fiction books? I’d love some recommendations!
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