As fall rolls around the corner and the smell of pumpkin spice fills the air, many are searching for the perfect read for a cold, cloudy day. Whether you prefer thrillers or romance, here are some of the most popular book recommendations from the student body.
If you want a mind-bending plot twist:
“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides is a gripping psychological thriller with shocking plot twists, perfect for consuming in one sitting.
Famous painter, Alicia Berenson, shocks the whole world when one day she shoots her husband Gabriel five times in the face after he returns home from work, and proceeds to go completely mute, refusing to speak another word. Years later, criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber is granted the opportunity to work with Alicia—and he is determined to get her to speak, unearthing the truth as to why she killed her husband.
If you want a fluffy romcom to instantly brighten your mood:
The cutesy romance of “Better Than The Movies” is the perfect pick-me-up read to warm up a cold day. With references to your favorite romantic songs and movies, this novel is adorably fun.
Hopeless romantic Liz Buxbaum has been pining over her longtime crush, Michael, since childhood, but her dreams of being noticed by him are crushed when he moves away. When Michael returns to town, Liz is determined to get with him—and in doing so, she enlists the help of her annoying next-door-neighbor, Wes Bennet. Still, while scheming to snag Michael, Liz realizes Wes isn’t as bad as she thought, and starts to reevaluate her view on love.
If you want a book that’s impossible to put down:
The ‘booktok’ classic “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” has earned its place in the modern readers’ hall of fame. This dramatic historical novel is the epitome of page-turning fiction, so make sure you don’t start reading it before any tests.
The iconic movie star, Evelyn Hugo, has decided in her old age to finally reveal the tell-all-truth about her glamorous and scandalous life in the golden age of Hollywood, and share the secrets behind her seven infamous marriages. Still, the reporter she chooses to reveal her story to- Monique Grant- is as shocked as anyone when she is hand-chosen for the exclusive, highly anticipated interview. As Evelyn’s dramatic narrative unfolds, Monique realizes her life intersects with Evelyn’s in ways she never could have predicted.
If you want a dramatic fantasy novel with magic and betrayal:
R.F Kuang’s “Babel” is a historical fantasy epic that grapples with heavier topics of colonialism and resistance, all with a focus on language. It’s a lengthier novel, the perfect long term read.
Babel follows Robin Swift, a student at 1828 Oxford University’s Royal Institute of Translation, also known as Babel. In this tower, students utilize the magic of translation to enrich Britain’s power. Still, Robin, an orphan from China, is forced to choose between justice and loyalty as he learns of Britain’s wrongdoings and an unfair war with China.
If you want a gloomy, supernatural classic:
Neil Gaiman’s novel “The Ocean At The End of The Lane” is a picturesque, mysterious fantasy story, with the perfect atmosphere for a rainy day.
After returning home to attend a funeral, a middle-aged man is drawn to the farm that stands in place of his childhood home. Sitting by the pond, the man’s memories come flooding back, reminding him of a dangerous, frightening, supernatural past.
As the beach season comes to an end and the cozy, shorter days approach, curling up with a book is a great way to pass the time.
