Getting back to reading wonderful books after leaving them for quite some time can be challenging, and we are here to help you regain your reading habit. Many people feel lost and don’t know where to begin, so we have selected some mind-blowing books to ignite that fire of reading back. It’s simple: pick some of the books to get back into reading; we’ll review below to achieve this.
We also understand that choices differ, so we have them selected from different genres, ranging from mystery to classics, to non-fiction to sci-fi to memoir, graphics books, etc. So, come with us as we show you what to expect when you lay hold on any of these books including the “Dystopian” genre novels!
Classics
Hey, lovely, you can start with classics. Choose some of the books and get back into reading, and you will enjoy it.
1• A Tree Grows In Brooklyn By Betty Smith
- Audible Audiobook
- Betty Smith (Author) – Kate Burton (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 12/26/2004 (Publication Date) – Caedmon (Publisher)
“A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN” is one of the best classic novels by Betty Smith that tells the story of Francie Nolan, her struggling stage in a poor neighborhood, Brooklyn, and her triumphs. The book teaches persistence, resilience, hope, and tenacity when facing life challenges. Check it out, and you will be glued!
2• Great Expectations” By Charles Dickens
- Audible Audiobook
- Charles Dickens (Author) – Simon Prebble (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/24/2011 (Publication Date) – Blackstone Audio, Inc. (Publisher)
Pick up this classic novel, “GREAT EXPECTATIONS,” by the best-seller author Charles Dickens and you will be amazed. The novel explored the life of Pip. The young boy, Pip, is an orphan who wishes to get more out of life even though it seem very challenging. Going deeper into the story, he struggles with self identification, deals with the confusing nature of social strata, and meets unexpected sponsors. Furthermore, Charles Dickens skillfully intertwines concepts of love, determination, and social expectations, moral development and self-discovery.
Mystery/Thriller
If you are a lover of Mystery/Thriller short stories, you should begin with the following books:
3• Murder on the Orient Express.” My Agatha Christie
- Audible Audiobook
- Agatha Christie (Author) – Dan Stevens (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 09/10/2013 (Publication Date) – HarperAudio (Publisher)
I habitually skip chapters when reading a mystery novel, but it was different with this story. Agatha Christie did a fantastic job I must say. No wonder my friends kept recommending the book. “MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS” is a story that details the case of a murder that happened on the Orient Express train, and Poirot, who happens to also be on board, took it upon himself to solve the mystery. While at it, he uncovers some hidden secrets, through interrogating those on board. It’s a story filled with suspense.
4• “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammet
- Audible Audiobook
- Dashiell Hammett (Author) – Robertson Dean (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/15/2019 (Publication Date) – Blackstone Publishing (Publisher)
Dashiell Hammet is a fantastic author, and this work, “THE MALTESE FALCON,” speaks for itself. The novel is a mystery thriller that explores the life of detective Sam Spade. It’s Filled with suspense, one of the reasons you can’t drop it until the last page. It will keep you guessing all through which may still be wrong. The book can also pass for Detective genres. You should read it.
Romance
The following books are for those who enjoy romance novels. Pick a book from this list of romance books and ignite the fire of reading in you.
5• “One True Loves” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Audible Audiobook
- Taylor Jenkins Reid (Author) – Julia Whelan, Taylor Jenkins Reid (Narrators)
- English (Publication Language)
- 06/13/2023 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
“ONE TRUE LOVES” is one of the romance novels I read a long time ago, but I can’t forget about it because of how I felt while reading it and the couple of lessons I grabbed from it. The story by Taylor Jenkins Reid deals a lot with love and loss. It’s about the life of Emma, whose supposedly dead husband reappears after she has found another lover and moved on with him. This incident leaves Emma wondering who she truly lives. Find out in detail what happened!
6• “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
- Audible Audiobook
- William Shakespeare (Author) – full cast (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 08/05/2014 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
I started hearing about Romeo and Juliet when I was way smaller. In fact, people use that as a way to make fun of lovers who seem to be giving up too much for love. I was given a copy later, and it’s worth every read. William Shakespeare, the famous author, published this romance book that follows the ill-fated love between Romeo and Juliet. Their passionate romance unfolds amid a backdrop of conflict, leading to a heartbreaking conclusion. Get this book if you haven’t, and it will spark up your reading life and the desire to read more.
Science Fiction
If you used to be a huge fan of sci-fi stories, grab the following novels to get started.
7• “The War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells
- Audible Audiobook
- H. G. Wells (Author) – Peter Batchelor (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 05/22/2012 (Publication Date) – Trout Lake Media (Publisher)
H.G. Wells did a fantastic job by incorporating seminal sci-fi into dystopian classics. The novel is one you should read while traveling or have a lot of time to spare. “THE WAR OF THE WORLDS ” is a story that examines the turmoil and desperation that arise when humanity faces an alien power with superior technology via the protagonist’s eyes. The Martian invasion, as vividly portrayed by Wells, has cemented this work’s status as a classic in the sci-fi genre, highlighting the enduring subject of human endurance despite alien threats.
8• “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley
- Audible Audiobook
- Aldous Huxley (Author) – Geoffrey Giuliano, The Ark (Narrators)
- English (Publication Language)
- 02/27/2023 (Publication Date) – Icon Audio Arts (Publisher)
“THE BRAVE NEW WORLD” is a science fiction novel by Aldous Huxley. It also delved into dystopian classics. The story discusses a society where people are socialized to live up to their pleasure. The book, set in a highly regulated environment, examines the effects of social engineering, technological innovation, and the oppression of individuality. It’s a novel that teaches a lot.
Non-fiction
You can pick up some books to get back into reading from this genre. If you love reading non-fiction kinds of literature get started right away:
9 • “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank
- Audible Audiobook
- Anne Frank (Author) – Selma Blair (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 05/25/2010 (Publication Date) – Listening Library (Publisher)
“THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL” is one of the best nonfiction novels I’ve come across. It was written by Anne Frank. The story offers a hands-on picture of Jewish life through the period known as the Holocaust. She wrote down so many things in her journal while she and her loved ones were in hideouts; Anne Frank’s ideas, sensations, and observations on the terrifying realities of living in secret are captured in this story.
In addition to being a historical account, Anne’s story provides a very intimate viewpoint on the effects of persecution and conflict. Again, the journal is a compelling example of the human spirit’s resiliency in the face of hardship because of the author’s open and reflective writing.
10• “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan
- Audible Audiobook
- Betty Friedan (Author) – Parker Posey (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 08/11/2009 (Publication Date) – Audible Studios (Publisher)
I enjoyed reading the book, “THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE,” by Betty Friedan. The story sparked the second wave of feminism. Friedan’s 1963 publication offers an in-depth examination of women’s positions in the United States following the World War II. She highlights the restrictive demands set for women and questions the widely held belief that women can only find pleasure in homemaking and motherhood. The wonderful book greatly sparked talks regarding gender roles and inequalities.
Graphic Memoir
We can’t end without showing you a book to get back to reading under the graphic memoir category. Take a look at the novel below:
11• “Are You My Mother?” By Alison Bechdel
- Bechdel, Alison (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages – 04/02/2013 (Publication Date) – Mariner Books (Publisher)
“ARE YOU MY MOTHER?” is a graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel. I’m not a fan of graphic memoirs, but this one from Bechdel makes a difference. The book delves into Bechdel’s experiences with therapy, particularly her sessions with psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott. Through these sessions, Bechdel reflects on her childhood, family history, and the impact of her parents’ lives on her sense of identity.
Graphic Books
So many people enjoy reading graphic novels more than other categories and genres. Even though they are not kids, they delight in flipping through a story and seeing beautiful graphics illustrating what the book is about. I’m a fan of graphic novels, and I recommend you pick a book below to get back into reading:
13• “Sandman” series by Neil Gaiman
- Audible Audiobook
- Neil Gaiman (Author) – Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton (Narrators)
- English (Publication Language)
- 07/15/2020 (Publication Date) – Audible Originals (Publisher)
NEIL GAIMAN published this graphic novel series that is ten volumes in number. However, it was originally published by DC Comics a long time ago. The story is about Dream, which is also called morphemes. In the series, Dream found a way to escape from captivity, and that was where his journey to get back his realm called the Dreaming began. Every volume of this novel is standalone short stories. The story teaches about reality of life, nature as well as storytelling.
Historical Fiction
Not everyone enjoys historical fiction, but some people do. You can grab some of the books to get back into reading from the historical fiction genre. We reviewed just two books, but they are fantastic to start with.
14• “The Other Boleyn Girl” by Philippa Gregory
- Audible Audiobook
- Philippa Gregory (Author) – Ruthie Henshall (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 09/21/2007 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
Philippa Gregory is the author of “THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL.” This historical fiction play is set in Henry VIII’s court and follows Mary Boleyn as she gets caught up in the turbulent world of Tudor politics and courtly intrigue. A compelling depiction of ambition, deception, and the uncertain circumstances of those near the throne can be found in the book. This is a great story you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
15. “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr
- Audible Audiobook
- Anthony Doerr (Author) – Zach Appelman (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 17 Pages – 05/06/2014 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
“ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE” is one of the best historical fiction stories by Anthony Doerr. I spent so much time reading this novel, and it’s worth every penny and time. The book explores the story of a blind French girl and a young boy from Germany whose lives become intertwined as the war progresses. It also examines the effects of conflict on people and the long-term significance of human bonds.
Final Thought
Finally, if you need books to get back into reading and transform your reading life, check out all the books we reviewed above. There are so many books we couldn’t discuss from diverse categories like, literary fiction, sci-fi, etc. These books also have audio version, and I bet you may pick an excellent book you will enjoy from them. If you love short stories, you can also get started with them.
Also, you can check out novels by the following authors:
- Harry potter
- Sally Rooney
- Agatha Christie
Get a great book you can finish in one sitting and get started. Have a good time!
