A New Chapter in Reading Habits
I’ve always been an avid reader, but my love for books took a significant turn in 2024 when I shifted from reading one book a month to consuming several novels each week. As a new mom, I found myself spending more evenings at home, and with Netflix no longer providing enough entertainment, I turned to my bookshelf for comfort and amusement. Fast forward 18 months, and even though I now have a bit more free time, my favorite evening activity remains settling down with a good book.
This year alone, I’ve read just over 100 books, ranging from short stories, hefty fantasies, enlightening memoirs, to a generous helping of romance novels. I often juggle a physical book and a Kindle simultaneously, but a few books have completely captivated me, demanding my attention until I reached the final page.
Here are five such books that I simply couldn’t put down:
1. Open Wide by Jessica Gross
A young woman becomes so infatuated with her boyfriend that she literally climbs inside him. That’s the wild premise of Jessica Gross’ latest novel, Open Wide. Radio host Olive has always found it challenging to connect with others, often resorting to secretly recording her conversations to understand social cues. However, when surgeon Theo arrives for a shift at the food pantry where she volunteers, Olive finally feels seen and accepted.
As their relationship blossoms, Olive becomes fascinated with the gap in Theo’s front teeth, wide enough for something—or someone—to slip through. I’m a fan of quirky female characters in literature—the more unconventional and eccentric, the better. But this book had me utterly hooked; I carried it everywhere with me. It’s incredibly unique and explores themes of intimacy, consent, and love in such a compelling way.
2. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
A few years ago, if you’d told me that one of my all-time favorite book series would be about a man and his cat battling monsters in a dungeon while being broadcast to billions of aliens, I would have laughed. However, after spending countless hours engrossed in all seven books of the series, I can confirm that it’s a winning formula—even for non-gamers like me who are allergic to cats. What begins as Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, merely fighting to survive in a video game-like environment quickly evolves into something much larger.
The series is still in progress, with the eighth installment anticipated next year. I also highly recommend the audiobook for a truly immersive experience!
3. Inherited Fate by Noémi Orvos-Tóth
While fiction remains my go-to, I make it a point to read at least one non-fiction book each month. Typically, I like to pace myself with these, reading or listening over several weeks, but Inherited Fate was an exception to this rule. Psychologist Noémi Orvos-Tóth guides you through a journey of self-discovery, explaining how everything from our conception circumstances to birth order influences who we are. She elucidates how our anxieties and recurring relationship patterns can be traced back to the experiences of our parents, grandparents, and even ancestors we’ve never met.
This subject fascinates me, and I appreciated the stories Orvos-Tóth shared about her patients and acquaintances. I found myself only putting this book down to voice note friends whenever I stumbled upon something particularly intriguing. If you’re looking to pick up a new non-fiction book this summer, I’d recommend this one.
4. One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford
Scientist Kesta’s husband Tim was the last individual to be infected during a zombie pandemic. With the government seemingly having rounded up and eliminated all infected individuals, the search for a cure is now in progress. However, with her undead husband hidden in her spare room, Kesta has more motivation than most.
The cover alone had me hooked before I even read the synopsis. But, beyond the thrilling science and zombies, I was surprised by the emotional depth within; the love story between Kesta and Tim will make you both smile and feel genuine sorrow for them. I found myself unable to stop reading, nervously anticipating something to go terribly wrong.
5. The Martian by Andy Weir
I am a huge fan of science fiction, with Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir becoming a particular favorite in the genre earlier this year. But after receiving The Martian as a gift, I was initially hesitant to read it. As anyone who has watched the film adaptation starring Matt Damon will know, the main character spends a significant amount of time alone, and I was apprehensive about reading a book with such limited dialogue.
For those unfamiliar, The Martian follows Mark Watney, an astronaut who finds himself stranded on Mars after a severe storm, who must use his resourcefulness as well as his botanical and engineering knowledge to survive and signal Earth for rescue. I didn’t need to fret about reading this book though, as Mark’s storytelling (through the form of diary entries) is immensely engaging, and a significant portion of the book is devoted to the teams on Earth striving to bring Mark back, along with his fellow astronauts.
