50 Books We Loved in 2025 That You Should Add To Your Reading List

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We’ll start by admitting that we didn’t completely hit our reading goals this year, and if you’re on the same boat, we just want to say: It. Is. Okay. Reading should be a pleasurable activity, and even if you read just a few this year and loved them, that’s what counts. But if you’re determined to stick to your 2026 reading list with a little more discipline, we’ve got recos you’ll be thanking us for. These books aren’t just pages telling stories; they’re the kind that feel like confidants.

So without further ado, here’s a mega-list of the 50 best books you’ll want to read next.

10 Best Rom-Com Books

Funny Story By Emily Henry

Funny Story By Emily Henry

Funny Story By Emily Henry

599

We are guilty of picking Emily Henry's novels as airport reads for flights both long and short. Funny Story, to put it plainly, follows Daphne and Miles — two roommates with the only thing in common being the not-so-fly reality of their exes' dating each other at present. This (slightly unexplored) angle feels fresh, a little uneasy to gulp down at certain points with the level of rawness Henry explores with the characters and a certain discomfort opening up about changes in life with, of course, Henry's classic way of plugging romance into the mix.

Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5

Number Of Pages: 395

Publishing Year: 2024

When In Rome By Sarah Adams

When In Rome By Sarah Adams

When In Rome By Sarah Adams

699

We love Wattpad-ish masaledar rom-coms to pull us out of reading slumps. And Sarah Adams’ When In Rome is that and more. Amelia Rose, aka Rae Rose, a modern-day pop queen who is burned out and inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s Roman Holiday, spontaneously takes a vacation to Rome (but the one in Kentucky in her case). The small town she reaches is just the escape she needed from her usual Britney Spears-esque life, only made sweeter by the presence of a grumpy pie shop owner, Noah, who reminds us of Luke from Gilmore Girls.

Goodreads Rating: 3.9/5

Number Of Pages: 320

Publishing Year: 2022

Problematic Summer Romance By Ali Hazelwood

Problematic Summer Romance By Ali Hazelwood

Problematic Summer Romance By Ali Hazelwood

599

In line with digging a tricky summer love with a boy (nick)named Connie baby on the internet (iykyk, but at this point, everyone knows?), we read Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood. The book explores the nuances attached to age-gap relationships, a common romance trope that still comes attached with some judgment. There’s touching upon the power imbalance, there’s smut content, and there’s character development, in short, all things a spicy, well-seasoned summer read should have.

Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5

Number Of Pages: 416

Publishing Year: 2025

LBB Tip: Want our favourite smut book recommendations? Head here!

Red Flags and Rishtas By Radhika Agrawal

Red Flags and Rishtas By Radhika Agrawal

Red Flags and Rishtas By Radhika Agrawal

499

A quick, breezy read. Red Flags and Rishtas is relatable, hilarious and undeniably fun to read. It revolves around Ananya Kapoor, a serial dater having exhausted Delhi’s dating pool and still somehow single (hard relate) and Aadar Chauhan, a guy on the other side of the dating spectrum, banking on arranged marriage. What follows is loads of banter, the concept of dating apps vs. arranged marriage and a lightheartedness you yearn for after reading complex content.

Goodreads Rating: 3.5/5

Number Of Pages: 248

Publishing Year: 2024

Lallan Sweets By Srishti Chaudhary

Lallan Sweets By Srishti Chaudhary

Lallan Sweets By Srishti Chaudhary

299

A light read laced with innocent romance and a nostalgic throwback one can appreciate in today’s fast-paced life. Lallan Sweets is titled after the protagonist, Tara’s khandani sweet shop of the same name in the fictional town of Siyaka. The sweet shop is particularly famous for its ladoos that are made using a special ingredient only known to Tara’s grandfather, who, upon retiring, insists on passing the shop to the grandchild who discovers it through a journey of clues. Tara is joined by her childhood friend and crush (very juvenile and cute), together they explore this road down family dynamics, secrets and their feelings for each other.

Goodreads Rating: 3.5/5

Number Of Pages: 288

Publishing Year: 2020

The Fall Risk By Abby Jimenez

The Fall Risk By Abby Jimenez

The Fall Risk By Abby Jimenez

69

A (very) short story with the premise focusing on a rattled Charlotte who’s on an embargo from human connection (comes with the territory when you had a stalker) and Seth, an arborist who got divorced the very morning these two neighbours found themselves stranded on their apartment floor, no way down because of a little construction activity gone wrong in their building. To make the most of this not-so-fun Valentine’s Day weekend, the two align forces to not spend it in utmost dread. What follows is a short and sweet story of softly shattering each other’s walls and falling for each other (with shot-up anxieties). 

Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5

Number Of Pages: 82

Publishing Year: 2025

Pro-Tip: 7 Best E-Readers Under INR 30K

Dream Girl Drama By Tessa Bailey

Dream Girl Drama By Tessa Bailey

Dream Girl Drama By Tessa Bailey

341

Now, the internet has split views on this steamy romantic book by Tessa Bailey, but we quite enjoyed it cause we were able to detach from it, given the snazzy backgrounds of the couple. It follows the story of Sig Gauthier, a hockey player from Boston, linking up with socialite and trust fund babe, Chloe Clifford. These two, who have started with just a hot kiss under the moonshine, find themselves entangled in a family mess in less than 24 hours when introduced as soon-to-be stepsister and brother by their parents, who seem to be dating. What follows is a story of forbidden attraction that makes it all the more desirable. In short, Clueless meets Gossip Girl.

Goodreads Rating: 3.4/5

Number Of Pages: 320

Publishing Year: 2025

Pro-Tip: 25 Best Romantasy Books That You Should Pick Up Next

Better Than the Movies By Lynn Painter

Better Than the Movies By Lynn Painter

Better Than the Movies By Lynn Painter

599

Better Than the Movies is the quintessential rom-com, and what's appreciable is that the teenage couple at the centre of it act their age. It's heartfelt, romantic to the core and gives you that 'backflips in your stomach' feeling because you are fully rooting for the plot to progress and the kids to be together like it's your childhood, gushing over a guy's cycle all over again. Plus, the throwbacks to the OG rom-coms make it even more lovable.

Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5 

Number Of Pages: 384

Publishing Year: 2021

The Seven Year Slip By Ashley Poston

The Seven Year Slip By Ashley Poston

The Seven Year Slip By Ashley Poston

499

The Seven Year Slip is one of those books that pulls you in and then refuses to let go. At its heart is Clementine, who inherits her aunt’s apartment, only to realise it literally slips in and out of time. One day it’s present-day, the next it’s seven years earlier. No big deal… until she meets Iwan, a charming chef who exists in that past version of the apartment. And yes, she slowly, reluctantly, very adorably starts falling for him. What follows is her trying to make sense of grief and growth, all while navigating two realities at once. The prose has that dreamy quality that makes you want to reread sentences just because they feel pretty.

Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5 

Number Of Pages: 352

Publishing Year: 2023

First-Time Caller By B.K. Borison

First-Time Caller By B.K. Borison

First-Time Caller By B.K. Borison

599

First-Time Caller isn’t your typical romance wrapped around just two people. Instead, it invites you into the lives of three: a radio host and reluctant matchmaker, a caller named Aiden Valentine seeking dating advice for her mom, and that mom, Lucie Stone. As the city rallies around Lucie in hopes of finding her a love story, something unexpected happens: Aiden and the host begin forming a connection of their own. This book feels like tuning into an old-school late-night radio show, so expect to giggle like an idiot more times than you’ll admit!

Goodreads Rating: 4/5 

Number Of Pages: 448

Publishing Year: 2025

10 Best Thriller Books

Don’t Let Him In By Lisa Jewell

Don’t Let Him In By Lisa Jewell

Don’t Let Him In By Lisa Jewell

549

An on-paper-perfect man cons different women, emotionally and financially, and ruins their lives until these women come together to expose him. And no, it’s not Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl. This New York Times bestseller is so much more than just a con man story. For starters, it’s messy with a lot of characters (three main ones, though), yet it will keep you engaged and hooked until the end. The ending is expected, but not in the way that I could have predicted what was coming. Additionally, it’s set across shifting timelines and perspectives, so you might have to sit down with a pen and paper to remember everything.

Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5

Number Of Pages: 361

Publishing Year: 2025

Behind Closed Doors By B.A. Paris

Behind Closed Doors By B.A. Paris

Behind Closed Doors By B.A. Paris

908

Behind Closed Doors is about a sadistic, psychopathic lawyer (Jack) who derives pleasure from when people fear him. He spots a teenager with Down Syndrome, Millie, in a park and finds the perfect opportunity to fulfil his desire for someone to fear him. What follows is how he marries Millie’s sister, Grace, and keeps her locked in her room. On the face of it, they have a perfect marriage and host impressive parties, so no one can suspect a thing. But the reality is far more dreadful. The novel alternates between past and present narratives that’ll keep you super hooked and a protagonist that you’ll vouch for on every page.

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Number Of Pages: 293

Publishing Year: 2016

Head Cases By John McMahon

Head Cases By John McMahon

Head Cases By John McMahon

2121

If you love thrillers that involve case-solving and Sherlock-level intelligence, you’ll love Head Cases. A group of super-smart, misfit agents come together to solve the toughest, most challenging crimes that no one else can solve. The story kicks off when they find a supposedly dead serial killer’s DNA at their new murder site. What follows is how Agent Gardner Camden is teased by the killer with special clues and puzzles only he can solve. Will they find out the killer? You’ll have to read this one to find out. Heads up, it’ll keep you on your toes.

Goodreads Rating: 3.99/5

Number Of Pages: 341

Publishing Year: 2025

Local Woman Missing By Mary Kubica

Local Woman Missing By Mary Kubica

Local Woman Missing By Mary Kubica

499

As the name suggests, this one is a story of missing women. Set in a small town, a woman named Shelby goes missing, and not long after, her neighbour Meredith and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, also go missing. After a fruitless search and investigation, the town starts to forget about the case… until… Delilah returns 11 years later with answers no one wants to hear. It’s heartbreaking, engaging and will have you making notes.

Goodreads Rating: 4.12/5

Number Of Pages: 356

Publishing Year: 2021

We Are All Guilty Here By Karin Slaughter

We Are All Guilty Here By Karin Slaughter

We Are All Guilty Here By Karin Slaughter

1868

This investigative thriller is one of the most talked-about books on the internet. North Falls is a typical small town where everyone knows everyone, and nothing is ever hidden. However, that changes when police officer Emmy Clifton investigates a series of teenage disappearances set years apart from each other. As she tries to find the culprit, she realises every teenage girl has secrets, and she doesn’t really know anyone as well as she thought she did. What are those secrets? Guess reading the book is the only way to find out. 

Goodreads Rating: 4.26/5

Number Of Pages: 439

Publishing Year: 2025

Dark Matter By Blake Crouch

Dark Matter By Blake Crouch

Dark Matter By Blake Crouch

599

Dark Matter is a sci-fi thriller, and before you move on to the next one, thinking “This is not my thing”, hold on and read more. It’s one of those sci-fi thrillers that are complex and yet so simple that you’ll be able to understand what’s happening without questioning your scientific knowledge. The protagonist, Jason, is a physics professor who gets kidnapped and wakes up in a different dimension. A story about alternate universes: Jason is unmarried in this new universe and a celebrated genius who invented ‘the box’ that can help you travel through them. The fun part? To return to his universe, he must pass through a series of parallel universes and fight the antagonist, who he is himself from another world. 

Goodreads Rating: 4.13/5

Number Of Pages: 342

Publishing Year: 2016

LBB Tip: It’s also adapted as an Apple TV series, which many readers have claimed is better than the book.

The Fury By Alex Michaelides

The Fury By Alex Michaelides

The Fury By Alex Michaelides

799

A layered five-act murder mystery that may be, at the very core of it, a twisted love story, The Fury by Alex Michaelides is one of his best books. It follows the story of a reclusive ex-movie star, Lana Farrar, who goes to her private island in Greece every year to escape the English weather. One of her idyllic getaways quickly turns sinister when she’s murdered. Our unreliable narrator takes us through the events leading up to the murder while confessing to lies and reframing events, so you’re really on your own navigating this book. A must-read if you want to come out of your reading slum.

Goodreads Rating: 3.36/5

Number Of Pages: 298

Publishing Year: 2024

The Girl in the Glass Case By Devashish Sardana

The Girl in the Glass Case By Devashish Sardana

The Girl in the Glass Case By Devashish Sardana

250

This one’s extra special, as it’s set in India (Bhopal), which makes it even darker, disturbing and impossible to put down. A feisty police officer, Simone Singh, is chasing two serial killers as they both try to remain in the limelight. A ruthless killer, Doll Maker, has put Bhopal under siege as he not only murders people but also puts his young victims in a glass case as trophies. As Doll Maker’s popularity rises in the news, another serial killer, Clipper, takes it very personally and tries to get back to his old ways to be in the news. Will Simone be able to stop these two before turning a victim herself? Guess you’ll have to read this one to find out.

Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5

Number Of Pages: 344

Publishing Year: 2022

A Murder in Dehradun By Siddharth Maheshwari

A Murder in Dehradun By Siddharth Maheshwari

A Murder in Dehradun By Siddharth Maheshwari

295

Yet another amazing thriller by an Indian author, A Murder in Dehradun, will have you thinking about how money and inheritance change family relationships (ouch, too personal?). Dinshaw family patriarch Jahangir Dinshaw wants to revise his will after gaining 700 crore rupees. He calls his lawyer and his entire family to their Dehradun estate when a snowstorm traps them in. What follows is pretty predictable: he’s murdered, and the suspects are the 13 people in that estate, each with their secret motives. 

Goodreads Rating: 3.44/5

Number Of Pages: 232

Publishing Year: 2024

Not Quite Dead Yet By Holly Jackson

Not Quite Dead Yet By Holly Jackson

Not Quite Dead Yet By Holly Jackson

599

This one has a unique, new perspective as the lead tries to solve her own murder, and no, it's not supernatural. Jet, a 27-year-old, the youngest daughter of a billionaire, has always put off things for later until she's bashed on the head and partially dies. And by that we mean, she has a brain bleed and will die in the next seven days of the incident, and so she decides to solve her own murder in these seven days. It's a fast-paced thriller, yet super sad, because you know the character you're following isn't going to make it to the end.

Goodreads Rating: 4.09/5

Number Of Pages: 392

Publishing Year: 205

10 Best Booker Prize Winners

Flesh By David Szalay

Flesh By David Szalay

Flesh By David Szalay

899

Flesh by David Szalay won the 2025 Booker Prize, and the minute it was nominated, we jumped right in. It follows 15-year-old István, who lives with his mother in a quiet Hungarian apartment and struggles to adjust to a new town, slowly slipping into isolation until he forms a secret, unsettling bond with his neighbour, a married woman nearly his mother’s age. What follows is a spiral of confusion and consequence. We won’t spoil what happens next, but the writing is razor-sharp, and the pacing is brilliant.

Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5

Number Of Pages: 368

Publishing Year: 2025

The God of Small Things By Arundhati Roy

The God of Small Things By Arundhati Roy

The God of Small Things By Arundhati Roy

499

Arundhati Roy’s debut novel, The God of Small Things, is one of those rare books where the author’s brilliance shows right from page one; no wonder it made her a name to remember. The story follows twins Esthappen and Rahel, who learn far too early how unkind the world can be. Their lives are shaped and shaken by politics, family, and caste, and somehow, they always seem to carry the blame for everything that goes wrong. And the ending, I remember finishing it and immediately rereading the last chapter just to make sure I’d actually read what I thought I had. It’s shocking and completely unforgettable.

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Number Of Pages: 356

Publishing Year: 1997

Pro-Tip: 15 Indian Mythology Books For Fans Of Epics

Midnight’s Children By Salman Rushdie

Midnight’s Children By Salman Rushdie

Midnight’s Children By Salman Rushdie

1599

Midnight’s Children was recommended to me when I mentioned I was deep into partition literature, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that suggestion. The story centres around Saleem Sinai, born at the exact stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, just as Nehru announced India’s independence. The way magical realism blends with the brutal history of partition is unexpected and mind-blowing. Rushdie captures India in all its chaotic beauty, messiness, and wonder before the nation finally broke free from British rule, and you feel every bit of it.

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Number Of Pages: 533

Publishing Year: 1981

Pro-Tip: 10 Best Historical Fiction Novels That Bring The Past Alive

The Sense of an Ending By Julian Barnes

The Sense of an Ending By Julian Barnes

The Sense of an Ending By Julian Barnes

450

Imagine being retired, living a quiet life after a peaceful divorce, and then suddenly finding a mysterious letter that pulls you straight back into your youth. That’s where this story begins, with the protagonist revisiting school memories and slowly unpacking the past. It explores regret, guilt, friendship, love, and all those emotions that feel oddly familiar, even if your story looks nothing like his. It’s nostalgic in the best way, the kind that reminds you just how powerful and persistent memories can be. Also, how they shape who we become.

Goodreads Rating: 3.7/5

Number Of Pages: 163

Publishing Year: 2011

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Shuggie Bain By Douglas Stuart

Shuggie Bain By Douglas Stuart

Shuggie Bain By Douglas Stuart

550

Shuggie Bain is one of those masterpieces that everyone should read, even if you’re not someone who usually picks up books. Set in 1980s post-industrial, working-class Glasgow, it follows Shuggie, the youngest of three siblings and the only one who stays with his proud, alcoholic mother, Agnes Bain. After his father leaves, they’re stranded in a bleak, collapsing mining town with very little hope and even less money. Yet Shuggie holds on to this fierce belief that if he tries hard enough, he and his mother can escape the life they’re stuck in. The way this book explores the limits of love and loyalty is heartbreaking.

Goodreads Rating: 4.4/5

Number Of Pages: 448

Publishing Year: 2020

Girl, Woman, Other By Bernardine Evaristo

Girl, Woman, Other By Bernardine Evaristo

Girl, Woman, Other By Bernardine Evaristo

599

You’re going to fall hook, line, and sinker for this book. Sure, the first couple of chapters might have you rereading a bit to find your footing, but once the structure clicks, you’ll be stealing moments just to squeeze in “one more chapter.” The story follows the lives of 12 interconnected Black British women, unfolding in four parts that spotlight identity, struggle, resilience, and what it means to exist as a minority in a predominantly white society. It’s layered and impossible to walk away from unchanged.

Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5

Number Of Pages: 464

Publishing Year: 2019

Schindler’s List By Thomas Keneally

Schindler’s List By Thomas Keneally

Schindler’s List By Thomas Keneally

469

This novel may be fiction, but it’s rooted in the true story of Oskar Schindler, the German industrialist and war profiteer who saved more than 1,100 Jewish lives during the Holocaust. The book pulls you straight into the brutal reality of Nazi occupation, including the unimaginable horrors of the Płaszów concentration camp. It’s raw and deeply human — the kind of story that doesn’t just make you read, it makes you feel. And long after you turn the last page, the weight of its history will stay with you.

Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5

Number Of Pages: 400

Publishing Year: 1982

Orbital By Samantha Harvey

Orbital By Samantha Harvey

Orbital By Samantha Harvey

499

It’s not often that a book about space gains momentum, unless it’s strictly educational, but this one was absolutely meant to be adored. It’s different, deeply factual, and offers this blend of emotional depth and scientific beauty. Though the book is short, it moves slowly and deliberately, with each chapter mirroring an orbit and capturing what the team of astronauts feels, loop after loop. Their conversations hover between fear and wonder, homesickness and excitement — all while floating impossibly far from Earth. They ask questions that make you pause and think.

Goodreads Rating: 4.4/5

Number Of Pages: 138

Publishing Year: 2023

Prophet Song By Paul Lynch

Prophet Song By Paul Lynch

Prophet Song By Paul Lynch

599

Prophet Song is a dystopian novel that follows Eilish Stack, a mother of four in a near-future Ireland where society is crumbling under an authoritarian regime. Her husband suddenly disappears, and then there is a gut-wrenching fight for survival as she tries to hold her family together while the world around her falls apart. It’s devastating to watch the government swallow her life piece by piece, yet through all the chaos, she clings to hope.

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Number Of Pages: 320

Publishing Year: 2023

The White Tiger By Aravind Adiga

The White Tiger By Aravind Adiga

The White Tiger By Aravind Adiga

450

If you want a peek into the mind of a poor Indian village boy with a fierce, almost unsettling ambition to escape his circumstances, this book needs to be on your TBR. Told through a series of letters to the Chinese Premier, it dives deep into class divides, corruption, power, and the uncomfortable realities of inequality in India. And if you’re someone who likes experiencing stories both ways, there’s also a Netflix adaptation starring Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra, and Rajkummar Rao.

Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5

Number Of Pages: 288

Publishing Year: 2008

Pro-Tip: 10 Best Audiobooks To Check ASAP

10 Best Asian Fiction Books

Pachinko By Min Jin Lee

Pachinko By Min Jin Lee

Pachinko By Min Jin Lee

599

Published in 2017, this is the second book of Harlem-based author Min Jin Lee, following a migrant family from Japan, making for an enchanting epic historical fiction novel. The book is almost 600 pages long, yet it makes it ideal for several age groups to pick up. The read is easy, the plot comfortable, and the characters wholesome. The themes explored and loved by us are how, through desperate struggles and hard-won triumphs, the characters are bound together by deep roots as they face enduring questions of faith, family, and identity.

Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5

Number Of Pages: 560

Publishing Year: 2017

Kitchen By Banana Yoshimoto

Kitchen By Banana Yoshimoto

Kitchen By Banana Yoshimoto

499

Kitchen is that one book that you immediately want to read again as soon as you are done finishing reading it. The plot weaves around the lead, who, after being orphaned when her grandmother dies, is taken by her neighbours, a son and a mother duo. The book is a mesmerising read that is just as affectionate while exploring humane conditions like love, tragedy, and the power of a kitchen in a home. The book also has a complementary story, “Moonlight Shadow," which is just as elegant and simple — a story of grief and love. 

Goodreads Rating: 3.9/5

Number Of Pages: 160

Publishing Year: 1988

Pro-Tip: 15 Best Translated Japanese Fiction Books

The Vegetarian By Han Kang

The Vegetarian By Han Kang

The Vegetarian By Han Kang

499

This is a book that will stick with you long, long after you’re done with it. Haunting, well-written, and excellently narrated, this is simply a book about choices. It follows a young woman who lives with her husband, being controlled by her dreams, along with the strong need to renounce eating meat. An act of independence and how it interrupts her marriage, her family relationships, in an increasingly grotesque chain of events that unfold. As much as we love this book, we must warn our readers that it is not for the faint-hearted. You might need a few breaths in between pages, but like a train wreck (in a good way), there’s no looking away. 

Goodreads Rating: 3.6/5

Number Of Pages: 158

Publishing Year: 2007

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbag

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbag

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbag

299

An invigorating psychological drama written in Kannada and masterfully translated into English by Srinath Perur, Ghachar Ghochar is a book that revolves around a young man and his close-knit family, for whom things take a 180-degree turn when their uncle founds a spice company, changing their fortune and fate overnight. The book chronicles the humanity that comes and gets lost with sudden financial gains in contemporary India. 

Goodreads Rating: 3.9/5

Number Of Pages: 115

Publishing Year: 2015

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Yellowface By R.F. Kuang

Yellowface By R.F. Kuang

Yellowface By R.F. Kuang

399

Every time we walked into a book shop this year, we spotted the vibrant cover of Yellowface by Kuang and rightly so! The book is packed with a provocative, gripping tale with messy characters, along with a sharp commentary on race and fame. It follows June Hayward, a struggling white writer who steals her friend Liu’s manuscript after a life-altering incident — all’s well until guilt and scrutiny threaten to unravel everything Hayward has built. 

Goodreads Rating: 3.7/5

Number Of Pages: 319 

Publishing Year: 2023

Mother Mary Comes to Me By Arundhati Roy

Mother Mary Comes to Me By Arundhati Roy

Mother Mary Comes to Me By Arundhati Roy

899

A memoir that is introspective and emotionally honest, that taps into various social issues and personal history, Mother Mary Comes to Me is a raw, personal memoir about Roy’s complex relationship with her mother, Mary Roy — a fierce educator, social-justice fighter, and the woman who shaped Roy’s identity. The book delves into Roy’s tumultuous childhood all the way to her evolution into a celebrated writer and activist. The book explores themes of mother-daughter conflict and love, feminist resistance and how personal pain and political conscience can coexist.

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Number Of Pages: 81

Publishing Year: 2025

Heart Lamp By Banu Mushtaq

Heart Lamp By Banu Mushtaq

Heart Lamp By Banu Mushtaq

399

This Booker Prize winner is a book that exquisitely captures the everyday lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. It is a collection of 12 stories that are warm, sharp and deeply human while capturing the themes of family, the struggles that come along with it, identity, faith, humour and acts of resistance. If you enjoy socially conscious, emotionally rich storytelling, Heart Lamp is a moving and meaningful read.

Goodreads Rating: 3.7/5

Number Of Pages: 215

Publishing Year: 2024

1Q84 By Haruki Murakami

1Q84 By Haruki Murakami

1Q84 By Haruki Murakami

1299

If you’re someone who enjoys alternate realities, themes of loneliness, destiny and connection, along with a smidge of moral ambiguity, then 1Q84 is a surreal reality that will stay with you. The book is primarily known to blend mystery, romance, and an alternate reality, following two individuals drawn into a parallel world filled with cults, “little people”, and hidden power structures. If you enjoy atmospheric, mind-bending narratives with emotional depth, 1Q84 is the book to pick up. 

Goodreads Rating: 3.9/5 

Number Of Pages: 944 

Publishing Year: 2009

A Guardian and a Thief By Megha Majumdar

A Guardian and a Thief By Megha Majumdar

A Guardian and a Thief By Megha Majumdar

699

A powerful, character-driven read with social relevance, A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar is a tense, deeply human novel set in a climate-ravaged Kolkata. The plot revolves around a mother who crosses paths with a young man whose actions lead to a chain of life-altering events. The book gently touches upon issues and themes of love, family, and sacrifice. Social inequality and the like. 

Goodreads Rating: 3.9/5

Number Of Pages: 224

Publishing Year: 2025

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

550

Set against the backdrop of WW II, Japan, this book follows the transformation of Chiyo into Sayuri, one of Kyoto’s most celebrated geishas. The book easily and seamlessly blends rivalry, power, desire, and survival within a rigid, glittering world. Themes include identity, beauty as currency, female agency under constraint, fate vs. choice, and the tension between illusion and reality. If you enjoy lush historical fiction with emotional depth and a compelling heroine, pick this up! 

Goodreads Rating: 4.16/5

Number Of Pages: 434

Publishing Year: 1997

10 Best Non-Fiction Books

All About Love By Bell Hooks

All About Love By Bell Hooks

All About Love By Bell Hooks

499

If you’re on the lookout for a life-enriching read, then you must pick up All About Love as soon as you can! This is a powerful, compassionate exploration of what love truly is—beyond fantasy, romance, and fear. Hooks masterfully blends insight with cultural critique and philosophy to highlight how love can heal individuals and transform whole communities. She challenges the ways we misunderstand love and calls for honesty, accountability, and emotional growth in all relationships.

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Number Of Pages: 272

Publishing Year: 1999

American Sherlock By Kate Winkler Dawson

American Sherlock By Kate Winkler Dawson

American Sherlock By Kate Winkler Dawson

642

True crime lovers need to read this book cover to cover, and then maybe sit with it again, because if there's one thing you'll feel before, while, and after reading this, it is absolute fascination. It is a gripping, fast-paced true crime book that is a deep dive into the life of Edward Oscar Heinrich, who helped put science into old-fashioned detective work. Heinrich was one of the nation's first expert witnesses, working in a time when the turmoil of Prohibition led to sensationalised crime reporting and only a small, systematic study of evidence. However, with his brilliance and commanding presence in both the courtroom and at crime scenes, Heinrich spearheaded the invention of several new forensic tools that the police still use today, including blood spatter analysis, ballistics, lie-detector tests, and the use of fingerprints as courtroom evidence. His work is what changed the course of American criminal investigation.

Goodreads Rating: 3.6/5

Number Of Pages: 336

Publishing Year: 1933 

How To Be Love(d) By Humble The Poet

How To Be Love(d) By Humble The Poet

How To Be Love(d) By Humble The Poet

2087

We know you might have heard that to be loved, you need to be love by hundreds of Instagram posts and self-proclaimed love experts. No matter how cliché it sounds, it’s true, and How To Be Love(d) by Humble The Poet will beautifully change your mind about it. It talks about simple truths of life through insightful stories that remind us that love isn’t something to be earned or achieved, it’s something to be yourself. If you struggle with the idea of not being “enough” to find love, this one book will become your holy grail for every relationship (writer is speaking from experience here).

Goodreads Rating: 4,2/5

Number Of Pages: 300

Publishing Year: 2023

The Diary of a Young Girl By Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young Girl By Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young Girl By Anne Frank

199

We all have had a personal diary at some point in our lives, and it mostly contains innocent secrets, confessions and revelations, at least, in comparison to this one by Anne Frank. The Diary of a Young Girl is written from an attic where Anne hid with her family from the Nazis for over two years. She’s a lonely teenage girl in the attic, treating her diary as her sole friend and confidante. As you read through the pages, you see immense personal growth in her and also how fear and hope coexist in her mind. A gripping read that’ll make you thank the universe for your privileges. 

Goodreads Rating: 4,2/5

Number Of Pages: 256

Publishing Year: 1947

I'm Glad My Mom Died By Jennette McCurdy

I'm Glad My Mom Died By Jennette McCurdy

I'm Glad My Mom Died By Jennette McCurdy

899

I’m Glad My Mom Died isn’t a phrase you come across often (or ever), and the title alone is enough to make you pause and wonder what story lies behind it. It’s a memoir by former child actor Jennette McCurdy, who had a deeply complicated and painful relationship with her abusive mother, the person who pushed her into acting and controlled nearly every part of her life. The book also opens up about her struggles with eating disorders, emotional trauma, and addiction. And once her mother passes away, Jennette begins the long, messy, and necessary journey toward healing, reclaiming her identity, and finally learning what independence feels like.

Goodreads Rating: 4.4/5 

Number Of Pages: 320 

Publishing Year: 2020

Kitchen Confidential By Anthony Bourdain

Kitchen Confidential By Anthony Bourdain

Kitchen Confidential By Anthony Bourdain

1611

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain is a megabestseller that pulls you straight into the wild, grimy, hilarious, and often shocking world behind restaurant kitchen doors. It’s brutally honest, the kind of insider reality most people never see while waiting for their beautifully plated dish. The updated edition comes with new material and annotations from Bourdain himself, making it feel even more personal and raw. It’s impossible to read without rethinking every restaurant meal you’ve ever had.

Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5 

Number Of Pages: 352 

Publishing Year: 2000

Man's Search for Meaning By Viktor E. Frankl

Man's Search for Meaning By Viktor E. Frankl

Man's Search for Meaning By Viktor E. Frankl

399

Man’s Search for Meaning is a memoir rooted in Viktor Frankl’s time in Nazi concentration camps, and at its core, it’s about the human need to find meaning, even in the middle of suffering. The book is split into two parts: the first recounts his brutal, emotionally heavy experiences in the camps, focusing on the psychological toll rather than just the events themselves; the second introduces Logotherapy, Frankl’s own framework built on the belief that the “will to meaning” is the deepest human motivator.

Goodreads Rating: 4.4/5

Number Of Pages: 160

Publishing Year: 1946

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Thinking, Fast and Slow By Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow By Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow By Daniel Kahneman

799

If you enjoy psychology and books that make you truly think and introspect, give this a try. Thinking Fast And Slow is a book that explains how our minds work through two varied systems. Kahneman reveals how these systems shape decisions, create biases, and lead us to predictable errors — in money, relationships, work, and everyday judgment.

Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5

Number Of Pages: 499

Publishing Year: 2011

A Brief History of Time By Stephen Hawking

A Brief History of Time By Stephen Hawking

A Brief History of Time By Stephen Hawking

499

When it comes to the universe, the questions are endless, but there aren’t many people you’d trust with the answers. Stephen Hawking, though, is an exception. This book covers big, mind-boggling questions like “What is the nature of time?” and “Will the universe ever end?” in a way that feels surprisingly accessible and easy to follow. Along the way, Hawking also breaks down topics like the Big Bang, black holes, and the very fabric of the cosmos, all in a language that even non-science readers can grasp and genuinely enjoy.

Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5

Number Of Pages: 240

Publishing Year: 1988

Crying in H Mart By Michelle Zauner

Crying in H Mart By Michelle Zauner

Crying in H Mart By Michelle Zauner

650

Crying in H Mart is one of those memoirs that will have you crying in public metro, cafe, wherever (speaking from experience). It follows musician Michelle Zauner as she grieves the loss of her mother to cancer and tries to make sense of life afterwards. Through memories and food, she reflects on their complicated relationship — one that, despite everything, became softer while she cared for her mother. It shows how grief can break you and rebuild you, sometimes through something as simple and sacred as cooking.

Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5

Number Of Pages: 256

Publishing Year: 2021

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A literature and fashion grad who is powered by mitochondria and mocha. With almost 4 years of experience in writing all things fun, this is your spot for the top-notch recs!