WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – While these cold and dreary winter months might have us cooped up inside for days on end, they also foster the ideal atmosphere for cozying up with a good book. If you need some suggestions for a captivating read to keep you warm this season, look no further: here are my top ten book recommendations you may have missed out on during warmer times.
- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfield
I am a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice; I will happily sit through the Kiera Knightly version of the film, and I always tune in to the remarkable YouTube mini-series based on the novel, so I may be a bit biased. But this modern day twist on the classic tale is a must read, even if you haven’t experienced the original. - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) by J.K. Rowling
For the Harry Potter fans out there, the release of these scripts provided us with some long overdue relief. The last Harry Potter book was released in 2008, and now, 8 years later, we get to go back to their world of magic through a peak at the lives of grown-up Harry and his friends, along with their children.
Image courtesy of Goodbookscents - Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Stardust is the novel that the movie with the same title is based on. I’ve watched the movie about thirty-seven times, and every time I’ve fallen deeper and deeper in love with it. The book provides an elongated step into Gaiman’s ethereal world, and allows the reader to add their own imaginative creations to his universe. - The Muse by Jessie Burton
This book takes us back in time to explore two different decades: the 1930s and 60s. The story centers around two women, a Caribbean immigrant in London and a bohemian black sheep in Spain who are tied together by a compelling mystery that makes this novel impossible to put down. - Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Written by actress Mindy Kaling of The Office and The Mindy Project, this book chronicles what life was like for a first generation Indian growing up in America. She divulges about her childhood, her college experience, and how she is now making her mark on Hollywood. - The Assistants by Camille Perri
In this story, the main character accidentally steals $19,000 from the company she is working for, and uses it to pay off her student loans. This is a book every college student can relate to – because we all could use $19,000, too. - The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
A genetics professor uses science to try and find himself a wife. It is obvious that he is going to fall in love with the exact opposite of what he thought he would find, but the fun lies in discovering each character he meets along the way.
Image courtesy of Waterstones - Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
A normal girl meets a famous actor when he is on-location shooting in her town (if that is not goals, then I don’t know what is). The novel follows their relationship and the troubles that they face while trying to collide their contrasting lifestyles. - Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
If you have not yet seen the film, I highly recommend reading the book before you do. It involves mystery, kids with magical powers, and a relatable adult character who must be saved by the children she also has to protect. - Inferno by Dan Brown
This is the fourth book in the the series that began with The Da Vinci Code, which was later turned in to a blockbuster featuring Tom Hanks as a Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor solving complex and intriguing mysteries centered around the Free Masons. With this tale, we travel back to Italy and follow Langdon as he works to crack the case on a riveting roller coaster of a journey.
