27 Highly Readable Books to Jumpstart Your Reading Habit
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Want to read more books? Maybe you’re trying to start a reading habit and are looking for great books to read for beginners. This list of easy reading, unputdownable books are some of the best books for adults to read to make reading a habit and a hobby.
Starting to read again can feel daunting if you haven’t read a book in a while. It’s hard to know what books are worth reading, how to find the time, and whether you’ll be able to stick with it.
Many people fear that if they don’t find the best books to start a reading habit right away, they’ll get bored and quit.
Maybe you’ve already tried and quit.
Maybe you were hoping for a book to get back into reading and you picked up a well-known classic or a book you knew was popular–but it just didn’t work for you.
And so you quit.
I get it. It can be discouraging to find that a wildly popular book doesn’t work for you–because if it worked for so many others, shouldn’t you love it, too?
If this sounds like you, check out my tips to read more books and love it. A reading challenge is also a good way to get motivated to read more; find your reading challenge style and get started!
The Key to Reading More: Find the Right Books to Read
One of the most important steps in starting to read again is to find the right books.
Finding good books to read for adults doesn’t mean following a list of books that some authority says “everyone must read” or forcing yourself to slog through only the “most important books to read.”
Those lists don’t always include the most readable books, or the best books for beginners. Many of these books are great, to be sure, but they just aren’t the best place to start. Because let’s face it: reading can be a little like running.
You’ve been doing it your whole life, but it still takes practice to get in a groove of doing it regularly. So thinking of yourself as a beginner is okay, and will help lead you to the best books for you to start a reading habit.
Starting with an open, beginner mindset will help you find the books that will get you into reading–because you read for you and no one else.
To get you started, I’ve put together a list of compulsively readable books to help you fall in love with reading and start making reading a habit in your life.
27 of the Best Books to Start a Reading Habit
Below you’ll find easy to read books from the following genres or types of books: contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, light or humorous fiction, mysteries and thrillers, dystopias, alternate realities, classics, and nonfiction and memoirs.
These are some of my favorite recommendations of books for beginner adult readers who want to enjoy reading again. No matter what interests you, there should be at least one book here to get you started and help you fall in love with reading.
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Contemporary Fiction Books
There are so many great books to read, and it can be tough to know where to start if you’re trying to get into reading again.
These contemporary fiction books are some of my favorites, and I think they might be the perfect choices to get you started.
These modern fiction books are accessible, thought-provoking, and unputdownable, so you’ll be able to get lost in them for hours at a time.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
by Garth Stein
A must-read for animal lovers, you will fall in love with Enzo (an aging dog who wishes he had thumbs) and won’t be able to resist the story of his and his best friend’s relationship.
The Language of Flowers
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
I couldn’t put down this book about a young woman who has aged out of foster care and discovered her unique talent of matching people with exactly the right flowers.
This Is How It Always Is
by Laurie Frankel
A truly contemporary family novel that follows Claude (who wants to be Poppy) and the family that does their best to support that decision in a world that doesn’t make it easy.
If contemporary fiction is your favorite genre, the posts linked below have even more must-read novels for any reader.
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Literary Fiction Books
Literary fiction books are a great choice if you love character-driven novels.
Literary fiction sometimes has a reputation of being difficult or high-brow, but these choices are good for even new or lapsed readers.
These novels are character-driven but still have a great story and can be enjoyed by even new or lapsed readers.
They’re perfect for anyone who wants to get lost in a thoughtful, complex, and immersive story.
An American Marriage
by Tayari Jones
A gripping novel about a couple struggling to hold a marriage together when he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. Multiple themes here, including racial injustice and the wreckage it leaves in its wake.
The Great Believers
by Rebecca Makkai
My favorite novel of 2018, you’ll fall in love with the friends who are living through the 80s AIDS crisis. I also went more in-depth on how this fantastic book came to be in my story of the story series: 11 Things to Know about The Great Believers.
Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
Another favorite of 2018, this book has everything: a compelling main character, a mystery, romance, and a setting that is practically a character itself. Kya is “the Marsh Girl”–abandoned by her family at a young age, she has raised herself in the marsh and finds herself the object of the local town’s suspicions.
Already read the literary books above? Try these novels linked below for more suggestions.
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Historical Fiction Books
The best historical fiction takes you back in time and brings history to life.
These books entertain while teaching you about history and making you care about the people who lived it.
More than anything else, historical fiction can grow your curiosity and your understanding of the lives of people who lived in earlier times.
Diving into the stories and details of the past can make even the driest historical topics endlessly fascinating–a great historical fiction book is the perfect choice if you’re looking for interesting books to read for adults.
Everyone Brave Is Forgiven
by Chris Cleave
A highly readable and surprisingly irreverent World War II novel, Chris Cleave’s unique writing style will pull you in. I also covered this one in The Story of the Story: Everyone Brave Is Forgiven.
As Bright As Heaven
by Susan Meissner
An easy-to-read and affecting novel about a family who runs a funeral home during the time of World War I and the Spanish Flu epidemic.
The Pillars of the Earth
by Ken Follett
Perfect for anyone willing to dive into a long book–it’s hefty! But this story of the construction of a cathedral in Middle Ages England is surprisingly soapy and gripping. The drama is big, the villains are deliciously evil, and the history is fascinating. One of my favorite historical fiction books.
Need more historical fiction for your TBR? Try the books on the reading lists linked below.
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Light, Funny, or Uplifting Books
Sometimes a light, humorous read is exactly what we need to get back into reading and remember how fun it can be.
Reading feel-good fiction can also be a great way to relax after a long day.
These books are often easy reads for adults, and they offer a quick escape from the real world.
The books below will boost your mood with a bit of humor and a light touch you’re sure to enjoy.
The Rosie Project
by Graeme Simsion
One unique man’s quest to find the “perfect wife” leads him to a woman who meets none of his criteria but may just be perfect for him anyway.
Less
by Andrew Sean Greer
A middling novelist facing his 50th birthday and life as a single gay man bumbles his way through a trip around the world. His absolute conviction that he is fluent in German had me laughing out loud. Light on plot, but great for readers who like to follow interesting characters.
A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman
This one has been everywhere for the last couple years, and for good reason. The curmudgeonly Ove is both frustrating and endearing, and his surprising friendships with the people who cross his path are both heartwarming and funny.
Need more lighthearted and uplifting reads? Try the options below–in print or audio!
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Mysteries and Thrillers
A riveting mystery or thriller can be a great way to revitalize your reading life.
The suspense and excitement in these books will keep you engaged until the very end.
Clever twists and turns may have you marveling at the skill of the writers, and on the hunt for more authors who can spin a captivating thrill-ride or mind-bender.
The books below will keep you on the edge of your seat–and have you ready to pick up your next read.
Fierce Kingdom
by Gin Phillips
This book about a mother and her young son trapped in a zoo with a shooter on the loose literally had me on the edge of my seat. It’s one of very few books that I finished in one sitting.
Then She Was Gone
by Lisa Jewell
I don’t tend to rate thrillers with 5 stars on Goodreads, but this book about a mother who sees a resemblance between a young girl and her ten-years-missing daughter got those stars. Lisa Jewell has become a go-to thriller author for me–she doesn’t do gimmicks, just fascinating stories, great characters, and tight plots.
Freefall
by Jessica Barry
A deliciously tangled thriller that starts with a survival story following a plane crash in the Rockies and leads to family dysfunction and corporate corruption. Read my full review.
Love a great mystery? Try the books on the lists below for more excellent options.
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Dystopias
Dystopias sometimes feel like a dime-a-dozen these days, but they aren’t all teenagers saving the world.
Many dystopian novels include themes of feminism, nature, and more.
Dystopian books can often feel bleak, but they tend to be stories of rebellion and social consciousness; people taking matters into their own hands to right wrongs and fight oppression.
Despite dark overtones, many have an oddly hopeful note. They’re sure to have you contemplating the future (and the present), society, and your place in the world.
Into the Forest
by Jean Hegland
This one does have some teenage protagonists, but the story is about family, survival after societal collapse, and going back to nature. I love this book and have read it multiple times.
Vox
by Christina Dalcher
Another book that I read in one sitting, this thrilling feminist dystopia in which women are stripped of all rights and limited to speaking 100 words per day is a fast read and is eerie for its plausibility.
The Dreamers
by Karen Thompson Walker
A new book that feels like it borders the dystopia designation, this book with floaty prose that mirrors its name imagines what happens when a whole town starts falling asleep–and can’t wake up. Read my full review.
Can’t get enough of dystopias? The books on the list below are sure to expand your TBR.
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Alternate Realities (Sci-Fi/Magical Realism/Fantasies)
Sci-fi and fantasy purists will not like me grouping these together (sorry!), and these are all kind of sci-fi and fantasy-adjacent–but that’s what makes them great options for new readers!
Sci-fi books often probe the limits of believability by considering what would happen if any number of exciting or scary scenarios came true.
Fantasy, on the other hand, can take us into fantastical worlds that stretch our imaginations. Books with magical realism bring touches of magic into the everyday.
If you’re like me and don’t read many books in these genres, here are a few “alternate reality light” reads to get you started.
Justice Unending
by Elizabeth Spencer
A fun steampunk ride through a world ruled by immortals who must inhabit the bodies of mortals. An irreverent tone throughout overlays themes of power and systemic injustice.
Once Upon a River
by Diane Setterfield
A lightly magical historical fiction book set on the Thames River in Victorian England, about a young girl who appears to come back to life after drowning and the multiple families that lay claim to her.
Pattern Recognition
by William Gibson
A sci-fi-light book about a “cool hunter” who falls into quest to discover the source of the first viral videos. I found this one more readable that Gibson’s better-known Neuromancer.
Love reality-benders that take you into alternate worlds? The list below might have more books that are right for you.
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Classics
Not all classic books are boring and inaccessible. These choices are surprisingly readable and will have you hooked to the end.
I’m the first to say that not all “classics” are worth reading, but many still offer stories and characters that will stay with you forever.
You don’t need to fill your reading list with classics if they’re not your favorite (read what you like!).
But if you’ve always meant to read the classics “someday,” these are a few that are worth the time and perfect for beginner readers.
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte
I didn’t pick up Jane Eyre until about two years ago and I was surprised by how readable it was. Jane is a strong female character and, despite the frustrating men around her, she usually manages to hold her own–no small feat in the constraints of her time.
Rebecca
by Daphne du Maurier
This gothic novel is a classic for a reason. An unnamed narrator marries a wealthy gentleman but is plagued by the villains around her–both present and not. Creepy (but not scary) and gripping until the very last page.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith
Another 20th century classic about a young girl growing up in poverty in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. Book lovers will adore Francie and her keen observations.
Want to add more classics to your reading? The ones on the lists below are worth the read.
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Nonfiction and Memoir
Some of the best nonfiction books read just like fiction.
Nonfiction can educate AND entertain–you can skip the dry factual accounts if they aren’t your thing.
Creative nonfiction and memoir are the perfect choices for new readers because they offer great writing and captivating narratives.
The books below had me riveted with fascinating stories–made all the more interesting because they are true.
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
by Katherine Boo
The story of several families growing up in a Mumbai slum, this nonfiction book is so well-told that while reading it, I had to double-check that it actually was nonfiction.
Educated
by Tara Westover
One of the more fascinating memoirs I’ve read in a long time, this is Westover’s telling of her childhood growing up in a dysfunctional survivalist family in Idaho, and her journey to awareness and an elite education.
Calypso
by David Sedaris
David Sedaris’ latest offering is a little darker than some of his previous, but still sharp and funny in its observations. If you’re new to Sedaris, try one of his older books first (maybe Me Talk Pretty One Day), and no matter which you choose, go for the audio version.
Love great memoirs and nonfiction? Try the books on the reading lists below.
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Now, more than ever, local bookstores need our support. If you are purchasing books, consider buying local or from Bookshop.org, which supports local, independent bookstores.
Shop my book lists or search Bookshop.org for your next great read:
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What would you add to this list of compulsively readable books that you’d recommend to new readers? What is your go-to recommendation for a good book to read for adults? Finally, if you’re still looking for the right books, are there any genres you’d like to see added? Let me know!
