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I’ve always enjoyed reading. I easily get sucked into stories, completely unaware of my physical surroundings, and utterly ensconced in the words on the pages.

There’s no better feeling than not being able to put a book down. To finishing a fun novel in one curled-up-on-the-couch-with-a-blanket sitting (a-hem, I’m looking at you Harry Potter and Hunger Games). To enjoying a completely UNserious series simply because it’s easy to read, and the story is fun and magical, and completely different than real life.

My early obsessions began with Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, and Nancy Drew. (In fact, part of me wants to reread all of them now, as an adult. I wonder though…would I love them as much?)

And, give me a series, because if a book’s really good, I never want the story to end.

These days it’s harder to find time to read. Any extra time outside of work is devoted to the family or to my writing.

I’m not complaining, mind you. It’s just how it is.

During our week-long summer beach vacation, I try to shut down all things digital and READ. Like, multiple books. In a week. It’s both refreshing, relaxing and energizing! It’s also hard to find any other time during the year to make that happen.

Joining a book club certainly helps, and mine was just resurrected again this past spring. We average a book a month, sometimes stretching it out a little longer between reads and meetings. Because, busy. And, life.

And there are rules in my book club, like: must be fiction, a mix of old books and new, not too serious, not all one genre. I love it because it keeps me from obsessing over only reading YA sci-fi fantasy epic novels. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

The other helpful thing I’ve tried this year is Audible. As in, audio books. On my phone. In the car. During my commute.

GENIUS. Also, it’s not cheating. I still totally prefer the traditional book (or my Kindle), when I have the time to actually physically read.

So, let’s say you’re in the market for some new books, but maybe you don’t know what to read, and perhaps you’re not part of a book club to help inspire you. And maybe you don’t feel like digging into something super serious, or grown-up, or intense. Or maybe you do?

Well, you’re in luck! Jen and I have pulled together some fun books to read—both books we’ve read and love, and those we’d like to read. Order a book, visit the library, or check out Audible—whichever you choose, just get started!

30 Fun Books To Read

1. The Night Circus

2. Harry Potter Series

3. The Hunger Games Trilogy

4. His Dark Materials Trilogy

5. Outlander Series*

6. All Souls Trilogy

7. The Girl on the Train

8. Eat, Pray, Love

9. Garlic and Sapphires

10. The Hobbit and the Lord of The Rings Trilogy

11. Millennium Trilogy

12. Wild

13. Misery

14. A Game of Thrones Series*

15. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children*

16. Primates of Park Avenue

17. Leaving Time

18. The Forever Bridge

19. The Nightingale

20. Sharp Objects

21. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened

22. We Thought You Would Be Prettier

23. This is Where I Leave You

24. The Help

25. The Time Traveler’s Wife

26. Yes Please

27. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

28. Julie & Julia

29. Key Trilogy

30. Wicked*

There are SO many awesome books out there. These 30 only skim the surface! They’re enough, however, to get you started — or to hopefully give you one new book to read that you’ve never heard of before. Look for more great lists of books to read from us in the future!

Try the audiobook!

*These titles are on my “to read” list, after hearing so many people rave about them. I’m pretty much obsessed with Game of Thrones on HBO, Outlander seems like a terrific new epic series to get sucked into (update: started Outlander, and am into book 3 — it’s great…and, so is the Starz series!), and Wicked the Broadway show is beloved by pretty much everyone, so I feel like the book could be fun, too (though I’ve recently heard the book may not be so amazing…I guess I’ll find out).

 

What’s on your reading list?