Bookworm Cottage Style

Have you ever read a book so powerful that you couldn’t stop thinking about it for days on end afterward? This is my list of fantastic books that have left me with a book hangover or that have somehow shifted my worldview. If you’re looking for a memorable, moving read, look no further!

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2014; 352) // This is a top contender for my #1 all-time favorite book. This book follows a curmudgeonly, lonely widower named Ove who has lost the will to live – until a friendly, chaotic new family moves next door, and awakens a spark within Ove. Such a beautiful story of friendship and resilience.

In Memoriam by Alice Winn (2023; 400 pages) // Wow! This is such an incredible book about two young men during WWI who are best friends and secretly in love with each other, not realizing the feeling is mutual. There are lots of gruesome scenes, especially on the battlefield, but ultimately this is a hopeful love story filled with drama and suspense. 

Girl Woman Other by Bernardine Evaristo (2019; 464 pages) // A fantastic book narrated by a diverse cast of mostly Black, mostly female characters in the UK whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. If you enjoyed Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson, or Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, you’ll adore this reflection on race, gender, motherhood, and connection. Bernardine Evaristo is a masterful storyteller whose work blurs the lines between poetry and novel, resulting in a magnetic book that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016; 320 pages) // The journey that author Gyasi packs into a little over 300 pages is incredible. This masterpiece of a novel traces the family line of two half sisters in Ghana from the Transatlantic slave trade up to present day, with each chapter spotlighting a family member from each successive generation. A saga you won’t soon forget, the structure of this novel expertly spotlights the legacy of generational trauma and resilience both in Ghana and in the U.S. 

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum (2019; 352 pages) // This powerful book about cultural patriarchy and women’s liberation and safety is centered around young Palestinian women who risk everything in search of freedom for themselves and for the next generation. Wonderfully paced and wonderfully written. The final scene left me gutted. 

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stevenson (2016; 368 pages)// Yes, I also recommended this in my January mood reading roundup. And I will probably keep recommending it until everyone I know has read it, because it is truly the most powerful book I’ve ever encountered. If you are new here, this book is a memoir written by an attorney representing individuals on death row. The book gives readers an urgent view of mass incarceration and the painful legacy of structural racism that is still in place today.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (2015; 448 pages) // If you’re at all interested in WWII historical fiction, this book is one of my favorites in the genre. Focused on women in the French Resistance, The Nightingale is such a beautiful story about family, sacrifices, love, and hope.

Things You Save in a Fire (2022; 368 pages) //  I absolutely adored this book! Yes, it is a sweet, charming romcom. But it is also a heartfelt story about forgiveness, empathy, and vulnerability — the kind of book that will make you want to hug your loved ones a little tighter and treat the difficult people in your life with grace rather than anger. Such a great, feel-good read!

What else would you add to this list??