If you’re bored during quarantine, I have a suggestion….books! I might be biased because most of my life revolves around books, but if you’re new to reading or are just looking for some great book recommendations, check out this list with the 15 best books to read during quarantine.
These are all books that I read and loved during lockdown.
Best Books to Read During Lockdown
Page Contents
Thriller
Little Secrets – Jennifer Hillier
All it takes to unravel a life is one little secret…
Marin had the perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company. They’re admired in their community and are a loving family—until their world falls apart the day their son Sebastian is taken.
A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The FBI search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. She hires a P.I. to pick up where the police left off, but instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman: Kenzie. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She’s lost her son; she’s not about to lose her husband, too. Kenzie is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix.
MY THOUGHTS: This was one of the best thrillers I read during quarantine! 4.5 ★ and it definitely had me stressed out, wanting to know more. There are a lot of fun twists and turns and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick (and surprisingly heartfelt) thriller.
The Kind Worth Killing – Peter Swanson
On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him.
But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse….
Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive…with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.
MY THOUGHTS: I only discovered Peter Swanson during lockdown and I’m OBSESSED! I binged all of his books and this is definitely the most creative. So twisted with some seriously abnormal characters.
The Girls in the Garden – Lisa Jewell
You live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people’s houses.
You’ve known your neighbours for years and you trust them. Implicitly.
You think your children are safe.
But are they really?
Midsummer night: a thirteen-year-old girl is found unconscious in a dark corner of the garden square. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?
MY THOUGHTS: Lisa Jewell is such a brilliant writer. I think The Girls in the Garden is underrated and has some seriously good mystery aspects. I haven’t seen it on any other reading list, so I’m seriously recommending it as one of the best books to read during qurantine.
You Are Not Alone – Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
The electrifying number one New York Times best-selling authors of An Anonymous Girl and The Wife Between Us return with a brand new novel of psychological suspense.
Shay Miller wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is increasingly lonely.
Until Shay meets the Moore sisters. Cassandra and Jane live a life of glamorous perfection, and always get what they desire. When they invite Shay into their circle, everything seems to get better. Shay would die for them to like her. She may have to.
MY THOUGHTS: This thriller novel really surprised me! The suspense was off the charts and I thought it was so original. It doesn’t seem like a thriller at first, but You Are Not Alone‘s mysterious plot line and cunning characters are strangely alluring.
The Other Mrs. – Mary Kubica
She tried to run, but she can’t escape the other Mrs….
Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbor Morgan Baines is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie.
But it’s not just Morgan’s death that has Sadie on edge. And as the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of what really happened that dark and deadly night. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light.
MY THOUGHTS: I read this one as an audiobook and it was so good! The twists had me gasping out loud because it felt harder to guess what was happening. Super satisfying!
Fiction
Everything I Never Told You – Celeste Ng
Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.
So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos.
A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.
MY THOUGHTS: From the author of Little Fires Everywhere comes this heartfelt and emotional read. It’s a great contemporary family drama, filled with well-written chapters and subtle tension.
The Roxy Letters – Mary Pauline Lowry
Meet Roxy. She’s a sometimes vegan, always broke artist with a heart the size of Texas and an ex living in her spare bedroom. Her life is messy, but with the help of a few good friends and by the grace of the goddess Venus she’ll discover that good sex, true love, and her life’s purpose are all closer than she realizes.
Bridget Jones penned a diary; Roxy writes letters. Specifically: she writes letters to her hapless, rent-avoidant ex-boyfriend—and current roommate—Everett. This charming and funny twenty-something is under-employed (and under-romanced), and she’s decidedly fed up with the indignities she endures as a deli maid at Whole Foods (the original), and the dismaying speed at which her beloved Austin is becoming corporatized.
As her letters to Everett become less about overdue rent and more about the state of her life, Roxy realizes she’s ready to be the heroine of her own story.
MY THOUGHTS: Roxy is one spunky lady! I loved her character and her antics. This was a ★★★★★ book that literally made me laugh out loud. Such a mood booster and I loved Roxy’s character development.
Big Summer – Jennifer Weiner
Six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask. Daphne hasn’t spoken one word to Drue in all this time—she doesn’t even hate-follow her ex-best friend on social media—so when Drue asks if she will be her maid-of-honor at the society wedding of the summer, Daphne is rightfully speechless.
Drue was always the one who had everything—except the ability to hold onto friends. Meanwhile, Daphne’s no longer the same self-effacing sidekick she was back in high school. She’s built a life that she loves, including a growing career as a plus-size Instagram influencer.
A sparkling novel about the complexities of female friendship, the pitfalls of living out loud and online, and the resilience of the human heart, Big Summer is a witty, moving story about family, friendship, and figuring out what matters most.
MY THOUGHTS: Big Summer took me for a wild ride. I don’t want to spoil too much but I’d say it’s certainly not a predictable novel. It’s fun and random, and a great book to read during lockdown. Read my full book review here!
Young Adult
American Royals – Katharine McGee
When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne.
As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America’s first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling.
Nobody cares about the spare except when she’s breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn’t care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her.
And then there’s Samantha’s twin, Prince Jefferson. If he’d been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.
MY THOUGHTS: If you’re looking for a fun, drama-filled YA book to read during lockdown, American Royals is my go-to recommendation! I breezed through this one and really enjoyed the characters and the hypotheticals surrounding America’s royal family.
You Should See Me In a Crown – Lea Johnson
Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town.
When the financial aid Liz was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down . . . until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to her dream college.
The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?
MY THOUGHTS: This book was so cute and gave me allll the feels! It’s no surprise its Reese Witherspoon’s first YA book club pick. The main character, Liz Lighty is determined, quirky, and such a delight. I adored this one and it was for sure one of the best books to read during quarantine!
Best Laid Plans – Cameron Lund
It seemed like a good plan at first.
When the only other virgin in her group of friends loses it at Keely’s own 18th birthday party, she’s inspired to take things into her own hands. She wants to have that experience too, so she’s going to need to find the guy, and fast. Problem is, she’s known all the boys in her small high school forever, and it’s hard to be into a guy when you watched him eat crayons in kindergarten.
So she can’t believe her luck when she meets a ridiculously hot new guy named Dean. He drives a motorcycle, flirts with ease, and might actually be into her.
But Dean’s already in college, and Keely is convinced he’ll drop her if he finds out how inexperienced she is. That’s when she talks herself into a new plan: her lifelong best friend, Andrew, would never hurt or betray her, and he’s clearly been with enough girls that he can show her the ropes before she goes all the way with Dean.
Of course, the plan only works if Andrew and Keely stay friends–just friends–so things are about to get complicated.
MY THOUGHTS: I loved this sex-positive YA book! Feeling left out or left behind is such a universal feeling for teenagers and young adults, and The Best Laid Plans really covers that feeling while addressing how to move at your own pace…and it’s a pretty cute and funny book, too.
Felix Ever After – Kacen Callendar
Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone.
What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after.
When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle….
But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.
Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve.
MY THOUGHTS: Felix Ever After is hyped on Bookstagram for all the right reasons! I thought this novel was so eye-opening but also made me feel so good. I loved the friendships and relationships throughout the novel, and Felix is such a lovable character.
They Wish They Were Us – Jessica Goodman
In Gold Coast, Long Island, everything from the expensive downtown shops to the manicured beaches, to the pressed uniforms of Jill Newman and her friends, looks perfect. But as Jill found out three years ago, nothing is as it seems.
Freshman year Jill’s best friend, the brilliant, dazzling Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill tried to move on.
Now, it’s Jill’s senior year and she’s determined to make it her best yet. After all, she’s a senior and a Player–a member of Gold Coast Prep’s exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, highest grades and the admiration of the entire school.
This is going to be Jill’s year. She’s sure of it.
But when Jill starts getting texts proclaiming Graham’s innocence, her dreams of the perfect senior year start to crumble. If Graham didn’t kill Shaila, who did? Jill is vows to find out, but digging deeper could mean putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy.
MY THOUGHTS: Pretty Little Liars meets Gossip Girl for this quick, dramatic read! I love the genre of popular kids turned murderers, and this debut novel hit that on the head. It’s also being made into a movie!
Romance
I’ve Got Your Number – Sophie Kinsella
Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen.
As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!
Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.
What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.
MY THOUGHTS: Sinking into a Sophie Kinsella novel always makes me feel at home. Her romance books are familiar and fun, and her characters are always wild and goofy. If you’re looking for an easy book to read during quarantine, check out I’ve Got Your Number.
Love and Other Words – Christina Lauren
Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.
But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.
Told in alternating timelines between then and now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more.
As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.
MY THOUGHTS: Love and Other Words is my favorite Christina Lauren book. That says a lot because I think all their books are incredible, but Love and Other Words is beautiful, simple and captivating. Second chance love stories are the best!
What books have you been enjoying during these unprecedented times? Let me know your favorite quarantine book recommendations!
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2 Comments
Inspiring list, will be re- visiting this list for sure!
Thank you! Happy reading 🙂