Buying brand new books takes a major hit on the wallet, right? I feel that in my SOUL. One of the ways I manage not going broke thanks to my reading habit (truly a challenge at times) is reading books published prior to the current year (aka backlist books). These books have often already gone to paperback and usually don’t have crazy long library wait times. So next time you need to take a break from buying all the new releases, here’s a list of some backlist books by genre that I highly recommend!
Please note that the following links are affiliate links that provide me a small commission at no cost to you. It would mean a lot to me if you purchased through them!
This book was my first by Christina Lauren and remains my favorite by this incredible author duo! This closed door rom-com had me chuckling out loud and flipping pages with impressive speed, if I do say so myself. I even read it when I was newly pregnant and super distracted and it still held my attention! Click the following links to purchase via Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Adult Contemporary Fiction: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
I will never stop singing my praises for this book. Its dry wit/humor coupled with an epic love story set in a bookshop is the TRIFECTA of a perfect book for me. 5 gajillion stars from me and I push it into the hands of nearly everyone I know. Click the following links to purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.org.
This intricately woven story of a young Black boy who “meets” the ghost of another Black boy that was killed years before will open up SO much conversation between middle grade readers and their parents. Click the following links to purchase via Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Adult Contemporary Fiction With a Pinch of Magical Realism: The Humans by Matt Haig
Matt Haig is one of my favorite authors of all time, and this book was the one that made me fall in love with him. Don’t immediately discount it because there’s an alien in it, folks. I promise this one will open your eyes to the beauty of humanity in a whole new way. Click the following links to purchase via Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Young Adult Contemporary Romance: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Jenny Han crafted the perfect high school romance between Lara Jean and Peter K and nobody can convince me otherwise. I’m going to warn you – you may want to go ahead and buy the box set because once you finish the first, you won’t want to wait the shipping time for book two. To buy the first book, click the following links to get it from Amazon (sold out on Bookshop.org at the time of this post). If you want to go all in and get the boxed set, it’s here on Amazon and here on Bookshop.org.
Young Adult Contemporary: Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Nobody can stomp on my heart quite like Nic Stone, and this book is the one that sold me on her work. Click the following links to purchase via Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Adult Historical Fiction: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Get ready to be swept away into Alaska in the 1970’s. This is one of the most atmospheric, heart breaking tales I’ve ever read, and I truly wish I could read it again for the first time. Click the following links to purchase it via Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Young Adult Historical Fiction: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
This queer historical rom com warmed my ice cold heart. I have never loved a character quite the same way I love Monte and nobody can tell me that he isn’t the most likable jerk in the book world! Click the following links to purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Memoir: Know My Name by Chanel Miller
This chilling and eye opening memoir gives an infuriating look at the inner workings of a nationally publicized sexual assault case. I loved the audio and hearing Chanel read her story. Click the following links to purchase via Amazon or Bookshop.org.
True Crime: The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
Maybe don’t read this one in dim lighting during a thunderstorm, but this one gave Ann Rule’s side of what it was like to be friends with Ted Bundy before, during, and after his rise to fame for all the worst reasons. Click the following links to purchase it via Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Jenna, Stop Reading! 