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National Read A Book Day (#ReadABookADay) entails every individual, book-lover or not, to pick up a novel of interest and enjoy the art of language. With this list containing multiple genres, lengths, and intended audiences, there is no doubt that they will pull their reader in for a day.
1. Six Of Crows By Leigh Bardugo
There is a reason the young adult novel Six of Crows, written by Leigh Bardugo, currently has a 4.5/5 star rating by 524,517 people on Goodreads. The novel is a spin-off of the author’s first series, Shadow and Bone, and the story takes place in the same world, following multiple character perspectives. With LGBTQ, people of color (POC), and disabled representation, Bardugo weaves a plot through the backstories, relationships, and events that occur in the novel. The six “crows,” as the title hints, are members of a gang called the Dregs. Each with a special talent, each with a ferocious and caring persona, Leigh Bardugo expands her high fantasy world to an entertaining yet heart-wrenching story. With themes including the brainwashing tendency of religion, the oppression of multiple minorities, the consequences of addiction, and the trauma of childhood, Leigh beautifully unfolds her story.
The leader of the Dregs, Kaz Brekker, tasks another five members of his crew with performing the heist of a lifetime. The fantasy aspect comes in when those with magical abilities, the Grisha, are under threat. Controlled by a drug called jurda parem, these individuals try to battle powerful leaders from capturing and manipulating more of the Grisha. As the members work together, readers uncover dynamic relationships between the characters. Both the plot and the characters move the book forwards in a new and exciting way. And the sequel is just as enthralling.
2. It Ends With Us By Colleen Hoover
Written by Colleen Hoover, this contemporary fiction standalone tells an important and realistic story. With a rating of 4.42/5 stars by 395,999 people on Goodreads, It Ends With Us reveals an engaging yet impactful message. Hoover effortlessly switches back and forth between the past and present to tell two different stories that intersect. The author writes using a stream-of-consciousness style in order to capture the immediate reactions of the main character. But even more importantly, the author emphasizes the internal dilemma between love, happiness, and safety.
The story revolves around the main character Lily Bloom, whom readers quickly discover was a member of an abusive household. At first glance, this novel appears to be an endearing love story between a cheerful girl and a brooding boy. However, depicting realistic and dreadful events that put the readers at the mercy of the protagonist’s pain, Hoover imparts the harrowing effects of domestic abuse. As the story unfolds, Hoover first grips the reader through the love story between Lily and her love interest, Ryle. And then, another love story seemingly begins as the author explores a diary from the past. But the real tension, the heart-breaking drama, begins in the events to follow. In fact, the author’s own knowledge that is implemented into this novel is the true tearjerker.
3. The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo By Taylor Jenkins Reid
The author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid, created a masterpiece beginning with the title. The 4.44/5 stars from 504,459 ratings on Goodreads speak for itself, but the message of the story is far more important than numbers. Exploring themes such as race, class, and sexuality, Reid intertwined two different perspectives: Evelyn Hugo, an interviewee for a biography book, and Monique Grant, the interviewer.
As a movie star, Evelyn Hugo finally divulges her life story, dividing different segments in her life with the marriage to another man. Ironically, the author contrasts the twist in the novel with the title. Seven husbands too many, Hugo recounts the last seventy years of her life with each relationship. What is more intriguing is the events that occur outside of each husband. The way the story unfolds makes this piece almost too realistic to be fiction — though the author has revealed that some parts are based on a real Hollywood star. Hugo is just as lifelike as her dynamic persona is revealed throughout the novel. The numerous themes explored are essential to understanding more about our human nature and the struggles that women and minorities must endure.
4. The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini
A modern classic and historical fiction, Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner received 4.31/5 stars from 2,627,379 reviews on Goodreads. Emotional, tragic, and sickening, this story centers around a young boy living in Kabul, Afghanistan. Seemingly a coming-of-age story, The Kite Runner takes multiple dark turns that will leave the reader with a pit in their stomach.
The story follows the protagonist, Amir, throughout childhood as he struggles with his father’s acceptance. Much of his life also revolves around his best friend and family servant, Hassan, whom he is often jealous of because of his father’s favoritism towards the servant boy. Because of this, readers explore the different degrees of Amir’s morality when it comes to Hassan. As the boy matures through multiple Afghan crises, the audience also sees these pivotal events through another lens than a history book. Tears are guaranteed, but Hosseini’s beautiful writing reveals a more profound understanding of Afghan culture and the very real events of the Russian invasion and the Taliban. Especially as the United States has recently withdrawn troops from Afghanistan, readers will be able to better sympathize with the atrocities and injustices that occur within and around the country. Then, the internal struggles in Amir depict the duality of human nature in regards to love, friendship, jealousy, and responsibility.
5. The Spanish Love Deception By Elena Armas
Elena Armas’s The Spanish Love Deception is a newer novel published earlier this year. Its 4.22/5 stars from 42,448 ratings on Goodreads is well-deserved. This fun, captivating contemporary fiction is both a love story and a great representation for women of color (WOC). The writing, the spice, the dialogue, Armas creates a lovely story that celebrates cultures and faces the struggles of WOC.
The plot focuses on the relationship that blooms between the main character, Catalina Martín, and her coworker, Aaron Blackford. Stuck in a predicament over finding a plus one to a wedding, the hatred she had once felt towards Aaron begins to become mitigated. When Aaron surprisingly offers to be her date at the wedding, Cataline debates over his true intentions. However, she gets to know another side of him that is never revealed at the workplace in the process. Armas also depicts sexism from other male coworkers that often occurs, yet writes this in a way to convey Catalina’s internal indignant feelings. In addition, the author handles the situation to highlight that there is still hope within a seemingly hopeless state. The tension between the main character and her love interest will most definitely put a blush on the reader’s face. Both characters are swoon-worthy as Catalina shows her kindness, sass, and resilience, while Aaron displays his caring, charismatic, and sweet personality.
6. City Of Brass By S.A. Chakraborty
As the second fantasy genre on this list, S.A. Chakraborty’s City of Brass is a wonderful mix of Middle Eastern elements and mythology with a 4.11/5 stars by 66,933 reviews on Goodreads. The dual perspectives seem entirely unrelated at first, but they subtly connect with each other as the story progresses. The careful weaving between the two perspectives comes together to form a beautiful story. The book itself is over five hundred pages, and the plot seems to tell multiple stories in one. The magical elements such as djinn and ifrit, or supernatural beings, introduces the reader to fascinating events that take place.
As the main character, Nahri learns of an unknown past, she travels to a city of djinn that is hidden among the human realm. Dara — who is also a djinn — accompanies her on this journey as he teaches her the culture and history of his people. The second point of view is Alizayd, a prince in the djinn kingdom. Not only does he struggle with his identity and role, but readers uncover certain transgressions he commits in order to save a minority race that also lives in his kingdom. It seems the reader awaits the two POVs to intersect, but the journey is worth it nonetheless as the story unveils events, experiences, and emotions from both characters to reveal more about their personalities and the magical world they live in.
7. Caraval By Stephanie Garber
The term “whimsical” perfectly describes the world of young adult fantasy novel Caraval, with a 3.97/5 stars by 203,940 reviews on Goodreads. The author, Stephanie Garber, whips together an adventure and brings to life impossibilities and imaginations within the words on the page. The prose moves the story forward in a way that makes each inconceivable event realistic in its own way. As a debut novel, Garber makes an impressive introduction to literature with this young adult fantasy. Depicting the complexities of multiple characters through different motivations and actions, the author combines a mystery, a romance, and a fantasy in one.
Following the protagonist Scarlett Donatella, as she searches for her missing sister, she stumbles into a game called Caraval—an annual performance that showcases magical acts. As she is led to riddle after riddle, the descriptions of each game grasps the reader’s interests throughout the entire novel. The twists and turns have the reader doing somersaults to find the answer, and each occurrence is equally enigmatic in its own way. Vivid, tasteful, and charming, the adventure of Caraval takes the reader on their own journey, discovering the alluring elements of the world. The bizarre and unique machinations always have the reader begging for more. As a part of a three novel series, the magical system and elaborate schemes are perfect for any type of reader. And the details and descriptions tell more than just a story as images and pictures play out on the page.
8. There Are No Children Here By Alex Kotlowitz
As the only nonfiction piece on this list, Alex Kotlowitz’s There Are No Children Here depicts the lives of two young boys in low-income communities. Chicago can be brutal. With a 4.29/5 stars from 13,926 reviews on Goodreads, Kotlowitz conveys this through the tragedies that occur—shootings, death, poverty, police brutality. The fact that this book is nonfiction makes the story even more heartbreaking. By using an informative and objective tone, the author ensures that the readers receive an unbiased and accurate portrayal of these residencies. In fact, the author cited many sources and was able to weave together an emotional and engaging story without presenting any preliminary intentions.
The two boys, Lafayette and Pharoah—whose names have been changed to protect the identity of the individuals—grow up in a public housing complex. As a journalist, Kotlowitz records the events that happen without immersing himself in the story. Much of the information comes from interviews with the boys, as well as other members of the community. Kotlowitz received first-hand input on the lives of the boy in the low-income districts, though he conveys the interviews in a personal yet impartial manner. This story is sure to break hearts but will open up the eyes of the readers to untouched subjects within impoverished areas, as well as the experience of African American individuals and families when faced with discrimination, police brutality, gangs, and more. However, not all of it is tragedy after tragedy. Readers often glimpse hope and optimism, even in the direst of situations: a collective celebration or unification of the community, individuals who work tirelessly to improve these homes, and bonds between friends and family.
9. An Ember In The Ashes By Sabaa Tahir
An Ember in the Ashes, the first of a four-book series written by Sabaa Tahir has 4.26/5 stars on Goodreads, and rightfully so. The intricate setting, elaborate plot, and complex characters have the readers gripped from the first page. The number of perspectives actually increases as the series progresses, granting the reader a number of different stories. Not only is the prose stunning, but the stories and backgrounds of each character has Tahir making an impressive debut into the world of young adult fantasy. While each character’s storyline diverges in seemingly unrelated plots, they converge back time and time again, filling the readers with excitement and anticipation throughout the novel. Based on Ancient Rome, the worldbuilding truly makes this series unique.
In the first book in the series, the story focuses on two characters — Elias and Laia — who are on two different sides of civilization, both geographically and culturally. Elias is part of the elite class who are physically and mentally trained for war and dominance. Laia, on the other hand, is a part of a class called the Scholars, who are constantly attacked and murdered by Elias’ people. Though their origins differ dramatically, the two can find their similarities despite their opposing traditions and responsibilities. The fantasy element is first introduced through immortal beings called the Augurs, who essentially council the elite class. Then as the novel continues, as well as the series itself, readers learn more and more about the world’s bewildering magical system.
10. A Darker Shade Of Magic By V. E. Schwab
V. E. Schwab created a sensation with this book. As first in its fantasy trilogy, A Darker Shade of Magic received a 4.06/5 stars on Goodreads with 249,020 ratings. There are several POVs in this novel, giving each character a unique voice and complex personality as we get a deeper look into how they think rather than how they portray themselves. Even though this story takes place in London, what really engrosses the reader is the addition of multiple Londons. Each one is labeled by different colors — Red London, Gray London, and White London — to designate each location to certain characteristics. For instance, in Gray London, life is dull and desolate of magic. However, in Red London, where the first character introduced resides, life is full of magic. Many of its inhabitants possess certain abilities to control the four elements: earth, fire, water, and air. Schwabs’ writing makes all these fantasy aspects easy to understand and interesting to learn.
Kell, the first main character, is what is known as an Antari—rare individuals that are able to travel between each realm and control all four elements. Then comes along Lila Bard: stubborn, assertive, and independent. Though her purpose is unknown, she is able to travel through the realms of Londons. As each character learns more and more about the magical world and themselves, the plot moves forward at a fast pace, with one intriguing event after another. Schwab is able to build every London into their own unique world while still maintaining the integrity and sense of the magical rules. The plot revolves around the characters attempting to return an object of dark magic to its origin — a London that was abandoned and corrupted by magic years ago.
National Read A Book Day (#ReadABookADay)
Hopefully, this “National Read A Book Day” list will convince some lovely souls to immerse themselves in a gripping story or a tragic tale. Within each novel or work is an unparalleled piece that can cover serious topics, is a light and entertaining read, or a mix. Each author has a unique writing style with absorbing plots: a book for every type of person.
