November 30, 2017

The Books on my Reading List

Top 10 Books On My Reading List, Helena of Brooklyn Blonde

I’ve always been a pretty avid reader, but in the last year, I’ve read maybe three books, which makes me a little sad. Sure, having a baby and balancing life has a lot to do with it, but I’m determined to dive back into my favorite escape.

In order to narrow down all of the book choices out there, I asked you all on my Instagram and got so many great responses. Here, we have the books that were recommended over and over and that are now on my reading list:

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the stunningly beautiful instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Dark Matter is a brilliantly plotted tale that is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human—a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

The unforgettable New York Times best seller begins with the story of two half-sisters, separated by forces beyond their control: one sold into slavery, the other married to a British slaver.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

From the bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You, a riveting novel that traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.

Origin by Dan Brown

Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement—the unveiling of a discovery that “will change the face of science forever.” The evening’s host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have made him a renowned global figure. Kirsch, who was one of Langdon’s first students at Harvard two decades earlier, is about to reveal an astonishing breakthrough . . . one that will answer two of the fundamental questions of human existence.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night, when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately lands on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

In this tightly wound, enthralling story reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…

Ruth is also the author of New York Times Best Seller The Lying Game

On a cool June morning, a woman is walking her dog in the idyllic coastal village of Salten along a tidal estuary known as the Reach. Before she can stop him, the dog charges into the water to retrieve what first appears to be a wayward stick, but to her horror, turns out to be something much more sinister… The next morning, three women in and around London—Fatima, Thea, and Isabel—receive the text they had always hoped would NEVER come, from the fourth in their formerly inseparable clique, Kate, that says only, “I need you.”

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over—she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting what went wrong in her marriage is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over…


Shop These Books On My Reading List


Share

22 comments

  • La Bijoux Bella | by mia

    I love “All the light we cannot see” book. The story written is so beautiful and sad. It’s a love & war love story! I love ❤️ it! ♥️??♥️?

    ?❄️LA BIJOUX BELLA ?❄️ | by mia | A Creative Lifestyle Blog

  • Kristin

    A Discovery of Witches is such a great read! I’m planning on reading the second book next month. Dark Matter is really engrossing- you’ll be fly through that one! And All the Light We Cannot See has been on my bookshelf for years and I have yet to pick it up. I’m making it a goal to do so in 2018!

  • Lena

    Helena, I highly recommend A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. My favorite read this year. S prazdnikami!

    • Kat

      I highly second “a gentleman in moscow,” a beautiful, humorous and very touching book

  • Ewa Macherowska

    Sounds great! x

    http://www.evdaily.blogspot.com

  • Luci's Morsels

    This is such a fantastic and diverse list of recommendations! Every book sounds like a compelling read, especially The Woman in Cabin 10, I love a good murder mystery!

    Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.

  • Mariya

    I feel your sadness! I’ve only read 3 or 4 books within the past year. I just didn’t have the time and your post reminded me of that. Making a list now!

    x Mariya

    http://www.brunetteondemand.com

  • samantha

    “All the light we cannot see” was excellent, but a bit sad. Just prepare yourself!
    X
    Samantha
    http://www.thenewyorkblonde.com

  • diaw

    thanks for sharing! i love a good book
    xx
    https://www.bloglovin.com/

  • Sharon

    What Alice Forgot, is one of my favorite book, I could not put it down and I’m thinking about getting it for my mother in law as a Christmas gift.
    http://www.forthewonderer.com

  • Jandrew

    During the holidays I may find some time to curl up with a good book , thanks for the list.
    Jandrew
    Dress The Part
    http://www.jandrewspeaks.com

  • JAS

    Loved All the Light We Cannot. Until I read The Alice Network, lives that one even more!

  • راه اندازی فروشگاه اینترنتی

    thankyou for your very nice post

  • Weekly Roundup - wit & whimsy

    […] Helena shared a bunch of great sounding books that she crowdsourced. […]

  • Shubana

    Homegoing was such a heart breaking book… next on my reader is My Absolute Darling

  • Of Ashes & Bones

    Thanks for the list! I haven’t read most of the books that you mentioned here, but definitely will check them out.

  • Jessica

    What is the brand and model of your reading glasses???

  • Nastassia

    The Nightingale! It is the BEST book I have ever read.

  • download drivers for windows

    i like to read manga japanese…

    ASUS X453S DRIVERS DOWNLOAD

  • Bookstrider/ Gabriela

    I have two favorite books your list; All the light we cannot see and The Alchymist
    All the light we cannot see is truly a beautifully written story!

  • Charlotte

    Great choices of books I gotta say! You have influenced my TBR for the year – great post lovely! <3

    Charlotte | https://charlotteidek.com

  • Gallantly, gal

    I actually read The Lying Game off your list and reviewed it on my blog. Considering my mixed feelings on it, I’m still debating reading The Woman in Cabin 10… Otherwise, this list seems to have lots of interesting reads, so thank you!

Subscribe
to the newsletter