Normally, this is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). Today, I’ll be categorizing my favorite books by vibe. In this issue, we’ve got magic, world-spanning, books-about-books, and mystery—with a hint of romance (but just a hint).
Books that move you through worlds
If you liked The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, by V.E. Schwab (←listened)
Addie is one of my favorite books of all time. I recently revisited it on audiobook (narrated by Julia Whelan), and I actually liked listening to it even more than reading it. It’s haunting, magical, and dark; a timeless love story on multiple levels. (Was I rooting for the devil? Will you?)
If you haven’t read it yet, start here—but when you’re finished, try one of these other five-star reads with the same vibe:
A Short Walk Through a Wide World, Douglas Westerbeke (← read)
Strikingly similar in theme to Addie, but the world-building is truly stunning. It’s an epic adventure full of magic, mystery, adventure, and books. Throughout the book, I couldn’t decide if the protagonist was the luckiest or the most cursed, and the fact that it was both is what makes this book so rich and memorable.