What We’re Reading Right Now

After having my name on a waiting list at the library for months for a copy of Handmaid’s Tale, I’ve decided to just bite the bullet and buy myself a copy before the series starts on Hulu (actually, I don’t even have to buy it — just found out it’s free on Amazon with Prime Reading!). There are a couple other books I’m also waiting for: You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life and Textbook by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (the woman who wrote this lovely and heartbreaking Modern Love essay a couple months ago). The other day I asked my followers on Facebook what books they were currently reading and would recommend. Their replies ran the gamut from young adult to sci-fi, graphic novels to thrillers, self-help to historical fiction. Here are some of their wide-ranging picks:

Little Bee
“I usually don’t find many male authors who do a great job writing in the voice perspective of a woman, but this author did it amazingly well for two – a young, traumatized black Nigerian teen and a middle-aged, traumatized white English woman, and how their paths cross.” — Elizabeth

How Bad Do You Want It?
“It’s about beating the mind in endurance sports. Definitely recommend for athletes!” — Keilah

Dark Matter
“This book was high action, twists and turns, science and ethics meets family, I could not put it down.”
Also: Behind Her Eyes
“It’s about a woman who goes home with a guy who turns out to be her new boss AND bumps into his wife (!!) and becomes friends with her… this book had my jaw dropping in the last few chapters, a seriously good read!” — Nicole

Red Water
It’s dark, erotic, and disturbing all at the same time. She’s 18, just arrived to college, meets the perfect man but is he? It sucks you in and you’ll not want to put it down. — Ashley

13 Reasons Why
It was an adolescent read, easy but very forthcoming to the situation of suicide. It really makes you think! I read this book years ago and now there is a TV show revolving around it. It has some pretty different reviews from just about everyone I know, but I definitely suggest reading the book before watching the Netflix series. — Magen

The Neapolitan Series
“I just finished the fourth book in this series by Elena Ferrante. It follows the lives of two friends who lives in Naples, Italy, from the early 50s through until pretty much present day at the very end. I’ve loved every book in the series and I’m still getting over the fact that I don’t get to read about the two protagonists anymore! The first book is My Brilliant Friend – pick it up!” — Mark

March, the graphic novel
“A powerful look at the front lines of the civil rights movement and what those heroic activists truly faced. Disturbing echos of the current times abound, and the bravery and integrity of John Lewis shines through every word.” — Thekla

Difficult Women
“Short stories, which I don’t usually love, but this book was amazing. Each story had rich, well-developed characters and some really emotionally powerful scenes. Touches of good humor really balance these stories. Highly recommend.” — Alicia

The Girl with All the Gifts
“Super good. After having the baby it’s been tough to find a book to pull me in enough to want to read when I’m tired at the end of the day – this did it!” — Lianne

Lilac Girls
“It tells the story of three women (one from the US, one from Poland, and one from Germany) during World War II and how they’re connected. It’s fiction but based on real people and events.” — Meaghan

A Man Named Ove
“An older widower learns to live again. Very sweet.” — Liz

Dog’s Purpose
“I read this years ago before the movie. It has forever changed my soul and made me think about about animals in a whole new light.” — Renee

The Road to Little Dribbling
“It is his return to England and he travels around the country telling interesting facts and droll anecdotes. It sounds dull, but it is good reading. I’m not finding it as can’t-read-in-public-because-I-look-like-a-lunatic-laugh.” — Barbara

Three Body Problem (and the subsequent two books)
“Hard sci-fi. You’ll feel so smart once you get your bearings.” — Leigh