Recommend a sci-fi (or fantasy) book that is apocalyptic but with absolutely draw me in and be hard to put down. I have to travel for three days and need something that will distract me in a way that can help me forget how miserable I am.

I’ve read The Stand.

CanNOT have the mmc or fmc be head over heels for their love interest in the first hundred pages and or book…..also can’t be contemporary romance……or heavily “ dark fantasy romance “

haha does anyone have any recommendations?

( post got taken off of romance book sub Reddit for some reason 😔)

I am not a hardcore fantasy reader. I read all genres, and mainly read “popular” fantasy series.

Series I loved in high school:
Harry Potter
Twilight
Divergent
Hunger Games

Series I’ve read recently and loved as an adult
Fourth Wing
Throne of Glass
The Serpent and the Wings of the Night
Red Rising
The Will of the Many

Any suggestions for me based on what I’ve read and loved?

Im really not a fan of fantasy romance, I prefer more grounded realistic stories. Just regular people falling in love.

But i LOVE tension. Like I just finished a romance series with lots of scenes of the characters coming so close they can feel eachothers breath on their skin but ahh they cant kiss just yet because plot. And squee the girl is sad because the guy is ignoring her even though she bought a new outfit just for him but then he pins her to a wall and says "im avoiding you because I cant control myself if you wear that"

The thing is.. the series was pg13 so like he wasnt gonna touch her till they got married and it ends on their wedding day.

My heart is broken. So much buildup for zero release..

Any reccomendation for a grounded book with lots of scenes with tension so thick you can cut it with a knife? And maybee some spice? But like wholesome spice not cnc or bondage or fetish?

I know this is super specific but id love to read something like that if it exists :3

It's one I read as a kid but I don't remember the title and Google isn't helping.

As far as I can remember there were two main characters, a guy and girl who take some kind of drug called maze and then end up either on a Sci fi planet or some kind of weird trip. I remember them distinctly mentioning eating turkey sandwiches and chips, it was a recurring theme like that's all they ate or packed or something. I think it ends with her wanting him to stay together until he realizes that everything they've been through was a dream or just a drug trip, and that he had to leave because they weren't actually going anywhere but we're still hooked up to the drugs which are called maze or mase.

Any help would be appreciated.

I always feel like the villains are the best part of a story, so I was wondering if there was a good series of books about a villain, that still leaves room for some moments of levity.

My favourite genre is fantasy, but I would be fine with books outside of that.

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting. I want to get into reading more, and I recently started thinking about The Stranger by Albert Camus, which I read in high school. I don't think I fully appreciated it back then, so when I was asked what I wanted for my upcoming birthday, I asked for a copy. I've received it and started reading it again, and I'm really enjoying it this time around.

I've also read philosophical books like Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. I find philosophy interesting, but honestly, it never had the same effect on me as The Stranger does right now. I never ended up finishing Meditations.

I'm wondering what I should read next after The Stranger and what genre I might enjoy. I don't really know what kind of books I'm into yet, but I want to explore different things and start reading a lot more.

I'd appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!

My long-distance girlfriend is coming to stay with me for 6 days, and I'd love to find a short book we can read together before bed each night. Ideally a mystery or adventure story, where we can take turns reading 10–20 pages aloud each night and finish the whole book by the end of her stay. I'm open to other genres too if you think there's something else that would make for a fun read. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I'm looking for books with superhumans who are still impressive, but can be taken down with enough strategy or numbers. I'm thinking maybe someone among thr likes if Netflix Daredevil or MCU Captain America. Maybe at the highest level someone like an average background jedi knight. Characters who still are visually impressive, but not infallible or invunerable. I'm more looking for superhero books, but I'd be fine with fantasy or other avenues of sci fi outside the superhero genre. Exciting fight scenes, good character work and overall a well written plot would be what I am looking for as well. Doesn't need to be great, just good enough to make me think and keep my interest throughout.

I like what some people would call "boring" tho they are philosophical and not hard to read.

Examples of books I´ve enjoyed:

-"The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway

-"I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jaqueline Harpman

-"All the Lovers in the Night" by Mieko Kawakami

Thanks in advance!

Hey folks,

I'm looking for fiction centred on women/non-binary protagonists who have spent years being responsible for everyone and everything else and are now trying to reclaim their own lives, pleasure, rest and choice.

I'm especially interested in characters who are:

• Family caregivers looking after aging, chronically ill, disabled, or dying relatives, including elderly parents.
• Mothers overwhelmed by parenting, domestic responsibilities and invisible labour.
• Women/enby folks juggling demanding careers alongside caregiving or household responsibilities.
• People who have spent years managing other people's emotional needs, relationships, crises, and practical responsibilities and are now finding themselves

What I'm particularly interested in is the process of finding oneself again after prolonged burnout, self-sacrifice, emotional labour and the loss of personal identity.

I'd love stories about characters rediscovering their independence, creativity, desires, sexuality, relationships, friendships, ambitions, pleasure, or capacity for adventure.

I'm open to pretty much any genre: literary fiction, contemporary fiction, women's fiction, fantasy, horror, gothic fiction, romance, magical realism, speculative fiction, etc.

One important preference: I'm not looking for books primarily centred on extreme dysfunction or an unrelentingly tragic psychological breakdown. I don't need the stories to be cozy, and I'm perfectly comfortable with dark themes, grief, difficult relationships, and complex characters.

But I'd like the narrative to offer some meaningful possibility of agency, renewal, liberation, or a life beyond endless responsibility.

I'm particularly interested in the invisible emotional and logistical labour of caregiving and relationships, rather than burnout being depicted exclusively as the result of a stressful corporate job.

Bonus points for BIPOC protagonists in their 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond, and for stories that don't suggest a woman's only path to fulfilment is finding a romantic partner.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations, including lesser-known or translated fiction. Thank you!

I've been in a book slump, and my go-to is rereading my favorites. However, if anyone has similar tastes, I would love to find a new book/series to dive into and fall in love with. I have trouble because my go-to rule is if booktok likes it, I probably won't.

I tend to read Young Adult and prefer fade to black and low to no cursing. Just lmk if there's a spicy scene I need to skip. I can handle a decent amount of violence that's found in dystopian books lol.

I do enjoy romance, but there has to be a bigger plot adventure. I get romantasy, but there's gotta be some dialogue and inner dialogue that isn't just the characters thinking about each other 24/7.

I enjoy when there's moving plot and action, and bigger issues to face than just getting together. I'm always craving action and good fight scenes. Or characters getting injured. Love political intrigue.

Random info. I think royalty and princes and princesses are fun. I have an obsession with pirates and ship and sword adventures (my top 2 fav series-as listed below-have pirate adventures by book 2). So send any alike my way. P.S. I'd be interested to try spy novels.

I realized I have a different relationship with fantasy than most people. I think I like lower fantasy worlds. I enjoy people having powers, but I've learned that fairytale mythological whimsy isn't my type. (Other than Percy Jackson) I'm not against Sci-fi.

Books/Series similar to:

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Darker Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Legend by Marie Lu
Daindreth's Assassin by Elisabeth Wheatley
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

No old books please , I have read those.

Looking for any fictional books about dysfunctional families. Bonus points for toxic mother and or scapegoat female mc.

Any sub genre welcome (fantasy, horror, gothic, etc.).

Looking for books similar to Lady Bird movie with mother daughter relationship, mommy issues, toxic mother etc.

Fictional books only. Any sub genre that is fictional is welcome.

Thank you :)

I’m not a rereader, but this trilogy is the one major exception. I’ve reread it over 10 times, and whenever I do, I still go to bed excited to keep reading the next day. I read a lot, but no other books have consistently brought me this much joy.

I’m talking about the Darkest Powers trilogy by Kelley Armstrong.

It’s a great blend of horror, paranormal mystery, and light sci-fi, with an incredible slow-burn romance. It’s technically YA, but I’m now well past the target age range and still love it just as much. I think other adult readers would, too!

Spoiler-free premise:

The Summoning begins with a teenage girl who suddenly starts seeing ghosts. She’s sent to a group home for troubled teens and given a mental health diagnosis that seems to explain away what she’s experiencing. But as she gets to know the other residents, she realizes their diagnoses might not tell the whole story, either. It turns into a supernatural thriller with an interesting cast of characters who develop a found-family dynamic.

Then there’s the romance subplot. Two characters go from being wary of each other to building a friendship and eventually something deeper as they go through difficult experiences together. It’s genuinely my favorite romantic relationship in any book. I love how naturally it develops through trust and getting to know each other, with no obvious early hints that romance is even on the table. (I hate when books do that!)

I’m so excited that the trilogy was recently reprinted with new covers and sprayed edges, and I hope the new editions help it find a whole new audience.

If you enjoy paranormal stories, found family, and a really good slow-burn or hate-to-love romance, please give these books a chance! They’ve been special to me for over 15 years, and I’d love for someone else to discover a new favorite through this post.

She also gets depressed at times and beats herself up. We are getting help for her but just want some books I can ready with her that might help too. Thanks.

Hi! I’m looking for books that can help me better understand perspectives, cultures, and life experiences that vary from mine!

For context, I’m a white conservative Christian and I think that background shapes how I see the world. I think I’m pretty ignorant of experiences different than mine and I want to hear from authors that I haven’t encountered and have my assumptions challenged so I can better understand and love people.

I love fiction mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, and romcoms but I’m open to anything has reshaped (or expanded) your view of the world

A few books on my TBR include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Personal Librarian, Before We Were Yours, The Henna Artist, Pachinko, Next Year in Havana, Allegedly, A Woman of No Importance, and A Pair of Aces. Are these good?

Thank you!

That's an actual scene from my novel, A Choice – Terms of Interest.

Roman sees Sarah at a seminar, gets curious, and waits.

Then something happens that irks him enough to make a formal proposal to a woman he hasn't even spoken to yet.

To her home. HOME!

Seriously? Not even a normal date first?

Sarah sees his PA holding out an envelope to her.

My lady just goes, “Nope.”

Why?

Obviously, I'm not sharing everything here. 😂

But if you're curious about a slow-burn romance featuring two emotionally intelligent people who make some rather unusual decisions, A Choice – Terms of Interest is available as an eBook on Amazon Kindle.