26 Books That People Say Spark Joy For Them

"Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings is the first book in a massive 12 book series that I love and always reread once a year."

—tinabmt

"It's a tragic story about a mixed race family whose cherished daughter Lydia is found dead after drowning in a lake. The author masterfully weaves the complicated world of their small family in the 1970s. It’s a story of failed dreams and not fitting in. Celeste is truly a wonderful writer. The writing is immersive and beautifully worded. The book stays with you."

—rabbitprincess

"Stephen King considers this book his magnum opus, and I completely agree. It’s multilayered and beautifully written — a fantasy futuristic western!"

—quitac

"Little Women was the first book that I read that got me hooked on reading for the rest of my life. It's full of wonderful adventures and life lessons that I will carry with me forever."

—aguemontes95

"Like all Murakami novels, it’s very dreamlike and beautiful. There’s an old man who can talk to cats, fish falling from the sky, and a beautiful library. I’ve read it four times and I’m looking forward to reading it again soon!" —angiipangii

"One book I will never get rid of is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. It's a memoir about growing up with her nomadic, dysfunctional family. Jeannette has managed to transform her sad memories into a descriptive experience about life in America. She gave me one of my favorite quotes of all time: 'Scars are a sign that you're stronger than whatever tried to hurt you.'"

—dannyg43a805ab3

"This is such a beautifully described world! You can definitely escape your daily routine and just start dreaming and laughing when you're reading it. It’s really funny, too!"

—jessk46995d58a

"Such a beautifully told story that I read when I was younger. I've read it at least once every year ever since."

—aimeemaguire

"I will always find joy in The Girl On The Fridge by Etgar Keret. His short stories give me something to look forward to at the end of a crazy day and always spark a thought process I’ve been appreciative of. It’s been years, and I’ve looked to his writing as a source of comfort and inspiration. I look forward to finding more gems in his writing."

—raynam43ea3794d

"The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I really like the fact that there's a well-written, meaningful book that focuses on black characters and police brutality. It's beyond amazing!"

—parcejor

"I credit this as the book that sparked my love of books. Jonas was such a strong character to me. The burden of the all those memories and then the hopeful ending was something I never read before. After this, I was all about going to book clubs and book fairs."

—amrons86

"I rented this from my library in fifth grade and by the time I was done reading it, we had moved to another state. I still have that book and it still has the original library card in it. Never getting rid of it!"

—grapeape12041986

“Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah is my most favorite book. It’s one of her less popular books, but it’s about the historical context behind a mother’s relationship with her daughters. It can be really sad at times, but there’s a happy twist at the end that never fails to make me sob."

—laurenw68

“The Little Prince is one of those books that you either read as a kid and it changed your life, or one of those books you read when you were older and wished it had changed your life sooner. Its multilayered message of holding onto the wonder of childhood perspective and not letting the superficialities of the world make you boring and cynical is something everyone can benefit from. My favorite quote from the book goes, 'It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.'"

—davidcrose89

"I remember hearing Chris McCandless's story when I was about 13 and was mesmerized by the fact that he just dropped everything and gave all of his money and everything away to travel to Alaska. I then read the book my junior year of high school and loved getting to know the details of Chris and his life while traveling."

—alpal4

"This is an absolutely beautiful story of a little girl who goes to try and bring her family money by asking the Old Man of the Moon. Sometimes I just open it to see the drawings or read the short stories told within, but it's a great book for kids and adults alike."

—melonette000

"There’s nothing like being transported into a world of whimsy with Alice. I buy a copy in every country I go to!"

—briannad4e8410ff4

"For me, it's The Hobbit. My fifth grade teacher read it to us in class and it made me want to read more. I became obsessed with Tolkien and long-running fantasy stories, but it always comes back to The Hobbit."

—tannehallows

"I have read this book over five times and every time I cry with joy. It is so heartfelt and lovely. It reminds me that no matter how hard life gets, there is always a plan and a silver lining to everything."

—kaitlynnlaurag

"I first read the Harry Potter books when I was eight years old and devoured the first one in three to four days. Since then the books have literally shaped my whole life."

—elektral3

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the perfect coming-of-age tale. The story hit me on an emotional level when I was in high school. It’s also set it my home city of Pittsburgh."

—ginam41b32b8e5

"I love her independence and sense of self-worth despite being a 'plain' woman in 17th century England. The prose is just gorgeous. The love story always makes me swoon, but Jane is the focus of the book."

—jessicab45bac3e5e

"A Little Princess always brings a smile to my face and reminds me that even during the hardest of times, kindness makes a difference. It has taught me to always have empathy for others, and that all girls are princesses!"

—dsdaras

"The Joy Luck Club helped me through breakups, sensitive issues with my mom, and my identity as a half-Asian woman. I pick it up whenever I’m unsure of myself during a crisis.

—melindaclyneseto

"The Martian is such a brilliantly written book. As a huge space lover, I absolutely love the idea and the way it was executed. Something that makes it particularly special is the scientific accuracy to it. It’s about a man and the desperate need to survive the elements on Mars. Because it's set in space, it makes for a truly great book that I could read over and over again."

—Jacksontaylor

"This book portrays such a good depiction of life in its simplest state while also combining amazing and relatable characters, engaging plot, witty banter, and a romance that puts all others to shame. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and it makes you appreciate life. It’s one of the best books of all time and just makes me so happy whenever I read it!"

—hamiltonandlaurens