We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, if you’ve been loving the Netflix series (or just want to read the book before watching the TV adaptation). It follows Alina Starkov, who lives in the war-ravaged nation of Ravka, a land torn in two by a dark, monster-filled region called the Shadow Fold. A dormant power emerges within her and she gets recruited to train as a member of the magical elite, the Grisha.
2. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, which chronicles a fictional intergenerational tale about a Korean family that immigrates to 20th century Japan. It touches on true historical events, the topic of racial discrimination in the Eastern world, and love and sacrifice.
3. Know My Name by Chanel Miller, the survivor of sexual assault by Brock Turner (who was controversially sentenced to only three months in county jail for his crimes). With so much media attention given to Turner, Chanel tells her own side of the story detailing her trauma, isolation that followed, and the oppression of the criminal justice system she experienced.
4. The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister, a novel about a girl named Emmeline who lives on a remote island with her father. He teaches her about the world through her senses, but won't explain the mysterious scent-filled bottles in their cabin. Eventually, her curiosity gets the best of her and she opens one, setting her off on a journey of discovery and identity.
5. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, a novel about hard-working Lily who has recently moved and started her own business. She meets a cunning neurosurgeon named Ryle, who she begins to fall for, but she’s thrown off by his aversion to relationships. When her first love Atlas comes back into her life, she’s forced to confront her past.
6. 1984 by George Orwell, a classic dystopian novel that explores themes of totalitarianism, censorship, and surveillance. The plot follows main character Winston Smith, a citizen of the fictional state of Oceania (under the watchful eye of "Big Brother") who works for the Ministry of Truth as a propaganda creator. When he pursues a forbidden love affair and plans a rebellion, the Party isn't happy about it and deals with it the only way they know how.
7. Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People by Helen Zia, a non-fiction recounting of historic events that occurred in the emergence of Asian American society (like the racist murder of Vincent Chin and working conditions of Filipino cannery workers).
8. And a copy of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, which'll help you learn more about the actual construct of race and why racism occurs. The author claims it's not a history book, but rather focuses on methods for readers to actively identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.
9. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, about two sisters who don't know of each others existence until their father dies in a plane crash. It shifts between their perspectives and touches on topics like grief, forgiveness, and identity.
10. From Blood And Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, a mysterious and fantastical novel about Poppy, a Maiden who was chosen from birth to rule a kingdom. Because of her status, she's lived her whole life isolated and guarded, but when an uprising occurs, the line between duty and doing what's right becomes blurred.
11. Delivering Happiness, a half memoir and half business book by the late Tony Hsieh (who founded Zappos). Hsieh was intrigued by the science of happiness, and his number one priority with his businesses wasn't profit, but rather company culture — even if it meant a few bankruptcy scares along the way.
12. A Woman Alone by Nina Laurin, a thriller about a woman named Cecelia who lives with her family in a smart home (after a home invasion a year prior). The house has a complex security system, but before long, strange things begin to happen — including the home assistant accidentally calling her by someone else's name.
13. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, a graphic novel about two friends at an all-boys school who soon become more than friends. Reviewers say the tone is happy and feel-good, and that it explores friendship, love, and sexual identity.
14. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, a historical novel narrated by Death that tells the tale of Liesel Meminger, a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany during World War II. She eventually learns how to read and, astonished by the power of words, begins stealing books that the Nazi party are trying to destroy while starting to write a story of her own.
15. The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, about acceptance, kindness, and finding family in unexpected places. Two of the main characters, Linus and Arthur, work with children — but some of them have magical powers that are stronger than they realize.
16. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus which is best described as “Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club.” When five students walk into detention, only four walk out. Police suspect foul play, and all four instantly become suspects. But did they do it or is there another explanation for his death?
17. Neuromancer by William Gibson, a classic novel that pioneered the cyberpunk genre. Even though it was written in 1986, it's a shockingly forward-thinking novel about technology, data security, and artificial intelligence.
18. And lastly, Turtles All The Way Down by John Green, about young student Aza Holmes trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of a billionaire fugitive. Reviewers appreciated the representation of the main character's OCD, a mental illness that Green struggles with in real life.
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