"It's The Most Stressful Book I've Ever Read, And I Couldn't Put It Down": People Are Sharing The Book They Wish They Could Read Again For The First Time
"Ten years later, the twist is something that I'm still not over."
Have you ever finished reading a book and were so completely devastated that it was over you wanted to read it from the beginning all over again?
The good news is, you're not alone if you've ever wanted to do this — but to find out exactly which books are worth a re-read, we asked the BuzzFeed Community: "Which book do you wish you could read again for the very first time?" And the answers did not disappoint. We gathered a few below.
1."Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. The prose is so lyrical, the descriptions are very vivid, and the characters’ adventure and growth are very beautiful and well done!"
2."Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead. The book's depiction of New York seems so authentic; it's the sort of fiction about a caper almost gone awry that I enjoy. The writing is so smooth that you just read it without any effort and absorb the atmosphere and the plot and get to know the characters in a flow. Stupendous bit of writing!"
3."Fire by Kristin Cashore. The first book to truly make my heart ACHE from both sadness and happiness. The world is spectacularly unique, the familial relationships are so complex, and the romance is the greatest slow burn/enemies-to-lovers romance that you will ever read. I've read Fire about 20 times in the last decade trying to re-experience those feelings from my first read."
4."The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I have tried to re-read the book many times, but my knowledge of what’s to happen to the characters makes me end up crying at every bit of foreshadowing that the author has planted smartly throughout the book. I wish to read this book for the first time again because it is a novel made to be read once, the marvel of the plotline is one best experienced for the first time as the reader is trying to make sense of current events and where they fall in place within the net of eerie foreshadowing that the author knits from the very first page. One of the few book experiences that I believe cannot be elevated by a second or third reading."
5."Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. What I love the most about this book is that the March sisters all have different personalities and dreams, yet they still love each other more than anything. There’s always something special about Abigail March’s parenting. I’d love to experience reading about that again for the first time."
6."They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera. Such an amazing book! But I can’t re-read it since I know the ending and it was so sad. I loved it and totally wish I could reset my brain so I could read it again for the first time."
7."Sloppy Firsts by Meghan McCafferty. I read it as a 12-year-old. I’m re-reading it now at 32 years old, and I can’t believe it’s not huge. It’s the Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret of my generation. The fact that it isn’t an HBO series is a travesty."
8."Code Name Verity by Elizabeth E. Wein. It was such a compelling plot that had my emotions all over the place. The twist is something that I’m still not over 10 years later!"
9."The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, I generally cry quite a lot while reading, but this book made me SCREAM out of sorrow. It’s so beautiful and so heart-wrenching. I cried for weeks after I read it for the first time."
10."The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin changed my life. I worry sometimes I’ll never read anything that gave me frission the way this book did."
11."Persuasion by Jane Austen. I read all of Austen’s books as a teen and loved them. I still love them and re-read them, watch movie adaptations, etc. Persuasion, though, is about lost loves, regrets and second chances. I loved it as a teenager but as I’ve become older and can relate more to the older characters, it hits different. I appreciate Persuasion so much more and it’s become my favorite of her novels. I just wish I could read it again for the first time as an adult."
12."The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a book unlike any other. I think it shaped my view on humanity more than I care to admit."
14."The Secret History by Donna Tartt. There is no experience akin to reading that for the first time. You suspect a lot of things throughout the story, only to find out that the details are so much wilder than you thought!"
15."Oh, I do wish I could read Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley for the first time again. An arthurian tale from the point of view of the women? With magic and druids? Yes. This book made SUCH an impression on high-school me, I've owned a copy ever since."
16."The Crank Series by Ellen Hopkins. Ellen is an underappreciated artist. I wish I could rediscover her unconventional and beautiful poetic writing style again. That was the moment I fell in love with reading. Never again have I found an author who can tell a story in such a way that she does. She takes some of life’s darker issues, and gives them to her characters."
17."The Diviners Series by Libba Bray. It's a phenomenal series with so much diversity and interesting characters. It was so weird to read, as it deals with the rise of fascism in the 1920s, and hearing characters shout, 'Make America white again' was so jarring. It really makes you reflect on how things haven't really changed. It follows a group of those with special abilities as they take down paranormal threats. The first book was so engaging, and I fell in love so fast."
18."Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. If you would like to remember what it's like to fall in love for the first time, read this book. It brought back emotions I didn't think I could feel anymore. It also has the most sensuous depiction of hand-holding I have ever read (I know, I didn't think that was a thing either)."
19."Jurassic Park by Micheal Crichton. It is a thousand times better than the movie. More action. More science. More thrills period. You liked the spitting dino scene? How about adding a baby Tyrannosaurus rex? Velociraptors on rooftops? Sexy, obnoxious Ian Malcolm? Baby raptors??? This book has it all. I’ve read it at least a dozen times and each time something new 'clicks' while I read."
20."Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban. This was the first book I ever read by myself as a child, and it made me want to try every food in the world. I still gift it to friends with children."
22."The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I recommend literally everyone I know to read this book. Best storytelling I think I will ever experience. I think about this book every day — that’s how impactful it is. Please, everyone, read this book. It is so, so good."
23."Pet Sematary by Stephen King. I’ve read the majority of his books, and that was my first by him. I stand by it being his scariest. I have reread it numerous times, and it’s still creepy, but I will never get back that fear. Lisey’s Story is a close second in scare for me (and my favorite by him), but Pet Sematary was a lot for teenage-me. Sure, I have so many books I love and would love to re-experience for the first time, but for a lot of my favorites, the love and appreciation is only heightened by rereads. But fear is dulled by each reread."
24."A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I first read it at age 10 and have re-read it every couple of years since. It's like an old friend now, but I wish I could go back to the beginning and re-experience that moment when I realized the main character was basically me, and that being a book-mad misfit wasn't necessarily a bad thing to be."
25."No Exit by Taylor Adams. The most stressful book I’ve ever read, and I didn’t put it down until I finished it. It is such a ride and you have no idea what is going to happen because it is moving so quickly. I wish I read it during a blizzard though."
26."The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a refuge of whimsy and charm. It is a gorgeous reading experience, and I would love to come to it for the first time again. I re-read it at the start of COVID. It was a wonderful respite from those troubling times. I love the way Morgenstern finds beauty in dark, light, and the luminous space between."
27."Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres. I thought it was an incredible story that I couldn’t put down, but the ending was so heartbreaking for me that I can’t read it again knowing what happens. I still think the entire thing IS amazing, but I wish I could go through it again without that looming."
28."All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven has such a beautiful, in my opinion, depiction of mental health. As someone who has had their own mental health [diagnosis], she shows the ups and downs and how we sometimes can't save people from themselves. One of the first books I read that I remember years later."
29."Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, this series had me entranced from the first chapter. I couldn’t wait to get a chance to read the next chapter and would struggle to put it down. I never knew what to expect and the suspense of waiting for something was constant. I wish I could go back and relive the rollercoaster of emotions this series put me through."
30."Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner. My heart broke in so many ways when I read this book. Michelle is an incredibly talented writer. The relationship with her mother is deeply moving."
31."A Good Girl's Guide to Murderby Holly Jackson. I loved this book so much that I read it in one day! So many plot twists — and just when I thought I knew where it was going, there was another 'what on earth' moment. The other two books in the series are good as well but this is definitely the best."
32."MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood. A haunting post-apocalyptic nightmare-scape that pulls you along in its wake. I would love to read the trilogy for the first time again, but that train has sailed."
33."Wuthering Heights and Call Me By Your Name. I have never read anything like the writing in these books and will never again. Each page has something that is completely unique and some of the best work in literature to date. I wish I could experience them for the first time again."
34."The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell is so underrated! I’ve also heard they’re making MaddAddam into a series for Hulu, which should be epic."
35.“The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker is my personal favorite. The story tore my mind and my heart apart and pieced both back together numerous times, and I loved the journey."
36."The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. I couldn't put it down. It had me crying, smiling, and wincing. A true rollercoaster of emotions and a huge eye-opener. I have never felt so grateful to be home with my loved ones, appreciative of all those who fought for our freedom, nor have I ever felt so safe to live where I do. I understand that this book is classed as fiction, as some of it couldn't be verified, but it does not take away from what a special book this is and the pain that the Jewish people went through. Everyone should read this book. The sequel is also a good read if you enjoy it!"
37."Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. It was such an immersive, inventive, well-paced book with a great plot and layered characters."
38."His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. This series probably cemented my love for fantasy and I've re-read it more times than I can count. Talk about an immersive world. It's a little steampunk, a little magical, a little historical, a little religious. There are so many amazing elements woven perfectly together. Add to that you have a coming-of-age novel with an empowered and flawed girl with agency, trials, and so much growth. Perfection in a series."
39."The Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig. It’s like Bridgerton with spies. It’s both historical and romantic — I feel my heart skip a beat when I read them."
40."The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran. Her storytelling abilities stirred my emotions in ways I didn't know they could. I was shocked, awed, angry, elated, full of sorrow, and full of love throughout. I wish I could read it again for the first time to experience all the secrets, twists, and turns with a fresh mind."
41."The Beekeeper’s Apprentice series by Laurie R. King. Specifically O Jerusalem. I’d never seen a Jewish character in a book before who was both proud of her identity but did not have it as her primary characteristic. She’s smart and savvy and well respected. She’s loved and encouraged. She was the perfect escape for me when I first read the novels and I feel the magic each time I reread it."
42."Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston because I didn't realize when I started it the impact it would have on me and the understanding of myself because of it. I was just reading a book that I found that looked like a cute read — but it was so much more than that. And not realizing that till about halfway through, yeah, I wish I could take it all in again being more ready for it."
43."The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. The twist at the end was so unexpected; I was totally caught off guard. I would love to get to experience that kind of shock again."
44."The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Shit slaps and is so underrated. I read it in three days when it usually takes me at least two or three weeks to finish a book."
Are there any books you would like to read for the first time again? If so, tell us why in the comments below.
