Look, we know it’s hard to find time as a parent to dive into a good book; heck, even reading this article may take some precious minutes out of your life (and we appreciate you being here).
But with Christmas behind us and time off on the horizon for some of us lucky enough to be away from work—and, hopefully, some much-needed relaxation time for everyone regardless of your PTO status—we know you may want to catch up on reading. So, we rounded up a collection of addictive books to curl up with, while the kids are napping or playing with all their new toys.
The list below includes romance novels with fresh takes, family dramas, true crime stories, and escapist fodder (Housewives, anyone?) to pull you out of your post-holiday doldrums. Check out our best fiction and non-fiction book recs below!
Fictional Stories
While We Were Dating
The latest book from editor-favorite author Jasmine Guillory, this cute story follows bachelor Ben Stephens as he meets A-list actress Anna Gardiner through a work opportunity. Then, their professional relationship turns into a friendship when Ben helps Anna during a family emergency. As sparks fly, you won't be able to put down this page-turner rom-com.
Malibu Rising
With a rating of 4.1/5 on Goodreads and reviews calling it one of the best books of the year, this story follows four famous siblings as they throw a summer party in 1983. But, over the course of the epic night, each of their lives change forever. A must-read!
It Ends With Us
Though not one of Colleen Hoover's newest books, this contemporary romance novel from 2016 is rising in popularity again. In It Ends With Us, hardworking business owner Lily meets a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle—but can't stop thinking of her first love, Atlas, and his link to her past that she left behind. And when Atlas suddenly reappears in Lily's life, her picture-perfect relationship with Ryle is threatened.
The Lincoln Highway
Published in October 2021, this book follows 18-year-old Emmett Watson's life in rural Nebraska in 1954 after he's released from a juvenile work farm following a conviction for involuntary manslaughter. Though he has plans to move to California with his 8-year-old brother to start a new life together, Emmett's friends have a different idea that ultimately takes them to New York City.
Apples Never Fall
Apples Never Fall tells the story of couple Stan and Joy Delaney and their four adult children as they deal with the aftermath of Joy’s mysterious disappearance. When patriarch Stan becomes a suspect, it’s revealed that the Delaneys recently took in a stranger, a woman named Savannah escaping domestic violence—could she have anything to do with Mrs. Delaney going missing?
Wish You Were Here
Jodi Picoult's newest novel follows New Yorker Diana O'Toole who takes a trip to the Galápagos Islands for her 30th birthday but ends up stranded on vacation when the pandemic shuts everything down. A fascinating take on the real-life events of the last two years that we've all been living, but be warned: this book might not be for everyone.
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone
The latest installment of the Outlander book series, this historical fiction novel—a long read at 928 pages—follows several couples and characters as they endure life and love in the late 1700s, just before the American Revolution. If you're a fan of the Outlander TV series, you'll love the books, too.
The Wish
Fans of Nicholas Sparks' famed romance novels will delight in his newest story about a woman named Maggie who reflects on her first love in North Carolina's Outer Banks back in 1996—and how that teenage romance changed the course of her life forever.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
This 2018 novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid (the same author of Malibu Rising, listed above!) follows magazine reporter Monique Grant as she interviews aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo about her glamorous and scandalous life and many loves.
Non-Fiction Books
The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed
Before you head to the theater to see Lady Gaga in House of Gucci, read the true crime story behind the film with this book that chronicles the real-life murder of Maurizio Gucci—the heir of glamorous fashion dynasty Gucci.
Call Us What We Carry
Just released on December 7, this book is a collection of poems from New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet, Amanda Gorman, as she explores history, language, identity, and erasure.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
In Cultish, author Amanda Montell uncovers what makes cults intriguing, frightening, and powerful through detailed research and captivating storytelling. If you're a fan of documentaries or true crime stories, this book is for you.
The 1619 Project: A Brief History
In 2019, The New York Times Magazine published a collection of essays and profiles on the history and legacy of slavery in America titled "The 1619 Project." Since then, the publication has been criticized for reframing history—and this new book explores just that. It's a short read at only 64 pages, but it's an important one.
Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Inside Story of The Real Housewives From the People Who Lived It
Calling all Housewives fans! For this new book, author Dave Quinn spent 500 hours interviewing past and present Housewives for this "unfiltered and unvarnished" look at Bravo's popular franchise and pop culture phenomenon.
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir
This memoir written by singer, songwriter, and musician Michelle Zauner—lead vocalist of indie rock band Japanese Breakfast—chronicles her experience growing up in a Korean household in Oregon and reconnecting with her Asian American roots after her mom is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
This article was originally published in December 2020. It has been updated for timeliness.
