17 Books You Won’t Be Able To Stop Talking About

These books are bound to invoke a reaction so impassioned, emotional, and human that you'll want to share what's between you and the page with everyone else

1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

“No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. They’re going to use her as a weapon.”
Not only does this book have an intriguing premise, but Mafi’s writing is just incredible. Her turns of phrase left me reeling — I found myself rereading sentences just to experience them again. Anytime someone asks me for a book recommendation, I always start with this series because everyone should experience Mafi’s writing as it dances along the border between prose and poetry. I have reread the series multiple times, as has my sister, and we always text each other lines when we delve back into the story, which always makes me come back to read it again.
—Shelby S. Read More
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2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

The one book that l just couldn’t stop talking about, that made my toes curl with anticipation while l was still midway through it, has to be Wuthering Heights. In my opinion, this is the greatest piece of classical literature ever written. It has all the necessary emotions — love, hatred, fury, death, sorrow, remorse — and a twisted plot with a devastatingly dark and broken antihero, all of which makes for an absolutely brilliant and intriguing read.
—Shivangi. Read More
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3. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

“In America after the Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an agreement: The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, a parent may choose to retroactively get rid of a child through a process called ‘unwinding.’”
Yes, the moral themes sound a little heavy-handed, but don’t be fooled — this series sucks you in, grabs you, and doesn’t let go. It left my heart thumping and desperate to discuss with friends.
—Raúl J. Read More
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4. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

Sea of Poppies kicks off Amitav Ghosh’s masterful Ibis trilogy with a splash. The Ibis, an Indian slaving ship, has set sail from the Americas amidst great political tumult and war. The resulting tale is populated with so many vibrant, swashbuckling characters and unbelievable sights and scenes — I felt like I was physically aboard the Ibis, along for the ride with her batshit-crazy crew. Even more impressive than his command of an intense, topsy-turvy plot is Ghosh’s magical mastery of language; the Ibis trilogy is not just an adventure, it’s a work of art.
—Gabriel S. Read More
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5. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung

I actually bought this book while traveling to Southeast Asia last summer, and went to the killing fields as part of a tour to learn a little bit more about what had happened in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge takeover. Against this backdrop, Ung’s story of her family’s trauma is so, so important. I cried, I smiled, and I related to this young girl who was so close to her family. This is a harrowing tale of bravery, and every minute worth the read.
I believe Angelina Jolie Pitt is also to produce a movie about the book — so, definitely one I suggest reading. 
—Jennifer Pietrofere. Read More
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6. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The book I can’t stop talking about is The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater. It’s the first in a series titled The Raven Cycle, and it’s about a lot of things: searching for lost kings, Ley lines, death, friendship, true love. The prose is delightful, and the story is intriguing from the start. All the themes, the characters, and the story make me rant about it to friends nearly daily in the hopes that they read it.
—Ann Zhao. Read More
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7. The Rise and Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman

“Taken from home as a girl, Tooly found herself spirited away by a group of seductive outsiders, implicated in capers from Asia to Europe to the United States. But who were her abductors? Why did they take her? What did they really want? A brilliant, intricately woven novel about a young woman who travels the world to make sense of her puzzling past.”
I loved so many quotes from this book! —”What’s vodka?” says a young Tooly. “It’s like water, but with consequences.” There are also so many delightfully eccentric characters — I just wanted to be their friend, if only so that I could sit there all day and listen to them argue. :)
—Michelle Brunet Chapa. Read More
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8. Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

Giovanni’s Room is so beautiful and poignant; it touched so many chords. It made me feel something that I do not have the word to describe. And it taught me that though attraction and sexual orientation may be fluid in nature, the true feeling of love — no matter how fleeting or fraught — is always real. I begged all my friends to read this book.
—Sadia Afrin. Read More
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9. The Art of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

This book completely changed my life. I’ve always wanted to be more organized, but had never found a technique that worked. Marie Kondo’s simple philosophy is so perfect, straightforward, and easy to read — I couldn’t put this book down. I learned that you can live happily with just a third of your belongings, and you’ll be so much better for it.
—Helen Nunes Breyer. Read More
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10. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Forbidden is the one book I just cannot stop talking about. It centers on a forbidden love shared between siblings, with enough dramatic and tragic turns to totally alter the reader’s perspective on the world. The ending is explosive, and Forbidden remains my absolute favorite book to date.
—Kaye Lameyra. Read More
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11. Death With Interruptions by José Saramago

One day, Death decides to stop doing her job, which unleashes some serious and surprising consequences upon the rest of the world. This book is so mind-blowing that I keep telling my friends to read it. Saramago has such a unique way of applying his impossible vision to actual real-world social problems — this is a very powerful read.
—Kath H. Read More
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12. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The House on Mango Street is an incredibly moving novel, beautifully crafted to convey important messages from the point of view of a Hispanic teenage girl growing up in Chicago. I’ve never felt so moved by a piece of literature. It’ll make you laugh, cry, and rejoice — truly a must-read.
—Rebecca M. Read More
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13. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

I highly recommend The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. It is a thriller fictional story about a kidnapping told from the perspectives of people closest to the investigation — including the kidnapper. The surprise twist ending left me speechless and made me want to discuss what happened and how I didn’t see it coming at all. Kubica creates a captivating atmosphere that really keeps you guessing until the end.
—Julianne L. Read More
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14. Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body by Martin Pistorius

Ghost Boy is a true account of Martin Pistorius’s life: the good, the bad, and the downright ugly parts of being trapped inside his own body. This book made me angry, disappointed, happy, and sad, all within a few pages at a time. Maybe it’s because of the profession I’m in, but this book made me weep. It made me so damn thankful that Martin found his voice and displayed it in such an achingly raw, true, hopeful, and eye-opening manner.
—Ericka N. Freeborn. Read More
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15. 1984 by George Orwell

I couldn’t stop talking about 1984. It’s all about a man living in a dystopian society who begins to realize how messed up the world is. I absolutely loved the dark, eerily realistic world that Orwell creates. And me and my friends couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like to live there, or how we would run our own Orwellian government!
—Aidan Scott. Read More
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16. Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho

Following her failed suicide attempt, Veronika is admitted into the most prestigious mental hospital in Slovenia. Perhaps because it’s based on events in Coelho’s own life, the characters, plot twists, and messages really spring from the page in a powerful way. I couldn’t put the book down!
—Maria S. Read More
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17. Defending Jacob by William Landay

I tell everyone about Defending Jacob by William Landay. It’s about a district attorney whose son is accused of murder and it keeps you guessing the entire time! I had to reread the ending twice — the twist at the end will blow your mind.
—Ryan Brawner. Read More
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