your curated book recommendations

everything from historical fiction to dark fantasies without romance plus some great arrays of new releases! I love the mixing of genres.

Good morning! While I was on vacation, I posted a discussion thread requesting any book recommendation lists you’d like to be curated. Some great ideas were generated there! As promised, here are some books for you, but please note that I only included three from each full list — the entire lists are linked in each section, and there are some truly fantastic reads!!

All links to books are affiliate links through bookshop.org to help support indie bookstores.

Books That Made Me Shift My Perspective

Requested by

miscy

1. The Poppy War by RF Kuang

   1. Sometimes I worry that fantasy books are beginning to glorify war and conflict, or at least some versions are. Here, Kuang reminds us that war is gruesome. She does not shy away from the horrors, what happens after the war ends, and how power corrupts fully.

2. The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyle

   1. A coming of age of an adopted Irish boy born in the 1940s who struggles with his sexuality. Sometimes it is slow. Sometimes he does things that I hate. But overall, it is life. A full life, with family and love and loss and acceptance.

3. The Women by Kristin Hannah

   1. I am of the belief that this is her best written work. It reminded me of my position in life and how grateful I am for it. It showed me what we have grown from in the past. Ultimately, it reminded me that we cannot forget our history, and I wish I could shake that into people today.

Historical Fiction With Romance

Requested by

Jasmine

1. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

   1. This has romance in it for sure, but it is about so much more! It is about Alaska and what you do when you are fully alone. It is about the impacts of war and the relationships between mother and daughter. It is about the lengths you will go to protect those you love. And yes, the romance at the end made me sob.

2. Secrets of The Nile duo by Isabel Ibañez

   1. This is historical fantasy, but not “deep” fantasy. I absolutely loved the historical setting of Egypt and the adventures they go on. We see a lot of Cleopatra, ancient Egypt, and perhaps even a certain library. Plus, I loved the romance!

3. Lovely War by Julie Berry

   1. The story told by Greek gods of four young people in the midst of war. I loved it more than I expected, particularly the stories of our young people. The telling by Greek gods threw me off slightly, but the wonderful lessons were everything!

Books Similar to A River Enchanted

Requested by

Jasmine

1. Belladonna trilogy by Adalyn Grace

   1. It had the whimsy and flow of Ross’s writing style, but add in paranormal, death and fate, loss and mystery. I loved this trilogy a lot, and I don’t want to say any more to avoid spoiling!

2. Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

   1. Out of everyone, Blake’s writing style reminds me most of Ross’s. However, her books aren’t quite the same. This one, though, is probably the most similar. We have witches and a literal “paranormal-cross reality-I wasn’t sure what was going on until the end” type of book. Please go in without knowing much.

3. A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

   1. Honestly, I just really loved this book and that’s why I recommend it. It is incredibly unique with a special focus on a lovely girl and all she is capable of. And I love the MMC.

Dark Fantasy Stand-Alones With No Romance

Requested by

C.A. Holton

— this one was hard!! However, I now have a lot of new books on my TBR :)

1. Piranesi by Susanna Clark

   1. I hesitate slightly with putting this here, but where else would it go? It’s a pure puzzle of a novel, and quite frankly rather dark and grim. Absolutely no romance and you’re certain to have your mind blown by the end.

2. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

   1. While I haven’t read this one, I saw it consistently while researching books. It sounds like a trip and quite frankly a masterpiece in plotting.

3. Babel by RF Kuang

   1. How to discuss this book? Historical fantasy that gets darker and darker until you’re in academia and hiding a body and burning down the world. I also love how Kuang’s novels are based on true stories.

Adventure-Based Books, with examples of Fourth Wing and The Hunger Games

Requested by

Soph

1. Glass Alliance Trilogy by Joanna Hathaway

   1. Hear me out. This is undoubtedly the most underrated fantasy series there is. You have to keep going through it—there are things that don’t make sense at first, a whole new world to keep track of, and a lot of things going on, but it is so worth it. It has one of the best world buildings I’ve seen, two of the most well developed characters, and absolutely jaw dropping writing about dog fights (in terms of pilots). I truly think everyone needs to give this series a try.

2. Schoolomance trilogy by Niomi Novik

   1. I love this series so much. It’s a dark witchy school that literally tries to kill you all the time. Alliances, dark magic, sarcastic characters. Black cat x golden retriever. UGH. It is so good.

3. Furyborn trilogy by Claire Legrand

   1. Okay, to be honest, all I can remember is that my mind was blown. There is magic and lying, heists and protective men, family and time travel. It all unravels in a brilliant series.

Dystopian Novels

Requested by

Soph

1. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

   1. I am ashamed to say I haven’t read this yet, but it is highly regarded as a fantastic post-apocalyptic novels. We follow a troupe of musicians twenty years after a flu pandemic swept across the world.

2. Scythe series by Neal Shusterman

   1. What an amazing Sci-Fi dystopian world created here. The most sci fi series I’ve ever read and brilliantly done. We follow along with several characters and live in a world that is fascinating — you can’t die, thus the Scythe.

3. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

   1. Set in 1920s Shanghai with two rival families inspired by Romeo & Juliet mixed with magic? Genuinely, what else do you need? I truly am unsure how to classify this — is it dystopian? — but either way, you need to read it. Just amazing.

Books for Your Twenties

Requested by

Soph

1. Circe by Madeline Miller

   1. Hi she’s kind of sad so sorry! However, what a brilliant novel for all young women to read. A retelling of Circe’s story, written with brutal honesty. A refreshing connection between character and reader in a beautiful, honest story that I can’t put into words.

2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

   1. Please go into this without knowing much. Above all, this novel shows you to stop judging everyone around you. To please, please be there for those in your life. To take chances on on others. You do not know what everyone else has gone through.

3. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

   1. A collection of her column on life and advice. Some of what she said challenged my entire way of thinking. I have this tucked into my bookshelf, always there if I need to remind myself that I am okay and doing well and living means mistakes and learning.

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All links to books are affiliate links through bookshop.org to help support indie bookstores.

1. Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi (YA Fiction): April 15, 2025

2. The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose (Thriller): April 15, 2025

3. Strangers in Time by David Baldacci (Historical Fiction/Thriller): April 15, 2025

4. The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson (Fantasy): April 15, 2025

5. The Next Day by Melinda French Gates (Memoir): April 15, 2025

6. The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah (Fantasy): April 15, 2025

7. A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic by J. Penner (Fantasy): April 15, 2025

8. The Gentleman and His Vowsmith by Rebecca Ide (Fantasy): April 15, 2025

Books I’ve compiled from a variety of bestseller lists. I add the books I haven’t before, since I’ve caught up to the new additions. If you’re curious, last week’s post can be found here.

1. Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (Romance)

2. The Sirens by Emilia Hart (Historical Fiction)

3. I Am Maria by Maria Shriver (Poetry/Memoir)

4. A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Fantasy/Mystery&Thriller)

If you have a book recommendation to share, send me a DM or email me at thesundayreads@gmail.com!

1. What has been your favorite book recently?

That’s all for today. Much love

Izzy