5 Books to Read If You Want To Feel Something
I have loved reading for as long as I can remember. From my mom and dad reading me picture books before bed to making the most of my library card, books have always been a special part of my life. Since I’ve gotten older and my schedule has gotten busier, the books that I make time to read need to really impress me and make me feel something. Frequent readers have experienced the sensation of feeling like you’ve read something a million times over. And, in the modern publishing landscape, it seems like everything from poorly written Wattpad romance stories to 800-page romantasy series are getting greenlit for publication. It’s overwhelming! After reading so many of the same type of books, finding the ones that really involve the emotions feels like striking gold. Here, I’ve compiled a list of five books that have really stood out to me in the past couple of years of my reading.
1. The Favorites by Layne Fargo (Random House, 2025)
I read The Favorites this past April, and it is definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I had seen this recommended on one of the YouTube channels I watch, BooksAndLala. Her reading tastes are very particular, so when she said this one got her so emotionally invested that she couldn’t wait to pick it back up again, I knew I needed to read it. The Favorites is about ice dancing team Katarina and Heath, who have been emotionally and romantically involved since they were 16. The book follows their journey as pre-teens beginning their complicated journey with ice dancing to adults who’ve captured the world’s attention as mesmerizing and enchanting skaters. I kept neglecting schoolwork to read this, and had it open on Libby during meals and class. I became so interwoven in Katarina and Heath’s story, and found myself gasping and covering my mouth alone in my room! This book is so high stakes, and the characters will do ANYTHING to achieve their dreams - even if it means betraying each other. This read will have you flying through the pages. If you are a fan of dramatic, intense stories and characters who are so drawn to each other they will find each other through any lifetime, read this immediately.
2. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Henry Holt and Co, 2024)
3. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (Del Rey, 2023)
This recommendation is for all the fantasy readers out there. This is what’s classified as a “cozy fantasy”, which means that the stakes are less intense and the fantasy elements are milder. I LOVED this book. Socially awkward Emily Wilde is a scholar whose area of expertise is faeries. She travels to a small village to conduct research for her faerie encyclopedia, which would be the first comprehensive book on the subject in her field. Surprising her on her journey is her academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who annoys her and charms her to no end. This book will ignite all your feelings of joy, warmth, and sentimentality. Who knew a book about cunning Fae and hidden secrets in the forest could be so charming and precious? The characters combined with the subtlety old-Englishy style writing makes this such a unique and memorable read. After you are done reading and enjoying this story, check out books 2 and 3!
4. All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (Razorbill, 2022)
All My Rage is a young adult contemporary novel about two Muslim Pakistani teenagers navigating young adulthood and transitioning into college. Noor and Salahudin have grown up together, becoming more than best friends in the process - they are as close as family. The novel alludes to a huge fight that they had that tore their relationship apart. The reader is left grieving with Noor and Sal as they deal with the loss of their relationship and their subsequent journey back to each other. This novel is so heavy - it deals with themes of physical and emotional abuse, drug abuse, Islamophobia, and bullying, but is handled so carefully. Tahir is an expert at getting her readers to be emotionally invested in her characters, so much so that by the end, I felt like I had first-hand gone through Noor and Sal’s unique experiences. I especially resonated with Noor’s fear and uncertainty going into her first year of college, since I read this a few months before I started at BG. This book is definitely worth the read and will make you feel like you’ve lived a whole other life by the time you flip the last page.
5. Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (Sarah Crichton Books, 2019)
Miracle Creek is a book that I read a few years ago, and I am still searching for books that will impress me and make me feel the same way that this one did. There are so many layers to this courtroom thriller - themes of motherhood, immigration, disability, Asian experiences in America, infidelity, and marriage are all woven into this novel so skillfully. The courtroom case centers around two deaths and three injuries occur at the Yoo family’s hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) facility. On trial for her son’s murder is Elizabeth, who seemingly did everything she could to “cure” her 8-year-old son’s autism. This book had me so entranced, and every new reveal had me shocked and desperate to read more. The themes addressed in the book caused me to think about the book long after I finished it, and Kim reveals just enough during the narrative to leave the reader clawing for more. The way she wrote about special needs and the immigration experience in America helped me learn so much and provided me with a perspective that is lacking in some of the other literature I read. If you are looking for a slow-paced but expertly crafted courtroom thriller filled with relevant themes, Miracle Creek will be your next favorite read.
The above five books are ones that I have continued to think about, even long after I’ve finished them. These are the books I frequently recommend, and I extend these recommendations to you now too. Books that make me channel and feel all of my emotions are my favorite types of books. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I do, and happy reading!
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