UPDATED Must Read List

I originally made a must-read blog post in 2022, since then I have read many more books and even changed how I feel about some of the books on my prior list!

Here are my recommendations!

1. Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann (my favorite read of 2024)

A hauntingly beautiful, gut-wrenching story about survival, trauma, and unexpected love. Still Beating explores the darkest corners of human experience and the healing that can come from even the most painful of connections. It’s raw, emotional, and unforgettable—a book that’ll stay with you long after you turn the last page. Grab tissues, because this one will break your heart before it pieces it back together.

2. A Little Magic by Linsdey Lanza

3. Lights Out by Navessa Allen

4. The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith

   Eden wishes she could undo the past, change her choices, and avoid the moment that altered her life forever. But since there’s no way to turn back time, she buries the truth and tries to push forward, shutting herself off from friends, love, and everything she once was. As the world around her starts to crumble, she realizes the only way to truly heal is by facing her demons—and learning to save herself.

5. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

6. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

7. Darling Venom by L.J. Shen

8. Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid (novella)

9. We Dance in Sin by M.T. Morgan

10. Don't Let Me Fall by Kelsie Rae

11. Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas (please dont ask me how many times I have read this)

    Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas is an intense, angst-filled romance about two childhood pen pals whose perfect friendship turns into a tangled web of lies, desire, and self-discovery. When Ryen and Misha meet in real life under unexpected circumstances, their connection is tested by secrets and the harsh realities of high school life. It’s a raw, addictive story of love, identity, and the masks we wear.