I love recommending books to people. There is every possibility you could be recommending a book to someone that then becomes their new favourite read. So, I wanted to share some of the books I’ve recently rated 5 stars and think are must-read books! Here are some 5-star must-read books!
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his ground-breaking, critically acclaimed podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet – from the QWERTY keyboard and Halley’s Comet to Penguins of Madagascar – on a five-star scale.
This is a book I will be recommending for a long time. I feel like everyone will take something from this book and it will make you look at things a little bit differently. John Green’s first non-fiction book is a must-read for all and I loved it. It made me laugh, cry, and full of hope. I cannot recommend it enough.
The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith
All Eden wants is to rewind the clock. To live that day again. She would do everything differently. Not laugh at his jokes or ignore the way he was looking at her that night. And she would definitely lock her bedroom door.
But Eden can’t turn back time. So she buries the truth, along with the girl she used to be. She pretends she doesn’t need friends, doesn’t need love, doesn’t need justice. But as her world unravels, one thing becomes clear: the only person who can save Eden … is Eden.
This one is beautiful and tells a brutally honest story about trauma and its long-lasting effects. It isn’t an easy read and does cover a number of heavy topics but it is raw and real and I cannot recommend it enough. Please check the trigger warnings before reading this one. I’ve written a full review of this one which you can find here.
Six Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) by Tess Sharpe
All Eden wants is to rewind the clock. To live that day again. She would do everything differently. Not laugh at his jokes or ignore the way he was looking at her that night. And she would definitely lock her bedroom door.
But Eden can’t turn back time. So she buries the truth, along with the girl she used to be. She pretends she doesn’t need friends, doesn’t need love, doesn’t need justice. But as her world unravels, one thing becomes clear: the only person who can save Eden … is Eden.
I had a feeling going into reading this one that I would enjoy it but I did not expect to give it 5 stars. It is a beautiful slow-burn romance with well-rounded and unique main characters. It covers some heavier topics and does so in a real and honest way. It is definitely a must-read. I’ve written a full review of this one which you can find here.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Dr Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalised, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants…? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s ‘pain in my ass’ scale.
But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter. It’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her ‘sob closet’ and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses.
When Jacob turns out to be the perfect donor for her brother, Bri starts to realise that this quietly sexy new doctor might just be her perfect match, too.
This is another that I didn’t expect to love just as much as I did. It is one of my favourite rom-coms of all time. It has some adorable moments as well as heavier more poignant moments between the characters. Bri and Jacob are easily two of my favourite characters in a romance novel and their relationship is all-round excellent.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Harriet and Wyn are the perfect couple – they go together like bread and butter, gin and tonic, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Except, now they don’t. They broke up six months ago. And they still haven’t told anyone.
Which is how they end up sharing a bedroom at the cottage that has been their yearly getaway with their best friends for the past decade. For one glorious week they leave behind their lives, drink far too much wine and soak up the sea air with their favourite people.
Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth. The cottage is for sale so this is the last time they’ll all be together here and they can’t bear to break their friends’ hearts. So, they’ll fake it for one more week. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses).
But how can you pretend to be in love with someone – and get away with it – in front of the people who know you best?
I had high hopes going into this one having loved all of Emily Henry’s other books and somehow it managed to exceed them all. It is my favourite book of 2023 so far and has my favourite couple ever Harriet and Wyn. Emily Henry in my opinion can do no wrong for me and I cannot recommend this one enough. I’ve written a full review of this one which you can find here.
There you have it, five 5-star must-read books! What books have you read recently and rated 5 stars? Let me know in the comments!
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