20 Best Books For People Who Don’T Read (2023 Update)

#1 new york times bestseller – in the propulsive debut novel from the host of the #1 true crime podcast crime junkie, a journalist uncovers her hometown’s dark secrets when she becomes obsessed with the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbor—and the disappearance of another girl twenty years later. – one of the best books of the year: pop – sugar you can’t ever know for sure what happens behind closed doors. – everyone from wakarusa, indiana, remembers the infamous case of january jacobs, who was discovered in a ditch hours after her family awoke to find her gone. margot davies was six at the time, the same age as january—and they were next-door neighbors. in the twenty years since, margot has grown up, moved away, and become a big-city journalist. but she’s always been haunted by the feeling that it could’ve been her. and the worst part is, january’s killer has never been brought to justice. – when margot returns home to help care for her uncle after he is diagnosed with early-onset dementia, she feels like she’s walked into a time capsule. wakarusa is exactly how she remembers—genial, stifled, secretive. then news breaks about five-year-old natalie clark from the next town over, who’s gone missing under circumstances eerily similar to january’s. with all the old feelings rushing back, margot vows to find natalie and to solve january’s murder once and for all. – but the police, natalie’s family, the townspeople—they all seem to be hiding something. and the deeper margot digs into natalie’s disappearance, the more resistance she encounters, and the colder january’s case feels. could january’s killer still be out there? is it the same person who took natalie? and what will it cost to finally discover what truly happened that night twenty years ago? twisty, chilling, and intense, all good people here is a searing tale that asks: what are your neighbors capable of when they think no one is watching?

The #1 new york times bestseller that examines how people can champion new ideas in their careers and everyday life—and how leaders can fight groupthink, from the author of think again and co-author of option b“filled with fresh insights on a broad array of topics that are important to our personal and professional lives.”—the new york times dealbook“originals is one of the most important and captivating books i have ever read, full of surprising and powerful ideas. it will not only change the way you see the world; it might just change the way you live your life. and it could very well inspire you to change your world.” —sheryl sandberg, coo of facebook and author of lean inwith give and take, adam grant not only introduced a landmark new paradigm for success but also established himself as one of his generation’s most compelling and provocative thought leaders. in originals he again addresses the challenge of improving the world, but now from the perspective of becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battle conformity, and buck outdated traditions. using surprising studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports, and entertainment, grant explores how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt; how parents and teachers can nurture originality in children; and how leaders can build cultures that welcome dissent. learn from an entrepreneur who pitches his start-ups by highlighting the reasons not to invest, a woman at apple who challenged steve jobs from three levels below, an analyst who overturned the rule of secrecy at the cia, a billionaire financial wizard who fires employees for failing to criticize him, and a tv executive who didn’t even work in comedy but saved seinfeld from the cutting-room floor. the payoff is a set of groundbreaking insights about rejecting conformity and improving the status quo.

A best book of 2020: the washington post * npr * chicago tribune * smithsonian a “remarkable” (los angeles times), “seductive” (the wall street journal) debut from the new cohost of radiolab, why fish don’t exist is a dark and astonishing tale of love, chaos, scientific obsession, and—possibly—even murder.​ “at one point, miller dives into the ocean into a school of fish…comes up for air, and realizes she’s in love. that’s how i felt: her book took me to strange depths i never imagined, and i was smitten.” —the new york times book reviewdavid starr jordan was a taxonomist, a man possessed with bringing order to the natural world. in time, he would be credited with discovering nearly a fifth of the fish known to humans in his day. but the more of the hidden blueprint of life he uncovered, the harder the universe seemed to try to thwart him. his specimen collections were demolished by lightning, by fire, and eventually by the 1906 san francisco earthquake—which sent more than a thousand discoveries, housed in fragile glass jars, plummeting to the floor. in an instant, his life’s work was shattered. many might have given up, given in to despair. but jordan? he surveyed the wreckage at his feet, found the first fish that he recognized, and confidently began to rebuild his collection. and this time, he introduced one clever innovation that he believed would at last protect his work against the chaos of the world. when npr reporter lulu miller first heard this anecdote in passing, she took jordan for a fool—a cautionary tale in hubris, or denial. but as her own life slowly unraveled, she began to wonder about him. perhaps instead he was a model for how to go on when all seemed lost. what she would unearth about his life would transform her understanding of history, morality, and the world beneath her feet. part biography, part memoir, part scientific adventure, why fish don’t exist is a wondrous fable about how to persevere in a world where chaos will always prevail.

"easily the funniest book i've read this year."–gq "masterly funny debut novel . . erudite but never pretentious, the idiot will make you crave more books by batuman." –sloane crosley, vanity fair "batuman wittily and wisely captures the tribulations of a shy, cerebral teenager struggling with love, friendship, and whether to take psycholinguistics or philosophy of language. batuman's writing is funny and deadpan, and selin's observations tease out many relatable human quandaries surrounding friendship, social niceties and first love. the result: a novel that may not keep readers up late turning pages feverishly, but that will quietly amuse and provoke thought." — huffington post "batuman's brainy novel is leavened with humor and a heroine incapable of artifice."– people "batuman has won a paris review terry southern prize for humor, and her book is consistently hilarious. if this is a sentimental education, it's one leavened by a great deal of mordant and delightful humor. at once a cutting satire of academia, a fresh take on the epistolary novel, a poignant bildungsroman, and compelling travel literature, "the idiot'' is also a touching and spirited portrait of the artist as a hugely appealing young woman."– boston globe "the idiot is an impressive debut with a ridiculous amount of charm and a protagonist so relatable she's almost impossible to forget."– a.v. club "the idiot is wonderful. batuman, a staff writer at the new yorker and the author of the sparkling autobiographical essay collection the possessed (2010), has brave and original ideas about what a "novel" might mean and no qualms about flouting literary convention. she is endlessly beguiled by the possibilities and shortcomings of language . . . . it is a pleasure to watch batuman render this process with the wit, sensitivity, and relish of someone who's successfully emerged on the other side of it. for all of her fascination with linguistic puzzle boxes, the author tempers her protagonist's intellectual vertigo with maturity and common sense."– slate "beautifully written first novel… batuman, a staff writer for the new yorker, has an extraordinarily deft touch when it comes to sketching character.the novel fairly brims with provocative ideas about language, literature and culture." — the associated press "a vibrant novel of ideas. like her essays, batuman's bildungsroman is a succession of droll misadventures built around chance encounters, peculiar conversations and sharp-eyed observations. both on campus and abroad, she brings the ever-fresh perspective of a perpetual stranger in a strange land. her deceptively simple declarative sentences are underpinned by a poker-faced sense of absurdity and humor so dry it calls for olives."– san francisco chronicle "with her smart and deliciously comic 2010 debut, the essay collection "the possessed," elif batuman wrote one of the 21st century's great love letters to reading. it was a tour de force intellectual comedy encasing an apologia for literary obsession. a different — though no less tenuous — variety of possession is explored in "the idiot," batuman's first novel. the book's pleasures come not from the 400-page, low-and-slow smolder of its central relationship, which can at times feel like nothing more than two repressions circling one another; rather, it is selin herself. acutely self-conscious but fiercely intelligent, she consistently renders a strange, mordantly funny and precisely observed world. selin's is a consciousness one does not want to part with; by the end of the book, i felt as if i were in the presence of a strange, slightly detached, utterly brilliant friend. "i kept thinking about the uneven quality of time," she writes, "the way it was almost always so empty, and then with no warning came a few days that felt so dense and alive and real that it seemed indisputable that that was what life was, that its real nature had finally been revealed." batuman articulates those little moments — of revelation and of emptiness — as well as anyone writing today. the book's legacy seems destined to be one of observation, not character — though when the observer is this gifted, is that really any wonder?"–la times "no one writes funnier or more stylishly about higher education. nothing written about grad school is as entertaining as her 2010 collection of dispatches from stanford's comparative-literature department, the possessed, and her studied satire of harvard in the idiot is nearly its equal."–village voice "batuman's sardonic wit makes for a delectable unfolding of selin's experience of love, life and language."–bbc.com "batuman's novel is roaringly funny. it is also intellectually subtle, surprising, and enlightening. it is a book fueled by deadpan wonder."–new york review of books "charming, hilarious and wise debut novel. batuman titled the book the idiot (after dostoevsky's famous novel) but it isn't an excoriation of its

National bestsellerpulitzer prize winner national book critic's circle award finalist – a new york times notable book – one of the best books of the year – the boston globe, the christian science monitor, the denver post, the kansas city star, los angeles times, new york, people, rocky mountain news, time, the village voice, the washington post – the searing, postapocalyptic novel destined to become cormac mc – carthy's masterpiece. – a father and his son walk alone through burned america. nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. it is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. the sky is dark. their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. they have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other. – the road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. it boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love.

"wonderfully geeky and deeply compassionate." –marieke nijkamp, #1 new york times bestselling author in this charming novel by eric smith, two teen gamers find their virtual worlds–and blossoming romance–invaded by the real-world issues of trolling and doxing in the gaming community. for divya and aaron, it's the world of online gaming. while divya trades her rising-star status for sponsorships to help her struggling single mom pay rent, aaron plays as a way to fuel his own dreams of becoming a game developer–and as a way to disappear when his mom starts talking about medical school. after a chance online meeting, the pair decides to team up. but they soon find themselves the targets of a group of internet trolls, who begin launching a real-world doxxing campaign, threatening aaron's dream and divya's actual life. they think they can drive her out of the game, but divya's whole world is on the line… and she isn't going down without a fight. looking for more from eric smith? don't miss you can go your own way!

The new york times bestsellerfear. grief. loss. betrayal. rachel hollis has felt all those things, and she knows you have too. now, she takes you to the other side. with her signature humor, heartfelt honesty, and intimate true-life stories, #1 new york times bestselling author rachel hollis shows readers how to seize difficult moments for the learning experiences they are and the value and growth they provide.rachel hollis sees you. as the millions who read her #1 new york times bestsellers girl, wash your face and girl, stop apologizing, attend her rise conferences and follow her on social media know, she also wants to see you transform. when it comes to the "hard seasons" of life–the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job–transformation seems impossible when grief and uncertainty dominate your days. especially when, as didn't see that coming reveals, no one asks to have their future completely rearranged for them. but, as rachel writes, it is up to you how you come through your pain–you can come through changed for the better, having learned and grown, or stuck in place where your identity becomes rooted in what hurt you. to rachel, a life well-lived is one of purpose, focused only on the essentials. this is a small book about big feelings: inspirational, aspirational, and an anchor that shows that darkness can co-exist with the beautiful.

The instant new york times bestseller! one of newsweek's most anticipated books of 2020one of she – reads most anticipated books of 2020one of pop – sugar's most anticipated books of 2020one of hello she wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. she wants to belong, but her life is increasingly lonely. – until shay meets the moore sisters. cassandra and jane live a life of glamorous perfection, and always get what they desire. when they invite shay into their circle, everything seems to get better. shay would die for them to like her. she may have to.

New york times bestseller – "driving, wild and hilarious" (the washington post), here is the incredible "memoir" of the actor, gambler, raconteur, and saturday night live veteran. don't miss norm's new netflix special, hitler's dog, gossip & treachery when norm macdonald, one of the greatest stand-up comics of all time, was approached to write a celebrity memoir, he flatly refused, calling the genre "one step below instruction manuals." norm then promptly took a two-year hiatus from stand-up comedy to live on a farm in northern canada. when he emerged he had under his arm a manuscript, a genre-smashing book about comedy, tragedy, love, loss, war, and redemption. when asked if this was the celebrity memoir, norm replied, "call it anything you damn like." praise for based on a true story"dostoyevsky by way of 30 rockefeller center . . . the best new book i've read this year or last."–the wall street journal "this book is absurd fiction. . . . scathing and funny."–the new york times "hilarious and filled with turns of phrase and hidden beauty like only a collection of norm macdonald stories could be."–esquire "raucous . . . a hilarious, innovative work."–a.v. club "part personal history and part meta riff on celebrity memoirs, the book, it quickly becomes clear, is also just partly true (and all hilarious)."–vulture "very, very, very funny thanks, norm, for letting me be part of this booker prize-for-literature-quality effort."–david letterman "norm is brilliant and thoughtful and there is sensitivity and creative insight in his observations and stories. i seriously f**king love norm macdonald. please buy his book. he probably needs the cash. he's really bad with money."–louis c.k., from the foreword "norm is one of my all-time favorites, and this book was such a great read i forgot how lonely i was for a while."–amy schumer "i always thought normie's stand-up was the funniest thing there was. but this book gives it a run for its money."–adam sandler "norm is one of the greatest stand-up comics who's ever worked–a totally original voice. his sense of the ridiculous and his use of juxtaposition in his writing make him a comic's comic. who is funnier than norm macdonald? nobody."–judd apatow "norm macdonald is more than a triple threat–he's a septuple threat. he is smart, funny, wry, rakish, polite, rakish . . . no, wait. he is polite, insightful, and . . . aaaaah . . . warm. no. he's exciting. yeah. exciting you never know what he'll do. okay, then make that unpredictable. add that up. he's amazing."–alec baldwin "norm is a double threat. his material and timing are both top-notch, which is unheard of. he is one of my favorites, both on- and off-stage."–dave attell "letterman said it best: there is no one funnier than norm macdonald."–rob schneider

New york times bestseller – the reese witherspoon x hello sunshine book club pick“every once in a while, i read a book that opens my eyes in a way i never expected.” —reese witherspoon (reese’s book club x hello sunshine book pick)people magazine’s top 10 books of 2017bustle’s 17 books every woman should read from 2017pop – sugar’s our favorite books of the year (so far)refinery29's best books of the year so farbookbrowse’s the 20 best books of 2017pacific northwest book awards finalist – the globe and mail's top 100 books of 2017longlisted for 2019 international dublin literary award“it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think.” —liane moriarty, #1 new york times bestselling author of big little lies – this is how a family keeps a secret…and how that secret ends up keeping them. – this is how a family lives happily ever after…until happily ever after becomes complicated. – this is how children change…and then change the world. he’s five years old, the youngest of five brothers, and loves peanut butter sandwiches. he also loves wearing a dress, and dreams of being a princess. – when he grows up, claude says, he wants to be a girl. – rosie and penn want claude to be whoever claude wants to be. they’re just not sure they’re ready to share that with the world. soon the entire family is keeping claude’s secret. until one day it explodes. laurie frankel's this is how it always is is a novel about revelations, transformations, fairy tales, and family. and it’s about the ways this is how it always is: change is always hard and miraculous and hard again, parenting is always a leap into the unknown with crossed fingers and full hearts, children grow but not always according to plan. and families with secrets don’t get to keep them forever.

#1 new york times bestseller “this. this is the right book for right now. yes, learning requires focus. but, unlearning and relearning requires much more—it requires choosing courage over comfort. i’ve never felt so hopeful about what i don’t know.”—brené brown, ph. – d., #1 new york times bestselling author of dare to lead – the bestselling author of give and take and originals examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people's minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life – intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. in our daily lives, too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. the result is that our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. – organizational psychologist adam grant is an expert on opening other people's minds–and our own. as wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of originals and give and take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. you'll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, a vaccine whisperer convinces concerned parents to immunize their children, and adam has coaxed yankees fans to root for the red sox. it's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility over foolish consistency.

From the bestselling author and creator of the hit netflix drama the strangerwith unmatched suspense and emotional insight, harlan coben explores the big secrets and little lies that can destroy a relationship, a family, and even a town in this powerful new thriller.suburban new jersey detective napoleon “nap” dumas hasn't been the same since senior year of high school, when his twin brother leo and leo’s girlfriend diana were found dead on the railroad tracks—and maura, the girl nap considered the love of his life, broke up with him and disappeared without explanation. for fifteen years, nap has been searching, both for maura and for the real reason behind his brother's death. and now, it looks as though he may finally find what he's been looking for. when maura's fingerprints turn up in the rental car of a suspected murderer, nap embarks on a quest for answers that only leads to more questions—about the woman he loved, about the childhood friends he thought he knew, about the abandoned military base near where he grew up, and mostly about leo and diana—whose deaths are darker and far more sinister than nap ever dared imagine.

An infamous reincarnation cult resurfaces in the wake of a deadly bombing, and it’s up to an fbi novice to learn its true aim—and uncover its dark past before it consumes her. special agent vera taggart walked away from a promising career as an artist to join the fbi, and she impresses her new colleagues with her eerie ability to divine conclusions from the grisliest crime scenes. taggart’s first assignment is a decades-old cold case centered on a cult of suicide bombers known as the sons of elijah who believe they’ve been reborn hundreds of times, going back centuries. it seems like a low-risk assignment until a bomb tears apart a crowded chicago restaurant. the sons of elijah have returned—and now it’s up to taggart to stop their modern-day reign of terror. taggart’s investigation begins with dr. seth jacobson, a renowned psychiatrist who claims to help people remember past lives through hypnotherapy. jacobson had treated two of the sons of elijah’s founders before they’d gone on to commit a series of horrific murders. desperate to understand how these ordinary patients could have taken such a violent path, taggart agrees to undergo similar treatment with jacobson. through her hypnosis sessions, taggart comes to suspect the sons of elijah are targeting a high-tech government laboratory that could expose the group’s greatest secret with a controversial experiment. to save millions of innocent lives, tag must come to grips with the shocking truth about the cult and her own puzzling role in its timeless mission. the fate of humanity rests on her ability to determine which threats are real and which exist only in her mind—and to decide whose side she’s really fighting for.

A new york times bestseller – a read with jenna today show book club pick! named a best book of the year by the new york times book review, the washington post, people, entertainment weekly, usa today, time, the a.v. club, buzzfeed, and pop – sugar"i can't believe how good this book is…. it's wholly original. it's also perfect…. wilson writes with such a light touch…. the brilliance of the novel [is] that it distracts you with these weirdo characters and mesmerizing and funny sentences and then hits you in a way you didn't see coming. you're laughing so hard you don't even realize that you've suddenly caught fire." –taffy brodesser-akner, author of fleishman is in trouble, new york times book review – from the new york times bestselling author of the family fang, a moving and uproarious novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with a remarkable ability. – lillian and madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. but then lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they've barely spoken since. until now, when lillian gets a letter from madison pleading for her help. – madison's twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants lillian to be their caretaker. however, there's a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. lillian is convinced madison is pulling her leg, but it's the truth. – thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, lillian figures she has nothing to lose. over the course of one humid, demanding summer, lillian and the twins learn to trust each other–and stay cool–while also staying out of the way of madison's buttoned-up politician husband. surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her–urgently and fiercely. couldn't this be the start of the amazing life she'd always hoped for? with white-hot wit and a big, tender heart, kevin wilson has written his best book yet–a most unusual story of parental love.

Named one of the best books of 2022 by the new yorker and the economistin his forceful follow-up to moneyland, oliver bullough unravels the dark secret of how britain placed itself at the center of the global offshore economy and at the service of the worst people in the world.the suez crisis of 1956 was the nadir of britain's twentieth century, the moment when the once-superpower was bullied into retreat. "great britain has lost an empire and not yet found a role," said dean acherson, a former us secretary of state. acheson's line has entered into the canon of great quotations: but it was wrong. britain had already found a role. the leaders of the world just hadn't noticed it yet. butler to the world reveals how britain came to assume its role as the center of the offshore economy. written polemically, but studded with witty references to the butlers of popular fiction, it demonstrates how so many elements of modern britain have been put at the service of the world's oligarchs. the biden administration is putting corruption at the heart of its foreign policy, and that means it needs to confront britain's role as the foremost enabler of financial crime and ill behavior. this book lays bare how london has deliberately undercut u.s. regulations for decades, and calls into question the extent to which britain can be considered a reliable ally.

*the sunday times bestseller* 'reading this book made me feel more normal about the things i feel sometimes… it's a great book; however you're feeling, it'll help' – ed sheeran it's ok if everything might feel a bit overwhelming. it's ok to not want to talk about it. it's ok to find it funny. it's ok to be human. over 70 people have shared their powerful, funny and moving stories exploring their own mental health, including sam smith, emilia clarke, candice carty-williams and adam kay. one in four of us will experience a mental health issue. this book is here to tell you, or someone you care about, it's ok. with writing from: adam kay – alastair campbell – alexis caught – ben platt – bryony gordon – candice carty-williams – charlie mackesy – charly cox – chidera eggerue – claire stancliffe – davina mccall – dawn o'porter – elizabeth day – elizabeth uviebinené – ella purnell – emilia clarke – emma thompson – eve delaney – fearne cotton – gabby edlin – gemma styles – girli (milly toomey) – grace beverley – hannah witton – honey ross – hussain manawer – jack rooke – james blake – jamie flook – jamie windust – jessie cave – jo irwin – jonah freud – jonny benjamin – jordan stephens – kai-isaiah jamal – kate weinberg – kelechi okafor – khalil aldabbas – kuchenga – lauren mahon – lena dunham – maggie matic – martha lane fox – mathew kollamkulam – matt haig – megan crabbe – michael kitching – michelle elman – miranda hart – mitch price – mona chalabi – montana brown – nadia craddock – naomi campbell – poorna bell – poppy jamie – reggie yates – ripley parker – robert kazandjian – rosa mercuriadis – saba asif – sam smith – scarlett curtis – scarlett moffatt – scottee – sharon chalkin feldstein – shonagh marie – simon amstell – steve ali – tanya byron – travon free – yomi adegoke – yusuf al majarhi 'this is the freshest, most honest collection of writings about mental health that i've read… searing wit, blinding passion, bleeding emotion and a fantastic, heroic, glorious refusal to lie down and take it' – stephen fry 'this is the book i needed when i was little. may this be a leap forward in the much needed conversation around mental health' – jameela jamil

Magdalena wallace is the greatest writer in the world. she just doesn't know it. when three witches inform a thousand year-old necromancer that mags can write a novel so powerful it can bring an end to human civilization, she's kidnapped and forced to write the book. rescued, she's on the run with the manuscript – and the fate of humanity – in her backpack, and a whole lot of monsters hot on her heels

#1 new york times bestseller | a reese witherspoon x hello sunshine book club pick“a great narrative about personal strength and really captures how books bring communities together.” —reese witherspoon – from the author of the last letter from your lover, now a major motion picture on netflix, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of kentucky and beyond in depression-era america – alice wright marries handsome american bennett van cleve, hoping to escape her stifling life in england. but small-town kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. so when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of eleanor roosevelt’s new traveling library, alice signs on enthusiastically. – the leader, and soon alice's greatest ally, is margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who's never asked a man's permission for anything. they will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the packhorse librarians of kentucky. what happens to them–and to the men they love–becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity, and passion. these heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. and though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives. – based on a true story rooted in america’s past, the giver of stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling.

Audiobook performed by tom hanks. – finalist for the pulitzer prize – new york times bestseller | a read with jenna today show book club pick | a new york times book review notable book | time magazine's 100 must-read books of 2019 | 2020 audie finalist – audiobook of the year & best male narrator named one of the best books of the year by npr, the washington post; o: the oprah magazine, real simple, good housekeeping, vogue, refinery29, and buzzfeed – at the end of the second world war, cyril conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. his first order of business is to buy the dutch house, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of philadelphia. meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves. – the story is told by cyril’s son danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. the two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. it is this unshakeable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures. – set over the course of five decades, the dutch house is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. despite every outward sign of success, danny and maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. throughout their lives they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. but when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.

Now an emmy-nominated hulu original series – new york times bestseller – “a stunning novel about the transformative power of relationships” (people) from the author of conversations with friends, “a master of the literary page-turner” (j. courtney sullivan). one of the ten best novels of the decade—entertainment weekly – ten best books of the year—people, slate, the new york public library, harvard crimson – and best books of the year—the new york times, the new york times book review, o: the oprah magazine, time, npr, the washington post, vogue, esquire, glamour, elle, marie claire, vox, the paris review, good housekeeping, town & country connell and marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. at school, connell is popular and well liked, while marianne is a loner. but when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins. – a year later, they’re both studying at trinity college in dublin. marianne has found her feet in a new social world while connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. throughout their years at university, marianne and connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. and as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other. – normal people is the story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. it takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t. praise for normal people “[a] novel that demands to be read compulsively, in one sitting.”—the washington post “arguably the buzziest novel of the season, sally rooney’s elegant sophomore effort . . . is a worthy successor to conversations with friends. here, again, she unflinchingly explores class dynamics and young love with wit and nuance.”—the wall street journal “[rooney] has been hailed as the first great millennial novelist for her stories of love and late capitalism. . . . [she writes] some of the best dialogue i’ve read.”—the new yorker