20 Best Books Of 1996 (2023 Update)

The story of the struggle for success in Hollywood, particularly that of a reluctant child and an obsessed stage mother is well-worn territory. So what made this worth reading? Ms. McCurdy spent several years as a Nickleodean star in the early 2000s, even dabbling in a recording career. What makes this so compelling is her ability and willingness to share painful and unique details of her life, as well as that of her families' struggles, and how she was manipulated by her Mother and other adults at the network. She draws you in with a competing conversational style, and doesn't hold back on anything. By the end of the book, the reader is left feeling both moved and pleased with her decisions and intelligence in deciding to move beyond the grief left behind by her experiences. I was drawn from page to page and finished it in one sitting. I'll probably reread it more slowly, to be able to contemplate her unsparing exposition of the path she took to reach this point in her life. I wish her well. Buy it!fisheye

How does one begin to describe a woman who was a writer from birth but forced into acting but a complicated and narcissistic mother? Make no mistake, Jennette is aa wordsmith with a gift for dialogue. As a counsellor, I often see these memoirs end at the rick bottom stage and then go in with a sweeping epilogue if health abd wealth. Jennette us having none of that. She's done the work and writes of how hard it was to recover from mother. I've not been so struck by a voice in many years. Thank heavens Mom's death made way for Jennette's true colours. How bright and alive they are.”Lexa

4.5★s "I had wanted people to care, to notice, but I hadn't wanted them to put their own hands all over it, to try to claim it. But how do you stop something like that? You just tried to make more of it so you didn't lose your claim to what was inside of you." Now Is Not The Time To Panic is the fourth novel by award-winning American author, Kevin Wilson. It's a phone call from a stranger that casts Frances Budge's mind back twenty years. Mazzy Brower is an art critic, writing about the Coalfield Panic of 1996, and she's convinced that Frankie Budge started it. She'd be right, but does Frances want to talk about it? Back during the summer vacation of '96, Frankie was sixteen, her mom was working, her triplet brothers flipping burgers at fast-food places, and her dad long gone, in Milwaukee with a new family. She was bored and a bit lonely. And so was Zeke, new in town from Memphis, his mom catatonic with grief over her cheating husband. An aspiring novelist (Frankie), an aspiring artist (Zeke), a stolen photocopier, lots of paper and toner, and an idea: what could go wrong? Their poster had an enigmatic slogan (The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us) surrounded by some strange illustrations. They made copies, lots of copies, and put them up around town. And they made a solemn vow to tell no-one that they were the ones who made it. The reaction initially pleased them, but the analysis of the meaning, that was a bit upsetting: "I kind of wanted other people to not understand it in ways that they assumed a really cool artist had made it. I didn't want them to not understand it in a way that they think we're devil worshippers who abduct kids." And then, in that pre-internet-as-we-know-it-now world, it went viral. It spawned copy-cats and a weird and dangerous dad militia, The Poster Posse. Violence, lives lost, none of that was what they wanted. But at sixteen, they too naïve to realise that once you release something into the world, you lose all control over it. They never did tell anyone, so how does Mazzy Brower know? And if she tells the world, then what? Wilson paints a vivid picture of how a single piece of American pop culture, a culture-altering poster, can expand into a phenomenon and cause mass hysteria. His characters are appealing for all their very realistic flaws; some of their seemingly inexplicable choices can be attributed to their tender ages but they can't fail to elicit the reader's empathy. Funny and thought-provoking, this is a marvellous coming-of-age tale. This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.Cloggie Downunder

Kevin Wilson, the author of Nothing to See Here, has been lauded for his quirky and unusual characters that wander freely into the surreal while taking it all in stride. Now Is Not the Time to Panic is his fourth book, and Wilson delivers a novel that is a bit more grounded, but still skates the edge of believability. The story takes place during summer when a lonely teen, Frankie Budge, meets a boy who transforms her life. Zeke is a newcomer to town and his artistic sensibility is a perfect match for Frankie. They decide to collaborate on a project that will attract the attention they crave while retaining their anonymity. Their experiment becomes an obsession that quickly takes on a life of its own. Twenty years later, as Frankie relates the story of their friendship, she remains haunted by unresolved issues from those days. Now, the long-held secret that Zeke and Frankie were the initiators of the unforeseen events that erupted long ago is about to be exposed. Now is Not the Time to Panic explores identity as it develops through personal connection and how shared neglect works as a way of obtaining power. Wilson examines how creations, once brought into the public sphere, require an artist to relinquish complete ownership. At times repetitive and heavy-handed, the novel remains intriguing due to Wilson's crafty wit, characterization skills and his ability to portray hyperbole as fact.jnmegan

I have read almost all of NS’s books and this was a good one. I don’t think it’s as good as some (the Choice, Nights in Rodanthe etc) but it was good for one of his newer reads. I attempted to read See Me last year and I couldn’t even finish it so I was excited to read this and see more of his classic style love story again. This story is a tad predictable in some ways, but also has a different twist than most love stories. I really enjoyed it overall!KT Mary

Got two Sparks books for Mom, and she already devoured this one! She loved the surprise ending. Def recommend as this book will hold your attention. Makes a great gifterika

This book left me in tears. It was not what I expected when I originally had purchased the book. However, it reminded me that in life there’s always a moment when we wish we could turn back time, to reminisce in moments that were so long ago. It’s about the impact people have on us and how we carry a piece of them in our hearts forever.Jennyv

I did like it. It doesn’t compare to the love hypothesis but I did enjoy it. Definitely a lot spicier in the love scenes. Is it my ultimate favorite? No but it was a good read.Mimi

Can I give is 0 stars? Love Hypothesis is the ONLY reason this book has any sort of HYPE. This book and characters are terrible. Its like the book has an agenda made by the author… MC is absolutely unlikable, feminist liberal with a nasty attitude and woe is me personality. Which absolutely insults and overshadows actual women in the real world, whose profession hold much respect for their intelligence in the fields this MC is. THIS BOOK IS GARBAGE. Just skip it. This author may be a ONE HIT WONDER. Like many Pandemic writers. Fingers crossed we get another enjoyable book like Love Hypothesis. I ended up returning this, couldn’t even finish a few chapters in.Literary Sassy Lassy

I didn't love this one nearly as much as her first book, The Love Hypothesis, but it was still a cute and enjoyable read. The end was a bit dramatic (and somehow also predictable?) for me, though.HabbinJabbins

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝑳𝒊𝒍𝒚. 𝑾𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒆." I'm gonna be honest, I thought Colleen Hoover's books would never be for me. However, the amount of hype It Ends With Us receives made me want to meet the infamous Atlas and Lily. I knew very little about it, I thought I'd hate it… I was very wrong. Colleen Hoover wrote this heavy, intense story so flawlessly, I simply could not put it down. The strength this book carries is unimaginable. It is a story with messages woven within the simplistic style of writing that I don't believe I'll ever forget. Also, Lily Bloom is an unforgettable character, and not just because her name happens to be 'Lily Bloom'. Her strength is incredibly admirable. Aaaaaand, I'm actually wanting to read more CoHo books now – hopefully I'll come across Verity or Ugly Love.Lena

Read this over the weekend because I had Covid and laid in bed all week. Absolutely glad I read it in a weekend, because I would been very upset if I had invested anymore time into it. Truly disappointing read, the story feels force and unnatural. It's not all terrible I rather enjoyed the about the letter to Ellen regarding her interactions with Atlas those feel natural. Everything seems like an exmachina to keep the story going or rather create a story. Don't see how this author could be on NY times best-selling list, really don't see how this books has so much hype. It feels done like I've somehow already read this book, not very original. Which is a shame because I think if the author was aiming for this to be a book about DV she missed the boat. It feels more like a book about lost and found romance than a young woman overcoming and ending the circle of abuse so many women find themselves inpregnanttargetlady

This book is truly a masterpiece! Colleen knows how to grab the readers attention and keep it there!! It has been sometime now since I’ve had such a good read as I have found in this book set of two with the starting book, “it ends with us,” AS I AM FINDING IT QUITE HARD TO KEEP MY HANDS OFF IT!! I SO DO LOOOOVE THIS BOOK!! IM already immediately roaring for Lily, then it’s Ryle…OMG-THEN ATLAS!!?? WHAT THE….. Yes! This book is AWESOME!! A purely find myself so wrapped around the writing of this author portraying the characters out, every drop of it, I find myself actually purposefully trying to not read the book TOO QUICKLY!!! I knooow THATS CRAZY!??? However, DONT JUDGE ME..LOL…I’m an AVID reader, my friend/s! I’ve read since I was 8! NOVELS!! **Anyways! I look forward to getting through this book and beginning “it begins with us, “which of course we all know is the sequel to the book I’m reading now! Miss Colleen Hoover is quite a talented writer, I knew that she had talent, however, she has held on to my attention and probably will never be able to let go of it!!!!!!!!!! Awesome BOOK PICK!!! -ShannonShannon

This book was fantastic. The story is gentle whimsical and character driven. I loved the story and was moved by the journey of the characters and read the book in three days. Easy to read, enjoyable and moving. Less a traditional horror and more a comment on the strength and love that and people can hold onto throughout even the most difficult of timesJackie

Only one of three novels by King that I enjoyed. No let me be clearer; one of the best novels out of ten that I have ever read. BTW the other two were the one about the Kennedy Assassination and the novel he collaborated on with Peter Straub. I can't wait for the movie; hope they don't spoil it I wouldn't change a thing.Rosemarie

I have to admit this was my first Stephen King read! I like many have seen and know all of the movie adaptations based on his books. However, I had never read a single King novel until Fairy Tale. I loved this book and would recommend to anyone! I usually prefer quick reads, books that are fast paced, and no more than 300 pages. Like my mom told me “if it’s good you will want to keep reading no matter how many pages.” She was right and that might be why I have never picked up a Stephen King book until now. I am excited to read his other works now. Fairy Tale keeps you engaged and excited to get back to reading. 🙌Livvynme

I love the movie, despite its 4 hour long duration, but it is not as good as the book. It begins with the three wisemen meeting in the desert. They cannot speak each other's languages but speak the language of the Spirit. The book is drastically different from the movie. There is also a great deal more delving into the struggle that many Jews had in reconciling Jesus to the Law of Moses. Definitely worth the read – especially if you like history. Wallace does an adequate job of setting the scene and portraying what it might have been like.archeanti

The only reason I have Hulu is because of The Handmaid’s Tale! This show is magnificent! You will be hooked from the first episode. It contains disturbing content that makes you want to scream at the tv. The acting is amazing! If you’ve read the book, the first season is pretty spot on. I recommend this show to all of my friends. It can be hard to binge because of the intense situations. I prefer to watch weekly. So good!julie .c

Daily Reviews: I am rewatching THE HANDMAIDS TALE , I've heard they are working on a 4th season. I remember watching the original with Sigourney Weaver many years ago but at that time I thought the story was far fetched but now I wonder, the government deciding who can and can't have children? Make you think ! Truly worth the watch and maybe even some action.gloria.s

This is tied with Avatar: The Last Airbender for the title of my ALL TIME FAVORITE television show. The Handmaid's Tale is beautifully written, and scary as it shows a believable story of America that has turned into a purely patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state that views women as property. The writing and directing of this show is top notch, and the characters are well developed. I CANNOT WAIT for season 5 to come out!!!!catheline.t

A well done psychological thriller. This might even be my favorite psychological thriller book! A woman commits a horrific crime and then goes silent, and is placed In a psychiatric ward. Everyone has given up on trying to reach her except for one young therapist. I love how the author dives into such a serious psychological response and helps us all try to understand it as we read. There's no judgement for those with mental illness and he tries to paint a picture for us what it would be like and to what extents humans will go to when they are fearful and scared. It was amazing to see how the author could develop a character so well even when she didn't speak! There are many surprises, that's probably all I should write! You'll love this!ajskid

This book is an easy and pleasant read. There is little to no suspense, horror or macabre. The "twist" will please some, but will be a bit disappointing to others. The middle of the book is very interesting, moves well, and is the main reason that I pushed my review to 4 stars. The rest of the book (chapters 1-3 or so, and the final twist and conclusion portions) were very run of the mill. This was the first book I purchased in a few years. I am trying to get back to my tradition of buying a bestseller written by an author I am unfamiliar with over the holidays. (This is how I discovered Dan Simmons, whose book "The Terror" stands as one of my most rewarding choices so far). This one was mostly a disappointment. My advice is to find it cheap or even shop for a used copy. There's a good chance you won't hang on to this one.Father Wolverine

Storyline/Overview – Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist and he is interested in Alice's story who has murdered her husband. He is determined to get to the details behind the crime. Even though the patient (Alice) is Silent throughout the narrative, the story progresses to spotlight her complex characteristics. "Unexpressed emotions never die. They are buried alive, and will come forth later, in uglier ways" BEST Psychological Thriller I have read in a long time! My opinion – Very well researched topic and the quotes at the start of every part of the book make sense at the end Every scenario described feels so realistic and I was amazed how much engrossed I was in this book Nice pace and a very easy to understand and read kind of language used The plot has a nice edginess and it wants you to keep turning pages to figure out what happens next! I was amazed at the flawless development of the characters, outstanding buildup and curiosity maintained and in fact increasing as pages turned! The final twist is the unique climax and no matter how much aware you are of the story, you'll still not be able to predict it and I was mind blown by that sole fact The chapters are well divided and the engrossing fast-paced read makes it a page turner for sure! I enjoyed this wonderful psychological drama ride and cannot believe it is debut novel by Alex. Kudos!! Conclusion – It is definitely a clever and intriguing story with a mind-blowing twist to enjoy! The Silent Patient SPEAKS a lot 😉 It is for sure one of my favorite reads of 2019!TheAvidBookerfly

Good suspense read. Not sure where the characters were going at first, then slowly take shape. Keeps in touch with all ages, each has a role in this novel. Very entertaining till the end. Will look for another novel by same author.Judith

Great book. Kept me guessing for a long while. Another great read on the Reese Witherspoon Hello Sunshine bookclub. Easy read and lots of twists and turns. Without spoilers; Husband goes missing and she had to figure out why. As the rumour mill spins, she first has to try to prove he's innocent but she finds out a whole lot more along the way. Will they get to be together in the end? #bookworm #book #books #mustread #readingfleur.w

This book was so good! I couldn’t put it down! It was a suspense mystery book! I love how it made me think! It was basically about what you know now, would you have made the same choice as before! It really makes you think! The writing was beautiful and so suggest you give this book a try! I’m so glad I picked it!kellen.h

If you are Gen X like me or just a history buff this is a great look back into the decade that made us who we are. The music and the political scandals- social movements that started. Tapes that were banned. It’s just a really in depth but still fun look back to the decade I grew ip in. Middle school through college graduation were my 90-2000 so it’s fun to look back now as a 44 year old woman and see how my perspective on events has changed.katie.m

At first glance, the length of this book is intimidating. In fact, it really reads fast. I love character development in a novel, and this does not disappoint! And the style of writing is so smooth and captivating!Donna

I bought this for my husband. From the moment he started reading He could not put the book down. Amazing book. I also read and enjoyed it.Enna

What can one say? Another amazing tale from Amor Towles. This one set in 1950s Americana via Greek Mythology. A great book to suggest to almost anyone!Susan

Amazing, incredible, immaculate, 11/10 content and satisfaction. Great book, legendary, if you will. Also while I'm doing this I might as well… BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! REST IN POWER KING!Quandaledingle

this books is fantastic, i love tommy and wilbur with my whole soul and being able to read this book made me remember so many of the good times that they have had together! would 100% reccomendcalendulacy

You read it. You laugh at it. This book is an endless amount of laughter and makes you think of all the dumb stuff that Tommyinnit and Wilbur Soot get up to with their friends. There isn't anything bad with the book either unless you count page 87.Breezy2_8