The 30 MOST RECOMMENDABLE Books!

THE 30 MOST 

RECOMMENDABLE 

BOOKS

There is really nothing I love more than settling in for the night with a snugly blanket and a good book. So, here is the question...the one that every book lover HATES...

What’s your favorite book?

Here is the list-with little explanations, about why each book made this list. At least one of us has read most of these books, but we haven’t read all of them. And I hope your kind of freaking out over the list you now have to take to the library. 

So here goes...30 most recommendable books:

1. These Is My Words by Nancy Turner – Eye-opening, heart-warming and completely heart-wrenching!  Sarah, the main character, is hilarious. The story is written in the form of a journal, and you see Sarah’s growth and development through her writing.  

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – This book focuses on the power of words and the power that even a young girl can have. The way the author wrote it (it’s narrated by Death) is absolutely amazing. 

3. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton – This book is set in the present but takes you back to London in WWII. The story is interwoven so well that you feel like you’re there, experiencing it right alongside the author. It is beautiful, stirring, and captivating. 

4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – A parable that’s a quick, easy read.  Its simplicity renders the power of a parable that can add depth of content and personal applications.  

5. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand – A human story of redemption and change. Deeply spiritual in the strength of the human spirit and how much you really can handle when you have no other choice. 

6. The Giver by Lois Lowry – A novel about the dystopian society, showing that painful experiences are not only an inevitable part of life, but we shouldn’t look at them as something to avoid.  True joy and color in life comes from ALL the experiences we have.

7. Princess of the Midnight Ball (Twelve Dancing Princesses series) by Jessica Day George – A new twist on the 12 dancing princesses, the series is great for the family but just as great for adults. The heroes are handsome and endearing, and the heroines are lovely and brave. 

8. Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan – Try an Audio Book with this one!  Jim Gaffigan narrates his own stories on parenting and family life and it is HILARIOUS!  A must read for any parent who is stressed out, which is pretty much all parents at some time or another.   

9. Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan – This is a best seller about a little genius girl who is a bit different. And you follow her, she finds simple beauties and happiness. She’s also witty and funny.

10. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – One of my all-time favorite books! It is beautifully written with wonderful characters that stay with you long after you read the book.  Atticus is my hero; the legal profession needs more men like him.  The book  deals with themes of prejudice, kindness, courage, dignity, innocence and experience.  Definitely a must read.  

11. Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton – This book is a compilation of thoughts that mostly come from the authors popular blog. She is as funny as she is real as she is kind as she is relate-able. A great read for women.

12. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl – This is the personal story of the author, Victor Frankl, a survivor of a holocaust camp. He finds a way to be positive despite his dire and depressing circumstances.

13. Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross – This work of historical fiction takes place in the dark ages, and is based on the legend that in the 9th century a woman disguised herself as a man and rose to become the only female pope.  The Catholic Church denies that this ever happened.  This thoughtful, compelling, and entertaining book makes a great case that maybe a women really did sit on the papal throne for two years.   

14. The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien – The beautiful language and the message of courage, nobility and the power to change the world for good is the power of this read.

15. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey – This book is reminiscent of a fairy tale bring a hint of magic into everyday things.

16. Swiss Family Robinson by Johann D. Wyss – If you grew up loving the Disney film and didn’t discover the book until adulthood, it is wonderful to read aloud and will makes you want to be that kind of parent.

17. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley –  “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley provides more to the story beyond the film of a monster of a madman's creation. 

18. They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie –  Agatha Christie first visited Baghdad as a tourist in 1927; many years later she would become a resident of the exotic and then open city, and it was here, and while on archaeological digs throughout Iraq with her husband, Sir Max Mallowan, that Agatha Christie wrote some of her most important works.

 

19. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte – Jane Eyre, the story of a young girl and her passage into adulthood, was an immediate commercial success at the time of its original publication in 1847. Its representation of the underside of domestic life and the hypocrisy behind religious enthusiasm drew both praise and bitter criticism, while Charlotte Brontë’s striking expose of poor living conditions for children in charity schools as well as her poignant portrayal of the limitations faced by women who worked as governesses sparked great controversy and social debate.

20. Enchanted, Inc. series by Shanna Swendson – These are pure fluff, but they are fun and they are a rare example of mainstream fiction that includes romance without inappropriate content and they make me and my girls smile.

21. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – Neil Gaiman took “The Jungle Book” and replaced Baloo and Bagheera with ghosts and Shere Khan with a man named Jack. “The Graveyard Book” is the magical result. The family of little “Nobody Owens” is murdered one night. He manages to escape unharmed and toddles his way to a nearby cemetery where he is adopted by its ghostly inhabitants. The events of the first chapter are upsetting, but not at all graphic. The rest of the book is intriguing and delightful. 

22. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand – If you love horse racing you will love this story of loyalty, redemption, and determination in this book.  Hillenbrand’s writing is magnificent. (She is also the author of Unbroken)

23. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford – This one is a historical fiction that offers little glimpses into the lives of both Japanese and Chinese Americans during WWII and the age of the Japanese internment camps in the United States. The author weaves a story of the past that gradually helps you understand the current relationship between a man and his son. 

24. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer – This book is historical, romantic, humorous,  and intriguing. Be ready to be completely charmed. Written in the form of letters, it brings the reader in through the characters’ personal thoughts and emotions. 

25. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley – History has all but forgotten...In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown. Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write. But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth-the ultimate betrayal-that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her...

26. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – OThe novel follows two characters: Marie-Laure, a blind French girl who flees her home with her father when the Nazi’s occupy Paris; and Werner, a German orphan who grows up with his sister, and whose gift for building and repairing radios gets him into a brutal academy for HItler’s Youth. The book is beautifully written with gorgeous imagery and profound symbolism.

27. Goose Girl by Shannon Hale – Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, spends the first years of her life under her aunt's guidance learning to communicate with animals. As she grows up Ani develops the skills of animal speech, but is never comfortable speaking with people, so when her silver-tongued lady-in-waiting leads a mutiny during Ani's journey to be married in a foreign land, Ani is helpless and cannot persuade anyone to assist her. Becoming a goose girl for the king, Ani eventually uses her own special, nearly magical powers to find her way to her true destiny. Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original and magical tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can become queen of the people she has made her own.

28. The Rent Collector by Camron Wright – This novel follows a fictional Cambodian family who lives at and makes their living from the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. It explores the power of literacy, the drive of a mother to give her child a better life, and the sweetness of redemption for a woman who seems a bit nonredeemable. 

29. Wonder by R. J. Palacio –  August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. 

30. Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear – There is in-depth character development and each book adds another layer of intrigue. Fun, great narration and interesting mysteries.  

P.S. Which ones have you read? What would you add? 

I  love book recommendations…

@KelleyAmstutz

/kel.amstutz

KAMSTUTZ09

Also posted on: https://kam0900.wordpress.com

2015: The Best Book List for WOMEN - Part 2

148 (total) 

Books Women need to read in 2015 

(So Far)

Books and Summer go together like peanut butter and jelly, in my opinion. But don't fret, as we are on the cusp of ending our Summer sunsation and turning over a new leaf to Fall. 

 I have 148 books (a whopper of a list)  that are sure to stir up some heat, some sweetness and... well, everything in-between that all of us GIRLS - NEED TO READ! 

41. Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer

A successful account executive juggles her recent divorce, a beautiful (and much younger) new colleague, and a potential romance that seems like the stuff of fantasies rather than real life. Liza Palmer's Girl Before a Mirror tells the story of a woman finding her own happiness while embracing all of the good and bad that life brings.

42. It’s You by Jane Porter

After a heartbreaking tragedy, Dr. Alison McAdams goes to Napa, CA, to care for her sick dad. While she's there, she hears World War II stories from survivors and becomes determined to discover the truth about one woman's long-lost love — and in the process begins to heal herself, too. Jane Porter's It's You is the perfect poolside Summer story.

43.  Above Us Only Sky by Michele Young-Stone

A family of women "separated by oceans, generations, and war" is connected by one unique thing: they all have wings. Michele Young-Stone's magical novel Above Us Only Sky is a story of survival, love, and finding your place in the world.

44.  One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis

Tina Seskis's thriller One Step Too Far follows a seemingly happy married woman who hides a dark secret. Publishers Weekly says that Seskis "expertly depicts the new life of a runaway wife, Emily Coleman, in her exciting if not groundbreaking first novel. . . . a diverting read."

45.  Amherst by William Nicholson

Two love affairs: one in the past and one in the present. William Nicholson's Amherstfollows parallel passionate tales occurring in the same city, but at different times.

46. The Marriage Book by Alisa Grunwald and Stephen Adler

Spouses Lisa Grunwald and Stephen Adler, encouraged both by their own experiences and by love stories from others, created The Marriage Book, an anthology of advice, inspiration, and cautionary tales for married couples.

47. The Tutor by Andrea Chapin

We all know that Shakespeare was a genius, but where did he get inspiration? Andrea Chapin's The Tutor is a historical fiction that imagines what a year as Shakespeare's muse would have been like for one woman.

48.  Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts's second installment of Three Sisters Islands, Heaven and Earth, follows a sheriff deputy's rising romance with a researcher who has come to investigate the rumors of witchcraft on the island.

49.  Falling for Jillian by Kristen Proby

Falling For Jillian, the third installment of the Love Under the Big Sky series, follows the romance between a veteran with PTSD and the woman trying to help him recover and find love again.

50.  The Enlightenment of Nina Findley by Andrea Gillies

Nina Findlay has spent her life torn between two Italian brothers. She marries one and stays close with the other, until everything changes and Nina loses them both, then sets off to start over in Greece. In Andrea Gillies's The Enlightenment of Nina Findlay, a woman running from her past discovers a new future in unexpected places.

51. The Rocks by Peter Nichols

Peter Nichols's The Rocks is a novel with two love stories that move backward in time, both set in the beautiful Mediterranean and built around a seaside resort and its endearing expatriate community.

52. Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky

Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky is a story about the complicated dynamics of a family, the novelty of love no matter when in life you find it, and the importance of a good home makeover.

53. Love and Miss Communication by Elyssa Friedland

Elyssa Friedland's "wickedly funny" debut novel, Love and Miss Communication, is about a lawyer who throws herself into work after a devastating breakup, only to encounter problems with her career as well. Reeling from both, she tosses her computer into a reservoir and vows to remain offline until her 35th birthday — and she is shocked to discover what's she's been missing out while stuck to a screen.

54.  The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James

A psychic must delve into the secrets of an old friend and rival in order to fulfill her final request before she was murdered in Simone St. James's The Other Side of Midnight. This romantic suspense novel is a haunting tale of love, passion, friendship, and revenge.

55. Sisters of Heart and Snow by Margaret Dilloway

Margaret Dilloway's Sisters of Heart and Snow deftly weaves the story of two daughters of an American businessman and his passive Japanese wife with that of an ancient female samurai into one epic tale of love, family, and finding the inspiration to be warrior women no matter the age or era.

56.  The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae

Self-proclaimed introvert Issa Rae navigates work, life, and love in a series of hilarious and often self-deprecating essays that make up her memoir, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.

57. For the Right Reasons by Sean Lowe

Bachelor fans will love the insights in For the Right Reasons that Sean Lowe, a former contestant on the show and a particular fan favorite, has to offer on love, marriage, and being considered the "nice guy."

58.  The Liar by Nora Roberts

When a woman discovers that the man she loved — one she now knows to be a liar and adulterer — never really existed at all, she returns to her hometown for comfort. Nora Roberts's The Liar is a compelling novel full of hidden secrets, betrayal, and mystery.

59.  Disillusioned by J. S. Cooper (Book #2)

In J.S. Cooper's second installment of the Swept Away series, Disillusioned, two strangers stranded on a desert island begin to fall in love — but can they trust each other?

60.  Paris, He Said by Christine Sneed

A young woman moves to Paris and is handed everything she thinks she needs to be happy by a her wealthy lover, but in Paris, He Said, she learns that happiness doesn't always lie where we think it does.

61. Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

Chloe has learned the hard way what happens when you let someone get too close. In Jay McLean's Where the Road Takes Me, her promise to keep people at a distance is challenged when she meets someone who may take her down a road she never thought she'd go back to.

62. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella, author of the Shopaholic series, is back with a YA novel about friendship, first love, and overcoming personal obstacles. Finding Audrey tells the sweet story of a young girl's struggle with anxiety and the boy she meets who helps her through it.

63. In His Keeping by Maya Banks (Book #2)

Arial has kept her psychic powers a secret her whole life, but an enemy begins to threaten her life. In Maya Banks's In His Keeping, one man is employed to protect her from danger — but what began as a job develops into something more.

64. Summer Secrets by Jane Green

A woman struggles to fix her past mistakes while trying to also juggle present obstacles in Jane Green's Summer Secret.

65. Comes as you Are  by Emily Nagoski, Ph. D

Dr. Emily Nagoski's Come as You Are is an educated exploration into how a woman's sexuality works, and her research reveals surprising truths about how to maximize female pleasure.

66.  Listen to your Mother by Ann Imig

Moms know everything, something many of us don't fully accept until we are much older.Listen to Your Mother, edited by Ann Imig, is a collection of hilarious, sometimes-raunchy, and always thought-provoking stories about personal experiences with race, gender, and motherhood.

67. Introverts in Love: The Quiety Way to Happily Ever After by Sophia Dembling

Love can be challenging no matter who you are, but different personality types can often deal with unique issues. Introverts in Love: The Quiet Way to Happily Ever After is a helpful dating guide for navigating romance from an introvert's perspective.

68. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

In Sarah Addison Allen's First Frost, the Waverly women are searching for answers and finding them in the most unexpected places. In this enchanting world filled with magic and set against the backdrop of impending Winter, anything is possible.

69. Skyscraping by Cordelia Jensen

Cordelia Jensen's novel Skyscraping is a unique take on LGBTQ fiction, one that explores the dynamics of a girl's family and friendships after finding out that her dad is gay and battling HIV.

70. Dirty Rush by Taylor Bell

Get the real — and often dramatic — dish on what sorority life is really like in Taylor Bell'sDirty Rush.

71.  The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Paige's first boyfriend died in a car accident, and after two years, she's finally ready to return to high school. In Emery Lord's YA novel The Start of Me and You, her plans for a grand return go awry when she begins to fall for someone unexpected.

72. Before I go by Colleen Oakley

In Colleen Oakley's Before I Go, a woman dying of breast cancer searches for a new wife for her husband before she passes on.

73.  A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley

A codebreaker discovers a woman's 300-year-old journal and finds parallels between her life and the author of the diary. In Susanna Kearsley's A Desperate Fortune, the two women's stories collide in "a clash of love and fate."

74. Motorcycles I’ve Loved by Lily Brooks-Dalton

Motorcycles I've Loved by Lily Brooks-Dalton is an empowering memoir about the author's journey to self-discovery and how motorcycles helped her get there.

77. The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

In the rainy city of Seattle in the 1920s, a young white boy and African-American girl are kept apart by society, only to rediscover their connection over a shared love of music. The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough tells an intricate story woven by the two powerful external forces of Love and Death.

76. Last Call by Alice Clayton

Alice Clayton's addictive Cocktail series continues with Last Call, another sexy story about Caroline and Simon that has the couple facing a new kind of hurdle in their relationship.

77. Beauty's Kingdom by Anne Rice

Fantasy writer Anne Rice never disappoints, and the fourth installment in her Sleeping Beauty series promises to bring even more magic. Beauty's Kingdom is an erotic novel full of princes, princesses, lords and ladies, and lots of sex.

78. The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison

The Bachelor's very own Chris Harrison penned The Perfect Letter, a fictional novel that hopeless romantics and people who believe in happy endings will love.

79. The Half Brother by Holly LeCraw

In Holly LeCraw's The Half Brother, a love triangle evolves between a man, his half brother, and the woman they both have fallen for.

80. Wildalone by Krassi Zourkova

Krassi Zourkova's enchanting debut novel, Wildalone, weaves fantasy and magic into a modern world where one woman finds herself in the middle of a love triangle between two brothers.

81. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

In The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah captures the essence of WWII Europe while telling the story of a brave young woman who is betrayed by love, then joins a resistance within France to save the lives of those suffering under the Nazis.

82. Unspeakable by Abbie Rushton

Megan experienced something so terrible, she refuses to speak about it — or at all. In Abbie Rushton's YA novel, Unspeakable, a girl torn apart by a secret is befriended by someone who brightens her days and who not only can help her recover, but will love her as she is.

83. Hugo & Rose by Bridget Foley

An ordinary housewife has dreamt of the same man every night her whole life — a man who isn't her husband — and then she meets him in person. Bridget Foley's Hugo & Rose is an imaginative novel about what happens when fantasy and reality collide.

84. Single, Carefree, Mellow stories by Katherine Heiny

Katherine Heiny's debut book Single, Carefree, Mellow: Stories is a laugh-out-loud-funny look at the ways that we all are unfaithful to each other — both on purpose and accidentally.

Not That Kind of Girl author and Girls star Lena Dunham says Heiny's work "does something magical: elevates the mundane so that it has the stakes of a mystery novel, gives women's interior lives the gravity they so richly deserve — and makes you laugh along the way."

85. After the War is Over by Jennifer Robson

After the War Is Over, a historical fiction by Jennifer Robson, captures a military nurse's experience with life and love in the aftermath of World War I.

86. Flirting with Felicity by Gerri Russell

When Felicity Wright inherits the hotel where she works as a chef, she will do anything to keep it running — including getting mixed up with the former owner's attractive nephew. Gerri Russell's Flirting With Felicity is a sweet story about a romance that's a recipe for disaster.

87. More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera

In a world where "memory relief" or memory-erasing science not unlike the kind inEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind exists, a man who wants to forget his feelings for another man struggles with letting go of his newfound happiness or facing his obstacles head on. Teen Vogue says that Adam Silvera's More Happy Than Not is "poignant . . . so engrossing that once you start it, you won't be able to put it down."

88. The Beekeeper’s Daughter by Santa Montefiore

A mother and daughter navigate love — both in the past and present — in Sàntà Montefiore's romantic novel The Beekeeper's Daughter.

89. I regret Nothing by Jen Lancaster

Jen Lancaster wants you to know something important: mistakes are one thing; regrets are something else entirely. In her memoir I Regret Nothing, she shares her hilarious ride after creating and attempting to complete an ambitious bucket list.

90. The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

Growing up is hard enough, but a recently orphaned teenager has it even harder in Jenn Marie Thorne's YA novel, The Wrong Side of Right. She must deal with a new family, first love, and the fact that the father she barely knows is running for president — and she doesn't always agree with his politics.

91. Christopher's Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger by V. C. Andrews

 The tragedies of the Dollanganger and Foxworth family are relived by another generation when Christopher's teenage diary falls into the hands of a distant relative. V.C. Andrews's newest novel, Christopher's Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger, is a thrilling follow-up toChristopher's Diary: Secrets of Foxworth.

92. Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon

Fans of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series will be eager to get their hands on Written in My Own Heart's Blood, the most recent installment of the riveting historical fantasy series.

93. Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

Francesca Zappia's highly anticipated novel Made You Up is not your average young adult fiction. The thought-provoking story is told by a schizophrenic (and therefore unreliable) narrator who must fight to discern what is real and what isn't. Are her friends, the boy she is falling in love with, and her new life real, or is it all in her imagination?

94. A Fine Romance by Candice Bergen

In her autobiography A Fine Romance, Candice Bergen shares the most memorable events in her life, like her marriage to a famous Frenc

95. Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah and Skye Chatham

In Neel Shah and Skye Chatham's charming novel Read Bottom Up, a romance blooms between a recently dumped NYC sous chef on the rise and a cookbook editor looking for love.

96.  The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

Two teens plagued by heartbreak reluctantly find solace in one another in Ann Aguirre's YA romance The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things.

97.  The Idea of Love by Patti Callahan Henry

When a man and woman base their new relationship on a web of white lies, they must work to untangle the mess they've made if they want even the chance at real love. In Patti Callahan Henry's romance novel that takes place in the heart of the South, The Idea of Love, two people have to rediscover their own truths for the sake of each other.

98. Manwhore by Katy Evans

An investigator seeks to uncover the secrets a famous (and smoking hot) entrepreneur is hiding, but in Katy Evans's Manwhore, the tables may get turned regarding who ends up revealing what.

99. The Daylight Marriage by Heidi Pitlor

With intensity and "a seamless balance of wit and heartbreak," author Heidi Pitlor explores and exposes the darker and more difficult sides of a marriage in The Daylight Marriage.

100. The Wrath of the Dawn by Renee Andieh

A murderous boy king takes a new bride each night, then kills them, but one woman plans to fight back. She enchants and beguiles him in order to survive, but in the process begins to realize that he is not the monster she thought he was. Renée Ahdieh's The Wrath and the Dawn is what Publishers Weekly calls "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

101. The First Wife by Erica Spindler

When a woman is swept off her feet by a mysterious man who marries her and takes her away from her working-class life, everything seems perfect. But in Erica Spindler's The First Wife, things aren't as they seem for the new bride, and her husband's past begins to haunt the present.

102. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

We've all imagined what it would be like to date prince charming, but Rebecca Porter finds this to be her reality when she falls for Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's fictional future king. In The Royal We, an American girl who is out of her depth in the ritzy royal society must find a way to reconcile the man she loves with "the monarch he's fated to become."

103. The Good Shufu by Tracy Slater

A fiercely independent American woman finds herself unexpectedly falling in love with a Japanese businessman who doesn't speak English in Tracy Slater's thoughtful novel The Good Shufu.

104. Girl Underwater by Claire Kells

After a plane crash leaves three small children, 19-year-old Avery, and her swim teammate Colin alive, the two older survivors must find a way to get them all to safety. Claire Kells'sGirl Underwater is a story of perseverance, survival, and new love.

105. Almost Famous Women by Megan Mayhew Bergman

From reclusive painters, to speed-boat racers, to swing dancers, Megan Mayhew Bergman's Almost Famous Women explores the lives of some pretty spectacular females.

106. Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

The New York Times's bestselling Princess Diaries series is debuting its very first adult installment of Princess Mia's story with Royal Wedding.

107. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Tyler's latest novel, A Spool of Blue Thread, builds a rich story about four generations of a family going through the ups and downs of life together, all set against the backdrop of a sprawling Baltimore estate.

108.  The Predictions by Bianca Zander

The Predictions by Bianca Zander is a "magical novel of fate, love, mistakes, and finding your place in the world."

109. Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley

Maria Dahvana Headley's YA fantasy Magonia is about a girl trapped between "two worlds, two races, and two destinies." Suffering from a lung disease her whole life, Aza discovers another world where she can finally breathe, but only one person — her best friend Jason — believes her, until she disappears into that world.

110. All that Burns by Ryan Graudin

The magic and mortal worlds collide in a London now ruled by a new king in Ryan Graudin's romance novel All That Burns, the fantastical sequel in the All that Glows series.

111. Has Anyone Seen my Pants?  By Sarah Colonna

In her latest book, Has Anyone Seen My Pants?, New York Times bestselling author and comedian Sarah Colonna honestly and hilariously recounts the challenges she faces when trying to balance a busy professional career with her love life.

112. At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

Water For Elephants author Sara Gruen returns with another period piece, At the Water's Edge, a novel set against the backdrop of World War II. In the book, a young woman, her husband, and their friend leave the world they know behind in America in search of the Loch Ness Monster — but they discover something else entirely in the small Scottish village they wind up in.

113.  The Traveling Tea Shop by Belinda Jones

A woman in New England rediscovers romance and works to rebuild family ties — all over sweet treats and tea — in Belinda Jones's novel The Traveling Tea Shop.

114. Mimi Malloy, At Last!  By Julia MacDonnell

An elderly woman finds her mother's long-lost pendant, and in Julia MacDonnell's Mimi Malloy, at Last!, this discovery brings back painful and shocking revelations for a family, forcing them to face the past head-on and find the positives.

115. Girl in the Moonlight by Charles Debow

Passion, heart-wrenching affairs, and high-society lifestyles all collide in Charles Dubow'sGirl in the Moonlight, a novel about a man in love with an enchanting woman since childhood and their whirlwind romance.

116. Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting

In this tender YA tale of an unlikely friendship between two girls coming of age together,Walking on Trampolines captures the essence of youth and the heartaches of growing pains.

Booklist says that readers will adore author Frances Whiting's "heart wrenchingly honest and utterly earnest tale of female friendship, unbreakable bonds, and learning to let go."

117. Trust No One by Jayne Ann Krentz

Suspense, a steamy love story, and a chilling plot — Jayne Ann Krentz's thriller Trust No One has got everything action-loving readers will enjoy.

118.  If the Viscount Falls by Sabrina Jeffries

If the Viscount Falls, the sexy fourth book in the Duke's Men Regency romance series by Sabrina Jeffries, tells a story of adventure and passion in another place in time.

119.  Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby is not quite your average YA romance novel. In the story, a young girl meets the recipient of a heart donation that came from her ex-boyfriend who died in an accident and, despite her reservations, begins to fall for him.

120. The Cherry Harvast by Lucy Sanna

The Cherry Harvest by Lucy Sanna is a historical fiction that weaves in the setting of the American Midwest during WWII with numerous plots exploring themes like coming of age, family, romance, and war.

121.  The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer

Nancy Thayer's The Guest Cottage follows a woman's story after her husband leaves her and she rents a cottage by the beach — but finds that another man has also rented the same cottage.

Booklist says that "Thayer obviously knows her Nantucket, and the strong sense of place makes this the perfect escapist book for the summer."

122.  Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews

If you're in need of the perfect vacation read, look no further than Mary Kay Andrews'sBeach Town. The story follows a frustrated movie scout who discovers the perfect location for her next film, but the formidable (and extremely attractive) town mayor has other plans.

123.  Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell

In Jill Mansell's Three Amazing Things About You, a woman who is dying must learn to seize the day and the man she loves . . . before it's too late.

124.  I Suck At Relationships So You Don’t Have To by Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel has built herself a successful career as an author, businesswoman, and TV star but hasn't always had the best of luck in love. In her new book, I Suck at Relationships So You Don't Have To, she lays out 10 rules for not screwing up your relationship so that you can avoid some of the same mistakes she says she's made.

125. French Coast by Anita Hughes

The ups and downs of love, trust, ambition, and loyalty are explored when three women cross paths in the south of France in Anita Hughes's French Coast.

126. The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Gia has a problem: her boyfriend dumped her the night of her prom. Her solution? Ask the cute stranger in the parking lot to pretend to be her boyfriend for the night. Kasie West'sThe Fill-In Boyfriend is a romantic YA novel about a young girl's quest to find love and the things she learns about herself in the process.

127. The Art of Not Having It All: True Stories of Men, Sex, and Other Disasters by Melissa Kite

Melissa Kite's hilarious memoir, The Art of Not Having It All: True Stories of Men, Sex, and Other Disasters, is a look into her own life as a single woman in her prime who doesn't have it all figured out — and the realization that having it all isn't always what it's cracked up to be.

128. Whisper Hollow by Chris Cander

Chris Cander's multigenerational story of love, betrayal, and dark secrets, Whisper Hollow, spans 50 years and follows the intertwined lives of three women living in a Southern mining town.

129. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

In a world divided by blood — Red for the lowly and Silver for the elite — Mare Barrow, a Red, must adapt quickly when she is thrown into the royal palace and forced to pretend she is something she isn't. In Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen, power, position, and passion are all part of this world's deadly dance.

130. Hold me in Contempt by Wendy Williams

TV host and bestselling author Wendy Williams debuts her sexier side in Hold Me in Contempt, a down-and-dirty romance novel about a couple's passionate affair turning into something much more.

131. Never Sleep Alone by Dr. Alex Schiller

In Never Sleep Alone, comedian and author Dr. Alex Schiller (not a real doctor) presents an interactive sex and dating guide that will entertain and inform readers.

132. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Fans of The Fault in Our Stars and Eleanor & Park will love Jennifer Niven's YA novel All the Bright Places, a story about a girl learning how to live from a boy who wants to die.

133. Last One Home by Debbie Macomber

In Debbie Macomber's Last One Home, a woman tries to make amends with her family after running away from home and marrying the wrong man.

134. Love is Red by Sophie Jaff

When one woman finds herself in the middle of an intense love triangle, she is haunted by her own decisions and her increasing feelings that something is not quite right. Set against the backdrop of a New York City on high alert for a serial killer murdering young, single women, Sophie Jaff's gothic romance novel Love Is Red will have you on the edge of your seat.

135.  An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

In Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes, a girl and boy both beholden to a corrupt government regime — she as a slave and he as a solider — seek freedom from the tyranny and realize just how connected they really are.

136.  A Fireproof Home for the Bride by Amy Scheibe

In Amy Scheibe's A Fireproof Home For the Bride, a woman escapes the confines of her abusive arranged marriage and her family's questionable morals and, in doing so, gets a job at a local newspaper and falls into a forbidden love affair.

137. Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor

Juliet's perfect life is shattered when her dad moves out and her mom falls apart, and she begins to question all she's ever known. Then, enter Declan — an attractive (and very off-limits) boy. In Melissa Kantor's Better Than Perfect, a young girl must choose between the life she had and one she never ever thought possible.

138.  A Field Guide to Awkward Silences by Alexandra Petri

Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri's A Field Guide to Awkward Silences is a literary anthem for everyone out there who has ever said or done something hilariously embarrassing, cringeworthy, or just plain awkward. The author's authentic humor will teach us all to embrace the awkward in ourselves, because it definitely makes things more interesting.

139.  The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi

Fans of Sarah Dessen will love Lauren Gibaldi's YA novel The Night We Said Yes, about a boy and girl who give their love a second shot on a night when they say "yes" to every crazy or fun thing they can think of doing.

140. The Status of All Things by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

If whatever you wrote as your Facebook status became your reality, what kind of changes to your life would you make? Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke's novel The Status of All Thingsfollows a woman as she attempts to thwart fate and win back her ex-fiancé, only to come to the realization that maybe they weren't meant to be after all.

141. The New Single by Tamsen Fadal

Tamsen Fadal's The New Single: Finding, Fixing, and Falling Back in Love With Yourself After a Breakup or Divorce is the empowering postbreakup survival guide readers need.

142. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and A Thousand Cocktails by Mike and Dave Stangle

What do you do when your cousin says bringing a date to their wedding is mandatory? Well, you turn to Craigslist and go on a countrywide adventure to find a date, of course. At least, that's what Mike and Dave Stangle chronicle in their hilarious book, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates: And a Thousand Cocktails.

143. The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble

If your sister is a mermaid, what does that make you? Carrie Anne Noble's magical YA novelThe Mermaid's Sister chronicles the adventures of three young girls in their attempt to get a weakening mermaid to water.

144.  Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel

\When two girls show up at a man's funeral claiming they are his girlfriend, they both realize they have been deceived. Not believing he is truly dead, the women set out on a thrilling trip in search of what really happened. Anne Heltzel's Charlie, Presumed Dead is a suspenseful mystery that twists and turns all the way to the very last page.

145. Beyond Limits by Laura Griffin

An FBI agent's world is turned upside down when a sexy Navy SEAL from her past returns to shake up the case she's working on in Beyond Limits, Laura Griffin's eighth installment of the Tracers series.

146. Safe At Last by Maya Banks (Book #3)

If the person you loved disappeared without a trace, how far would you go to get them back? In Maya Banks's Safe at Last, a boy believes he has lost the girl he loves, only to find her broken and stripped of her psychic gifts. Realizing she is a target, he vows to earn her trust again and save her from her enemies once and for all.

147.  99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Fans of Sarah Dessen will love Katie Cotugno's 99 Days, a Summer love story about a girl caught in a triangle between two brothers.

148. Lillian On Life by Alison Jean Lester

Alison Jean Lester's Lillian on Life takes readers through decades of one woman's life as she looks back on the choices she has made and looks forward to what the future holds.

@KelleyAmstutz

/kel.amstutz

KAMSTUTZ09

Also posted on: https://kam0900.wordpress.com