10 books for new readers

So, I always get asked by people who were either once avid readers trying to get their groove back or those who want to take up reading as a hobby what books they can start with. If you fall into this category, this is a great post for you as I have made a list of 10 fiction books to get you started.

Stay with me – Ayobami Adebayo

This book was shortlisted for the prestigious Women’s Prize for Fiction and it is so good. Set in Nigeria, Ayobami tells the story of a married couple whose marriage is affected by infertility and societal pressure. It is drama-filled and will keep you glued. I am waiting for a short tv series on this !

The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides

I still remember picking this as the book of the month for my book club and the amazing feedback i got from members who absolutely enjoyed this thriller. It will have you guessing and you still won’t figure it out. It explores the life of a psychotherapist who has to help solve a murder. Alicia, a famous painter apparently stabbed her husband five times and she suddenly went mute right after.

His only wife – Peace Adzo Medie

I read this last week and it took me just about two days. It’s fast paced with minimal fillers. Set in Ghana, Afi is made to marry a man she does not even know and to make matters worse, the groom wasn’t present at the wedding. This isn’t as uncommon as people think but that intro kickstarted this book and it was sooo good. The subtle humor, the culture and the fact that it felt like I was watching a Ghanaian film. You’ll love it !

A broken people’s playlist by Chimeka Garricks

I have been recommending this book since I read it in December. It is a collection of short stories that’ll leave you wanting more but I think it’s perfect because short stories are my go to reads when I’m not in the mood for a long ass book. It’s very Nigerian and authentic.

Get a life, Chloe Brown – Talia Hibbert

Where are my romcom people at??? This book is it!! I am not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best romance novels I’ve read in my entire life. It’s the first book in The Brown Sisters book series. Do not be mad at me when you drop everything you have to do to finish this book.

It ends with us – Colleen Hoover

This one is a bit heavier than other books on this list but it’s worth it. If you haven’t read any book by Coleen Hoover, then this is a good introduction to her work. She’ll draw you in with her style of writing and her characters. Trigger warning – Domestic violence/abuse.

Nothing to see here – Kevin Wilson

This was a book I didn’t see coming. I read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so unrealistic but hilarious ! I mean how do you end up taking up a nanny job only to find out the kids spontaneously combust when they’re upset. Where does one even start from ?

Of women and frogs – Bisi Adjapon

Another Ghanaian book made the list! This book is a coming of age story of a young girl who realizes how different she is and she finds herself trying not to succumb to societal standards and expectations of what a woman should be. This protagonist was bold and unapologetic about things she enjoyed like sex and typically in Africa, sex is a chore and one a woman is doing mainly for the man’s enjoyment so it was nice to read Esi be her true self. She is feisty, bold and I really liked her. Trigger warning – child abuse/sexual assault

Sometimes I lie – Alice Feeney

The first page of this book will have you shook. You will probably read this in one sitting and you won’t be mad at that. You might lose sleep but it’s worth it. It was so intriguing with the right twists and turns!

Dark matter – Blake Crouch

I read this book almost 4 years ago and I still remember the plot. It was so good and it left me mindfucked for a while. The protagonist was abducted and separated from his family and taken into a parallel universe. It gets better as you progress and nothing prepares you for the twist! Nothing! I actually had to find the author on twitter so I could send him a message asking what exactly inspired this story and what goes on in his head? If you like science fiction, you’ll absolutely love this.