I have no idea how old you are/if you read adult fiction, but these are some that either did or wouldâve pulled me out of a slump if I hadnât already been out of it:
The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor pulled me out of a years-long slump after I finished grad school. Itâs simply a story. Itâs not complicated. It has alternating timelines with the modern time period set in a quaint, Irish bookshop. Itâs magical realism, and thereâs a little bit of everything. Itâs a perfect fall read. This book is perfectly acceptable for a YA audience.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is both a historical and magical realism work. Itâs definitely one Iâd recommend for winter. This book would work for a more mature YA audience.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden is outstanding and is a dark, adult retelling of the Russian Jack Frost. Itâs the first of a trilogy and one I highly recommend reading in winter for the full effect. I always recommend it to readers and gamers who like the type of world and myths found in The Witcher. This series, for whatever reason, is occasionally tagged as YA, and frankly, I strongly disagree with that. That said, if you do fall more into that YA category, I still think this series is a good option.
Harryâs Trees by Jon Cohen is one people seem to either love or hate. Personally, I loved it. Itâs another magical realism piece that twists fairy tales in a very dark, adult way. Cohenâs sense of humor is twisted (and Iâve seen some readers be deeply offended by some of it), but it works for the story and Cohen doesnât paint any of his characters as saints. He blatantly pokes fun at the more offensive ones. Itâs one Iâd recommend to anyone whoâs given up on their dreams or have found themselves stuck in a dead-end job. Not recommended for a YA audience.
Iâm always going to recommend Book Lovers by Emily Henry if you like contemporary romance. Smart, snappy, and sexy with genuinely well-rounded characterization. Itâs as much a story about family and healing as it is a romance. Everythingâs tasteful, but not recommended for a YA audience.
Would You Rather by Allison Ashley is another contemporary romance in the form of two thirty-something best friends who decide to get married (this is not a spoiler) so she can go back to school and still have insurance. Itâs one of those I wasnât sure I was going to like at first, but the longer it goes on, the more real the characters all become. Not recommended for a YA audience.
Iâm actually going to throw a couple of juvenile fiction recommendations out there, too.Â
One of which completely changes depending on the age you read it. That recommendation is Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle. Itâs a Newberry Award winner and is more than deserving.
The other is Sharon Creechâs The Wanderer. Thereâs a timelessness to it, a sense of grounded adventure, and itâs centered around the bonds of hope, love, and family. It can appeal to anyone, really.
It's always a shot in the dark even if someone likes "most" genres, so I hope you'll find at least one here that sounds interesting and that you like.
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