15 Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time
Over the last 3 years, I’ve read over 90 books, and a handful have either become my favourites, introduced me to a new genre, or have affected me emotionally to the point where I wish I could read them for the first time again.
Organized by genre, here are the 16 books I wish I could read again for the first time!
Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time
General Fiction
For a while, Daisy Jones & The Six were everywhere. Their albums were on every turntable, they sold out arenas from coast to coast, and their sound defined an era. And then, on 12 July 1979, they split. Nobody ever knew why. Until now.
They were lovers and friends and brothers and rivals. They couldn’t believe their luck, until it ran out. This is their story of the early days and the wild nights, but everyone remembers the truth differently.
The only thing they all know for sure is that from the moment Daisy Jones walked barefoot onstage at the Whisky, their lives were irrevocably changed. Making music is never just about the music. And sometimes it can be hard to tell where the sound stops and the feelings begin.
This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read! Because there’s so much dialogue and perspectives from the characters, it’s written like an interview. This is the only book I’ve ever read that’s structured this way and for that reason, it’s definitely a story I think about often! Not to mention the ending made me cry and there’s a new TV show on Prime Video!
Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.
Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story.
But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.
If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.
I just remember how hyped up this book was, and while it wasn’t necessarily an absolute favourite of mine, it was definitely memorable, cozy, and perfect for summer which is when I read it! I really liked how both main characters were flawed, grumpy x grumpy, and had a small-town getaway to help them all find themselves and what they truly want!
Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites.
In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.
This Emily Henry book on the other hand was one of my FAVOURITE reads from 2022! This book is filled with incredible life lessons, comedic banter, and a meaningful connection between all of the characters. Again, the perfect “beach read” for a perfect summer day and I’d love to read this again for the first time!
Thriller
Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defense attorney in Washington D.C. At 33 years old, she is a named partner at her firm and life is going exactly how she planned.
The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. He is a struggling writer who has had little success in his career. He begins to tire of his and Sarah’s relationship as she is constantly working. Out in the secluded woods, at Adam and Sarah’s second home, Adam engages in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers.
Then, one morning everything changes. Adam is arrested for Kelly’s murder. She had been found stabbed to death in Adam and Sarah’s second home.
Sarah soon finds herself playing the defender for her own husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress. But is Adam guilty or is he innocent?
This was another one of my favourite books from 2022 and its plot twists, scandal, and suspense is unmatched! The ending of this book completely shocked to my core and I’d love to read that for the first time again!
Anna Fox lives alone, a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, and their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.
I remember being so encapsulated with the idea of this book and I have fond memories of reading it at the beginning of my reading journey, so it holds a place in my heart! I actually didn’t hate the Netflix movie adaptation either!
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read.
Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.
Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words.
After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.
I think we all know how crazy this book is, but the main reason I would love to read it again for the first time is that it was my first Colleen Hoover book, and now that I have learned her writing style more I think it’d be interesting to see how much I love it now! This was the first thriller I read with some spice involved, so I’m genuinely curious to read it again in general!
Romance
I grew up sick. Let me clarify. I grew up believing that real love stories include a martyr or demand a great sacrifice to be worthy.
Because of that, I believed it, because I made myself believe it, and I bred the most masochistic of romantic hearts, which resulted in my illness.
When I lived this story, my own twisted fairy tale, it was unbeknownst to me at the time because I was young and naïve. I gave into temptation and fed the beating beast, which grew thirstier with every slash, every strike, every blow.
Triple Falls wasn’t at all what it seemed, nor were the men that swept me under their wing. But in order to keep them, I had to be in on their secrets. Secrets that cost us everything to keep.
That’s the novelty of fiction versus reality. You can’t re-live your own love story, because by the time you’ve realized you’re living it, it’s over. At least that was the case for me and the men I trusted my foolish heart to.
Looking back, I’m convinced I willed my story into existence due to my illness. And all were punished.
The entire Ravnenhood Series by Kate Stewart, but especially this first book of the series, has my heart! I loved how dramatic and scandalous this was, and it was my first book that has polygamy which was super interesting to read about. There are a lot of secrets and toxicity throughout the story, but that’s what makes you so dedicated to these characters and their lives!
After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild.
Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself. The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter.
But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.
The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.
This was another one of my favourite books from 2022 and I love how connected I felt to Kenna and Ledger, and the situation they’re both in throughout the story. I remember bawling my eyes out and rooting for them. Reading something this special for the first time again would be amazing!
When Leeds meets Layla, he’s convinced he’ll spend the rest of his life with her—until an unexpected attack leaves Layla fighting for her life. After weeks in the hospital, Layla recovers physically, but the emotional and mental scarring has altered the woman Leeds fell in love with.
In order to put their relationship back on track, Leeds whisks Layla away to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. Once they arrive, Layla’s behavior takes a bizarre turn. And that’s just one of many inexplicable occurrences.
Feeling distant from Layla, Leeds soon finds solace in Willow—another guest of the B&B with whom he forms a connection through their shared concerns. As his curiosity for Willow grows, his decision to help her find answers puts him in direct conflict with Layla’s well-being.
Leeds soon realizes he has to make a choice because he can’t help both of them. But if he makes the wrong choice, it could be detrimental to all of them.
I remember reading this in like 1-2 sittings which is rare for me and shows that I’m really enjoying the story! I loved the paranormal aspect of this book and how everything went down. I don’t remember a lot that happened but I remember it blowing my mind, so I’d love to read this again!
When bestselling romance author Chloe Piper’s marriage implodes a week before Christmas, she flees her cheating ex and the village gossips for the solitude of the newly built Sunny Meadow Farm and the company of her hapless dog, Ronnie.
But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew – headed up by charming Alex – and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself in a whole new world of chaos…
This is not a very popular book, but it should be! This was more of a women’s fiction than a romance, and it dealt with a breakup as well as social anxiety. I absolutely loved our main character, the found family, and the innocence of the relationship grew throughout. I always like to recommend this book to others to support this author because this book deserves more readers!
Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls—nothing is there for her but memories of a lonely childhood where she was little more than a burden to her cold and distant stepfamily. Her life is in New York, with her photography career finally gaining steam and her bed never empty. Sure, it’s a different woman every night, but that’s just fine with her.
When Delilah’s estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home.
She plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and decides that maybe there’s some fun (and a little retribution) to be had in Bright Falls, after all.
Having raised her eleven-year-old daughter mostly on her own while dealing with her unreliable ex and running a bookstore, Claire Sutherland depends upon a life without surprises. And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise…at first.
Though they’ve known each other for years, they don’t really know each other—so Claire is unsettled when Delilah figures out exactly what buttons to push. When they’re forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparations—including a plot to save Astrid from her horrible fiancé—Claire isn’t sure she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms. Even worse, she’s starting to think she doesn’t want to.
I think everyone and their mother at this point knows this is one of my favourite books of all time! I constantly talk about this book on my social medias such as Tiktok and Instagram, and it’s because the banter, romance, spice, and chemistry are UNMATCHED! I loved seeing Delilah’s personal growth and following her heart. I wish I could read this for the first time over and over again!
Curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen built her career shattering gym stereotypes and mostly ignoring the trolls.
After her recent breakup, she has little stamina left for men, instead finding solace in the gym – her place of power and positivity.
Enter firefighter Scott Ritchie, the smug new gym patron who routinely steals her favorite squat rack. Sparks fly as these ultra-competitive foes battle for gym domination.
But after a series of escalating jabs, the last thing they expect is to run into each other at their grandparents’ engagement party.
In the lead-up to their grandparents’ wedding, Crystal discovers there’s a soft heart under Scott’s muscled exterior. Bonding over family, fitness, and cheesy pick-up lines, she just might have found her swole mate. But when a photo of them goes viral, savage internet trolls put their budding relationship to the ultimate test of strength.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to add this to the list, but after reading her second book, Exes and O’s, I realized how much I love this author and this first book of hers. This is such a unique story line and I love the witty banter between the two main characters, as well as the family dynamic and body positivity! I’d love to read this for the first time again, however, I’d be nervous to see if it lives up to my original expectation!
YA Romance
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad.
They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.
I wasn’t expecting to love this series as much as I did, and I know it’s popular, but it’s popular for a reason! I enjoyed the first book the most, and I feel like rereading this again for the first time in the summer would be such a vibe!
Non-Fiction
A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.
Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day.
In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame.
Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi, Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships.
These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.
Yet again, another super popular book, but this was by far the best biography I’ve ever read. I think this was such an important story for people to read because it shares with us that parents aren’t always saints and it’s not healthy to always try and make your mother (or father) happy; follow your dreams and intuitions, not theirs! I’d love to read this book for the first time again to read those reminders as well as so many other amazing life lessons again!
Stephen King: A Memoir of the Craft On Writing
Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have.
King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported near-fatal accident in 1999 — and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it — fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.
I feel like I haven’t read this book in so long, but realistically it’s only been a little over a year. This book was so helpful and motivating for me to start writing more. While I don’t regret already reading this, I feel like I would just like to read this again to give myself that motivation and maybe find new lessons from it about writing!
Closing Statements
And those are the books I wish I could read again for the first time! Thank you so much for reading today’s blog post! Please be sure to check out my previous blog posts here, comment down below a book you wish you could read again for the first time, and I’ll see you next week!