My Five Star Reads

Hannah Engel
Oct 23, 2024
5 min read

Before we start there are a few things I need to disclaim first, such as I almost exclusively read books written by women. That does not mean I have not read books written by men, that also does not mean I won't again in the future, it is however not my first choice when picking something to read. As bad as it may sound, I don’t care to read from the male perspective, we live in a world from the perspective of me, why would I choose to indulge myself in more of that, rather than escape it?I do not find male perspectives as interesting, not because they are unimportant, but because I have no relation, or understanding of the experience.

I like to read books about human connection, and our experiences with those around us. I want the characters on the page to feel real, like a neighbor or someone you pass on the street. I don’t have interest in reading a war book, or a book about being a businessman, or perhaps a dystopian teen drama; my taste is very specific. Going through this list many of you may feel as though my picks are limited in differences of style, I am aware of this. I do want to branch out more, however when I have tried in the past, I have not found much interest.

I will additionally include a non-fiction book about the world we live in, that I think everyone should, and a list of books I have on my TBR (to be read) list.

Note this is not the entire of my favorite books, just the ones I felt like writing about today!

Sally Rooney’s Conversations With Friends

Conversations With Friends, was one of the books that really got me back into reading, as well as being one of my all-time favorite reads of my life. The name Sally Rooney is quite famous in the book world, but that was not the case when her debut novel, Conversations with Friends was published. The novel follows a young 20 something woman named Francis, as she falls into an affair with her friend’s older husband, all the while remaining best friends with her ex-girlfriend and struggling with both mental and physical illness. In no way is this a lighthearted read, nothing from Sally Rooney ever is (do not worry those will come later). It plunges into the realities of today’s world, both interpersonal, political, environmentally, and morally.

I read this book in the summer of 2021, between my Sophomore and Junior years of high school and boy did it have an effect on me. It still does to this day, I always point it out at every single bookstore I enter and tell all of my friends to read it, (only two of whom actually have). I was completely engrossed in Rooney’s writing style, being completely unique and exciting. Rooney does not tell the reader who is speaking in her novels, she doesn’t have too, she develops her characters so deeply that there could be no question as to who said what. I found this to be such an amazing talent, that she could be capable of something so extraordinary.

As previously mentioned, this is not a lighthearted book, but it is real. And of course I could never forget about the drama, the tea that this book serves, that alone could be an entire conversation of its own. Believe me if you want a book that you can gossip about, this is a perfect pick.

Daniel Jones and The New York Times Modern Love

For those who are unfamiliar with The New York Times Modern Love column, the column is a place where people submit their stories of love. The stories range from romantic love to the love of family. In 2019, Amazon Prime made a televised adaptation of some of their most popular stores, the show being under the same name. I watched the limited series at the time of release, and immediately fell in love, but never took the time to read through the column, so when I was strolling through the Chelsea market bookstore this past December, and saw the title, I was immediately excited.

I am known to be a fan of essay collections, but this one by far is one of my favorites. The stories in each chapter are so personal, and truly connected with my heart strings as a reader. Though some of the stories are limited to a few pages, the power of these stories made each and everyone feel special. The novel reminded me of the beauty in humanity, it made me feel connected to people I have never met. There were several times where I found myself in tears reading this, I truly cannot recommend it enough it was simply beautiful.

Emily Ratajkowski’s My Body

Emily Ratajkowski, otherwise known as EmRata, is a famous model and actress, and as of November 9th, 2021, an author. What I loved most about her debut novel is the authenticity of it. She does not pretend to be a perfect woman or person; it was extremely refreshing. Rata dives into femininity and feminism a significant amount throughout the 239 pages of the book, but for what feels like the first time, she does it in a realistic way.

Two things I loved that she dove into, was knowing her own beauty, and judging other women. As women, we are taught that we must be beautiful to hold value, but we must not know of our beauty to maintain our humility. Rata knows her beauty, and she was not afraid to write about it, it was a refreshing breath of air. More so though she dove into judging other women, a concept that is rightfully incredibly frowned upon. I am a firm believer that as women we should all strive to support one another, however that as many of you know, is not always possible. Rata opens up about her struggles with judging other women, how she dislikes doing it, yet can not stop herself. I found this bit so interesting, because it is true, we as humans judge, there is no stopping that.

If we as women are not meant to judge one another, does it make us bad feminists when we do? This is a question asked in the book, one I found so incredibly fascinating, and needed. We must find a middle ground between support and morality.

Rebecca Serle’s One Italian Summer

I read this book in the height of a breakup, and it was good timing. The novel follows Katy as she takes a trip to Italy that she was meant to take with her recently deceased mother, while also dealing with her own marital struggles. In the beautiful setting of the coast in Italy, the story is both deep and emotional, while also being playful and lighthearted.

Serle is one of my favorite authors, she has the most amazing gift of human emotion, all of her novels are deeply personal and yet fun, nonetheless. The book deals with topics of grief, healing, betrayal, self-exploration, identity, and love. It is a fun and easy read that keeps you entertained for the entirety of its duration.

Books I think Everyone Should Read

Rising out of hatred follows Derek Black, the son of Don Black, a major spear head in the KKK and the creator of Stormfront, through his time at New College in Florida while he rediscovers his beliefs and personal identity. The topics grappled with in this book are not easy, but I think incredibly necessary for change.

One of the biggest themes is whether those who have done bad should be ostracized or rehabilitated, can people change, and are we responsible for others personal growth?

My TBR (To Be Read)