The Tell-Tale Heart

It revolves around an anonymous, unreliable narrator who holds his sanity despite killing an elderly guy with a “vulture eye.” The murder is meticulously planned, and the body is hidden by chopping it into pieces and burying it beneath the floorboards. This very short short story is a roller-coaster of anxiety that had me precipitating by the end of the story. If you are bored and are looking for a short thrilling read to dive back into the world of books, this book will kick-start your reading habit!

Six of Crows Series

Bored of the same old good guys vs the bad guys? Here’s a little something with interesting plot twists and morally gray characters that will suck you right into it’s fantasy world! The best thing about this book is that it’s fast paced and action packed AND a duo-logy. The plot follows Kaz Brekker and his team as they attempt to carry off an impossible heist. Kaz, also known as ‘Dirtyhands,’ is a member of The Dregs and lives in the Barrel (Ketterdam’s slums). The Dregs are a gang composed of everyone scraped from the Barrel’s floor, as the name implies.

Malibu Rising 

The plot is set in 1980s Malibu and centers around the Riva siblings’ annual summer party, which includes Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit. The plot switches between the 1950s and the 1980s, focusing on the Riva siblings’ lives as well as the history of their parents’ relationship. A fascinating novel to help you break out of your reading rut.

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My Grandmother asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry

Another wholesome book by Fredrik Backman, this novel follows Elsa, a seven-year-old girl who is a little wild and has no friends at school, is the protagonist of this beautiful story. She finds refuge in her grandmother’s stories, which involve people that are all out of the ordinary. When Elsa’s grandmother passes away, she is left with a collection of letters written by her grandmother apologizing to different people. A compelling story about faith, relationships and forgiveness.

The Fangirl

Cath and Wren are twins and their college adventures are told in this heartwarming novel. The plot revolves around Cath, an introvert who adores Simon Snow’s fictional world. Cath and her college life are highly relatable to any fan-fiction lover. This book will surely bring back your love for books so definitely give it a try!

Matilda

Maybe all you need to break through your reader’s block is a nostalgic book from the past. For me, Matilda has often come to rescue me. A story about a little girl who is far too good for the world. Matilda is brought to you by one of the world’s best-selling authors, Roald Dahl. Matilda is shunned for reading and being different from her family but finds refuge in books, and her favorite author is Charles Dickens! A must read book for everyone.

Born A Crime

If stand up comedy or Trevor Noah is your thing, go for this book! I listened to the audio-book, read by Noah himself at the time when no book interested me and I found myself finishing the whole audio-book in a day only to then pick up the paperback and reread it. This remarkable autobiography recounts the horrors of apartheid and growing up in South Africa. Despite important topics like Colonialism and Apartheid, Noah keeps readers entertained with hilarious stories from his life.

Whereabouts

The story is told in short vignettes by an anonymous narrator in an anonymous city in an anonymous country. In fact, Lahiri avoids names and specifics throughout the novel, including locations and persons. Whereabouts is a collection of short chapters that provide a glimpse into the narrator’s personality and life. But, when taken as a whole, this patchwork forms a life pattern, fitting together to produce an almost inevitable change in the narrator. A refreshing and short read, this is my go to book when I hit a reader’s block.