Books Trending on Bookstagram: 7 Must-Reads
Books Trending on Bookstagram often disappoint. Tamanna Mittal suggests 7 must reads that actually live up to the hype and will genuinely grab your attention, whether you seek thought, emotion, or mystery.
If you spend some time on Bookstagram, you’ll come across countless books trending on Bookstagram recommendations every day. But let’s face it, not all of them live up to the hype they get. I’ve rounded up 7 books that aren’t just popular but will genuinely grab your attention. Whether you want something to make you think, feel, or get lost in a mystery, this list has you covered.
1. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
I Who Have Never Known Men, first published in French in 1995, tells the tale of a young girl who is locked underground with 39 other women. She is completely cut off from the world above and remembers little of the life she had. The novel discusses themes like loneliness, social constructs of gender, survival, and what it means to be truly human, devoid of any societal expectations. It draws attention to the need for human intimacy even in a world that seems dark and dystopian.
Favourite quote: “I was forced to acknowledge too late, much too late, that I too had loved, that I was capable of suffering, and that I was human after all.”
2. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa is a chilling, dystopian novel set on an unnamed island where objects and eventually memories begin to disappear. The story follows a young novelist who resists forgetting and the Memory Police, who enforce these disappearances, slowly creating a world where people lose their identities without even realizing it. Winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the novel explores themes of repression, loss, and the fragility of memory that leave us meditating on how much our memories truly define us and who we are.
Favourite quote: “My memories don’t feel as though they’ve been pulled up by the root. Even if they fade, something remains. Like tiny seeds that might germinate again if the rain falls. And even if a memory disappears completely, the heart retains something. A slight tremor or pain, some bit of joy, a tear.”
Human Acts, written by Nobel Prize winner Han Kang, is centered around the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a historical event marked by its violent suppression of protestors. The novel shifts between different perspectives, from a young boy who is killed in the incident, to his grieving mother, to other witnesses, as they all unpack the ripple effects of such violence over time. The novel won the Man Booker International Prize in 2016 and is regarded as an essential work discussing the emotional, physical, and human cost of political violence.
Favourite quote: “Is it true that human beings are fundamentally cruel? Is the experience of cruelty the only thing we share as a species? Is the dignity that we cling to nothing but self-delusion, masking from ourselves the single truth: that each one of us is capable of being reduced to an insect, a ravening beast, a lump of meat?
4. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Secret History is a modern classic of dark academia fiction, set at an elite Vermont college. It follows the lives of a group of students who are captivated by ancient Greek culture and gradually become embroiled in murder and moral decay. The book explores themes of obsession, guilt, and the consequences of intellectual arrogance. The suspenseful narrative keeps you curious about the different dangers lurking under the polished surfaces.
Favourite quote: “Forgive me, for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not.”
5. Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner
A memoir written by musician Michelle Zauner, lead vocalist of the group Japanese Breakfast, Crying in H-Mart gives us an insider look into her experience growing up Korean-American and the bond she shared with her mother, who passed away from cancer. Through her memories of food, culture, and family traditions, the author explores themes of grief, cultural identity, and healing. A book that truly resonates with readers facing loss or questions about belonging.
Favourite quote: “I could never be of both worlds, only half in and half out, waiting to be ejected at will by someone with greater claim than me. Someone whole.”
6. Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
Ever find yourself thinking about death? Well, Gilda can’t seem to stop. Combining humor, vulnerability, and frankness, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead acts as a candid reflection on themes of anxiety, death, and the absurdities of modern life. The book offers readers an intimate and often funny look at what it means to face life and its uncertainties head-on.
Favourite quote: “I am thinking about how enormous my thighs look pressed down on the concrete, while simultaneously thinking about how small I am in the grand scheme of things.”
“Think about it. If we discovered a dandelion on a planet besides Earth, that would be astounding. The fact that dandelions exist on our planet is therefore astounding.”
7. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
A unique blend of mystery, thriller, and speculative fiction, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle follows the story of Aiden Bishop, who happens to wake up repeatedly in different bodies at a grand country estate. The only way to escape? To solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. Winner of the Crime Writers’ Association’s Debut Dagger Award, the novel challenges readers to navigate its intricate plotting and piece together clues through multiple perspectives.
Favourite quote: “Too little information and you’re blind, too much and you’re blinded.”
While these seven books are a great place to start, they’re far from the end of the line. The world of reading doesn’t stop here. If any of these titles stayed with you, there’s a good chance others will too. Keep reading cause the next book you pick up might not just be a good story, but the one that sticks with you long after the last page.
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