Amy Lin discusses her emotional debut memoir Here After. She offers surprising revelations about the grief process and better ways to show up for grievers.
In our fear of saying the wrong thing, we often don’t get to engage in essential conversations like the one we share today.
Amy Lin, author of Here After, joins the Book Gang podcast to discuss her powerful memoir on grief and loss and what she wants you to understand about young widowhood.
Here After Book Summary
Lin never expected to find a love like the one she shared with her husband, Kurtis, a gifted young architect who pulls her toward joy, adventure, and greater self-acceptance. But thirty-two-year-old Kurtis unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind Amy, who struggled to navigate the loss while simultaneously confronting a life-threatening medical crisis.
This sparse memoir was handcrafted for grievers as Amy shares the painstaking process down to margin, white space, and book size to give readers both space and understanding of her grief experience.
More importantly, she offers life-altering advice on our falsehoods about grief, from the misconceptions around grief timelines to what we shouldn’t say to those experiencing loss.
After hearing Amy’s sage advice today, I promise you will be a better friend, sister, daughter, or mother after listening to this conversation.
To accompany today’s show, I have a Books On Grief and Loss book list with fiction and nonfiction selections for adult and young readers.
I’ve also gathered a curated collection of grief quotes from these books that speak to this universal experience in comforting ways to give words to this experience. I hope you feel both seen and loved through all of this.
Meet Amy Lin
Amy Lin is a writer and educator who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her work has been published in Ploughshares, and she has been awarded residencies from Yaddo and Casa Comala. Here After is her debut novel.
Surprising Truths About Grief With Amy Lin (Here After)
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This curated collection of books on grief and loss include insights into the grieving process through nonfiction and fiction for adults and young adult books.
In times of loss, words often become our solace, guiding us through the tumultuous journey of grief and offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
At the heart of this collection isHere After, a moving memoir that offers a quiet meditation on the complexities of grief.
I was so honored to share space with the author on the Book Gang podcast where she offered advice for ways to support grievers and what she wishes people understood about young widowhood that is both deeply moving and instructional for those that feel at a loss in how to support someone.
Listen to the full episode below and subscribe to the Book Gang podcast for more episodes like this (show notes with full transcript):
The conversation moved me so much, that I wanted to offer a book list for those who may be facing loss.
I’m including an array of new and backlist titles, each offering a unique perspective on the universal experience of grief.
Whether you seek solace in the pages of a memoir, find comfort in the embrace of fiction, or seek practical guidance in navigating grief’s turbulent waters, there is a book here to accompany you on your journey.
For those seeking smaller lessons, you can explore these grief quotes from books featured in today’s list.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s book list for you to explore. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
Please note, what may be therapeutic looks different for every reader- be gentle with your hearts, my friends!
Books on Grief and Loss
Explore the human experience of grief and loss through these list of carefully curated books.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amy Lin's deeply meditative memoir offers a nonlinear perspective on the sudden loss of her husband, who passed away at the age of thirty-two when he heads out for a half-marathon.
Just ten days later, she begins to have abdominal pain that Amy attributes to weeping- feeling indescribable pain in her rib.
But what develops is a harrowing medical crisis that leaves her body in a weakened state as she navigates funeral planning while emerging from the ICU.
More than that, the novel offers an instruction manual on misconceptions about what is helpful or harmful to someone grieving.
Lin processes the loss in a contemplative way to understand the grieving brain, why grief doesn't fit abstract timeliness, and what we should say to those newly processing loss.
It was a joy to share an hour with Amy Lin on the Book Gang Podcast and discuss how to support the grieving without shying away from this universal experience.
You can listen in the player embedded at the top of the list.
BOOKS ABOUT GRIEF FOR ADULTS
These moving memoirs explore complexities of grief in adulthood, offering solace, understanding, and hope in the face of loss.
Rob Delaney's raw and poignant memoir chronicles the devastating loss of his two-year-old son, Henry, to a brain tumor.
With unflinching honesty and moments of fierce humor, Delaney navigates the harrowing journey of Henry's illness, the profound impact of his grief, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of tragedy.
Rob Delaney's audiobook narration greatly enhanced this memoir for many readers. Readers should note the comedian, best known for his work on Catastrophe, uses lots of colorful language to tell their heartbreaking story.
Zauner was only in her twenties when she wrote this beautiful book, but she recounts a journey beyond her years as a storyteller.
She tenderly shares her moving journey of loss and self-discovery as she cares for her mother during her battle with cancer.
What makes this memoir compelling is the honesty in portraying a complicated mother-daughter relationship in which the two find solace in Korean cuisine both during this journey and in its resolution.
The lush food descriptions enhance this story and are layered throughout the complexities Michelle faced as a Korean-American.
Greta Greene was two years old when a freak accident took her life. Sitting on a park bench with her grandmother, a brick crumbled from a windowsill overhead, knocking her unconscious. Her parents navigate the unimaginable.
Four years after her death, her father began documenting this journey through his poetic, heart-wrenching exploration.
But, the novel's second half takes surprising turns as the couple seeks comfort and answers through unlikely sources to their grief.
In Bloom's moving memoir, she candidly shares the heart-wrenching journey she and her husband Brian embarked on after his diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
With grace and courage, they confront the devastating reality of his illness and make the difficult decision to seek assistance from Dignitas in Switzerland.
Despite the weighty subject matter, Bloom's narrative offers readers comfort to those facing similar struggles.
Renkl's essay collection weaves observations on her backyard wildlife with more profound reflections on life, loss, and the passage of time.
From childhood memories to the complexities of caregiving, Renkl's storytelling captures the beauty and fragility of our existence.
This memoir is unique because it offers readers over two dozen full-page collages created by the author's brother to provide readers with an immersive reading experience.
You can peek at examples of Billy Renkl's illustrations on his website, where he blends the rural world into each image.
This stunning memoir explores the fragility of life and death through Paul's experiences as a neurosurgeon and a patient facing his own mortality.
Despite being diagnosed with cancer, Paul continued to work tirelessly in the operating room and put his own needs aside. His ability to do so is nothing short of miraculous, and his words reflect the poetic strength of a life well-lived.
His wife's closing to the book brings it all together in a beautiful and memorable way, reminding us that the most important thing we should strive for in life is to give and receive unconditional love.
In her memoir, Joan Didion writes about the year that followed the unexpected death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, and the serious illness of their daughter.
Through stream of consciousness writing, Didion explores the depths of grief and how the mind copes with tragedy. This book has become a go-to read for many who are coping with loss.
Klebold painfully writes about her son Dylan and his involvement in the Columbine shooting in this memoir that we read as a book club. A family similar to ours offered love and support to their son but became part of one of the biggest tragedies in history. In part, this was because his parents were unaware of their son's depression and mental health challenges.
While this was one of the most challenging books I have ever read, it reminds us that our job as parents is to keep our children's mental health in check just as we would their physical health.
This book changed my dialogue with my children in life-altering ways.
Ethan Joella's novel was selected as a 2023 MomAdvice Book Club selection, and readers loved this cozy winter setting with three interconnected stories.
In this novel, each of the characters face loss but discover themselves and each other in their winter seasons of life.
Joella's masterful storytelling and keen eye for detail bring the characters and their small-town world to life, evoking a sense of warmth and familiarity that resonates with readers.
Of course, they discover the beauty in their unexpected found family- my favorite kind of trope!
This magical realism novel is narrated from the unique perspective of a dog named Lily, and explores the deep bond between her and her owner, Ted.
The two face unbelievable challenges together, and their relationship is put to the test in unexpected ways. To say more would rob you of a unique reading experience.
The story is filled with laughter, love, and moments of heartfelt connection, but also touches on the painful realities of losing a cherished pet.
While the premise may sound bleak—a mother's suicide and its impact on her family—this backlist book unfolds in a way that is unexpectedly uplifting.
Maddy's continued presence and influence on her family from beyond the grave add a unique and compelling layer to the narrative, offering insights and guidance as they navigate their grief and rebuild their lives.
In this novel from Monica Wood, 104-year-old Ona develops an unexpected friendship with a young Scout who is fascinated by the Guinness Book of World Records.
When tragedy strikes and the boy passes away, his father Quinn steps in to fulfill his son's obligations, leading him to discover the special bond between his son and Ona.
Through flashbacks to their conversations and a road trip adventure to help Ona achieve her own world record, the story renders touching moments and heartfelt revelations.
Isaac and Lorrie are neighbors bound by grief over the loss of their teenage sons, Daniel and Jonah.
When pregnant teenager Evangeline seeks refuge with Isaac, their lives become intertwined in unexpected ways, revealing secrets that connect them to their shared tragedy.
This domestic drama unfolds through multiple viewpoints and timelines, offering a rich and atmospheric exploration of loss amidst hope.
But, what I remember most about this novel is a story of Quaker faith, a religion I hadn't explored through a contemporary lens before.
Twelve-year-old Edward Adler is the lone survivor of a devastating plane crash. Taken in by his aunt and uncle, he struggles to navigate life without his family while grappling with the trauma of his experience.
With the support of his new friend Shay, Edward discovers a bag of letters addressed to him from the families of the crash victims, leading him on a journey of healing and self-discovery.
Through alternating perspectives, the novel provides insight into the passengers' final moments and the aftermath of the tragedy.
This novel was a 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Book that celebrated the power of literature and the healing magic of libraries.
Mukesh, still mourning the loss of his beloved wife Naina, discovers solace within the pages of his wife's favorite novel.
This forgotten novel later leads him to the local library, where 17-year-old Aleisha works as a librarian. Aleisha isn't much of a reader, but she discovers a crumpled reading list on the library shelves as she struggles to make book recommendations for the widower.
This reading list benefits both their reading lives and brings an unexpected connection with other town residents that readers will delight in.
This short, haunting novel brings a mother's grief to life in such memorable detail that I haven't forgotten it. Set in Nigeria, Vivek's life is shrouded in mystery and tragedy.
Through a series of interconnected narratives and flashbacks, Emezi unravels his identity as a gender-nonconforming individual. The author handles this aspect of the narrative with such beauty and care in poetic detail.
But, as Vivek grapples with societal expectations and family pressures, readers discover the beauty and pain of his journey to embrace his true self.
This novel made The Best Fiction Books of 2023 list as a backlist addition. I highly recommend it as an audiobook experience with narrator Bahni Turpin, whose narration enhanced this story beautifully.
Gifty, a neuroscience Ph.D. candidate, is haunted by her brother Nana's tragic descent into heroin addiction.
As she navigates the clash between science and faith, Gifty's journey explores the complexities of her identity and her search for meaning.
This novel has been a hit even with readers who don't gravitate towards romance novels.
After the loss of her husband to early-onset Alzheimer's, Kate struggles to balance single motherhood and her work life.
Stranded on a business trip with her boss, Hugh, due to bad weather, she confronts her grief and discovers clarity on her future for herself and her son.
Emma Grey, the author, is also a midlife widow, who wrote this novel after her personal experience with loss.
In this steamy second chance romance, Yasmen and Josiah face the challenges of co-parenting after ending their marriage upon the challenges of a significant parental loss.
However, amidst navigating the dating world separately, they begin to renew their passion for each other.
Don't miss my Kennedy Ryan interview as we celebrate the second book in the Skyland series, This Could Be Us.
Lydia and Freddie were inseparable for over a decade, but Freddie unexpectedly dies in a car accident on Lydia's twenty-eighth birthday.
Devastated, Lydia begins to take sleeping pills prescribed by her doctor and discovers an alternate reality where Freddie's life continues in her dreams.
But, as Lydia begins the slow healing process of grieving, she rediscovers the bittersweet beauty in her real life with the help of Freddie's best friend and her sister.
Discover moving and relatable stories that explore the complexities of grief for young adults. These YA books have been among my favorite as an adult reader- share the with your teen or tween!
It is hard to choose which John Green book to feature, but I adore this novel about Miles "Pudge" Halter's experiences at Culver Creek Boarding School, where he befriends Alaska Young.
Together, they engage in pranks and adventures, creating a deep bond. But, as the plot unfolds, Pudge wrestles with the complexities of friendship, love, and loss, ultimately undergoing a deep internal shift.
John Green's writing offers a beautiful exploration of adolescence and the search for meaning in this novel.
Zentner is no stranger to books about grief and his new adult debut novel, Colton Gentry's Third Act explores this same subject. I'm excited to host Jeff in conversation next week on the Book Gang podcast.
But, in this young adult novel, Carver loses his three best friends in a car accident caused by texting and driving.
The families investigate whether to press charges, and Carver is consumed with guilt and grief.
He organizes a "Goodbye Day" to help the families find closure, but it doesn't go as planned.
Carver faces feelings of anger and blame for his role in the accident and must work through these difficult emotions with the help of his therapist.
Jessie's mother has passed away, and the teenager is still grieving her loss. However, she now she finds herself unexpectedly moving to Los Angeles with her dad after he married a woman from his support group.
As she struggles to fit in at her new school, she's surprised to receive supportive emails from someone named SN.
Jessie wants to meet this mysterious person as their online relationship grows, bringing the reader to a beautiful conclusion.
I wasn't expecting a book about grief in this sweet little YA rom-com, but this delivers some beautiful mother-daughter scenes as a teenage daughter navigates her senior milestones without her mom.
As Liz delays some of her most exciting milestones, like prom dress shopping, the reader discovers she is still processing her grief as she finds an unlikely accomplice to complete her senior checklist.
Check out our free printable Better Than the Movies Movie PDF Printable that gives you an immersive experience with a checklist of all the films featured in this sweet read that were among the shared favorites of Liz & her mother.
Everyone experiences grief at some point in life. It can be hard to express these emotions in words, but fortunately, many great authors have shared their beautiful observations to help us better understand this shared experience.
When we lose someone or something important, words can help us find comfort by reminding us that we are not alone. Although these quotes may be heavy, they also show that it is okay to feel the way you do right now- at any stage.
Today, I have compiled some of my favorite quotes from the featured books on grief and loss book list.
If a quote resonates with you, I hope you’ll consider exploring one of the highlighted books to help expand your experience with these authors. I’ve included memoirs, essay collections, fiction for adults, romance books, and even young adult books.
Please feel free to pin these images or save them to your phone to remind you that you aren’t alone- I’m sending love to you through this strange virtual portal.
Powerful Grief Quotes from Books
Grief is for People Quote:
“It’s impossible to predict how much you’ll miss something when it’s gone, to game grief in advance. We fend off the worry that we’re taking our lives for granted by feeding ourselves the lie that we understand the value if their components.” (Buy the Book)
Here After Quote:
“Grief is chronic pain. When will others allow the mourning to live without expecting them to be cured?” (Buy the Book)
A Heart that Works Quote:
“My favorite historical response to someone hearing about a “big” death comes from the character Henry Clerval in Mary Shelley’s masterwork, Frankenstein.
When Henry learns that his best friend Victor Frankenstein’s young brother William has been murdered, he says, “I can offer you no consolation, my friend. Your disaster is irreparable. What do you intend to do?”
Perfect. There is no consolation. The disaster is irreparable. I’ve read Frankenstein twice since our Henry died. It is my companion in days of grief.
It should surprise no one who reads it that Mary Shelley was a bereaved mother.” (Buy the Book)
Crying in H Mart Quote:
“It felt like the world had divided into two different types of people, those who had felt pain and those who had yet to.” (Buy the Book)
When Breath Becomes Air Quote:
“I began to realize that coming in such close contact with my own mortality had changed both nothing and everything. Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. But now I knew it acutely. The problem wasn’t really a scientific one. The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live.” (Buy the Book)
One More We Saw Stars Quote:
“Grief at its peak has a terrible beauty to it, a blinding fission of every emotion. The world is charged with significance, with meaning, and the world around you, normally so solid and implacable, suddenly looks thin, translucent.” (Buy the Book)
Late Migrations Quote:
“Blessed are the parents whose final words on leaving—the house, the car, the least consequential phone call—are always “I love you.” They will leave behind children who are lost and still found, broken and, somehow, still whole.” (Buy the Book)
Unlikely Animals Quote:
“It’s unfair how the body crumbles while the soul still lives in it.” (Buy the Book)
A Quiet Life Quote:
“He thinks of all this- this is the price he has paid for loving so much, and it doesn’t feel better, but it makes sense. It seems reasonable.” (Buy the Book)
A Man Called Ove Quote:
“Death is a strange thing. People live their whole lives as if it does not exist, and yet it’s often one of the great motivations for living.
Some of us, in time, become so conscious of it that we live harder, more obstinately, with more fury. Some need its constant presence to even be aware of its antithesis. Others become so preoccupied with it that they go into the waiting room long before it has announced its arrival.
We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.” (Buy the Book)
Lily & the Octopus Quote:
“It’s natural, as our loved ones age, to start grieving their loss. Even before we lose them.” (Buy the Book)
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird Quote:
“The human brain is wired to cope with grief. It knows even as we fall into unfathomably dark places, there will be light again, and if we just keep moving forward in one brave straight line, however slowly, we’ll find our way back again.” (Buy the Book)
I Liked My Life Quote Lesson:
“Every new death brings back the full weight of those already gone.” (Buy the Book)
The One-in-a-Million Boy Quote:
“You know, one meets so many people, the years pass and pass, but there are certain times, certain people. . . They take up room. So much room.” (Buy the Book)
The Last Love Note Quote: “How long is it reasonable to drag out your recovery from grief until you’re expected to get your act together again?
Or maybe that’s where I’m going wrong. You don’t recover from it. There is no “healed” moment. You just absorb it into your new life, somehow, and go from there.” (Buy the Book)
Looking for Alaska Quote:
“We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broken.” (Buy the Book)
Goodbye Days Quote:
“Funny how people move through this world leaving little pieces of their story with the people they meet, for them to carry. Makes you wonder what’d happen if all those people put their puzzle pieces together.” (Buy the Book)
Message in a Bottle Quote:
“Sometimes my grief is overwhelming, and even though I understand that we will never see each other again, there is a part of me that wants to hold on to you forever.” (Buy the Book)
This special crossover episode with Thoughts from a Page offers five new historical fiction books in 2024 to read now of compelling women throughout history.
Cindy Burnett, the host of the Thoughts from a Page podcast, joins our show in this special crossover episode to discuss her favorite new historical fiction books for 2024 that readers will love.
We discuss the most memorable books we read when we first began exploring this genre, the upcoming publishing trends for this year in historical fiction, and common misconceptions (and gripes) on what we feel is essential in a fantastic book selection.
Cindy also brings five incredible novels featuring powerful narratives exploring accounts of remarkable women throughout history. We know you will love reading these books this Spring!
Meet Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page Podcast)
Cindy Burnett hosts the Thoughts from a Page Podcast where she engages in compelling author interviews and discussions with industry professionals. Beyond her podcast, she actively promotes books through social media, writes columns for The Buzz Magazines, contributes monthly reviews to Bookreporter.com, and co-creates Conversations from a Page—an author event series in Houston.
New Historical Fiction To Read in 2024
Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:
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Mentioned in this episode:
Readers can access a transcription for today’s show embedded below.
Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!
Kennedy Ryan discusses her rise to the NYT bestseller list as a Black romance writer with moving advocacy for autism representation in This Could Be Us.
There is a reason everyone wants to be a part of Kennedy Ryan’s story—her joy is infectious.
Today, we offer listeners a front-row seat to her romance Booktok fandom, sold-out book tours, and moving victory as a Black romance writer on the New York Times bestseller list.
Ryan openly discusses her connection to the autism community and the beauty and challenge of capturing that on a page for the reader in her latest novel.
Representing autism authentically meant the writer took surprising steps to ensure an accurate and respectful portrayal of family life in This Could Be Us.
Readers will get a 2-for-1 conversation as we also discuss the rerelease of Reeland details on the upcoming books in the Hollywood Renaissance series.
We discuss what it means to be a hybrid author and her commitment to immersive research, ensuring her stories resonate authentically with readers no matter where you find her stories.
Today’s BONUS book celebrates Autism Acceptance Month! I’ve featured 13 books with autistic characters filled with heartwarming love stories, mystery, and family drama.
The list features many #ownvoices books, including the authors’ diagnosis stories and the characters they developed to offer readers insights into their journeys. As a parent in the community, I hope I’ve crafted a list that will allow you to immerse yourself in these stories.
Meet Kennedy Ryan
USA Today’s bestselling author and Audie Award-winner, Kennedy Ryan, writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. The co-founder of Lift 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, she has a passion for raising Autism awareness. Kennedy is a wife to her “lifetime lover” and mother to an extraordinary son.
The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives With Heart
Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:
Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!
Mentioned in this episode:
Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!
Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month with these moving books with autistic characters. This book list offers heartwarming love stories, mystery, and family drama.
April may be Autism Acceptance Month, but Kennedy Ryan, our Book Gang guest, refers to this holiday as Autism ADORATION Month instead.
I can support FULLY support this description. We are both proud parents of autistic children and are excited to celebrate this in your book stack today. This month is meant to help facilitate awareness, understanding, and acceptance of autism and support for individuals with ASD and their families.
Listen to the full episode below and subscribe to the Book Gang podcast for more episodes like this (show notes).
Today’s book list includes many autistic authors (#ownvoices) and parents like me who feel called to stacks that mirror our journey as a family.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s book list to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
Books With Autistic Characters For Autism Acceptance Month
We are celebrating autism in fiction with these compelling reads for Autism Acceptance Month.
I've split today's book list into two sections: autistic authors and other fiction novels that I found to be beautifully inclusive and well-developed.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
AUTISTIC AUTHORS TO READ
These book recommendations offer #ownvoices perspectives that celebrate autism in fiction.
Mazzy Eddings is a neurodivergent author who crafted this sweet YA debut love story between two neurodivergent teens.
In an interview for Nerd Daily, she shared her motivation for writing this story:
"Growing up, I didn't see a lot of media with autistic and/or ADHD characters, and what was out there often villainized and infantilized those characters.
I wanted to create a story of unfettered neurodivergent joy. I wanted to show special interests, hyperfocus, inattention, and stimming on the page in a beautiful light. "
Eddings achieved what she was after as so many teens have found Tilly, a girl with ADHD, and Oliver, a boy on the autism spectrum, relatable in this young adult romance story.
If you want to share this with your teen reader, the recommended reading age for this novel is 13-18 years old.
Schillace shared her autism diagnosis with the world in 2021 and penned an article for Scientific America about the process she went through to explain the unexpected coming out process to readers.
After writing nonfiction, the writer moved into cozy mystery featuring an autistic editor who unexpectedly inherits a dilapidated English estate.
When a valuable family portrait goes missing and a body is discovered, she finds herself propelled into a murder investigation, unraveling secrets and deception hidden within the estate's walls.
The author has shared in past interviews that being on the spectrum gives her main character, Jo Jones, an edge in solving the book's mystery.
She feels like many of our favorite mystery solvers are on the spectrum because they notice the details others don't.
Helen Hoang received her autism diagnosis in 2016, and her journey inspired this steamy romance book.
A surprising detail I uncovered is that this novel's depiction inspired other published romance novelists to begin writing romances with autistic characters, including another book featured on today's list.
In this reverse Pretty Woman story, Stella is autistic and feels pressured by her parents to get married. Lacking knowledge about dating, she prefers to dedicate her free time to her work developing algorithms rather than love.
So she hires Michael Phan, a professional escort who can guide her through a lesson plan that teaches her everything from kissing to beyond in this open-door romance.
Before long, Stella has overcome her intimacy issues, but the professional relationship starts blurring into a real one as they catch feelings for each other.
This novel won the GoodReads Choice Romance Award for 2018.
If you fall in love with this book, you can continue the Kiss Quotient Series with The Bride Test (Book #2) and The Heart Principle (Book #3).
This revelation led her to create the character of Cassie—an undiagnosed autistic woman who uses time travel to navigate her struggles with connection and self-acceptance.
After a breakup, a job loss, and a banana muffin shortage, Cassandra discovers an extraordinary power—to rewind time on this frustrating day.
As she embraces the chance to rewrite her fate, she learns that altering the past doesn't guarantee a smooth future in this charming blend of romance, time travel, and mythos.
As someone who is part of the autistic community, Hibbert shared in past interviews that "autism informs everything I write."
The third book in the Brown Sisters series offers a unique slow-burn romance plot while hitting the romance beats readers have come to love and expect.
In this steamy story, Jacob is a white man who has an autism diagnosis, and Eve, a Black woman without one, both navigate a world that fails to understand them.
Eve Brown, the youngest in her family, drifts between jobs, living off her family trust fund until her parents issue a harsh ultimatum: hold down a job for a year and find a place, or lose financial support.
Landing at a charming B&B with a vacancy, she encounters a boss who's both attractive and exasperatingly grumpy. As you can imagine, shenanigans do ensue.
Hibbert has shared that she wanted to explore the contrast between these characters where Jacob's struggles are acknowledged, but Eve's can be overlooked.
Readers may be surprised that Liese pursued her autism diagnosis after reading Helen Hoang's #OwnVoices romance The Kiss Quotient.
In a statement posted on Instagram, she described the experience of writing and publishing her first autistic characters as "a pride & a vulnerability—it's not just gazing at my bandaged place but inviting you to gaze there, too."
In this second book in the Bergman Brothers series, a love story develops between an autistic woman battling arthritis and chronic pain and a man navigating the challenges of toxic masculinity in professional sports.
As they embrace who they are, they discover the power of found family and healing in finally being seen.
The Bergman Brothers series consists of interconnected standalone novels, allowing readers to enjoy them in any order.
However, reading out of sequence may reveal minor spoilers about previous couples' stories.
While this is the third book in the Dangerous Damsels series, it can be read as a standalone, with some small overlapping characters.
I chose book 3 for you because Alice Dearlove is one of India Holton's most beloved characters.
In a statement on Instagram, she shared, "I am exceedingly fond of Alice Dearlove. Although she and I experience autism in different ways, I can relate to her on some levels - primary amongst them being an appreciation of books and Daniel Bixby!
I especially enjoyed how her confusion around sarcasm, idiom, and innuendo allowed me to play with irony and other literary elements, mainly for my own amusement. For example, I don't employ innuendo as just innuendo.
For me, it's a joke about how language can mean anything or nothing, and about how perception changes reality - which is a running theme of all the books."
Alice, known as Agent A, is a top spy in a secret government agency.
When rumors of an assassination plot arise, she's paired with her rival, Agent B (Daniel), to go undercover as a married couple.
As she infiltrates a pirate party to stop the threat, they must also navigate their growing attraction while keeping their mission on track.
Will they succeed in saving the day, or will their feelings get in the way? You must read to find out!
WELL-RESEARCHED BOOKS WITH AUTISTIC CHARACTERS
Many of these writers have autistic family members or dear friends who are part of this community, but most went beyond personal experience to develop their plots.
This small list of standout novels offers incredible research and authentic representation.
Today's book list is inspired by our incredible Book Gang podcast guest, Kennedy Ryan.
She is the proud mother of an autistic child. Ryan hosts the Lift 4 Autism fundraiser, which brings the romance community together to raise funds for support therapy, services, and medical expenses for the community every year.
While she is a seasoned author, this is the first time she has encompassed her parenting journey through her second book in the Skyland series.
To showcase how different this experience can look even between families, she crafted identical teenage twins who face different challenges.
Although she had much personal experience to garner from, she interviewed the autism community to encompass other's experiences. She also included an autistic editor in the process to read her story line by line to ensure that she captured this experience as authentically as possible.
This story is a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance, but I marveled at her authentic depiction of our daily lives, which I had never seen in my literature before.
Rimmer embeds an autism story in the modern timeline of this moving historical fiction novel that made my best books of the year list.
The author has two autistic nephews and wanted to enhance this viewpoint with more research for her book. She spent a week with a friend who had undertaken her postgrad degree in autism studies to craft a well-developed viewpoint from the mother.
In this dual timeline story, Alina has known she would marry her best friend Tomaz since the tender age of nine.
At fifteen, she is engaged as planned and unconcerned about the reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing that they are her neighbors and not a threat.
She could never know, though, how the Nazi occupation would take over her rural village and how it had the power to destroy her relationship with her one true love.
Presently, Alice is navigating the daily challenges of parenting with an autistic child, a husband who doesn't get the work that goes into keeping their family floating, and a grandmother in the hospital.
When her grandmother begs her to return to her childhood hometown, Alice begins to realize there is more to her grandmother's story than meets the eye.
Katherine Heiny is a consistently quirky storyteller who brings together a hilarious family raising their autistic son together.
Graham divorced his first wife to marry his girlfriend, Audra. Audra is a hilarious, chatty busybody whom Graham has found challenging as a more private introvert.
He is often forced to be social because of unusual gatherings between Audra's mismatched circles—neighbors, friends, and his son's origami club participants.
When Audra decides to befriend his ex-wife, Graham's world is rocked. This relationship brings to the forefront the contrasts between the two women he has loved as he contemplates why he let his first wife go.
While there isn't much plot in this story, you'll feel pulled into the dinner table with this family, mainly as Audra builds an unlikely family among everyone in her life.
Their son's origami club is one you'll want to be part of.
Benjamin Ludgwig's debut novel was inspired by his role as a foster parent of an autistic teenager and enhanced through the stories of fellow parents of autistic children.
Ginny's removal from her home stemmed from her neglectful mother, but she now feels she has found her forever family.
As their family expands with a new baby, she begins to worry that she has placed too much strain on her foster parents.
So, when Ginny's birth mother starts creeping back into her life, she will stop at nothing to get back to where she believes she belongs. But the reader will uncover a rather surprising reason why.
Ludwig's novel beautifully showcases the challenges of finding teen adoptive families while taking readers on a heartwarming turn with an unforgettable character. I adored Ginny!
Graves created a tagline for her novels describing them as "contemporary fiction with a happily-ever-after."
This 5-star neurodiverse love story follows Annika, an English major at the University of Illinois. She struggles to make sense of social situations, so navigating her early college days is an incredibly challenging time.
When she joins the chess club, she immediately beats Jonathan, who can't help but adore Annika.
They begin a beautiful relationship, but an unforeseen tragedy forces them apart and ends their relationship.
Annika and Jonathan reunite one decade later when they discover they live in the same town. The two begin rekindling what was lost but must also address why they lost each other in the first place.
I loved the supportive characters that helped Anika navigate the world. As Kirkus Reviews aptly describes, "Graves creates a believable love affair in which Annika is not infantilized..."
In past interviews, Graves expressed her commitment to highlighting Annika's strengths and challenges, emphasizing the importance of giving her character a voice and conveying the complexities of autism.
Greenwood's novel might take a minute to sink your teeth into her character Gentry's magical voice, but I promise that your efforts will pay off in this unlikely love story.
Zee is navigating life with chronic pain after a motorcycle accident. She is immediately intrigued when she encounters Gentry at her physical therapist's office- a man fascinated with medieval culture, which shapes how he engages with his world.
A 24-year-old autistic man, he is guided by the voices of Gawen, Hildegard, and the Witch, whom he affectionately dubs "Hag, Nag, and Douchebag" on what to do in life.
As he feels called to all things knightly, he quickly realizes all his chivalrous training might be to champion and protect Zee from harm.
As the two navigate life's challenges, including Zee's sister's abduction, Gentry's unique perspective and unwavering loyalty are brought to life through pitch-perfect narration.
Somehow, Greenwood effortlessly navigates nine different narrators with their distinctive voices. In past interviews, she described sharing the same fascinations as Gentry and said she shares space with many in the autistic community. Gentry's voice, in that way, came quite naturally.
The Middle English brings unique charm and a fairytale quality to this grit-lit selection that I wish more people would read.
Readers seeking #ownvoices middle grade selections, I encourage you to try these:
In today’s podcast, escape in a time loop novel. We discuss Groundhog Day books and the comforting ways repeating time travel can charm us in our book stack.
When we say “time loop,” readers immediately react to this statement. Whether it is a no or a yes, Jessica and I have you covered in today’s podcast.
We discuss why repeating cycles of events work for us or don’t and how some of the storytellers featured today nailed moving the time loop plot forward in new ways.
Plus, I’m revealing a treasure trove of new time travel resources, including new time travel books, TV, and movies you can stream this weekend to explore a new world that won’t break the bank.
I hope it brings unlimited joy to your weekend, as was the intention of this creator who lovingly created these spaces for you.
Today’s BONUS book list celebrates the14 time loop books to read now. This list includes new releases, thrillers, mysteries, YA, and holiday books.
But wait, there’s more!
Our incredible super-expansion pack of time travel adventures is linked to today’s show notes. These include a massive refresh on new time travel books, alternate realities, and parallel lives, and explorations of parallel worlds and the multiverse.
Meet Jessica Bearak
Jessica is a lifelong book lover who embarked on her literary journey at three, immersing herself in childhood classics like “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Phantom Tollbooth.”
Jessica actively participates in two in-person book clubs and many online discussions regularly. She has been an invaluable member of the MomAdvice Book Club and joins us as a regular contributing voice.
Trapped in a Time Loop Novel
Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:
Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!
Mentioned in this episode:
Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!
NEW Resources for Readers (I did something I promised- gold star!!):
Let’s explore books about parallel universes and multiverse stories with this new book list. These fun books for adults will make you feel like a kid again!
This final article in our time travel series explores the world of parallel universes and the multiverse. This is one of my favorite book playgrounds because there are so many places to visit in a single book.
Are Parallel Universes Time Travel?
Books about parallel universes or the multiverse often involve elements of time travel. Still, not all of them are strictly categorized as time travel books.
While time travel may play a role in some narratives, the primary focus of these books is typically on exploring alternate realities and the concept of multiple universes coexisting simultaneously.
These are wonderful time travel adjacent stories, and much like magical realism books, they have some beautiful overlaps for readers.
In these parallel world books, the concept of multiple realities exists alongside our own. These stories often feature characters traveling between different dimensions and encountering alternate versions of themselves and their worlds.
What is the Difference Between Parallel Universes and Parallel Lives?
I have an incredible book list on alternate realities and parallel lives (linked below).
Still, for point of reference, a parallel universe typically refers to entire alternate realities with different laws of physics and even history.
But in a story of parallel lives, you typically encounter different opportunities that take a character on a different path. Books like Sliding Doors include variations of a person’s life within the same universe.
What is the Difference Between Multiverse and Parallel Universe?
In contrast, the multiverse can encompass many versions of parallel universes, each with unique circumstances and possibilities in each world. When these different versions are combined, they can create movie magic AND book magic.
My favorite examples of this would be Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, and Into the Spiderverse for incredible movie contexts.
So, today, we head into the world of the parallel world and multiverse with this new book list.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s multiverse books and parallel universe reading assignment. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
Books About Parallel Universes or the Multiverse
From mind-bending twists to epic quests across worlds, these books will keep you on the edge of your seat as you journey through multiple universes.
This debut novel follows a scientist named Raffi as they travel into the multiverse to search for the woman they love.
Raffi can't stop thinking about Britt and the unique connection they shared many years ago.
Driven by the possibility of a multiverse, they quit their jobs to study parallel worlds, hoping to find themselves at 13 and finally tell Britt how they feel.
Each chapter offers a different parallel world as the characters encounter different versions of themselves, which adds speculative fiction elements to enhance the story.
For readers seeking an LGBT time travel story, this will fit the bill perfectly.
This novel is set during the pandemic, although you can quickly escape from the sadness through a parallel universe thanks to Scalzi’s imaginative science-fiction plot.
Jamie is stuck in the rat race of trying to make ends meet through his job as a gig worker delivering food.
During one delivery to a regular, the man extends a job opportunity at an "animal rights organization."
Intrigued, Jamie accepts, only to discover that KPS, the "animal rights group," operates clandestinely to safeguard the secrets of an alternate Earth populated by monstrous kaiju.
If you're unfamiliar with the term, these are giant Godzilla monsters.
It is a hilarious adventure novel filled with boy humor that I quickly passed on to my husband, who adored it as much as I did in this blockbuster movie of a book that offers a light reading escape.
All horror novels offer a parallel universe, don't they?
But I wanted to highlight one so evocative in detail that I now read it annually and get something out of it each time.
Hamill embraces Lovecraftian details, and hearing him discuss them was one of my most memorable experiences as a book club host.
At its root, the story is about a family haunted house visited by a monster.
No family member has let it in until Noah, and it follows a story reminiscent of The Shape of Water in scope as the two attempt to live in each other’s worlds throughout Noah’s life.
But speaking to the parallel universe, readers are pulled into the City depicted in the book, where reality takes on a surreal and dream-like quality.
In this world, buildings constantly shift and relocate, creating a disorienting landscape where nothing stays the same for long.
Scenes from the familiar "normal world" become distorted and altered as dimensions warp and ordinary objects take on strange new qualities.
It was our first dip into weird fiction as a book club, and I loved every minute.
This novel, the first in The Space Between Worlds series, was a GoodReads Choice nominee for Best Science Fiction in 2020.
In this world, people can travel between universes, but there's a rule: no one can go to a world where they're still alive.
Luckily (or unluckily), Cara is an exception—her other selves have all died in various ways on 372 different worlds.
However, Cara's journey reveals her hidden truths and the secrets of those around her, leading readers on a gripping exploration of identity and consequence across the multiverse.
Among the novels on this list, this novel has the most polarizing reviews among readers, but most science fiction fans fell in love with this creative multiverse concept.
Micaiah Johnson recently published her second book in The Space Between Worlds series called Those Beyond the Wall.
Book two is set a decade after the first novel's events in Wiley City and Ashtown.
When I read this novel in 2016, I gave it five stars! Described as Cloud Atlas meets Orphan Black, it filled the void in my Hunger Games era.
Marguerite is the daughter of two scientists who have found a way to unlock different dimensions through a high-tech necklace called the Firebird.
This necklace allows you to step into alternate worlds, both past and present.
When her father is murdered, the murderer turns out to be a trusted lab assistant who has used the Firebird to leave and hop in another parallel dimension.
Hot on his heels, though, are Marguerite and Theo, another research assistant on the team, to try to avenge his death.
Time travel magic unfolds as Marguerite plays a game of cat and mouse from one dimension to another.
What she doesn’t expect is the awaiting love triangle or the truth behind her father’s death in a surprising little plot twist.
You can continue the Firebird series with Ten Thousand Skies Above You and A Million Worlds With You in this trilogy from Claudia Gray!
We are excited to be reading our second V.E. Schwab novel for book club next month and discuss Schwab’s extensive backlist. Please join us for our Vicious discussion in April!
In A Darker Shade of Magic, readers escape into this fantasy story of parallel universes, the first novel in the Shades of Magic series.
Kell is a rare and powerful magician capable of traveling between the four distinct Londons: Grey, Red, White, and the perilous Black.
As he navigates the intricate web of magic that binds these realms together, he finds himself entangled in a deadly conspiracy that threatens these worlds.
If you fall in love with this story, you can continue the journey in the Shades of Magic series with A Gathering of Shadows and A Conjuring of Night—both highly rated and adored by fans of the author.
Crouch creatively explores the concept of living multiple timelines in this gripping science fiction selection.
NYPD detective Barry finds himself drawn into a world of False Memory Syndrome when he encounters a woman on the brink of tragedy.
Meanwhile, researcher Helena's quest to preserve memories takes a dangerous turn when her work falls into the hands of a sinister billionaire.
As the boundaries of reality blur, the novel explores the repercussions of altering the past and the unsettling consequences of manipulating memories.
This novel also appeared on our book list for alternate realities because of the False Memory Syndrome concept, highlighting the explored worlds that these characters thought they lived.
MULTIVERSE BOOKS
Explore the multiverse through these books that alter our realities in parallel worlds.
Alix Harrow describes her novella as "the spider-verse but with sleeping beauties." This short 119-page book offers readers a quick escape between heavier books.
On Zinnia Gray's twenty-first birthday, she faces the bittersweet reality of her rare condition called General Roseville Malady that will end her life.
When her best friend throws her an elaborate Sleeping Beauty-themed celebration, Zinnia anticipates a memorable farewell.
Yet, through a twist of fate involving a spinning wheel, Zinnia is thrown into a whirlwind of parallel worlds, where she encounters another Sleeping Beauty in dire need of salvation.
This first novel in the Fractured Fables series offers readers a refreshing feminist approach to familiar fairy tales.
If you love this novella, you can continue with book two, A Mirror Mended.
Described as Dark Matter meets The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, this suspenseful multiverse novel offers a serial killer book with a mind-bending twist.
Clay is fixated on killing multiple versions of the same woman across parallel universes.
As political reporter Felicity Stapler becomes involved in the investigation, she navigates a labyrinth of clues and dangers, racing against time to save the unsuspecting victims.
With each universe holding its secrets, Felicity must outwit Clay before he strikes again,
With echoes of You, you'll be captivated by Barry's clever multiverse concept.
If Everything Everywhere All At Once was your favorite film, this novel will launch you back into a multiverse motherhood story.
Hannah has been struggling since her son’s traumatic birth, and she can't shake the feeling that it could have gone the other way.
As this new mom develops a fixation on the "what if," the storyline takes a science-fiction bend when her worst nightmares do come true.
Her child, at random, seemingly disappears into thin air, and through this element, readers are left holding their breath in some of the most unlikely places.
As Hannah isn't in great shape mentally or physically after, she is shaken when people begin to tell her that Jack never made it to this birthday and that the memories she harbors of him not surviving are real.
But what if Hannah could stop this from happening and save her son in another dimension?
Readers might not know that Emily St. James Mandel created her own multiverse through her novels. In honor of the time travel theme, I wanted to spotlight one of these books.
Sea of Tranquility chronicles a 500-year journey through time, where far-future time travelers uncover a potential 'file corruption' that challenges their simulation hypothesis.
As the author's characters grapple with the blurred lines between reality and simulation, echoes from previous works resurface, and the author herself becomes part of the narrative.
She explores her story through autofiction in an avatar named Olive Llewellyn, who happens to be embarking on a book tour in the year 2203 amidst a pandemic.
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass)
If you crave more time travel moments like this, don’t miss these book lists:
Time Travel Books—If you like to move forward or backward through time travel- this is your perfect book list. I’ve included many new release books and classics like Stephen King (11/22/63), The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, or The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Books About Alternate Realities or Parallel Lives—Books like Sliding Doors offer glimpses into second chances…or sometimes three, four, or nine pivotal life moments. This book list includes Maybe Next Time and The Midnight Library.
The Best Time Travel TV & Movies—This TV list celebrates the new TV shows and movies you haven’t heard about yet and can stream for your weekend! Totally Killer topped my list and is perfect for campy time travel fans.
Time Loop Books—This book list is for readers who love Groundhog Day loop stories, which involve time travel repeating in a loop. You can visit this book list or head to the Book Gang podcast to hear us discuss our favorite finds.
What do YOU think are the best books about the parallel universe or multiverse books? Let us know in the comments below what this list needs! Happy time traveling, friends!
Browse this book list filled with the best time loop books. Today’s list includes new release books, thrillers, mystery, young adult, and holiday books.
Time loop books can be the trickiest to engage readers, but they can be one of the most comforting kinds of books as we contemplate how characters can fix their past mistakes to break the loop.
I know there are many moments in our lives that we wish we could do again, and in those ways, these stories can be incredibly therapeutic.
What Are Time Loop Books?
Time loop books are stories where characters repeatedly experience the same events or day, often without initially realizing it.
While many time loop books can fall into the science fiction genre, we wanted to showcase all the other ways time loops can happen in our stories.
In this time travel story, the characters are trapped in a repeating cycle of events that they cannot escape.
These are often called Groundhog Day stories and are among the trickiest to keep readers engaged.
If you missed the Book Gang podcast, we discuss the beauty in these time loop stories through new books that recently hit store shelves and a few great backlist recommendations to get your book stack started.
Listen to the full episode below and subscribe to the Book Gang podcast for more episodes like this one. The show notes are located here.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s time travel assignment. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
Time Loop Books to Read Now
In honor of today’s Book Gang podcast theme, we are excited to share this new collection of time loop books featuring our favorite Groundhog Day stories for time travel enthusiasts.
This week's list was created with @tonightsbookishfeast for this week's Book Gang podcast episode.
Explore this book list, which includes thrillers, mysteries, romances, and young adult books for readers. As we find new books, we will update this list!
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you have been craving a cozy rom-com like Love Actually for your book stack, this is the new time loop story for you.
The novel opens in a bar with Gemma's favorite song playing and a guy ordering a distinctly Gemma drink for her.
It's strangely familiar, and at the end of that first night together, Jack simply pleads, "Please remember me, Gemma."
The reader discovers that Jack has been trapped in a 24-hour time loop that only seems to progress when Gemma begins to fall in love with him.
The problem is that she has no recollection of the encounter each time they wake up.
And so you, as the reader, will hope that 147-time loops will undoubtedly have been enough to finally get to that happily ever after for Jack and Gemma.
I loved every moment of this journey, especially the nods to films likeWhen Harry Met SallyandLove Actually, which are embedded in this book.
This story offers a dual point of view in an imagined future in 2090.
Carter Cho, a technician at a scientific lab, and Neuroscientist Mariana Pineda find themselves trapped in a never-ending time loop.
The initiation of this incident occurs when Mariana, newly grieving the loss of someone in her life, finds herself on an unexpected tour of Carter's secretive facility, where he's tinkering with the Hawke Particle Accelerator.
But their excursion takes a dramatic turn when the reactor unexpectedly detonates, hurling them into a bewildering time loop that spans four days.
As they are the only ones retaining memories from each cycle, they embark on a journey to unravel the mystery behind the loops while discovering some unexpected feelings for each other.
This book is for readers who like thorough explanations of the reason behind the why of the time loop rather than for readers who crave light time travel descriptions.
This novel has great crossover appeal for teen readers who love science fiction.
In this time loop thriller, Jen anxiously waits for her son Todd on a chilling Halloween night, where she witnesses him committing a horrifying act of violence.
But when she wakes up the following day, she's back in time with the opportunity to prevent the murder from happening.
With each new day, Jen finds herself further back in the past, determined to unravel the events leading up to the crime to save her son from a devastating fate.
Agatha Christie mystery fans will adore this fun debut.
One of our book club members shared that this is the first book like Agatha Christi that delivered on these rich comparisons.
There are three rules of Blackheath House:
Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m.
There are eight days and eight witnesses for you to inhabit.
We will only let you escape once you tell us the killer's name.
Readers know that Evelyn Hardcastle will die.
She will die daily until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle.
Aiden wakes up in a different body and repeats the day, armed with new information each time he awakens.
Some of his hosts help him, while others make his job very hard.
Leaving clues for himself to find, he must win the game to leave the property, but it won't be easy.
Turton crafts some unlikeable characters and creates beautiful tension when Aiden has to fight the impulses of the body he inhabits.
Keep in mind his confusion is the reader's confusion, too, so the story keeps the reader on their toes. We recommend reading this as a paper copy to ensure you can access the map and cast of characters to help you solve the case.
If you choose to do the audiobook or a digital copy, take a screenshot of the sample pages for these crucial details that you’ll need to help you solve the crime.
In this Christmas romance from the writing duo Christina Lauren, Mae spends Christmas every year in a beloved Utah cabin with her family and close friends.
But this year, everything feels off: Mae's life is in turmoil, and the cabin is about to be sold.
After a car crash, she repeatedly relives the holiday week, determined to break out of the time loop and find true happiness.
YOUNG ADULT TIME LOOP BOOKS
These time travel books for young adults are some of our favorites. They showcase the joy of those coming-of-age years in an excellent time loop story.
This novel is among the first I’ve seen with the new Reese’s Writer Fellowship LitUp Exists sticker. The writer’s fellowship is offered to unpublished, diverse women and nonbinary individuals.
This young adult story is a celebration of two queer, disabled, Jewish teens who find themselves ensnared in an endless time loop--and unexpectedly falling in love.
For Phoebe Mendel, each day is the same, trapped in an endless time loop cycle. However, Phoebe's routine is shattered when her childhood crush, Jess, becomes entangled in the loop after a car crash.
With Jess by her side, they embrace self-discovery and adventure through these consequence-free days.
But as their bond deepens, Phoebe begins to worry about their future beyond this loop.
This novel is recommended for readers ages 13 and older.
My co-host, Jessica Bearak, shared that this novel is perfect for readers who struggle with time loop stories.
We are pulled into the story 310 days after Clark's first time loop experience.
Clark has been reliving the same mundane day repeatedly, becoming increasingly frustrated with the experience.
When he meets the carefree Beau, his world is turned upside down as the two embark on a whirlwind adventure through Chicago.
As Clark works through assignments from his therapist to help him feel less lonely, he finds Beau might be the perfect connection to help him mentally move forward.
This is more than a YA romance and proves why Robbie Couch is a favorite on our show.
I became a fan of Pessl's writing after reading Night Film and recommend this selection for fans of We Were Liars.
Beatrice and her group of friends all have been devastated by the death of Beatrice's boyfriend, Jim.
She has been estranged from her friends but is invited to celebrate a birthday celebration with the old gang.
After a strained night and a near-miss car crash, they receive a visitor who calls himself "The Keeper."
He says they are now stuck between the worlds of life and death. For them to move on, they must all vote and unanimously choose one of themselves to save.
Given the dynamics of these strained relationships, the reader knows they will be in for a long and bumpy ride.
Stuck in time, they live the same day over and over again until they can come to a decision.
As more secrets come to light surrounding Jim's death, choosing who should be saved becomes a complex plot point.
Don’t forget, we have an incredible best time travel tv shows and movies resource list that include time loop stories for the screen like Russian Doll and Happy Death Day!
If you crave more magical books like this, don’t miss these book lists:
Time Travel Books—Don’t miss this list filled with time travel that moves forward and backward through time. This is the list for books like Stephen King (11/22/63) or The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Books About Parallel Universe and Multiverse Stories– Books like Everything, Everywhere, All At Once are featured in this book list. The list also explores parallel universes in science fiction like Dark Matter or fantasy themes in books like The Ten Thousand Doors of January.
The Best Time Travel TV & Movies—This TV list celebrates the new TV shows and movies you haven’t heard about yet and can stream for your weekend!
Books About Alternate Realities or Parallel Lives– Books like Sliding Doorsimagine the what-if when protagonist’s are given two or more choices that lead the down different paths. This book list includes books like Maybe Next Time and The Midnight Library.
What do YOU think are the best time loop books? Let us know in the comments below what this list needs! Happy time traveling, friends!
Explore the best book list of books about alternate realities or parallel lives that create a world of second chances for readers that love a “what if” book.
Welcome to the time travel world where reality twists and bends, offering readers glimpses into parallel lives and alternate realities.
What Are Books About Alternate Realities and Parallel Lives?
I describe these stories as books like Sliding Doors because that is how I was first attracted to these storylines through the movie’s imaginative theme.
One of my earliest memories of these books was a Taylor Jenkin’s Reid story called Maybe, Next Time, when Women’s Fiction was called “chick-lit”- a trend that, thankfully, has ended.
These books offered complete escapism in my early motherhood, and there were indeed days when I imagined what my world would look like if I had taken different paths.
Sometimes described as ‘what if books,’ they show what happens when characters make different choices, leading to parallel realities with multiple outcomes.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s time travel assignment. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
After you finish this list, visit my other book lists with the best forward and backward time travelers, time loops, parallel universes, and multiverse stories that are shared at the bottom of today’s post.
Books About Alternate Realities and Parallel Lives
Let's celebrate my favorite books about alternate realities and parallel lives with this week's book list.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
NEW BOOKS ABOUT PARALLEL LIVES AND ALTERNATE REALITIES
For time travel enthusiasts, these new books are perfect for this fun trope.
In this delightful novel of second chances, Frankie McKenzie gets the opportunity to rewrite her story after a freak accident ends her life prematurely.
Like The Midnight Library, Frankie can revisit pivotal moments from her past and explore the endless possibilities of different choices.
From romantic escapades to career pursuits, she navigates the what-ifs of her life.
This feel-good romance novel is being marketed as The Good Place meets Sliding Doors, and early readers loved the witty banter and relatable characters in this story.
In Timothy Janovsky's latest LGBTQ romance, Nolan dreams of making it big in stand-up comedy, but his aspirations aren't matching his reality.
Struggling to make ends meet and hiding his feelings for his best friend, Drew, Nolan's life takes a dramatic turn when he asks Drew to be his date for his sister's wedding.
However, when Drew makes a wish on magical crystals to skip to the good part of his life, he wakes up seven years later as a successful comedian who despises Nolan.
As Nolan grapples with the consequences of his actions and the true meaning of success, he must find a way to win back Drew's affection.
In this charming debut, Gemma attempts to mend her broken heart by casting a spell to erase her ex from her past.
But when she wakes up in an alternate reality where she's lost more than she bargained for, she must navigate a world where her once-best friend, Dax, doesn't even recognize her.
She must convince Dax to kiss her to undo the spell, but as she spends time with him, she starts to question if he might be "The One" after all.
Backlist Books About Alternate Realities and Parallel Lives
Visit your local library to snag my favorite backlist books about alternate realities and parallel lives.
The story's intriguing concept of nine lives came from the timeline of nine months in a pregnancy.
Rose is an academic who loves her career, but her husband's one request is that she give that up to pursue having a child with him.
The opening sequence begins with a fight about prenatal vitamins, and in each variation, Rose approaches this life challenge with a different answer or outcome.
Her story unfolds in nine different ways as she navigates love, loss, betrayal, divorce, death, and her career through these different paths.
It was a treat to have the author participate in our book club discussion and share the motive behind her beautiful story.
Kate never thought she would find love again after the sudden death of her husband over a decade ago, but now she's preparing to walk down the aisle with a kind man.
However, she feels less than excited about the impending nuptials, initially attributing it to stress and lack of sleep.
When her past husband visits her in her dreams, she begins to fall into an alternate universe where the lines between reality and imagination are blurred.
Kate's journey takes her on a path of self-discovery as she balances the line between her reality and dreams.
This, ultimately, leads her to a sign language class and the New York City foster system, where she discovers unexpected rewards.
Fans of Sliding Doors books will be swept away in this novel that is as heartwarming as it is heart-wrenching.
Clare Mackintosh is best known for her thrillers like I Let You Go. But, the writer also wrote this heartstring-pulling contemporary book about a difficult decision she faced in her motherhood journey.
In this emotionally charged novel, the lives of Pip and Max Adams are forever altered when they find themselves in a courtroom, battling over the fate of their son, Dylan.
They are facing a difficult decision on whether to continue life support for their three-year-old child after he's suffered brain damage with no hope for improvement.
As the judge's verdict hangs in the balance, the narrative splits into two alternate realities, exploring the profound consequences of each possible outcome.
Mackintosh weaves in this heartbreaking motherhood story based on her experience going through this trial with one of her twins.
A library exists beyond the edge of the universe, where unlimited books recount the stories of alternate realities.
One describes your present life, while others narrate the paths you could have taken if you had made different choices.
As we often ponder what might have been, what if we could visit this library and see for ourselves?
This is the intriguing premise of this captivating, award-winning bestseller we read together for our book club.
With the option of pursuing a different career, undoing past heartbreaks, or even pursuing her dream of studying glaciers, Nora embarks on a journey through the Midnight Library to discover what truly brings fulfillment to her life.
She can also live out some of her biggest regrets that help her realize the consequences of those choices, for better or worse.
As many of us struggle with the mental health consequences of our busy world, the encouragement to go on and how we can unexpectedly impact others was a beautifully bittersweet reminder that life is tough, but so are we.
Lydia and Freddie had been inseparable for over a decade, and Lydia believed their love was unbreakable.
However, when Freddie dies in a car accident on Lydia's twenty-eighth birthday, her world is shattered.
Emotionally devastated, Lydia's doctor prescribes sleeping pills to help her through this difficult time.
When sleeping, Lydia discovers that Freddie's life continues in her dreams.
In this sleeping world, she is still preparing for her wedding and savoring every continued moment with Freddie.
Lydia's life quickly begins to fracture into two lives- her awake life and her sleeping life.
Silver builds such a beautiful love story in the fissures of these cracks. After all, we do have the ability to immortalize people and erase faults when they pass away.
As Lydia heals, her time in her sleeping life begins to separate, and Lydia discovers that her waking life might be just as beautiful.
So, with the aid of Freddie's best friend Jonah and her sister Elle, Lydia begins to take tentative steps into a new world, prepared to embrace life, and perhaps even love once more.
In Tom Barren's version of 2016, the future that people dreamed of in the 1950s has become a reality.
It's a dazzling, idealistic place with flying cars and moving sidewalks.
Hilariously, avocados never spoil, and punk rock never existed because it wasn't necessary!
Despite this utopian paradise, Tom struggles to find his place in the world, and things only get worse when a time travel mishap turns his life upside down.
Tom is stranded in OUR 2016, the real world that we know, which he sees as a dystopian wasteland.
As Tom adjusts to this new reality, he discovers unexpected versions of his family, career, and even a potential soulmate.
But he faces a difficult choice: should he try to fix the flow of history and restore his utopian world or embrace this messy and unpredictable reality as his new home?
To be transparent, this novel has polarizing reviews on GoodReads, but I loved its execution, and so did my husband.
Even if you don't initially think you'll love this one, stick around for the surprising twist in the second half that makes the time travel journey worth it.
I can't do this book list without including this science fiction novel’s alternate reality concept that introduces a syndrome called “False Memory Syndrome," in which individuals experience false memories.
In these imagined worlds, they believe they have lived entirely different lives.
These false memories can be so convincing that they disrupt the individuals' sense of reality and identity, blurring the lines between real and imagined.
My husband and I highly rated all of Blake Crouch's novels, giving them five beautiful stars for their clever science fiction concepts. This book is no exception!
If you crave more magical books like this, don’t miss these book lists:
Time Travel Books—Don’t miss this list filled with time travel that moves forward and backward through time. This is the list for books like Stephen King (11/22/63), The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, or The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Books About Parallel Universes and Multiverse Stories—This book list features books like Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. It also explores parallel universes in science fiction stories, such as Dark Matter, A Darker Shades of Magic, and The Ten Thousand Doors of January.
The Best Time Travel TV & Movies—This TV list celebrates the new TV shows and movies you haven’t heard about yet and can stream for your weekend!
Time Loop Books—This book list is for readers who love Groundhog Day loop stories, which involve time travel repeating with new lessons each loop.
Don’t forget we have an incredible best time travel TV shows and movies resource list that includes time loop stories for the screen, like Russian Doll and Happy Death Day!
What do YOU think are the best time loop books? Let us know in the comments below what this list needs! Happy time traveling, friends!
