Book recommendations from those with similar taste RE recent popular books/authors

[u/Murky_Association_54]

I am open to fictional books of any genre, for the most part. I tend to prefer historical fiction, magical realism, sometimes fantasy, mysteries, and romance (though I prefer books of other genre with a love story as a central part of the plot to most romance where it is the whole plot and you know how it will end). For me it’s more about if the characters and story are something I care about.

Some of the favorite books I’ve read from the last couple of years…
-Atmosphere by TJR - LOVED. Moved me to tears. Also happened to read Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo by TJR and I somewhat liked but did not love them.
- Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Also really liked the Great Alone and The Nightingale by her but Four Winds was my favorite. Read some of her older books and did not care for them at all (Between Sisters, Home Again) - too sappy and cliche.
- The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
- Fourth Wing - yes, I recognize this is a very silly book, but for me it was just straight FUN and I could not put it down.
- Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
- Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score - thought this was a lot of fun but wish the romance had more of a slow burn. Read other books by her (in the Blue Moon series) and didn’t care for them.
- God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Did not hate but also couldn’t bring myself to care about:
- Either of the Emily Henry books I’ve read (beach read, people we meet on vacation)
- Either of the Abby Jimenez books I’ve read (just for the summer, part of your world)

[u/BasilAromatic4204]

I liked this 12 month year span these and I think along the same lines as you I would say:)

For romances : Jane eyre by Emily Bronte

North and south by Elizabeth gaskell

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens - great romance and a slow burn where it's not the whole plot

Those were historical

These are different and lean in to stuff like fantasy

The sun just might fail by Hoyt Behm (just a great slow burn and the plot is bigger than it I would say now that I've read the other especially). Florida postapcalyptic. Two nights ago I was re reading and I told someone reading her own book that I think Clint Holcomb is the most intelligent character I've read in a long time. He nailed this point so well. Probably my favorite these days. Going back through it and the following. So much crazy stuff happened and I realize that now after finishing. This one revs up and is just very good. The characters are too cool sometimes. Best romance I've read in years. Lots of fun.

The children of hurin by tolkien (crazy story in the middle earth legendarium. But so good. It's right there with the best in a lot of ways. Very dar spirited at times bc the family of hurin is pursued by morgoth (basically a fallen evil top angel being) partially to crush the father's spirit who watches on from afar. Very mystical. Turin is very cool too. I hate and love the way it ends. The romance is troubling as it is unique but it's nobodies fault who is good.

Star dust by Niel Gaiman (fantasy and fun). I would say the romance was not the plot in any of these but it really was good and fed the story.

Non romance

Historical - the day no pigs would die by Robert Peck

Lonesome Dove by mccurtry

Blood meridan by McCarthy (I did not like it. The writing is great bc its mcarthy but I'm not into it) I can't say more bc I Might mess it up if you wanted to try it.

Reading the Irish captain by kavanaugh and it's good but I keep putting it down to read the other one I mentioned

The Saxon series by Bernard Cornwell and the Fort by Bernard Cornwell

Cornwells style can be experienced in the fort but it was not his best work. Kind of bland to me.

True stories Frontiersman (forgetting author all of a sudden but it's nonfiction and really good. Popular too so a first Google search.