Books to binge read: 77 romance series to love.

October 13, 2020

It’s here: the promised next installment of Books to Binge Read; the Romance Novel Series Edition. Hell yes.

There’s nothing like romance for escapism. My favorites tend to be the historicals, because I love the drama of balls and chaperones and carriages and corsets – and I love that the problems those characters face so rarely remind me of my own life.

These books tell the same core story again and again and again in a thousand different ways: two people becoming their true selves while finding each other.

Books to binge read: romance novel series edition.

What I'm reading. A beautiful library, photo by Valdemaras D. on Unsplash

Let’s take a break from life and read some romance! I’ve personally read all 77 of these romance series and I recommend them all.

To be very clear: these books contain sex. If you aren’t okay with that, don’t read them.

Love By Numbers By Sarah MacLean. The first book in this historical romance series encapsulates everything I love about this genre: a lady who has always followed the rules decides to make a list of the things she’d do if she dared…and she does them. It’s the beginning of a series I adore, which leads into to all of the other series in Sarah MacLean’s world.
Rules of Scoundrels by Sarah MacLean. Old timey rogues, an elite gambling hell, secrets, desire, drama, and romance. Perfection.
Scandal & Scoundrel by Sarah MacLean. This historical romance series follows a notorious newly noble family whose four sisters can’t stay out of the scandal sheets.
The Bareknuckle Bastards by Sarah MacLean. MacLean’s darkest series yet, focusing on brothers who have become crime lords in Regency era London. Strong women who find the deeply hidden soft hearts of dangerous men.
Castles Ever After by Tessa Dare. This is my favorite Tessa Dare historical romance series. Each books starts the same way: a woman unexpectedly inherits a castle. Adventure and romance follow. Sweet and meaningful and occasionally delightfully absurd. I…may have to reread these books later today now that I’ve thought about them.
Spindle Cove by Tessa Dare. Perhaps Tessa Dare’s most legendary historical romance series, Spindle Cove follows the lives of a number of women who spend their summers in “Spinster Cove,” an isolated seaside town where misfit young ladies find friendship. Intersects with Castles Ever After in the later books.
Girl Meets Duke by Tessa Dare. How to describe this historical romance series? It’s all marriages that begin in unexpected ways. One is a stranger arrangement, one is a governess + employer, etc. The Governess one is my favorite. The children are hilarious.
The Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy by Tessa Dare. One of Dare’s earlier historical romance series. I didn’t love these as much as her other books but I can’t remember why? Even a subpar Tessa Dare book is worth a read, though.
Reluctant Royals by Alyssa Cole. I love this contemporary romance series. It starts with a shady “Nigerian Prince scam” style email that turns out to be from a real prince. Romance ensures.
Runaway Royals by Alyssa Cole. A new contemporary romance series from Alyssa Cole!! I’m cheating including this here because I haven’t read it yet, but it IS on my Kindle waiting for me and I know it will be great.
The Loyal League by Alyssa Cole. These books follow a series of brave Black women working for the Union’s interests during the American Civil War…and finding love along the way. Intrigue, espionage, and romance. Historical.
Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James. Classic historical romance at its finest. This series follows a group of duchesses who are all friends with each other as one by one they undergo romantic epiphanies. By the end of the series you know each character intimately and will be very attached to all of them. AND THEN….
Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers by Eloisa James. This series is about the romantic lives of the now adult children of the Dukes and Duchesses from the previous series. It sounds weird, I know, but you’ll be so invested in these people by this point that each book will hit you right in the heart. They’re smart and fierce and utterly absorbing. I love them so much!
Fairy Tales by Eloisa James. Each book of this historical romance series takes its inspiration from a different fairy tale: Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Ugly Duckling, etc. They’re clever and creative and wonderful.
The Wildes of Lindow Castle by Eloisa James. James’ latest series follows the romantic travails of one particular noble family. A duke, a famous explorer….and whatever comes next (this historical series is unfinished).
Women Who Dare by Beverly Jenkins. I’ve only read Wild Rain, book two of this series, about a Black woman Rancher in Wyoming in the late 1800’s. The Wild West isn’t really my cup of tea, but the writing was so fantastic that I couldn’t help enjoying the story. Beverly Jenkins is a romance legend and one of the best known Black romance writers of all time. She’s also an author I want to be more familiar with – my library hold list is full of her books.
The Psy/Changeling Series Nalini Singh. These books are wild. They’re true Paranormal Romance: set in an alternate future universe inhabited by three races, the Changelings, The Psy, and Humans. They’re very much SciFi, which is a genre I don’t usually like, except that each book contains a sizzling romance, in addition to fast-paced, utterly absorbing plot. I’ve read this entire 15 book series twice and I know I’ll read it again.
The Psy/Changeling Series Nalini Singh. This is a sequel series to Psy/Changeling, one that involves familiar characters from the first 15 books but has a different central conflict as overarching plot. Paranormal romance, like the first series. The bears are my favorite!
Guild Hunter by Nalini Singh. Another paranormal romance from Nalini Singh. This one is more Fantasy than SciFi, taking place in an alternate version of our world inhabited by powerful Angels and Vampires. I just read this for the first time last month and it was utterly enthralling, although I didn’t love it quite as much as I love Psy/Changeling. I need to give a warning with this one: this series involves a number of very powerful beings who are evil and express their evil through sexual violence. These characters are never the protagonists and their acts are definitively characterized as evil, but I was occasionally uncomfortable with the amount of description of said acts. I skimmed those chapters and still enjoyed the series as a whole, but these books are decidedly not fluffy.
The Worth Saga by Courtney Milan. Once, the Worth family was one of the most respected in England. Then the head of that family, the Earl of Chatford, was discovered to be the ringleader of a treasonous plot. Historical.
The Brothers Sinister by Courtney Milan. The author’s website says: ‘You may be asking yourself, “Do we really need another historical series involving rakish men who form clubs with dangerous-sounding names?” Yes, yes we do.
The Wicked Quills of London by Eva Leigh. This saucy historical series focus on lady writers in Regency London. A newspaper reporter, a playwright, a write of erotic novels…all clever, status-quo defying ladies discovering the love they deserve. Highly recommend.
The Union of the Rakes by Eva Leigh. This historical romance series has a Breakfast Club-style origin story: a group of men becomes forever friends after serving a detention-like punishment as a group while at school as children. The series follows them as adults as they each find love. My Fake Rake is the first in the series and the best new romance I read in 2020.
The London Underground by Eva Leigh. This historical series features characters who are connected to the darker side of London: a smuggler, a gambling house owner, etc.
The Kiss Quotient series by Helen Hoang. A vivid, vibrant contemporary romance series that I thoroughly enjoyed. This series is notable both because it’s excellent and because it features protagonists who are on the Autism Spectrum. The author herself is on the Spectrum, so this from an #ownvoices perspective.
Feminine Pursuits Series by Olivia Waite. This series only has two books so far, but it has generated major buzz. These lesbian historical romances are known for being clever, sharp, and gorgeously written. I’ve only read the second book, but the story of two middle-aged widows finding later-in-life love with each other while tending beehives was absolutely wonderful.
The Wedding Date Series by Jasmine Guillory. Truly excellent contemporary romance series that follows a series of interconnected people as they all find love. This series notably includes a sexy romance for one of the early characters’ middle-aged mothers, which is very unusual and a real treat.
The Fitzhugh Trilogy by Sherry Thomas. Mysteries and secrets and illicit arrangements gone wrong as the Fitzhugh family finds love! Historical.
The London Trilogy by Sherry Thomas. Marriages of convivence that become something more and an estranged marriage that is rekindled! Historical.
Playbook by Alexa Martin. I don’t follow professional football in real life, but I did very much enjoy this contemporary romance series that focuses on women who fall in love with professional football players.
The Bedwyn Saga by Mary Balogh. The Bedwyns are a classic and the first historical romance series I ever read that takes the iconic trope of following all of the members of a family as they find love. I read this series during my honeymoon, at a beach on Turks and Caicos.
A Summer to Remember & One Night for Love by Mary Balogh. Prequels to the Bedwyns! I actually recommend reading these first, if you can.
The Survivor’s Club by Mary Balogh. This series intersects with the Bedwyns and focuses on a group of war veterans who find love as the world to heal their minds and bodies from the trauma of battle. This series is notable among historical romance for starring many heroes and one heroine with physical disabilities.
Huxtable Quintet by Mary Balogh. Another Balogh series that follows a family in Regency England.
The School for Dukes by Lenora Bell. These men are Dukes, but they all require a little bit of guidance. Thankfully, each will encounter a woman who has the wisdom he needs. Historical
Disgraceful Dukes by Lenora Bell. Yesss. The first book in this historical romance series has a Duke who is holding a The Bachelor type house party to try to choose a bride. Intrigue ensues, including disguises!
The Bridgertons by Julia Quinn. The Bridgertons are another utterly iconic, classic historical romance series. It follows a family as each member finds love. Expect to be VERY attached to them by the end.
The Rokesbys by Julia Quinn. A Bridgerton prequel series! This series is new and is still in progress. You might as well read the OG Bridgertons first.
The Smythe-Smith Quartet. Described on the author’s website as “The world’s worst amateur musicians finally take center stage.” Another well-known historical series. After you read these, you won’t be able to think of a musicale without putting “Smythe-Smith” before it.
Modern Love by Alisha Rai. I probably shouldn’t include this contemporary romance series because I only just started the first book, but I can tell it’s going to be great. These stories all have a technological spin – the first book is a romance between rival dating app developers. This author is known for her millionaire romances, but I haven’t read any of those yet.
The Four Hundred Series by Joanna Shupe. Unlike most of these historical romance series, this Joanna Shupe series focuses on high society in New York City in the late 1800’s. Very glamorous, but a little different than the usual London setting.
Uptown Girls by Joanna Shupe. As the name of this series suggests, these Joanna Shupe heroines find themselves drawn to men who are from outside their own social circles. Also in historical NYC.
Wicked Deceptions by Joanna Shupe. Historical and set mostly in Europe, these romances all start with some kind of deception.
Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. A classic, iconic, epic historical romance series from one of the greats. This is on the more gothic side: lots of tortured longings, political espionage, and dark deeds. The beginning of this series isn’t my favorite, but The Last Hellion has one of my favorite heroines of any romance.
Carsington family by Loretta Chase. This is Chase’s classic historical romance family series: it follows the Carsington family as each uniquely difficult sibling finds love. You get very attached to the family by the last book, which features the next generation and is my favorite of all of them.
The Dressmakers Series by Loretta Chase. Oh how I love these books! The Dressmakers are a trio of sisters trying to become the most desirable dressmakers in London. Expect lots of scheming, clever women defying convention, and utterly delicious descriptions of 1830’s fashion. These are connected to the Carsington family books, but exist separately.
The Fallen Women Series by Loretta Chase. This series has only two books, but the first one is one of my favorite rereads. Mystery, romance, strong women making their own paths, Venice, and tiny cherubs.
Difficult Dukes by Loretta Chase. Loretta Chase’s latest and currently ongoing series is extremely clever and enjoyable. The books are inspired by 90’s rom coms – the first one is a runaway bride, second is called 10 Things I Hate about the Duke and it comes out next month, I believe. Delightful.
The Mad Morelands by Candace Camp. There’s a little bit of magic in here, so I’d call this series Historical Romance with Fantasy overtones. There’s a bit of ghosts/telepathy mixed in among the elegant soirees of Regency London. Bold, convention-defying women meddling in things they’re not welcome to meddle in. I think I’ve just talked myself into rereading these books.
The Matchmaker by Candace Camp. A Lady who has given up on romance for herself focuses on trying to help others find love. Straightforward, enjoyable historical romance.
The Governess Series by Julia Kelly. As one might expect, this series follows a string of governesses who end up becoming more to their employers. I find the employer/employee relationship dynamic somewhat problematic at its core, but its a popular trope done well here and these are still a very fun read.
The Secret Life of Scoundrels by Anna Harrington. The Scarlet Scoundrels of Wellington’s Dragoons…a new duke, a rake of the first order, and a spy set on hiding his past have forged a brotherhood while under fire of Napoleon’s finest that they never thought would be called upon after they laid down their sabers. However, these three scoundrels of the ton will need each other in order to navigate the perils of returning home and finding love in the most unexpected places.
12 Dukes of Christmas by Erica Ridley. This series is sweet, quick, and delicious; like a seasonal treat. It follows the romantic adventures of a tiny, charming village known as “Christmas.” These books are one of my favorite of the niche genre of Christmas season romances. I’ve been reading them on and off for years and they’re always fun to return to.
Sins for all Seasons by Lorraine Heath. This historical series is a little bit on the darker side. It starts with the bastard son of a Duke who, after being raised in the London underworld, seeks revenge on his legitimate brother. The series continues with a series of couples who have one foot in the underworld and another in high society.
The Scoundrels of St. James by Lorraine Heath. This series has a similar vibe to Heath’s series above: it’s all about the intersection of the nobility with London’s dark underworld and the unusual people who have one foot in each world. Historical.
The Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James by Lorraine Heath. The children of the Scoundrels of St. James! It’s always interesting to see a two-generation series. It sounds like it should be creepy, but it’s fun to get so attached to the families.
Hellions of Havisham by Lorraine Heath. Raised by a madman, these noble boys became London’s darlings, forgiven for any transgressions because of their tragic pasts. I particularly enjoy book 2, which involves a pair of twins who love the same woman. It sounds like it will be creepy but it’s excellent. This series is also connected to the St. James books! Lorraine Heath’s website has a handy guide to these three series.
The Hathaways by Lisa Kleypas. A historical romance series that follows the members of a previously impoverished family as their social status changes and they begin to find love.
The Wallflowers by Lisa Kleypas. Four young ladies enter London society with one necessary goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So they band together, and a daring husband-hunting scheme is born. Maybe my favorite Kleypas? Historical.
The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas. The Ravenel family finds love! Highlights include the sister who marries the owner of a fabulous department store and the sister who dreams of inventing a board game. Historical.
Season for Scandal by Kelly Bowen. Historical. You know you love a story with a scandal at its heart!
The Duke’s Sons by Jane Ashford. This is another take on the classic historical romance family series, as we follow a noble family’s sons as each one finds love. Includes a fantastic house party scenario, anther device that I enjoy, and gently feisty heroines. Cheerful and heartwarming.
Dear Lady Truelove by Laura Lee Guhrke. This historical romance follows the women behind a newspaper’s write-in advice column as the advice they give to strangers creeps into their own lives.
An American Heiress in London by Laura Lee Guhrke. These American “Dollar Princesses” came to London and met some interesting men. Historical.
The Worthingtons by Ella Quinn. A family historical romance that follow the Worthingtons and the large family they form after a woman with guardianship of her siblings marries an Earl in book one.
The Cabot Sisters by Julia London. Passion and scandal collide in Julia London’s series about four sisters determined to rescue themselves from ruin! Historical.
Lively St. Lemeston by Rose Lerner. This series centers around the small town of St. Lemeston. This is the only historical romance I’ve ever read with a Jewish hero. Bonus: Rose Lerner loves jewelry! She found DitL through Pinterest many years ago and we discussed our mutual appreciation of books and vintage jewels.
Sinful Suitors by Sabrina Jeffries. This is what I think of as a “ring of Rakes” series. It follows a little group of noblemen who are all friends with each other and pledge to help keep each others’ sisters safe from Rakes…but it goes awry. Historical.
The Duke’s Men by Sabrina Jeffries. This historical romance series follows an number of characters who fall in love while also involved in espionage of various kinds.
Playful Brides by Valerie Bowman. This series is so much fun: very light and playful, with lots of clever dialogue and comic situations, including a reverse Cyrnao situation and a very strong plot allusion to The Importance of Being Earnest.
The Lost Lords by Mary Jo Putney. This historical romance series follows a group of noblemen who are bonded for life after growing up together in a boarding school for boys of “good birth and bad behavior.” As adults, they maintain their friendships as each one finds love with a remarkable woman.
The Bachelor Chronicles by Elizabeth Boyle. Delightful historical romance series with some moderate sprinklings of drama and deception.
Rhymes with Love by Elizabeth Boyle. Every books in this series is based on the plot of a classic nursery rhymes – which sounds strange, but it’s actually a lot of fun.
The Danvers Series by by Elizabeth Boyle. A family series centered around the Danvers brothers, with a little bit of espionage and intrigue. Elizabeth Boyle excels at classic, enjoyable Regency era historical romance.
The Windham Series by Grace Burrows. The Windhams are the unifying point of many of Grace Burrows’ historical romances. Eight siblings going forth into the world and finding love.
The Windham Brides by Grace Burrows. This series focuses on four of the Windham ladies as they find love. Connected to the series above.
Lonely Lords by Grace Burrows. This historical romance series focuses on the romantic travails of side characters from the Windham universe. There are 13 Lonely Lords! Grace Burrows is magnificently prolific.

What romance novels are you reading? Tell me about your faves that I missed!

This list does have certain flaws. It’s whiter than I would like it to be. I am now actively working to seek out more books by diverse authors in my reading, but for many years that wasn’t something I was paying attention to and it shows.

To find more romance novels by BIPOC authors, I recommend you check out the entire Women of Color in Romance website and also the entire Diverse Romance archives at Book Riot and Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.

This list is also very heterosexual. If you’re looking for more LGBTQA+ romance, I recommend The Best Classic LGBTQ+ Novels from The Advocate, 50 Must-Read Queer Romance Novellas from Book Riot, All About Romance’s LGBTQ+ Archive, and The Lesbrary’s entire archive.

If you want more book recs, you can see my What I’m Reading archive here, my Best Books of the Year posts here, my master list of book recs here, and Books That Make Me Feel Better here.

I tried to use Indiebound for these links, because those purchases will support independent bookstore, but Indiebound kept crashing, so some of these are Amazon links. They are also all affiliate links, so if you click through this post I’ll get a few pennies to put towards my own book buying.

If you’re buying hard copies of romance novels to binge read, please consider ordering through an independent bookstore to help support small businesses in this difficult economic time! Legendary Romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice is even offering custom care packages. If you live in the DC area, here’s a list of local bookstores offering curbside pickup and other accommodations.

Click here if you want to go back for my Books to binge read: 55 great fantasy series .

Book photos via Unsplash. This post contains affiliate links.

121 books by Black authors.

June 26, 2020

Good morning, my darlings! Today’s blog post is unusual in that is largely written by YOU.

Last week, in honor of Juneteenth, I started a conversation on my Instagram about books by Black authors. One of the ways I’m trying to fight racism in my own life is by making a conscious effort to seek out books by Black authors, so I sent out a call asking you to tell me what great books YOU’VE been reading by Black Authors.

The response absolutely blew me away. I received floods, avalanches, cascades of book recommendations! I re-shared all the recs in my Instagram story, but the final list was so good that I felt I absolutely had to collect and share these incredible titles by Black authors.

This list is different from the previous edition of my Books to Binge Read series because I’m including books that I haven’t personally read. Many of these recommendations came directly from you through my Instagram story and DMs, others are recs I’ve heard through the grapevine or encountered on the bookish internet.

121 books by Black authors

Many of the recent book lists I’ve encountered have focused on educational antiracist nonfiction. This is an extremely important category that I will also be including here, but I also felt that it was vital to include literary fiction and genre fiction by Black authors too. Joyful Black art deserves as much attention as serious Black art. I want to educate myself but I also want to make a conscious effort to include Black voices in the books that I read every day (and I really do read every day).

We’re going to start with Fiction, then Sci-Fi/Fantasy, then Romance, then Nonfiction.

Fiction by Black Authors

The Vanishing Half By Brit Bennett. So many of you recommended this one! Supposed to be enthralling, heartbreaking, and beautiful.
The Mothers By Brit Bennett. Bennett’s earlier novel, also supposed to be fantastic. Explores the concept of motherhood in its many guises.
Queenie By Candice Carty-Williams. A vivid story of one young Black woman’s life. Another book that got rave reviews from so many of you that I bought it on the spot.
Homegoing By Yaa Gyasi. Described by one of you as “heartbreaking and utterly gorgeous.”
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre Dumas. Did you know Dumas was Black? I only learned this recently.
Real Life By Brandon Taylor. Lots of you have been reading this one and I hear it’s fantastic.
Salvage the Bones By Jesmyn Ward. A National Book Award winner, this novel focuses on a family in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.
Sing, Unburied, Sing By Jesmyn Ward. Another award-winner from Ward, this novel is anchored in time by the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Where the Line Bleeds By Jesmyn Ward. Ward’s first novel, described as “a timeless Southern fable of brotherly love and familial conflict.”
Black Enough; Stories of Being Young & Black in America by ByIbi Zoboi, Tracey Baptiste, Coe Booth, Dhonielle Clayton, Brandy Colbert, Jay Coles, Lamar Giles, Leah Henderson, Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Kekla Magoon, Tochi Onyebuchi, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Liara Tamani, Renée Watson, Rita Williams-Garcia. A short story compilation with an incredible author list.
The Hate U Give By Angie Thomas. A modern YA classic about a young Black girl whose friend is killed by the police. This is also now a movie.
On the Come Up By Angie Thomas. Thomas’ second book centers a young Black girl who dreams of becoming a rapper.
The Fire This Time By Jesmyn Ward. A collection of poems and essays about race.
The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison. Several of you have been reading and loving this lately! It’s hard to go wrong with Toni Morrison.
Song of Solomon By Toni Morrison. An iconic coming of age story by Toni Morrison.
Beloved By Toni Morrison. This book was my first encounter with the utterly haunting beauty of Toni Morrison’s writing. Unforgettable.
Sula By Toni Morrison. Another legendary Toni Morrison classic.
An American Marriage By Tayari Jones. A love story about a young Black couple whose lives are turned upside down by a wrongful arrest. An award-winner and bestseller that many of you raved about.
An Untamed State By Roxane Gay. Described as “a novel of privilege in the face of crushing poverty.”
Difficult Women By Roxane Gay. A short story collection from Roxane Gay.
Americanah By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. A bestseller about two Nigerians making their way in the U.S. and the UK, addressing questions of race, home, and belonging.
The Thing Around Your Neck By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. In this short story collection, the award-winning Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, Africa and the United States.
Half of a Yellow Sun By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. A story of love and war set in Nigeria in the 1960s.
Oreo By Fran Ross. A pioneering, dazzling satire about a biracial black girl from Philadelphia searching for her Jewish father in New York City.
Brown Girl Dreaming By Jacqueline Woodson. A National Book award winner, this book of poetry is supposed to be absolutely beautiful.
Everything Good Will Come By Sefi Atta. A coming of age story, tracing the friendship of two African girls into their adult lives.
On Beauty By Zadie Smith. Zadie Smith is another iconic, classic, legendary Black author known for her wildly gorgeous writing.
Swing Time By Zadie Smith. This novel follows two young Black girls who dream of becoming dancers.
NW By Zadie Smith. Described as “tragicomic,” this story follows four city dwellers who grow up in the same council estate.
White Teeth By Zadie Smith. Zadie Smith’s famous debut novel. Find more Zadie Smith here.
Such a Fun Age By Kiley Reid. Several of you have read and LOVED this and now that I’ve seen the description, I know I have to read it too.
The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat By Edward Kelsey Moore. This title is almost a whole story on its own!
The Nickel Boys By Colson Whitehead. This just won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
The Underground Railroad By Colson Whitehead. This one won the Pulitizer in 2016. See more Colson Whitehead here.

Science Fiction/Fantasy by Black Authors
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin By Roseanne A. Brown. The first in a YA fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore. I just bought this and I can’t wait to dive in!
Pet By Akwaeke Emezi. Oh this book sounds SO GOOD. Gorgeous genre-defying YA with a Black trans protagonist.
An Unkindness of Ghosts By Rivers Solomon. Science Fiction set on the HSS Matilda, a space vessel organized much like the antebellum South.
The Binti Trilogy By Nnedi Okorafor. The series kicked off with Binti, which won both a Hugo and a Nebula award! A talented young girl undertakes a dangerous space voyage for the chance to attend a prestigious university.
Akata Witch By Nnedi Okorafor. This series has been described to me as “like the Nigerian Harry Potter, but even better” which was more than enough to get it on my “to read” list.
Children of Blood and Bone By Tomi Adeyemi. This series is vivid and fierce and incredible and I can’t wait for the next one. YA Fantasy with a badass lady hero (my favorite).
The Water Dancer By Ta-Nehisi Coates.
The Broken Earth series By N. K. Jemisin. Starting with The Fifth Season, this was far and away the most recommended book from your IG DMs. I bought it earlier in the week and I’m absolutely loving it so far.
The Dreamblood serise By N. K. Jemisin.
The Great Cities Trilogy By N. K. Jemisin. I have a lot of N.K. Jemisin enthusiasts among my Instagram followers and it’s not hard to see why. This is her newest series, starting with The City We Became.
How Long ’til Black Future Month? Stories By N. K. Jemisin. Short stories by N.K. Jemisin.
The Inheritance Trilogy By N. K. Jemisin. As far as I can tell, everything N.K. Jemisin has ever written is supposed to be incredible. Based on how much I’m enjoying the beginning of The Fifth Season, and how great her Twitter is, these would all be worth a read.
A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope By Patrice Caldwell (Editor). Sixteen tales by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and magic.
Dread Nation By Justina Ireland. This is another series I recently bought for myself to read. I haven’t started yet, but it sounds incredible! Several of you have read this and loved it.
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 By P. Djèlí Clark. The Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities investigates a possessed tram car.
The Black God’s Drums By P. Djèlí Clark. A Sci-Fi/Fantasy take on an alternate New Orleans, featuring magic, airships, and adventure!
A Blade So Black By L.L. McKinney. The first in a new fractured fairy tale YA fantasy epic series that has drawn comparisons to Alice in Wonderland and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Yes, please.
Kindred By Octavia E. Butler. Butler was a legendary Sci-Fi author, who won multiple Hugo & Nebula awards AND a MacArthur Fellowship for her writing. If you want to know your Black Science Fiction, you have to know Octavia Butler. This book is considered by many to be her masterpiece.
Bloodchild and Other Stories By Octavia E. Butler. This book of short stories is a great place to start with Octavia Butler in a bite-sized format.
The Xenogenesis series By Octavia E. Butler. This post-apocalyptic narrative deftly explores gender and race through the eyes of characters struggling to adapt during a pivotal time of crisis and change.
Parable of the Sower By Octavia E. Butler. A post-apocalyptic series set in the early 2020’s (ha) in a world ravaged by climate change.
Fledgling By Octavia E. Butler. Butler’s final work is a vampire story, adapting the familiar mythology to explore the biology of racial ideology. I’ve included a Butler sampling, but she had many more titles. See them here.
Riot Baby By Tochi Onyebuchi. Description: “Rooted in foundational loss and the hope that can live in anger, Riot Baby is both a global dystopian narrative an intimate family story with quietly devastating things to say about love, fury, and the black American experience.”
Beasts Made of Night By Tochi Onyebuchi. The first in a YA series inspired by Nigerian mythology.
Song of Blood & Stone By L. Penelope. Description “In L. Penelope’s thrilling epic fantasy Earthsinger series, the orphan Jasminda possesses a magical ability feared by her own people. But when war threatens her homeland, Jasminda’s Earthsong may be the only thing that can prevent the bloodshed and heal the hearts of two nations.”
The Gilded Ones By Namina Forna. The first in what’s described as “a bold and immersive West African-inspired, feminist fantasy series.”
Cinderella Is Dead By Kalynn Bayron. You know I love a reimagining of a classic fairy tale.
A Song Below Water By Bethany C. Morrow. Subtitle is “young, Black, and secretly magical” and it has mermaids on the cover. Yes, please.

Romance by Black Authors
The Wedding Date By Jasmine Guillory. A LOVE this series and so do a lot of you, based on my DMs. It’s a contemporary romance series starring strong, clever, fascinating Black women as the protagonists. Strongly recommend.
The Reluctant Royals series By Alyssa Cole. This contemporary romance series is a personal fave that I’ve reread in its entirety several times. Spam email princes that turn out to be real, newly-discovered swordsmithing dukes, strong women supporting each other, international group chats, etc. So much to love.
The Loyal League By Alyssa Cole. I’ve only read a couple of books from Cole’s a Civil War era historical romance series, but they were both fantastic. The series follows the Loyal League, a spy organization working against the Confederate South. More serious in tone than her more playful contemporary romances, but utterly absorbing.
How to Catch a Queen By Alyssa Cole. Apparently this book is a brand contemporary romance series from Alyssa Cole! Set to publish later in 2020. Put it on your wishlist now.
Daughters of a Nation: A Black Suffragette Historical Romance Anthology By Lena Hart, Piper Huguley, Kianna Alexande.
Deliver Me by Farrah Rochon. This contemporary romance series follows the romantic adventures of the Holmes family.
The Boyfriend Project By Farrah Rochon. The latest from Rochon! I haven’t read anything by this author yet but I have heard great things and I enjoy following her on Twitter! She has published a number of contemporary romances.
Destiny’s Embrace By Beverly Jenkins. Beverley Jenkins is pretty much THE iconic, legendary Black romance novel author. She mostly writes historicals, like this series set in 19th century California. I’ve only read one of her books and I plan to remedy this as soon as possible.
Rebel By Beverly Jenkins. A Northern woman makes her way in the deep South after the Civil War.
Indigo By Beverly Jenkins. Description: “As a child Hester Wyatt escaped slavery, but now the dark skinned beauty is a dedicated member of Michigan’s Underground railroad, offering other runaways a chance at the freedom she has learned to love.” See more Beverly Jenkins here.
Intercepted By Alexa Martin. I do not enjoy watching football but I DO enjoy this contemporary romance series about women who fall in love with professional football players. It’s a twist on the Millionaire trope, with a strong side of female friendships thrown in.
A Taste of Honey By Kai Ashante Wilson. Fantasy romance by a Hugo award winner.
Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience By Rebekah Weatherspoon. Contemporary romance. I love a good “marriage of convenience story.
Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny By Rebekah Weatherspoon. Contemporary romance. This one describes itself!
A Cowboy to Remember By Rebekah Weatherspoon. This author’s tagline on her website is “where the happily ever afters are always in color.” See more from this author. .
The Worst Best Man By Mia Sosa. Described as “Fun, flirty, and moderately dirty.” Contemporary romance.
The Left of Love by Love Belvin. This one gets an Amazon link because it’s free on Kindle Unlimited. Contemporary romance.
Real Men Knit By Kwana Jackson. Contemporary romance about four brothers who unexpectedly inherit a knitting store.
Love’s Serenade (Decades: A Journey of African American Romance) by Sheryl Lister. Harlem in the 1920’s!! Yes.
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby By Vanessa Riley. Historical romance about a West Indian heiress.
Binding Shadows By Jasmine Silvera. Fantasy romance! A young witch in Prague, an enchanted book…sign me up.
The Bewildered Bride by Vanessa Riley.
Not the Girl You Marry By Andie J. Christopher. Contemporary romance by a new-to-me Black author who I am very excited to read after Googling her books just now.
Not That Kind of Guy By Andie J. Christopher. Another standalone by Andie J Christopher, for all of you who loved Not The Girl You Marry (which I heard about from many of you!).
One Night in South Beach By Andie J. Christopher. This contemporary romance series by Andie J. Christopher is known for its sexy, dirty-talking heroes.
Long Shot By Kennedy Ryan. A contemporary NBA player romance. I’m not super into sports myself but athlete-centered romances can be really fun.
Forbidden Promises By Synithia Williams. India Robidoux goes back to her hometown to help her brother with his political campaign, but what she finds there is a man from her past.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown By Talia Hibbert. “Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion.”

Nonfiction by Black Authors
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot By Mikki Kendall. There is no point in Feminism if Feminism doesn’t include Black and BIPOC women. Top of my nonfiction reading list.
The Source of Self-Regard By Toni Morrison.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration By Isabel Wilkerson. A multiple award-winner, this book traces the history of the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life.
Between the World and Me By Ta-Nehisi Coates. A multiple award winner that is supposed to be utterly incredible.
Becoming By Michelle Obama.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents By Isabel Wilkerson. Wilkerson examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.
Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools By Monique W. Morris.
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates By Wes Moore. The story of two kids with the same name growing up two blocks apart and how different their experiences are.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness By Michelle Alexander.
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir By Patrisse Khan-Cullors, asha bandele. “A poetic and powerful memoir about what it means to be a Black woman in America—and the co-founding of a movement that demands justice for all in the land of the free.”
They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South By Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers.
So You Want to Talk About Race By Ijeoma Oluo.
You Can’t Touch My Hair And Other Things I Still Have to Explain By Phoebe Robinson.
I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual By Luvvie Ajayi. Recommended by one of you! Supposed to be clever, brilliant, and funny.
Reproductive Injustice: Racism, Pregnancy, and Premature Birth By Dána-Ain Davis.
Bad Feminist By Roxane Gay. Okay, I’m including a LOT of books about Feminism, but hey, it’s my list so I’ll do what I want.
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body By Roxane Gay.
Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America By Stacey Abrams.
The Counter-Revolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States of America By Gerald Horne.
We Should All Be Feminists By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Described on Indiebound as “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the twenty-first century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness.”
Black Stats: African Americans by the Numbers in the Twenty-First Century By Monique W. Morris.
Sister Outsider; Essays and Speeches By Audre Lorde. Description: “the essential writings of Black lesbian poet and feminist writer Audre Lorde.”
We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood By Dani McClain.
How to Be an Antiracist By Ibram X. Kendi. You’ve probably heard of this one recently, and for good reason.
How Europe Underdeveloped Africa By Walter Rodney.
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie writes a letter to her childhood friend, a new mother who wanted to know how to raise her baby girl to be a feminist.
The Sisters Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America By Tamara Winfrey Harris.
Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence (America in the Nineteenth Century) By Kellie Carter Jackson.
Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-Create Race in the Twenty-First Century By Dorothy Roberts. This is about the biological side of the concept of race and it sounds fascinating.
Black Ink: Literary Legends on the Peril, Power, and Pleasure of Reading and Writing By Stephanie Stokes Oliver.
How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir By Saeed Jones. An intimate portrait of the writer growing up as a young, gay Black man.
This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America By Morgan Jerkins.

Special shoutout to Mr. DitL who reads a lot more nonfiction than I do and was extremely helpful with suggestions for that section!

I am cutting myself off here, even this though this barely scratches the surface! For more books by Black authors, please see 45 Upcoming Books by Black Authors you can Preorder Right Now on Book Riot, 33 Books by Contemporary Black Authors from Penguin Random House, the entire website for Mahogany Books, 43 of the Best Books by Black Authors You Should Read in Your Lifetime and 30 Must-Read Black Romance Novels That You’ll Love from O Magazine, Black Romance Novels Matter Too on Shondaland, and An AntiRacist Reading List by Ibram X. Kendi for the NYT.

What do you think, my darlings? Have you read any of these highly acclaimed books by Black authors? Did I miss any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

The links in this post are affiliate links to Indiebound, because I’ve recently made the switch away from using Amazon. If you’re up for doing a little more legwork, I strongly recommend putting in the time and effort to buy these books from Black-owned independent bookstores. Here’s a list from Book Riot.

See the other lists from my Books to Binge Read series here. If you want more book recs, you can see my What I’m Reading archive here, my Best Books of the Year posts here, my master list of book recs here, and Books That Make Me Feel Better here.

Book photos via Unsplash. This post contains affiliate links.

Books to binge read: 55 great fantasy series.

March 20, 2020

Hello my darlings,

I don’t know about you, but I think that this moment in time is a perfect time for classic escapism: I love to lose myself in long, juicy fantasy series and romance novels, especially historical romances. I’m talking books on books on books; lush, detailed universes that you can binge read for days on end.

We’re kicking off Books to Binge Read with an annotated list of my top 55 (!) fantasy series recommendations.

Books to Binge Read: Fantasy Series edition.

I have personally read all of these fantasy series and I’m including a brief summary for each. Let’s go!

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. A strong female main character, a fascinating and in-depth world, a gorgeous/heart-wrenching love story…I’ve read this series five or six times and I know I’ll be back for more. Read my full review here.
Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore. These are three companion books written in the same universe rather than a typical series, but the characters do interact with each other. All of them are fantastic! Fire is my favorite, but you should read Graceling first. Read my review here.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. This series is pretty well known, and for good reason. Badass assassin heroine, fun band of hero friends, interesting powers, dramatic plots!
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. These books are badass. The premise: one of three sisters will be Queen, but not until she kills the others. The series was unfinished the last time I checked on it, so that means I have a couple more books to read now!
The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty. I’ve been raving about this in my IG story and I stand by my raving. It’s fantastic. Go read it.
Discworld by Terry Pratchett. If you’ve never read Terry Pratchett, now is a PERFECT time. His writing is clever, insouciant, insightful, silly, and full of joy. His many Discworld books all take place in the same universe, but there are sub-series within that: a collection of books about Death, about the witches, about the Guards, etc. You can read them in order or skip around. Mr. DitL and I are doing Discworld on audiobook right now and it’s fantastic. I particularly love Death (he’s a character) and the Guards.
The Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling. I absolutely and unreservedly love the first three books of this series. They’re not as good after that – I haven’t even read the most recent one. But I’ve read the first three over and over and over and over. Magic, elite spies, and a very sweet m/m love story.
Tamir Triad by Lynn Flewelling. These take place in the same universe as Nightrunner, but many years before. They have a different vibe – they’re spookier and so good. Gender identity is a major theme.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. These books rock, and it looks like a new one has been published since I last checked! A repressive society, a rebellion led by brave young people, badass swordfighting…etc. It’s great. Read my review of the first book here.
Damar by Robin McKinley. One of the first ever badass ladyhero fantasy series I ever fell in love with and a perpetual reread for me.
The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. Epic fantasy at its finest! That description applies to everything I’ve ever read by Brandon Sanderson. Full review here.
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. ALSO epic fantasy at its finest.
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. I deeply, truly, passionately love the first book in this series. The second book is just north of mediocre. Kind of heartbreaking, but now I just reread Seraphina and ignore Shadow Scale.
Shadowshaper Cypher by Daniel José Older. I have only read the first one of these but it was good! Urban fantasy set in Brooklyn.
The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole. These are YA epic fantasy with a strong romance element. I got the first one of these from and publisher and had bought the rest of the books within a day or two – I devoured them. Actually, maybe I’ll reread these next. They are great.
The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey. Classic, classic fantasy and one of the first series I ever fell in love with. Set in the dragon-filled Pern universe. I used to read my mom’s old paperbacks over and over.
The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. Another Pern series formative to my early reading years. These do require a little bit of forgiveness due to what feminism looked like at the time they were written: there are some relationship moments in these books that make me raise an eyebrow now.
The Diviners by Libba Bray. 1920’s YA fantasy. Lustrous and absorbing. There is a Museum of Creepy Crawlies.
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. These often get lumped in with Twilight, but they’re different and much better! Kind of a Gossip Girl meets Buffy vibe. I own these books and I’ve read them all several times.
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. I know I was just throwing shade at Twilight – and it’s true that I don’t think they’re the best books – but they’re a fun read and they were a major cultural moment, so why not give them a whirl?
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. Sarcasm, dark humor, crime, mythological figures, complicated blending of the supernatural and science. I only read the first in the series, but I would totally go back for more.
The Magicians by Lev Grossman. These books are WILD. They are partly set at a magical boarding school, but they’re not similar to Harry Potter – lots of drugs and sex and death and danger and heartbreak. They’re fascinating and unique. They have a certain amount of satire directed at other fantasy series – there’s a Narnia parallel as well.
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. This is a SciFi/Fantasy fractured fairy tales series set in kind of a dystopian future? It’s great. It’s really a little more SciFi…but I’m letting it be on the list anyway. (Warning: this series contains a pandemic.)
Blue Moon Rising by Simon R. Green. This is one of those fantasy series that is sort of a joke about fantasy tropes but also a story in its own right.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. How could I not include these? J.K. Rowling has disillusioned a lot of her readers this year by saying terrible things on Twitter, but that’s not Harry’s fault. I will always love these books. I particularly recommend the Audiobooks read by Jim Dale. So soothing.
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. These are another childhood favorite for me. They’re true Middle Grade novels – for a younger audience than YA. I still love to read them, especially as Audiobooks when I’m trying to relax.
The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. This series is a great, fun read. Cassandra Clare likes beautiful doomed boys, love triangles, dramatic reveals, and star-crossed love.
The Infernal Devices by by Cassandra Clare. Same universe as The Mortal Instruments, but at a different time. Same description as the above. (There are more Mortal Instruments books now I think, but I haven’t read them.)
Tales of the King’s Blades by Dave Duncan. Men with swords! Camaraderie! Betrayal! Magic! Good stuff. Amazon seems to be fuzzy on the order of this series, but you can find that on Goodreads.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber. These books are vibrant and creative. The world is fascinating – sort of a Hunger Games premise in a Moulin Rouge universe? The plot and character development could be better, but this series is an enjoyable spectacle.
Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce. Another series I mainlined during my formative years. Middle grade, fiercely feminist and utterly fantastic. For more books, read on through The Circle Opens and The Circle Reforged. Warning: Briar’s Book (Circle Opens #4) contains a pandemic.
Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, Protector of the Small, Daughter of the Lioness, and The Legend of Beka Cooper. by Tamora Pierce. More of my nearest and dearest. These are several separate series, but they’re all in the Tortall universe and I like to read them all through as one GIANT series. Middle grade, but more mature than Circle of Magic. If you want to understand what makes me who I am, read these books. They’re in my blood.Warning: In The Hand of the Goddess (Lioness #2) contains a pandemic.
The Cahraman Trilogy: A Retelling of Aladdin by Lucy Tempest. This series is great! I’ve only read the first two books, but it’s a little bit fractured fairy tale, a little bit reality TV show inspired scenario, and very creative and enjoyable.
The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson. I felt a little lukewarm about this series when I first started it, but I couldn’t get the characters out of my head. When I went back and read the rest of it, I liked the whole much better than just the first installment. The main character really comes into her own over the larger arc.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. This book is beautifully written and its world takes place in a stunningly created universe, but I have to warn you that I found the series as a whole to be a little bit of a bummer. For me to want to reread these books, I would have needed the characters to encounter 15-20% less tragedy. Read these if you like having your heartstrings tugged.
Legacy of Orïsha by Tomi Adeyemi. These books are awesome. Vivid and creative, set in a fascinating world. Warning: this series is unfinished and currently ends on a major cliffhanger.
The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski. Apparently I read these books in 2015 and I am having a hard time remembering them? But I gave them a 4/5 on Goodreads and they sound awesome!
Dreamhunter Duet by Elizabeth Knox. These books are bright, fresh, and creative, with interesting and unusual magic. Full review here.
The Kingkiller Chronicle Series by Patrick Rothfuss. This is a very well-loved epic fantasy series. I definitely enjoyed it, but it’s not one of my ultra all time faves. It’s a little wordy and it has a vibe that I associate with classic epic fantasy written by male authors that I’m tired of. Still worth a read!
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. I absolutely LOVED the first book in this series, but the second book went in an unexpected direction and it made me mad so I never read the third book. The first book was so good that I may go back and give it another chance.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. This is a middle grade series about kids in the modern age who discover they’re descended from Greek gods. Great on audiobook.
The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray. Magical powers in a girl’s boarding school in the late 1800’s. Beautiful and absorbing.
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. A lot of people LOVE this YA series. I definitely enjoyed it, but I didn’t feel like my whole heart was pulled into it. It’s an urban fantasy, magic in the real world, “look how beautiful these broken boys are” kind of series. Lots of sweet, lovely angst.
Sir Apropos of Nothing by Peter David. This is another somewhat satirical series with a bit of a Terry Pratchett vibe, but sharper and darker. Lots of puns and jokes about the genre.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. I don’t love these books just like I didn’t love their tv show. Too complicated and dark for me, too much political maneuvering and violence against women. But if you liked the tv show, this could be a great time for you to try the books!
The Divine Cities by Robert Jackson Bennett. This series was unfinished when I read its first book, but it was very creative and well done. I’d go back for more.
The Wrinkle in Time Quintet by Madeleine L’Engle. Classic for a reason! Always worth a revisit.
All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Vampires and witches! This could sound a little bit like academic Twilight on paper, but the story is much more complex and the writing more nuanced (and just better). Involves magical books and lots of historical tidbits (including some very historically accurate jewelry moments).
The Gentlemen Bastards by Scott Lynch. Okay. I once wrote a fairly mixed review for the first book in this series, The Lies of Locke Lamora. But you know what? I decided to give it another change recently and I’m liking it MUCH more the second time around. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The Gentlemen Bastards are a crew of sarcastic con men who get in lots of trouble. What’s not to love? It gets to be on the list.
The Wheel of Time Kindle by Robert Jordan. This is one of the great classic, iconic fantasy series of all time. I don’t love it as much as some people do, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien. I almost didn’t include these because they’re so obvious. This series is beautiful, legendary, and of huge cultural importance. I’ve never fallen in wildly in love with it, but I enjoyed reading it. I recently revisited The Hobbit on audiobook and I liked it much better than I ever have before. I may have to give LotR the same treatment.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente. This series is YA and I would describe it as for people who love fairy tales; the kind that are beautiful but can also give you nightmares, not the Disney kind.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. I’ve been revisiting these and they’re beautiful and serene. More Christian messaging than I remember, but still enjoyable.
So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane. A middle grade classic I first listened to on tape during a family road trip from Maryland to Maine. I don’t love all of the books in this series equally – they take a rapid turn to SciFi and that’s not really my thing – but the first few are fantastic.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. I somehow have only read one of these? But I love this author and I have no hesitation recommending anything by her.

That’s it for now! Come back soon for Books to Binge Read: Romance Series edition.

If you want more book recs, you can see my What I’m Reading archive here, my Best Books of the Year posts here, my master list of book recs here, and Books That Make Me Feel Better here.

The links in this post all go to Amazon, because that’s the easiest for me and I personally prefer Kindle books. They are also affiliate links, so if you click through this post I’ll get a few pennies to put towards my own book buying.

If you’re buying hard copies of books to binge read please consider ordering through an independent bookstore to help support small businesses in this difficult economic time! Legendary Romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice is even offering custom care packages. If you live in the DC area, here’s a list of local bookstores offering curbside pickup and other accommodations.

If none of this helps, I would like to remind you there is a song for this: Muppet Treasure Island’s CABIN FEVER. Sing along to the video, learn the dance. Show me on IG.

This post contains affiliate links.