Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
Follows the Berglund family, once paragons of progressive suburban life, as their seemingly perfect existence unravels. Patty, the ideal mother and wife, and Walter, the dedicated environmental lawyer, are confronted with growing tensions—why has their son moved in with the politically opposite family next door? Why has Walter joined a coal company? And what role does Walter’s best friend, the rock musician Richard Katz, play in their unraveling? Through the Berglunds’ struggles, the novel explores themes of love, marriage, compromise, and the complexities of freedom in contemporary life.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Pip, an orphaned boy, lives a modest life under the care of his harsh sister. Everything changes when he helps an escaped convict, visits a mysterious old woman, and meets the beautiful but cold Estella. To his astonishment, an anonymous benefactor provides him with money to start a new life in London. As Pip’s life transforms, he begins to question whether these events are mere coincidences or if his fate has been shaped by forces beyond his understanding.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Set during the tumult of the French Revolution, contrasting revolutionary Paris with the poverty-stricken London. Amidst the chaos, two men—an exiled French aristocrat and a disillusioned English lawyer—find their fates intertwined through their love for the same woman. As the threat of the guillotine looms, both men experience redemption and tragedy in this gripping tale of sacrifice and revolution.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed chronicles her solo journey hiking over a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, following the death of her mother and the dissolution of her marriage. At twenty-two, feeling lost and with nothing left, Strayed embarks on the journey with no prior experience, driven by sheer determination. The memoir vividly captures her physical and emotional struggles, revealing how the adventure ultimately helped her heal and find herself.
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
Follows the life of Hattie Shepherd, a young woman who flees Georgia during the Great Migration in 1923 for a better life in Philadelphia. However, she faces heartbreak, including the death of her twin children and a loveless marriage, and raises nine more children with a harsh, unyielding approach to prepare them for a world that won’t show them kindness. The novel explores the resilience of Hattie and her children, weaving their stories together to create a powerful narrative about adversity, survival, and the American dream.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
A powerful novel about the deep friendship and struggle for freedom between Sarah Grimké, a young white girl, and Hetty “Handful” Grimké, a slave given to Sarah on her eleventh birthday. Set in the American South in the 19th century, the novel explores themes of slavery, injustice, and the fight for equality as Sarah, inspired by her friendship with Handful, becomes an abolitionist, while both women face profound challenges. Based on real events, the novel celebrates courage, sisterhood, and the transformative power of standing up against oppression.
Ruby by Cynthia Bond
A poignant and gripping novel about Ephram Jennings, who has loved Ruby Bell since they were children in their small East Texas town. Ruby, a beautiful and tragic figure, flees her painful past for New York but is forced to return home, where she confronts the violence and trauma of her childhood. As Ephram battles loyalty to his family and his love for Ruby, the novel unfolds a powerful story of passion, courage, and the potential for redemption in the face of unimaginable suffering. Filled with vivid prose and unforgettable characters, Ruby explores love’s transformative and healing power amidst darkness.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Follows Cora, a young slave on a Georgia cotton plantation, who, after suffering immense cruelty, escapes with Caesar, a fellow slave. Their perilous journey to freedom is fraught with danger, including a violent encounter that leads to a deadly pursuit by the relentless slave catcher, Ridgeway. Whitehead’s novel uniquely imagines the Underground Railroad as an actual, hidden railroad beneath the South, taking Cora through various states, each with its own horrors and challenges. A compelling adventure and profound meditation on America’s history of slavery, The Underground Railroad explores both personal and collective struggles for freedom.
Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
A memoir about marriage, self-discovery, and personal transformation. Through her own journey of overcoming pain and adversity, Glennon reflects on how we all have the strength and courage to face life’s challenges and embrace love. Her powerful story speaks to those seeking deeper, more authentic relationships and a more fulfilling life.
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Follows Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant in Harlem who lands a job as a chauffeur for a senior executive at Lehman Brothers. With his wife, Neni, working in the Hamptons, the family is hopeful for a better life in America. However, when the financial collapse of Lehman Brothers shakes their world, Jende and Neni must navigate the complexities of power, privilege, and survival while facing the unraveling of their own marriage.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Follows Celestial and Roy, a married couple whose lives are upended when Roy is wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. As Celestial struggles with her independence and her feelings for Andre, her childhood friend, Roy’s conviction is overturned after five years, and he returns, hoping to resume their life together. This powerful and thought-provoking novel explores love, loyalty, and the complex forces that shape relationships in the face of injustice and change.
The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton
A memoir about Hinton’s 30-year experience on death row for a crime he did not commit. In 1985, Hinton was arrested in Alabama, wrongfully convicted of two murders, and sentenced to death. Despite being innocent, he was trapped in a justice system that was indifferent to his plight as a poor black man. Over the years, Hinton found strength and hope in his imagination, humor, and the support of civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who eventually helped secure his release in 2015. This powerful story is a testament to resilience, hope, and the transformative power of justice and literature.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
The memoir of the former First Lady of the United States, sharing the journey of her life from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her time in the White House. As the first African American First Lady, Michelle Obama redefined the role, championing initiatives for healthier families and advocating for women and girls globally. In this deeply personal account, she reflects on her triumphs and struggles, offering an honest and inspiring narrative about defying expectations, balancing work and family, and finding one’s voice. Through her storytelling, Obama provides insight into the complexities of identity, public life, and self-empowerment.
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Follows Hiram Walker, a young man born into slavery who possesses a mysterious, supernatural power. After a near-death experience, Hiram is propelled into a journey of escape, moving from the oppressive environment of Virginia’s plantations to the dangerous and turbulent world of the Underground Railroad. As he becomes embroiled in the fight between enslaved people and their captors, Hiram’s determination to reunite with his family drives him forward. The novel explores the brutal realities of slavery, the separation of families, and the strength of love and resistance. Coates’ lyrical writing and powerful storytelling make this a poignant reflection on the trauma and resilience of the enslaved.
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
A collection of interconnected stories centered around the complex character of Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher in the small town of Crosby, Maine. Olive is a sharp, often difficult woman who navigates the complexities of her own life, relationships, and the people in her community. Through a series of poignant and sometimes humorous vignettes, the novel delves into themes of love, loss, aging, and the human condition. Olive’s interactions with others, as well as her internal struggles, reveal a deep empathy and understanding beneath her tough exterior. Strout’s skillful writing brings the ordinary lives of Olive and her neighbors to vivid, touching life, showing the messy, unpredictable nature of human experience.
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