Joan Didion is rarely the wrong answer when it comes to essential nonfiction reading and rightly so, but here, we are going a step further: same setting, entirely different energy.
Spring is arriving, and with it the promise of summer, of slower days, lighter moods, and a certain ease. If Didion is the go-to, then Eve Babitz might be the alternative you didn’t know you needed.
Often described as the opposite of Joan Didion, Babitz was writing about Los Angeles at the same time, but from a completely different angle. She writes about her Los Angeles, the way she sees and experiences it, while Didion examines from afar.
In Slow Days, Fast Company, she captures the late 60s and 70s through mood more than plot: the weather, the people, the feeling of the city. It sits somewhere between fiction and nonfiction, but reads like a novel you can just fall into.
It’s breezy, a little chaotic, very alive, and somehow makes you homesick for a place you've probably never even been to. Especially going into summer, this feels like the perfect kind of read.
The Great Gatsby follows mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby as he throws lavish parties in hopes of rekindling a lost romance with Daisy Buchanan. Narrated by Nick Carraway, the story reveals the illusion behind wealth and the American Dream in the Golden Twenties, with themes of ambition and love striking a chord with many modern readers to this day.
The diction is surprisingly simple, which makes it accessible to anyone, even those hesitant to get into classical literature. It's short but deep, which makes it easy to read in a couple of sittings but still powerful to discuss.
Another reason it stands out is its vivid sense of time and place. The glamour, excess, and underlying emptiness of the 1920s are brought to life so clearly that the setting almost feels like a character itself. This makes the reading experience immersive and visually striking, which almost makes you part of this world itself.
It's also considered one of those "books you have to read in your lifetime", making it the perfect book to tackle on World Book Day.
Freida McFadden rose to viral fame on social media with The Housemaid trilogy, with the first part having been adapted into a film released last December. However, Never Lie exceeds the trilogy by a mile because of its plot and amount of twists.
Never Lie follows a newly married couple stranded in a remote mansion during a snowstorm, where they discover a series of recordings left behind by a missing psychiatrist. As they listen, buried secrets begin to surface, blurring the line between truth and deception. With each revelation, the tension rises, and culminates in a multitude of shocking twists you will definitely not see coming.
McFadden's novels are known for its easy diction and insane thrill. Once you start, it will be hard to stop reading it, as you will want to find out all the secrets.
What makes this book especially compelling is the way it plays with perspective and trust, as you're constantly questioning which version of events to believe. It turns the reader into an active participant, piecing together clues and second-guessing every assumption, which adds an extra layer of engagement and therefore is the perfect thriller for World Book Day.
Rachel Gillig’s fantasy duology has quickly gained popularity for its dark, atmospheric world and unique magic system. Set in a mist-locked kingdom in what appears to be the Middle Ages, the story blends gothic elements with romance and political intrigue, making it stand out in the fantasy genre.
One Dark Window follows Elspeth Spindle, a young woman hiding a dangerous secret: an ancient, monstrous spirit is trapped inside her mind. As she becomes entangled with a mysterious highwayman, she is drawn into a dangerous quest involving magical Providence Cards, which could save or doom their kingdom.
Two Twisted Crowns continues the story as the stakes rise and the characters race to complete the full deck of cards before darkness consumes everything. Alliances are tested, truths unravel, and the line between monster and human becomes increasingly blurred.
The haunting atmosphere and inventive magic system is what makes this book stand out from other modern fantasy novels. The constant presence of the voice in Elspeth’s head adds a psychological edge, while the layered relationships and moral ambiguity keep readers deeply invested.
What better way to celebrate World Book Day than by diving into stories about books themselves?
Book Lovers follows the literary agent Nora Stephens, a driven woman who finds herself repeatedly crossing paths with editor Charlie Lastra during a trip to a small town. What begins as rivalry slowly turns into something more as they uncover shared histories, unexpected chemistry, and personal struggles beneath their professional facades. The story explores love and ambition in a literary setting, which makes it perfect for a light-hearted and refreshing read.
This romance delivers enemies to lovers at its finest. It's witty, funny, occasionally steamy, and full of sharp dialogue that keeps the tension alive. At the same time, it goes beyond romance by offering a thoughtful exploration of ambition, identity, and self-worth as its characters confront what they want from both love and life.
Emily Henry is a sensation on social media, known for popular novels such as People We Meet on Vacation, Beach Read, and Funny Story. Since 2021, she has consistently been a standout in the annual Goodreads Choice Awards, cementing her place as one of today’s most beloved contemporary romance authors.
