Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J.K. Rowling
A friendly, fast adventure in a world that is easy to step into.
All moods
New to reading
If you haven't picked up a book in a while, start with something that moves. These stories are engaging and easy to follow, and most are on the shelves of almost any bookstore or library.
Books to start with
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Short chapters and constant tension. Hard to put down.
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
A simple fable about following your dreams, short and easy to read.
Holes
Louis Sachar
A funny, clever mystery about a boy sent to a desert camp, in short chapters.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Mark Haddon
A short, unusual mystery narrated by a boy who sees the world very precisely.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Delia Owens
A mystery and a coming-of-age story set in the marshes of North Carolina.
How to choose
This list is for anyone who hasn't read for pleasure in a while, or never found the habit. You don't need willpower, you need momentum. If you have seen the film, Harry Potter or The Hunger Games can be easier to picture. Want something short and fable-like? Try The Alchemist. Holes is a prize-winning mystery written for younger readers that anyone can pick up.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has a distinctive narrator, and Where the Crawdads Sing is a more reflective novel. Read a little each day, borrow from a library if you can, and try an audiobook alongside the print copy. If a book hasn't grabbed you by the third chapter, switch to another one on the list without guilt.
Want something more personal?
Tell Bookworm what you liked and what you didn't, and get a short list chosen for you.
Get picks tailored to youMore moods like this
- Short & easyShort doesn't mean slight.
- Reading slumpWhen nothing sticks, the answer is rarely a worthy classic.
- Laugh out loudFunny is hard to get right on the page, and it is a matter of taste, so this list mixes styles: comic fantasy, a diary, a Victorian boat trip, two sharp memoirs and a fairy tale with its tongue in its cheek.