Recs if you like The Shape of Water...

A librarian's favorite response to asking what book a patron is looking for...

Do you feel like you've read everything there is to read? Or get annoyed that the same books are on all the rec lists? Well, here are some more obscure masterpieces!

Some of the covers are terrible - especially among the older or self-pubbed books; there's a few YA in here; and some that are science fantasy rather than 'pure' fantasy. But trust me: they're all EXCELLENT. (And if you already love a bunch of these, let's be friends!)

Books that were adapted into movies (not tv shows). Let's make this list as long as possible!

(going to only add the first book in a series)

Monster and cryptic romance, with some aliens sprinkled in.

One of several Non-Humans & Empathy -themed lists by @Myth.Ink (See also: Fiction, GNs/Manga+, Non-Fiction, Youth Titles, & the Official @Myth.Ink Curation) | This list is the The FANTASTICAL NON-HUMANS, including fictional interactions and considerations of interactions between fantastical unrealistic non-human beings of all types (dragons, monsters, gods, angels, demons, vampires, etc) and humans, empathy and lack thereof. | Suggestions more than welcome!

Books with central relationships that are odd, unconventional, or taboo.

💜 yarnandbooks

a collection of books that highlight unconventional love – and i mean really unconventional

Books with themes of water, the sea, sea creatures, otherworldly creatures, grief, longing, loss.

“Summer” reading list with novels in a variety of genres about a variety of sea creatures.

I'm deeply invested in the book to screenplay pipeline

Note: I will be deleting my PB account within the next two weeks, and I believe this list will be erased. Feel free to screenshot it if you see anything that interests you! ☺️ 3/17/2026

Women in love with monsters