Recs if you like Big Little Lies...

In honor of my Canadian queen Catherine O'Hara tragically passing away today, I wept (literally, I am unwell, y'all), and then felt inspired to make a list of books that I think Moira would like. Please give me ideas, I am thinking books that are/contain the following: dramatic and theatrical, VERBOSE vocabulary paired with profanity, female rage/female empowerment, sly humor, dark and twisty, possible nods to The Industry, excellent accessories required.

Fiction has always been where truth hides. Across horror, thriller, literary fiction, fantasy & mystery every book on this list has something to say about power, who holds it, who destroys it, and how it reproduces itself.

You've built up your skills as an engaged reader - now it's time to start reaping the benefits! Every book on this list was chosen because it's genuinely enjoyable AND hiding something underneath the surface worth finding. The goal isn't to find the "right" answer, but to trust your own instincts as a reader and see where that takes you. Start in your favorite genre - it makes close reading feel like a game, not homework. Happy Reading Boundlings!!

TIME’s list of “the most gripping, twist-filled, satisfying, and influential mystery and thriller books” running all the way back to the 1800s

Books with short chapters!!! I started a challenge where I read a super long book a chapter-a-day and annotate it using a study guide! I found that annotating short chapters is super accessible and not overwhelming at all for me, so I wanted to share this list with anyone that wants to start over-analyzing their books :) I included a variety of stories because HOW you read is as important (if not more) than WHAT you read!!!!

mysteries and thrillers in which the victim high-key sucks. rest in pieces, shitheads! love to hate 'em, we will not miss them. disclaimer: while the list creator is a certified hater, in no way is the list creator or pagebound condoning or encouraging violence, even in situations when that person does, in fact, suck.

Get on the hype train for these upcoming releases of books in a series. Now is the perfect time to jump on board a new series or start a re-read.

Covers the next 12 months - please send recs

I will list the first book in the series and the upcoming book. Updates once a month.

(I'm already questioning my sanity on how I'm going to maintain this, I wish we could make collaborative lists on here 😭)

The book girlies are seeing their favourite characters on screen this year so if you didn’t know or want to be ahead of the game and prep, this list is here. This list includes tv adaptations and movies so if you’re curious make sure to see if it’s streaming or theatre release.

P.s. I’m including books whose adaptations already came out this year so far

A curated collection of stories told through cracks, mirrors, and shifting truths. These narrators bend memory, distort reality, and reshape the world to fit their own needs. Some lie with intention, others with fear, and some simply because the truth is too heavy to hold. These are the books that linger. The ones that make you question what you know. The ones you leave and don’t really know what just happened.

based purely off of vibes

A variety of books recommended by a librarian (appropriate for students aged 11-16 as well).

Pretty covers, powerful women, zero apologies.

The New York Times published a list on August 5th, 2026, of the 50 best thrillers published since 2000 as voted on by hundreds of writers of every kind of crime fiction, from legal thrillers to spy novels to cozy mysteries, as well as librarians, editors, critics and Bookstagrammers.

stories with lots of twists and turns, including (but not limited to) murder mysteries

A list inspired by (and copied from) @cortneyhenningnovak, including (mainly) fiction reads from every country in alphabetical order! Any suggestions and add-ons welcome to expand the list🫶

11 countries including:

Afganistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria & Azerbaijan ❣️

i've noticed this tends to be a recurring theme in the books that i read, so here are some books with varying degrees of unhinged women in them.

From the Girl Boss™️ with a blog to the actual professionals, these characters are doing detective work.

I don’t know who needs to hear this: Having heavy period pain is NOT normal 🫠 If you can’t live your normal life - that’s debilitating.

Endometriosis Awareness 💗

secrets, lies, and deception (and characters that struggle to keep up)

They say the book is better, but sometimes the movie (or show) is just as good