Recs if you like The Names...

Are you currently not crying to the point of vomiting, but you want to be? Need to conduct a science experiment to find out if you are in fact the ugliest crier in all of Pagebound? Well, do I have the list for you! Brought to you by the fine, very sad, folks of Pagebound! These books have been frequently suggested or upvoted in PB club posts about sad books! Suggestions in any genre, and extra tissues, are welcome!

Debut novels that feel like they were written by seasoned writers. Whether it be because of the author's clear voice, the depth of the themes or the quality of the prose, you'll be surprised that this is the author's first published novel

Note: The authors featured may have published other works, like short story collections or plays, but the book featured here is their first novel

Here's every book so far from BOTM's monthly shortlist since February 2015 for anyone who wants to read them all like I do!

books about time slips, loops, travel, and alternate realities

Social commentary under patriarchy

Goodreads 80 of the Past Decade’s Very Popular Fiction from 2016 - 2025

2025 Broken Country - Isola 2024 The Women - Real Americans 2023 Tom Lake - Weyward 2022 Demon Copperhead - Diamond Eye 2021 Reading List - Cloud Cuckoo Land 2020 My Dark Vanessa - Vanishing Half 2019 Giver of Stars - Girl, Woman, Other 2018 Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - Where the Crawdads Sing 2017 Stay with Me - 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 2016 Lilac Girls - Behold the Dreamers

Nominees and winners of every category of the Good Reads Choice Awards for the year of 2025. Some books overlap so they were only entered once.

Recent beauties from the Emerald Isle.

Longlist for the Goldsboro Glass Bell Award for 2026. The Glass Bell Award honours novels that combine brilliant characterisation, a distinctive voice, and stories that truly connect with readers. Unique in the UK literary landscape, the prize is open to all genres, from literary fiction and crime to fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction.

All the 2025 BOTM monthly, add on, and Allurial titles

books about actors, artists, dancers, musicians, writers, and other creatives

Just a collection of books from across the genre spectrum featuring eye-catching flowers on the covers. Suggestions welcome!

Motherhood: Some days you rock it, some days it rocks you. Either way, it rocks.

The books when you feel like crying, want a sprinkle of existentialism or just staring at a wall while you go into a spiral.

This is one of a few lists I'm making to help me organize my ideas for HRCYED 3.0. Feel free to take inspiration or comment with more ideas.

Every pick from Goldsboro's monthly Premier subscription, across all genres. Signed & numbered limited first editions, usually with unique designs.

These books are chosen for “Read with Jenna” by Jenna Bush Hager.

Latest book added: September 2026

by jenna bush hager