10 books to buddy read this month

Or all year round, really

Gilmore Girls (2000)

If you’re spending a decent portion of this month with loved ones, a buddy read might be just what the doctor ordered. It’s the perfect holiday activity, when you really think about it: everybody has an excuse to enjoy some alone time with a book, and when it’s time to discuss, the group has a chance to get together and bond. This is especially great if you’re doing it with friends or family you don’t see that often.

I’ve had a book club for over three years now, and I’ve come to realize that not every good book is a good book club book. A good buddy read must be a general crowd pleaser (unless your group is united by a niche interest, I’d leave the gory chapters and scalding sex scenes for another time), and it must have themes that lay the foundation for an interesting, dynamic, but not too heavy of a conversation.

With that in mind, I have a few buddy read recommendations for you to enjoy with friends and family this season, or really—since none of them are particularly holiday-themed—whenever you and your buddies want to read together.

Something action-packed and teen-friendly

So you’ve managed to somehow bribe your teen child/cousin/sibling into joining your buddy read! Please pat yourself on the back for me.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder: What makes this YA mystery a fun read is its interactive nature; somehow, you feel like you’re figuring things out along with main character Pip. I promise you’ll fly through it, even if your teenage years are now well behind you.

Popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.

Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent… and the line between past and present begins to blur.

Legendborn: It might look like a big book to tackle during such a busy season, but I promise you’ll go through Legendborn pretty quickly too. Inspired by the Arthurian legend, this is action-packed, fast-paced and has a great heroine to boot. It’s one of my favorite fantasy series.

When 16-year-old Bree Matthews enters a program for gifted high schoolers, she witnesses a magical attack on her first night and discovers a secret society of King Arthur’s descendants who hunt demons. The society’s connection to her mother’s death and her own unexpected magical abilities pull Bree deeper into their world. To uncover the truth, she must infiltrate their ranks and decide how far she’s willing to go for justice.

---

Something that will make everybody cry

A Man Called Ove: I’m not against buddy reading a sad book, but if you’re doing it during the holiday season, I’d go for something that has just enough wholesomeness to balance out the tear-jerking moments. A Man Called Ove has both in equal measure, and tends to be popular among all age groups. You can watch the movie afterwards!

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Crying in H Mart: This one is certainly heavier, in part because it is a memoir. Go for Crying in H Mart if your buddies aren’t afraid of feeling all the feels. It’s perfect if you’re reading it with someone who loves cooking, or if you’re reading with your mom (if you have a complicated relationship, though, please tread lightly).

An unflinching, deeply moving memoir about growing up mixed-race, Korean food, losing her Korean mother, and forging her own identity in the wake of her loss.

---

Something mind-bending and surrealist

Piranesi: This was a pleasant surprise when I read it in January with my book club; I didn’t quite know what to expect from Piranesi, and it’s best if you go in as blind as possible. It’s one of those books that will manage to surprise you at every turn. Don’t do what I did and waste energy trying to figure out what’s happening; enjoy the ride, and have a bangin’ discussion later.

Piranesi lives in a sprawling, labyrinthine House filled with endless halls, statues, and the tides of an encroaching ocean. Though he believes he is the only inhabitant, he regularly meets with the enigmatic Other, who seeks hidden knowledge within the House. As Piranesi begins uncovering fragments of the truth, the mysteries of the House—and his own existence—start to unravel.

Never Let Me Go: This dystopian tale is a classic for a reason. If you have a group of buddies who love to yap and don’t mind something a little more speculative, Never Let Me Go will have you talking for hours.

Never Let Me Go breaks through the boundaries of the literary novel. It is a gripping mystery, a beautiful love story, and also a scathing critique of human arrogance and a moral examination of how we treat the vulnerable and different in our society. In exploring the themes of memory and the impact of the past, Ishiguro takes on the idea of a possible future to create his most moving and powerful book to date.

---

Behind the paywall, the list continues with another four buddy read recommendations. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to read the full list, get exclusive perks and further support my work 💗

---