Ten is a big deal. In human age, 10 is when kids enter the tween years or early adolescence. When relationships and even work tenure reach a decade, it’s always a milestone to celebrate.
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So, bring out the bubbly and revisit these books on your shelves (or, if you haven’t given them a read yet, here’s the perfect time to add them to your TBR!) Let’s toast to ten years and beyond.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
At age 36, when Kalanthi was completing a decade’s worth of training in his field as a neurosurgeon, he found out he had terminal cancer. One day, he was a doctor treating the dying; the next, he was a patient struggling to live. When Breath Becomes Air is a profoundly moving book about hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds. After Kalanthi’s demise, Penguin Random House published his memoir posthumously in 2016. Ten years later, When Breath Becomes Air remains an illuminating book about how we can lead more meaningful and intentional lives, with Kalanithi’s voice ringing on.
The Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
It’s been nearly a decade, yet it still feels like yesterday when Sayaka Murata welcomed us with an “Irasshaimase” into her sharp, offbeat social satire, Convenience Store Woman. Readers have come to know and love the familiar rhythms of Smile Mart, as well as the singular and quirky personality of its 36-year-old heroine, Keiko Furukura. Since its release in 2016, the novel quickly became a bestseller, selling over 600,000 copies in Japan alone and finding readers around the world through translations in more than 30 languages. It also helped propel Sayaka Murata’s career as a bestselling international author, releasing several successful books thereafter.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Before becoming a host, comedian, and household name, Trevor Noah wasn’t even supposed to exist. Born to a white Swiss father and a Black Xhosa mother under apartheid South Africa, his very existence was illegal. This memoir—by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting—is about growing up, struggling to find himself in a world where his very existence was considered a crime, and is also a love letter to his fearless mother, determined to fight for her son’s future. An inspiring work of non-fiction, Trevor’s heartbreaking and honest prose shines with his keen sense of humor and his mother’s unconditional love.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
The Hating Game is equal parts sexy and hilarious. It follows two assistants from two publishing companies that had recently merged. When the co-CEOs announce the creation of a third executive position, the war between Lucy and Joshua is on. From the get-go, Sally Thorne’s writing builds chemistry that zings off the pages, making this one of the most memorable books in the last ten years. Grab this spicy workplace romantic comedy as it celebrates a decade in publication, then follow it up with a movie night and play its movie counterpart, released in 2021, starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell.
Beartown (Book 1) by Fredrik Backman
Swedish author Fredrick Backman is a global sensation, with plenty of books under his belt. Online, readers form healthy discussions about which book is Backman’s best, and Beartown (2016) frequently comes up. Beartown is a deeply moving and engrossing novel about a small, isolated, and dying forest town, pinning its hopes on its junior ice hockey team. But just a few days before the team competes in the national semi-finals, an act of violence tears the town apart. Here, Backman offers a narrative that transcends sports drama, examining complex human themes like loyalty, community, and responsibility. Beartown is followed by sequels, namely Us Against You (Book 2) and The Winners (Book 3).
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Caraval by Stephanie Garber is a bewitching and breathtaking young adult fantasy novel. The story follows sisters Scarlett and Tella Dragna, who escape their abusive father in pursuit of a long-awaited invitation to Caraval—a legendary, high-stakes magical performance that blurs the line between reality and illusion.
But what begins as spectatorship quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Tella is abducted by Caraval’s mysterious mastermind, forcing Scarlett into the heart of the game. As the boundaries between performance and reality dissolve, she must navigate shifting illusions, a mysterious enchanted island, and an unpredictable romance—all while racing against time to save her sister.
Add these books to your TBR, bookworms!
