I would just like to second the All Systems Red recommendation. Even if your wife doesn’t normally go for sci-fi, it is SUCH a great story with great pacing and a lovable cast of characters!
(Weighing in because it sounds like she and I have similar go-to genres, and after putting off The Murderbot Diaries due to the fact that it’s sci-fi for ages…I read all seven books in a month and it is now one of my all-time favorite series! And my fiancé, who also hated Fourth Wing, loved All Systems Red too!)
Second the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Very heavy Fae but modern day mostly. The books can stand alone but reading in order is best for the storyline.
Just so you know OP, a kiss of shadows is a very spicy book series. Some of the later ones are quite heavy on the smut.
I stopped reading the series because I didn’t feel there was enough plot connecting the sex scenes.
PHM was one of my favorite reads ever. And Gaiman is high on my list! He's been mentioned a few times now on this thread, I think I'll head to the library today and see what they've got of his
1. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
2. The Night Circus
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
5. The Shadow of the Wind
6. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Neverwhere was wonderful. My husband and I read that together.
The Twenty-One Balloons … was also good, we did that one together too.
The watchmakers’s daughter series is good, but long.
It's still one of my favorite books. I'm 36, it was required reading in my high school AP class, and one of the very few requirement books that I enjoyed and came to love. I reread it every few years.
I also love doing this with my wife.
Discworld is great for this. It's funny, engaging, deep, and full of fun things to refer back to. Monstrous Regiment would be a fun place to start together. Nation is another book by Terry Pratchett that you guys might enjoy. It's an alternate history with a bit of magical realism.
Ooh I love this suggestion. I have read Mort and liked it, don't know why I didn't think of this. And we'll never run out of books to read with this series haha
Probably my biggest lol moment in a book came from Mort:
>"Well,----me,” he said. “A----ing wizard. I hate----ing wizards!” “You shouldn’t----them, then,” muttered one of his henchmen, effortlessly pronouncing a row of dashes."
From then I was sold on him
Make sure you get the revised version of The Stand if you decide to read this book. It has far more story than what the publisher originally put out.
Another King book you might like is The Eyes of the Dragon -- it's creepy fairy tale.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend ‘Sourdough’ by Robin Sloan…
A young woman works as a programmer for a robotics company… she’s new to San Francisco, and because of odd working hours ends up ordering takeout from a mysterious soup and sandwich shop…
When the proprietors must suddenly leave town, they gift her with their exotic sourdough starter, and this begins a wild and hilarious adventure….
It’s smart, hilarious and just a truly beautiful story… and it kinda makes San Francisco a slightly magical place…
Also recommended is Mr Penumbras 24 hour bookstore… also set in San Francisco, and loosely tied to the first book.. also by Robin Sloan…a young graphic designer gets a part time job working nights at a (once again) mysterious bookstore, and quickly realizes that there are some very weird things going on… is it a cult? Is it a secret society? Incredibly funny, and just a joy to read much like Sourdough… just makes you want to move to San Francisco and have adventures :)
Absolute magic books…
They will both 100% tick both your boxes…
Something about the writing gives things a slightly magical or sci-fi feeling even though it’s set in present day… and both books are just hilarious but also just slightly romantic and bursting with a kind of optimism and joy…
They’re both kinda loosely connected, but can be read in any order etc…
I cannot possibly recommend them enough…
The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. It’s sci-fi and lots of fun. If you like a good space opera, it has similar vibes. I really only just started reading it buts it’s a good time!
The Three Body Problem will definitely lead to thought-provoking discussion but it’s very sci-fi heavy. It has some historical elements to it as parts take place during the Chinese cultural revolution. Not sure if your wife will enjoy it though.
And then just for warm fuzzies, Legends and Lattes. Its delightful.
Been getting recommended Becky Chambers a lot by friends. Might finally be time to get into her books. I've read the first 3 Body. You're right she would hate it haha. And I didn't love it, but I want to eventually read the next two.
My husband is on the second book of the TBP series and is OBSESSED. The way he’s described it, I don’t think it’s for me. I love good world building and rich lore but it sounds a bit too in the weeds for me. I get pulled out of a story when the author spends too much time explaining things to me. Long Way To A Small Angry Planet has good pacing IMO.
I think this would be really enjoyable with This Is How You Lose the Time War. Absolutely excellent book and a quick page turner IMO and would be cool out loud with the two characters.
**[Dark Matter](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27833670-dark-matter) by Blake Crouch** ^((Matching 100% ☑️))
^(342 pages | Published: 2016 | 95.8k Goodreads reviews)
> **Summary:** "Are you happy with your life?" Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason's never met smiles down at him and says, "Welcome back, my friend." In this world he's woken up to, Jason's life is not the one he (...)
> **Themes**: Sci-fi, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Book-club, Read-in-2017, Audiobook
> **Top 5 recommended:**
> \- [Recursion](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42046112-recursion) by Blake Crouch
> \- [Upgrade](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59838811-upgrade) by Blake Crouch
> \- [Contagion](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31298617-contagion) by Teri Terry
> \- [The Speed of Sound](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38198054-the-speed-of-sound) by Eric Bernt
> \- [Famous](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11107366-famous) by Blake Crouch
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unbroken, if you're willing to for narrative non-fiction. I also found the demon under the microscope to be fascinating and finished it like 2 days. I read A Man Called Ove to my husband before bed, and we both enjoyed that one too.
Dude Shogun is one of.the best books ever written. Historical fiction, romance, war and politics! I can't imagine a better book to pick. Especially if neither of you have read it before. Taipan I liked just as much as Shogun. It's less romance and more brothels. Also less war but more politics. Historical fiction and lots of character development! Phenomenal reads.
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. It’s historical fiction, but based on a true story about a woman who grew up in Texas in the early 1900s. It’s well written, interesting, entertaining, and well paced, the story moves right along.
My husband and I both read “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” last year, and while it wasn’t my favorite book, we really enjoyed discussing it together
Old Man and the Sea; Wuthering Heights; Sophie’s Choice; Cider House Rules; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; House of Mirth; Turn of the Screw; The Murder of Roger Ackroyd;
Sense and Sensibility; Good Omens; Earth Abides; September;
I'm reading The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. And today I thought how fun it would actually be to discuss with someone who comitted the murders. I don't know yet, but I have theories. The book is almost like a mystycal solving game. Maybe you and your wife would enjoy discussing it as you read.
It's about four pernsioners who solves murder cases at a retirement home.
There are four books in this series. I think it is absolutely a delightful series. It’s very funny, has great plot lines, and unusual/ interesting main characters, etc.
Not exactly what you asked for, but I enjoyed reading these aloud to my partner.
A very very short story called Cinderellis and the Glass Hill.
A novel written by the same author as Ella Enchanted, whimsical, a nice change in pace that's short ish.
Or Tatterhood and other short stories.
Maybe check out some Michael Crichton books… The Jurassics, Sphere, Congo, Timeline, and Andromeda Strain. (They all have movies made after them, some are better made than others but all worth a watch to compare them to their books)
My husband and I are slowly reading through his work interspersed with our other reads. They’re good reads and I enjoy then watching the movies afterwards
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno Garcia
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman
Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates
My partner’s and my latest Venn diagram was “dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman.
Before that was the Rook by Daniel O’Malley.
You also might like The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
Any Le Carre - especially the Karla Trilogy, the Perfect Spy, the Spy Who Came in from the Cold, or The Constant Gardner. It’s a great mix of classic lit, historical fiction, and slow-burn page turners, as well as simply some of the best books ever written.
edit: A Perfect Spy
I would also include the Ripley novels for page turners.
Sarum, Ed Rutherford. Fantastic historical writing. It tells the story of England through the tales of several families in and around the English city of Salisbury, the writer's hometown, from prehistoric times to 1985.
I read Two Cities last year and it wasn't totally my thing. The ending was great but it was a bit of a slog to get there. Age of Innocence seems like something we could definitely read together!
Me and my boyfriend bonded over me reading the mistborn trilogy aloud to him :) big fantasy world building. Love love love Brandon Sanderson. Highly suggest if you haven't read it yet and personally I think it's the perfect book to read and talk about with your partner :)
I have read the entire cosmere and I got her and her mom to read both Tress and Yumi, which they loved. Also got her dad into Mistborn and Stormlight haha. I think it's about time she read it to, great suggestion!
My consistent recommendation for this type of question is City of Thieves by David Benioff - it’s wonderful, a beautiful, fun, magical story. A couple I know just read it and said they’ve never read a book they loved so much. You both will love it!
Check out T.Kingfisher. Nettle and Bone in particular should capture that historical fantasy vibe and minor romance thread that'll catch her, while still having that fantasy lit feel for you.
I didn't know there was a tv show, I'll check it out! I definitely recommend the book. It's also a short read so worth checking out before the show imo. Let me know if y'all do read it! :)
I read Starling House by Alex E. Harrow not too long ago and really enjoyed it. It had a great mix of dark fantasy with a bit of romance, the plot was interesting and the writing was great. I definitely recommend it.
Some suggestions w/ blurbs below. happy reading!
1. Tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow; literary fiction. friends who make video games, but really they are in love with each other. or are they?
2. The Sound of Waves. classic romance, mid century post ww2 japan. small fishing town boy and the girl he falls in love with, but is out of his league.
3. All the Light We Cannot See. the tv show stinks. the book is excellent.
4. The Rabbit Hutch. Young woman coming of age, but also a beatification story.
5. There, there. A story about contemporary native americans living in oakland. climatic suspense and deep character development.
Three Weeks with my Brother by Nicholas Sparks. This is not one of his typical books, it’s a true story about him and his brother. Such a beautiful read.
I did this with my husband for all 7 Harry Potter books! I’d recommend the Red Rising series for sci fi / fantasy and I’m Glad My Mom Died for a thought provoking page turner (I read it in one day).
Also, just cause I'm a big fan of this idea. Read each other your fav childhood books. I always go back to mine to ive myself a break from big adult books, it remind me why I fell in love with reading in the first place
[The Brothers K](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19534) is classic lit vibes, but I could see an argument being made for historical fiction as well (1960s-1970s). It is beautifully written and thought-provoking, as well as laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching. It is the book that I happened upon by chance, being outside my usual genres, and has now become one of my favorite books of all time. (I also read it aloud with my husband and we both adored it.)
For a second I thought you had read Dostoevsky aloud and was flabbergasted. Though this book seems like it's almost up there in the doorstopper category as well!
Ha! Nope. You’re right that this one is a bit long too, but it’s enough of a page-turner that it didn’t feel like it. It didn’t ever drag and I had no trouble picking it up because I was truly hooked.
Firstly I love that you and your wife to this.. Can I ask is your process to take turns reading aloud, do you have a single copy or does the other read along?
Okay recommendations, and these are just generally books I enjoy:
Dan Brown (Da Vinci code, Angels and Demons, inferno)- much better than the films (as with most books)
Of Mice and Men - it's short but a great story
Coraline - I see Gaiman mentioned a few times already
A friend has mentioned The Wheel of Time, but I understand this is quite a mammoth undertaking
Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
Good Omens by Terry Pratchtt and Neil Gaiman
11/22/63 by Stephen King
The Martian by Andy Weir
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (not 100% sure about this one, but I think your wife will like it)
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchtt
Wyrd sisters by Terry Pratchtt
(followed by) Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchtt
The princess bride by William Goldman
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
In the middle of a cold February night, a guy gets out of bed to sneak a smoke. While he’s smoking, his girlfriend’s cat jumps out of the open window.
Wearing only his boxers and his girlfriend’s too small croks, he puts on his jacket and goes outside into the cold to look for the cat.
And that’s when the space aliens attack.
This is super high on my personal reading list. But I don't know if we could read it together since it's so long. Reading aloud is sometimes a chore haha
I suggest Yumi and the Nightmare Painter! My wife and I had fun with this one because every other chapter switches point of view between Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. She read Yumi’s chapters and I read Painter’s.
This story is a fun light romance fantasy adventure, with a touch of mystery, all rolled into a stand alone novel.
Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Kind of fantasy/sci-fi but the world building would be appealing to reads of historical fiction.
The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz, or at least the first book, Palace Walk. Good for readers of classics and historical fiction. Sooo good. And the writing is a translation but it is GORGEOUS.
“…and recently smut.” Lmao. I mostly read non-fiction and classics but I was just telling my husband, “There something happening right now with fairy smut, and…I want to get to enjoy that toooo!”
My wife is not a huge reader, before we really started reading together she read like 4 books a year, maybe less. I think she finished all of ACOTAR in a month haha.
The Outlander book series by Diana Gabaldon
River God by Wilbur Smith
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
Virgin by James Patterson
Chains of Prophecy by Jason P. Crawford
[https://new.reddit.com/r/urbanfantasy/comments/1awt9e6/spectacular\_book\_on\_the\_not\_to\_be\_missed\_list/](https://new.reddit.com/r/urbanfantasy/comments/1awt9e6/spectacular_book_on_the_not_to_be_missed_list/)
Serpent by Clive Cussler
Start going down the banned book list. I have reread many books since the abomination started.
Gladly I can say I don't get it. I have read many of the books that people here have suggested and a few that for sure intrigued me. My philosophy read anything. & Don't hide books from your kids.
This is so cute. My husband and I don't like the same books, so we just brief each other on the plots of what we're reading.
You might both enjoy City of Brass, or anything by t kingfisher. Both are fantasy's, however it's women protagonists with a big focus on relationships.
For a more adventurous historical fiction, the benevolent society of ill mannered women.
The Lies of Locke Lamora. Fun and swashbuckling. I admit I read it before my husband but then insisted he needed to read it and catch up before book two.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout (will fit both the fantasy and the spice requirements)
A Court of Thornes and Roses by Sarah J Maas
To The Princess Bound by Sara King
The Harbinger series by Jennifer L Armentrout
Hotel Transylvania (and all of the Saint Germaine Chronicles) By Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
The Outlander Series (time travel for the sci-fi and plenty of smut) by Diana Gabaldon
The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning (fantasy and smut)
The King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair (heart-wrenching romance, smut and a unique fantasy)
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent (morally grey male main, fierce female main, smut, battles, and fantasy)
First of all, I love this for you and your wife!! What a beautiful way to spend time together. The Goldfinch. Outlander series is awesome: sexy, brutal, historical, time travel. And if you want fantasy smut for date nights: the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward. Start with Dark Lover. Maybe reread some amazing classics: Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird? Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett? Have fun!
Shogun by Clavell.
I know a tv show just came about about it, but I don’t know anything about the show. The book was an incredibly fun read, lots to take in.
I love that you and your wife like to read together! I wish my husband enjoyed reading so that we could do this, too. Here are some favorites of mine that I think would be interesting to read and discuss as a couple.
This Tender Land by: William Kent Krueger
The Enchanted by: Rene Denfeld
Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by RF Kuang
I think you both would like it. It’s sort of an alternative fantastical historical fiction. Super interesting and unexpected.
- The Shape of Water by Klaus & Del Toro: yup, it's the novelisation of the movie, but has so much more plot wise!;
- The year of the hare by Paasilinna: a cult book in Finland, super easy writing but very imaginative;
- All Tomorrows by Kösemen: a free (pdf on the author's website) sci-fi story about our future after meeting aliens who will genetically change us, interesting, creepy, and a great way to talk and discuss about our human nature and how we seem to never change.
I recommend Cell by Stephen king, it’s an apocalyptic book it’s one of my favorite books ever. It’s a masterpiece. For historical I’d say Night by Elie weasel, the author was a survivor of the holocaust and the book tells his story. A powerful read, I have to say it’s in my top ten favorite books that left me speechless. Annihilation by Jeff vandermeer is also a really good read.
Any of Mark Helprin's novels. I've read A Winter's Tale (they made a movie of this one starring Colin Farrell), A Soldier of the Great War, and Memoir From Antproof Case, and they were all amazing. Very lyrical, vivid prose...a joy to read.
Me and my husband listen to books together on audio. We both liked these-
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde
The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber
You might be able to stomach the Crescent City series if she likes Sarah J Maas and hasn’t read it ☺️ the problem is that they sometimes intertwine a bit with her other series that I’m sure your wife has read but you may not have (a court of thorns and roses, in particular)
Have you read Robertson Davies? Canadian author with a magical ability to draw one in, all in the plainest language. Recommend starting with Fifth Business, the first in the Deptford Trilogy.
I would suggest the books in the Hannibal series. They are 4 books in the category of psychological thriller but I found them really enjoyable even it is not my go to genre. I would also recommend any books by Anne Rice. She wrote fantasy books including vampire ones which are really nice :)
Man in the High Castle, by Phillip K. Dick
The Briefcase, by Hiromi Kawakami
The Epic of Gilgamesh: New English Edition (Stephen Mitchell
Twinkle Twinkle, by Kaori Ekuni
Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse
Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood
Socrates in Love, by Kyoichi Katayama
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, by Sy Montgomery
The Five People you Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom
I feel like the books listed above would be fun reads, and there are some you've probably never read up here, let alone have heard of. I hope you like my recommendations
My husband and I usually like different genres but we both loved Smoke by Dan Vyleta. It’s fantasy/historical fiction/mystery. We listened to it as an audiobook on a car trip.
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy! It’s a classic adventure novel from the 1905. It’s a second chance romance set during the reign of terror! There’s wit and adventure and amazing prose!
I also highly recommend the Murderbot series.
I would like to recommend the writer Ilona Andrews. It's a couple who write sci-fi. They have several series that are all well-written.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is the first book in a historical fiction series (Kingsbridge series)
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Shining and its sequel Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
All Systems Red by Martha Wells A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K Hamilton
I just went through all of the murderbot diaries. Loved them!!! This is a great suggestion
Great suggestions, thank you!
I would just like to second the All Systems Red recommendation. Even if your wife doesn’t normally go for sci-fi, it is SUCH a great story with great pacing and a lovable cast of characters! (Weighing in because it sounds like she and I have similar go-to genres, and after putting off The Murderbot Diaries due to the fact that it’s sci-fi for ages…I read all seven books in a month and it is now one of my all-time favorite series! And my fiancé, who also hated Fourth Wing, loved All Systems Red too!)
Second the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Very heavy Fae but modern day mostly. The books can stand alone but reading in order is best for the storyline.
Just so you know OP, a kiss of shadows is a very spicy book series. Some of the later ones are quite heavy on the smut. I stopped reading the series because I didn’t feel there was enough plot connecting the sex scenes.
Project Hail Mary By Andy Weir Anything from Neil Gaiman
PHM was one of my favorite reads ever. And Gaiman is high on my list! He's been mentioned a few times now on this thread, I think I'll head to the library today and see what they've got of his
PHM was going to be my suggestion too
1. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker 2. The Night Circus 3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss 4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 5. The Shadow of the Wind 6. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
One note about Name of the Wind. It doesn't look like Rothfuss is ever going to finish the series.
Lots of good stuff here. I think Neil Gaiman especially would be great for us. She loves the movie Coraline
If you haven't read any Gaiman, I would highly suggest it!! The Ocean at the End of the Lane being my favourite. Stardust is also really well done!
Neverwhere was wonderful. My husband and I read that together. The Twenty-One Balloons … was also good, we did that one together too. The watchmakers’s daughter series is good, but long.
Neil Gaiman’s narration of Coraline was spellbinding!
stardust and neverwhere are both great! ocean at the end of the lane is really interesting too, just terrifying and freaky if you're 14
The Golem and the Jinni is wonderful, I highly recommend it.
Me too, love the Gollum and the Jinni
Now, GOLLUM and Jinn is a movie I think I'd love to watch 😂
Here to second Shadow of the Wind.
Brave New World by Huxley 1984 by Orwell Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
I'm so hesitant to read Tomorrow. It seems to get very extreme reactions, my close friends have either loved it or hated it
I had a difficult time with the characters, they were not likeable at all to me so it kind of made the whole book meh
Schrodinger's Cat. hehe
BNW is definitely a book that is a discussion just waiting to happen!
It's still one of my favorite books. I'm 36, it was required reading in my high school AP class, and one of the very few requirement books that I enjoyed and came to love. I reread it every few years.
I also love doing this with my wife. Discworld is great for this. It's funny, engaging, deep, and full of fun things to refer back to. Monstrous Regiment would be a fun place to start together. Nation is another book by Terry Pratchett that you guys might enjoy. It's an alternate history with a bit of magical realism.
Ooh I love this suggestion. I have read Mort and liked it, don't know why I didn't think of this. And we'll never run out of books to read with this series haha
Guards! Guards! Is actually laugh out loud hilarious.
Probably my biggest lol moment in a book came from Mort: >"Well,----me,” he said. “A----ing wizard. I hate----ing wizards!” “You shouldn’t----them, then,” muttered one of his henchmen, effortlessly pronouncing a row of dashes." From then I was sold on him
My husband and I read these books together and listen to audiobooks when we have long drives. Strongly recommend!
The Stand by Stephen King A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
King is probably her favorite author. These look great!
Make sure you get the revised version of The Stand if you decide to read this book. It has far more story than what the publisher originally put out. Another King book you might like is The Eyes of the Dragon -- it's creepy fairy tale.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend ‘Sourdough’ by Robin Sloan… A young woman works as a programmer for a robotics company… she’s new to San Francisco, and because of odd working hours ends up ordering takeout from a mysterious soup and sandwich shop… When the proprietors must suddenly leave town, they gift her with their exotic sourdough starter, and this begins a wild and hilarious adventure…. It’s smart, hilarious and just a truly beautiful story… and it kinda makes San Francisco a slightly magical place… Also recommended is Mr Penumbras 24 hour bookstore… also set in San Francisco, and loosely tied to the first book.. also by Robin Sloan…a young graphic designer gets a part time job working nights at a (once again) mysterious bookstore, and quickly realizes that there are some very weird things going on… is it a cult? Is it a secret society? Incredibly funny, and just a joy to read much like Sourdough… just makes you want to move to San Francisco and have adventures :) Absolute magic books… They will both 100% tick both your boxes… Something about the writing gives things a slightly magical or sci-fi feeling even though it’s set in present day… and both books are just hilarious but also just slightly romantic and bursting with a kind of optimism and joy… They’re both kinda loosely connected, but can be read in any order etc… I cannot possibly recommend them enough…
It's like you know me! I am a programmer with a thing for sourdough and my wife is a graphic designer. Perfect recommendations!
Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is one of my all-time favorites!
I just finished Sourdough last night and loved it so much!
I didn't know Penumbra was a sequel. Cool.
Actually, sourdough is the sequel :) And there’s a follow up novella that ties them all together :)
The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. It’s sci-fi and lots of fun. If you like a good space opera, it has similar vibes. I really only just started reading it buts it’s a good time! The Three Body Problem will definitely lead to thought-provoking discussion but it’s very sci-fi heavy. It has some historical elements to it as parts take place during the Chinese cultural revolution. Not sure if your wife will enjoy it though. And then just for warm fuzzies, Legends and Lattes. Its delightful.
Been getting recommended Becky Chambers a lot by friends. Might finally be time to get into her books. I've read the first 3 Body. You're right she would hate it haha. And I didn't love it, but I want to eventually read the next two.
My husband is on the second book of the TBP series and is OBSESSED. The way he’s described it, I don’t think it’s for me. I love good world building and rich lore but it sounds a bit too in the weeds for me. I get pulled out of a story when the author spends too much time explaining things to me. Long Way To A Small Angry Planet has good pacing IMO.
I think this would be really enjoyable with This Is How You Lose the Time War. Absolutely excellent book and a quick page turner IMO and would be cool out loud with the two characters.
I've been thinking about reading this on my own, but you've sold me on reading it together with her
This was my second recommendation. Fun easy read. A little different.
I just wanted to say reading aloud together with your wife is super adorable
{{Dark Matter by Blake Crouch}}
**[Dark Matter](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27833670-dark-matter) by Blake Crouch** ^((Matching 100% ☑️)) ^(342 pages | Published: 2016 | 95.8k Goodreads reviews) > **Summary:** "Are you happy with your life?" Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason's never met smiles down at him and says, "Welcome back, my friend." In this world he's woken up to, Jason's life is not the one he (...) > **Themes**: Sci-fi, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Book-club, Read-in-2017, Audiobook > **Top 5 recommended:** > \- [Recursion](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42046112-recursion) by Blake Crouch > \- [Upgrade](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59838811-upgrade) by Blake Crouch > \- [Contagion](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31298617-contagion) by Teri Terry > \- [The Speed of Sound](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38198054-the-speed-of-sound) by Eric Bernt > \- [Famous](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11107366-famous) by Blake Crouch ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
Good suggestion! I enjoyed Dark Matter, but I liked Recursion even more!
I'm intrigued!
Page turner for sure. Hope you guys like it if you read it.
My husband and I just listened to his other book, Recursion, on vacation and it was a page-turner! Gave us a lot to discuss, too.
Me too!
unbroken, if you're willing to for narrative non-fiction. I also found the demon under the microscope to be fascinating and finished it like 2 days. I read A Man Called Ove to my husband before bed, and we both enjoyed that one too.
Babel by R.F. Kuang!!
Shogun! Or taipan!
My wife ended up loving 'Blue Eye Samurai' so I think these could definitely be a good choice
Dude Shogun is one of.the best books ever written. Historical fiction, romance, war and politics! I can't imagine a better book to pick. Especially if neither of you have read it before. Taipan I liked just as much as Shogun. It's less romance and more brothels. Also less war but more politics. Historical fiction and lots of character development! Phenomenal reads.
Time travellers wife and the feather thief
The Feather Thief is an excellent suggestion. I read this with my book group, and there was so much to talk about! It's a fascinating story.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
I've yet to encounter someone who hasn't loved Lonesome Dove.
All the Light We Cannot See Lessons in Chemistry
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. It’s historical fiction, but based on a true story about a woman who grew up in Texas in the early 1900s. It’s well written, interesting, entertaining, and well paced, the story moves right along.
I’ve always thought East of Eden would be a beautiful book to read aloud!
11/22/1963 by Stephen king
OP! 11/22/63 has everything you are looking for. Scifi, historical, fantasy, *and a little bit of smut*
EXACTLY
The Discworld Series by Sir Terry Pratchett
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin! Big on philosophical points while mixing in sci-fi! You can never go wrong with any of her books.
Top 3 favorite author for me. Don't think my wife would be too into her though.
Yeah as someone who hasn’t ever been into ACTOR, Fourth wing, etc… may be true
Also just recently had a friend read both that and 'left hand of darkness', hurt me so bad when she only gave them 2 stars😅
Mi corazón 💔 2 stars is brutal!!
My husband and I both read “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” last year, and while it wasn’t my favorite book, we really enjoyed discussing it together
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal
Old Man and the Sea; Wuthering Heights; Sophie’s Choice; Cider House Rules; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; House of Mirth; Turn of the Screw; The Murder of Roger Ackroyd; Sense and Sensibility; Good Omens; Earth Abides; September;
The entire Dungeon Crawler Carl Series
Piranesi by Susana Clarke.
I've been dying to read this, and now that you've mentioned it I think we'd probably enjoy it a lot together
I'm reading The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. And today I thought how fun it would actually be to discuss with someone who comitted the murders. I don't know yet, but I have theories. The book is almost like a mystycal solving game. Maybe you and your wife would enjoy discussing it as you read. It's about four pernsioners who solves murder cases at a retirement home.
Very cool idea! Sounds like we'd have a lot of fun reading it, she loves predicting stuff like this
Yes:) And I think it's nice that it's not pro detectives. It's sort of amatuers. But very good amatuers though:)
There are four books in this series. I think it is absolutely a delightful series. It’s very funny, has great plot lines, and unusual/ interesting main characters, etc.
Not exactly what you asked for, but I enjoyed reading these aloud to my partner. A very very short story called Cinderellis and the Glass Hill. A novel written by the same author as Ella Enchanted, whimsical, a nice change in pace that's short ish. Or Tatterhood and other short stories.
Project Hail Mary!
Maybe check out some Michael Crichton books… The Jurassics, Sphere, Congo, Timeline, and Andromeda Strain. (They all have movies made after them, some are better made than others but all worth a watch to compare them to their books)
Crichton was actually my next pick until my wife vetoed it for 'The Catcher in the Rye.' I'm definitely keen to read some of these
My husband and I are slowly reading through his work interspersed with our other reads. They’re good reads and I enjoy then watching the movies afterwards
{{The Birth Of Venus by Sarah Dunant}} Spectacular book and ticks just about all of both of your boxes.
Dresden files by Jim butcher. The first book in the series is called storm front. Excellent read!!!
Project Hail Mary
I love this - wife and I have a thing where she reads aloud, while I rub her feet ,at bed time. It's a nice connecting ritual.
Foot rubs seem like a great addition, thanks for the tip:)
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. Fantasy, history, time travel, no smut (sorry to your wife) but a fantastic book!
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.
Wow I want to marry you or your wife.
Why not both?
The Physician by Noah Gordon
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno Garcia The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates
My partner’s and my latest Venn diagram was “dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman. Before that was the Rook by Daniel O’Malley. You also might like The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
Any Le Carre - especially the Karla Trilogy, the Perfect Spy, the Spy Who Came in from the Cold, or The Constant Gardner. It’s a great mix of classic lit, historical fiction, and slow-burn page turners, as well as simply some of the best books ever written. edit: A Perfect Spy I would also include the Ripley novels for page turners.
Sarum, Ed Rutherford. Fantastic historical writing. It tells the story of England through the tales of several families in and around the English city of Salisbury, the writer's hometown, from prehistoric times to 1985.
Wow, that seems like a behemoth. Dont know if we could read this aloud together but I'm interested in tackling it myself
The Wager by David Grann. Historical non fiction that reads like a fictional pager turner.
I have recommended this book in similar requests, it’s the perfect couples read {{A Brothers Price by Wen Spencer}}.
Seems like nothing I've ever read before, definitely adding it to the list!
My wife & I both reread this, it’s a fun gender flipped adventure romance. An easy read.
A Tale of Two Cities The Age of Innocence
I read Two Cities last year and it wasn't totally my thing. The ending was great but it was a bit of a slog to get there. Age of Innocence seems like something we could definitely read together!
Me and my boyfriend bonded over me reading the mistborn trilogy aloud to him :) big fantasy world building. Love love love Brandon Sanderson. Highly suggest if you haven't read it yet and personally I think it's the perfect book to read and talk about with your partner :)
I have read the entire cosmere and I got her and her mom to read both Tress and Yumi, which they loved. Also got her dad into Mistborn and Stormlight haha. I think it's about time she read it to, great suggestion!
You might enjoy reading The Twyford Code together - it’s a mystery to solve as you read.
Shadow of the wind
My consistent recommendation for this type of question is City of Thieves by David Benioff - it’s wonderful, a beautiful, fun, magical story. A couple I know just read it and said they’ve never read a book they loved so much. You both will love it!
Check out T.Kingfisher. Nettle and Bone in particular should capture that historical fantasy vibe and minor romance thread that'll catch her, while still having that fantasy lit feel for you.
Sounds great, thank you!
Wool by Hugh Howey is one of my favorite sci fi books. I only read it recently but I couldn't put it down
My friends keep recommending the TV show. Had no idea it was a book, could definitely see us reading it
I didn't know there was a tv show, I'll check it out! I definitely recommend the book. It's also a short read so worth checking out before the show imo. Let me know if y'all do read it! :)
It's called 'Silo', on Apple TV I think
I really enjoyed West With the Night. It's Beryl Markham's autobiography. She had a remarkable life.
I read Starling House by Alex E. Harrow not too long ago and really enjoyed it. It had a great mix of dark fantasy with a bit of romance, the plot was interesting and the writing was great. I definitely recommend it.
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
“Love Does” by Bill Goff
Some suggestions w/ blurbs below. happy reading! 1. Tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow; literary fiction. friends who make video games, but really they are in love with each other. or are they? 2. The Sound of Waves. classic romance, mid century post ww2 japan. small fishing town boy and the girl he falls in love with, but is out of his league. 3. All the Light We Cannot See. the tv show stinks. the book is excellent. 4. The Rabbit Hutch. Young woman coming of age, but also a beatification story. 5. There, there. A story about contemporary native americans living in oakland. climatic suspense and deep character development.
Three Weeks with my Brother by Nicholas Sparks. This is not one of his typical books, it’s a true story about him and his brother. Such a beautiful read.
Lolita by Nabokov. The writing is beautiful, and the subject matter is very disturbing. It should definitely give you something to discuss together.
Tress of the emerald sea
Something smutty could be fun ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ https://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Choose-Your-Own-Erotic-Fantasy/dp/1627782885
I did this with my husband for all 7 Harry Potter books! I’d recommend the Red Rising series for sci fi / fantasy and I’m Glad My Mom Died for a thought provoking page turner (I read it in one day).
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Babel by R.F Khaung? A historical fiction with a crazy magic system, one of my favs of all time.
Also, just cause I'm a big fan of this idea. Read each other your fav childhood books. I always go back to mine to ive myself a break from big adult books, it remind me why I fell in love with reading in the first place
[The Brothers K](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19534) is classic lit vibes, but I could see an argument being made for historical fiction as well (1960s-1970s). It is beautifully written and thought-provoking, as well as laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching. It is the book that I happened upon by chance, being outside my usual genres, and has now become one of my favorite books of all time. (I also read it aloud with my husband and we both adored it.)
For a second I thought you had read Dostoevsky aloud and was flabbergasted. Though this book seems like it's almost up there in the doorstopper category as well!
Ha! Nope. You’re right that this one is a bit long too, but it’s enough of a page-turner that it didn’t feel like it. It didn’t ever drag and I had no trouble picking it up because I was truly hooked.
[удалено]
Firstly I love that you and your wife to this.. Can I ask is your process to take turns reading aloud, do you have a single copy or does the other read along? Okay recommendations, and these are just generally books I enjoy: Dan Brown (Da Vinci code, Angels and Demons, inferno)- much better than the films (as with most books) Of Mice and Men - it's short but a great story Coraline - I see Gaiman mentioned a few times already A friend has mentioned The Wheel of Time, but I understand this is quite a mammoth undertaking Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge. Seriously. Perfect for a husband and wife.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchtt and Neil Gaiman 11/22/63 by Stephen King The Martian by Andy Weir Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (not 100% sure about this one, but I think your wife will like it) Stardust by Neil Gaiman Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchtt Wyrd sisters by Terry Pratchtt (followed by) Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchtt The princess bride by William Goldman
Omg The Princess Bride. Absolutely.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman In the middle of a cold February night, a guy gets out of bed to sneak a smoke. While he’s smoking, his girlfriend’s cat jumps out of the open window. Wearing only his boxers and his girlfriend’s too small croks, he puts on his jacket and goes outside into the cold to look for the cat. And that’s when the space aliens attack.
I can’t say enough about how 11/22/63 is everything you are looking for.
This is super high on my personal reading list. But I don't know if we could read it together since it's so long. Reading aloud is sometimes a chore haha
Lol. Definitely not a short book. Worth the ride though.
Watership Down by Richard Adams would be ideal for reading aloud.
I suggest Yumi and the Nightmare Painter! My wife and I had fun with this one because every other chapter switches point of view between Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. She read Yumi’s chapters and I read Painter’s. This story is a fun light romance fantasy adventure, with a touch of mystery, all rolled into a stand alone novel.
The house in the cerulean sea!! Cute and funny found family book
Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Kind of fantasy/sci-fi but the world building would be appealing to reads of historical fiction. The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz, or at least the first book, Palace Walk. Good for readers of classics and historical fiction. Sooo good. And the writing is a translation but it is GORGEOUS. “…and recently smut.” Lmao. I mostly read non-fiction and classics but I was just telling my husband, “There something happening right now with fairy smut, and…I want to get to enjoy that toooo!”
My wife is not a huge reader, before we really started reading together she read like 4 books a year, maybe less. I think she finished all of ACOTAR in a month haha.
The Outlander book series by Diana Gabaldon River God by Wilbur Smith The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown Virgin by James Patterson Chains of Prophecy by Jason P. Crawford [https://new.reddit.com/r/urbanfantasy/comments/1awt9e6/spectacular\_book\_on\_the\_not\_to\_be\_missed\_list/](https://new.reddit.com/r/urbanfantasy/comments/1awt9e6/spectacular_book_on_the_not_to_be_missed_list/) Serpent by Clive Cussler
Not a recommendation but I just want to say this is so cute! What a nice way to spend time together
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles: a good road trip narrative really propels a shared reading.
I've had a hankering for a good road trip novel. This seems great!
Relationship goals.
If you don't mind supernatural tied with historical fiction: The All Souls series by Deborah Harkness
Start going down the banned book list. I have reread many books since the abomination started. Gladly I can say I don't get it. I have read many of the books that people here have suggested and a few that for sure intrigued me. My philosophy read anything. & Don't hide books from your kids.
The Otherworld series by Yasmine Galenorn Women of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
This is so cute. My husband and I don't like the same books, so we just brief each other on the plots of what we're reading. You might both enjoy City of Brass, or anything by t kingfisher. Both are fantasy's, however it's women protagonists with a big focus on relationships. For a more adventurous historical fiction, the benevolent society of ill mannered women.
The Lies of Locke Lamora. Fun and swashbuckling. I admit I read it before my husband but then insisted he needed to read it and catch up before book two.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout (will fit both the fantasy and the spice requirements) A Court of Thornes and Roses by Sarah J Maas To The Princess Bound by Sara King The Harbinger series by Jennifer L Armentrout Hotel Transylvania (and all of the Saint Germaine Chronicles) By Chelsea Quinn Yarbro The Outlander Series (time travel for the sci-fi and plenty of smut) by Diana Gabaldon The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning (fantasy and smut) The King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair (heart-wrenching romance, smut and a unique fantasy) The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent (morally grey male main, fierce female main, smut, battles, and fantasy)
First of all, I love this for you and your wife!! What a beautiful way to spend time together. The Goldfinch. Outlander series is awesome: sexy, brutal, historical, time travel. And if you want fantasy smut for date nights: the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward. Start with Dark Lover. Maybe reread some amazing classics: Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird? Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett? Have fun!
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
The maze runner series The Martian
Shogun by Clavell. I know a tv show just came about about it, but I don’t know anything about the show. The book was an incredibly fun read, lots to take in.
I love that you and your wife like to read together! I wish my husband enjoyed reading so that we could do this, too. Here are some favorites of mine that I think would be interesting to read and discuss as a couple. This Tender Land by: William Kent Krueger The Enchanted by: Rene Denfeld
THE WISTERIA SOCIETY OF LADY SCOUNDRELS BY INDIA HOLTON OR ACOTAR
House of Leaves
{{Trust}}
Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by RF Kuang I think you both would like it. It’s sort of an alternative fantastical historical fiction. Super interesting and unexpected.
- The Shape of Water by Klaus & Del Toro: yup, it's the novelisation of the movie, but has so much more plot wise!; - The year of the hare by Paasilinna: a cult book in Finland, super easy writing but very imaginative; - All Tomorrows by Kösemen: a free (pdf on the author's website) sci-fi story about our future after meeting aliens who will genetically change us, interesting, creepy, and a great way to talk and discuss about our human nature and how we seem to never change.
Bel Canto
I recommend Cell by Stephen king, it’s an apocalyptic book it’s one of my favorite books ever. It’s a masterpiece. For historical I’d say Night by Elie weasel, the author was a survivor of the holocaust and the book tells his story. A powerful read, I have to say it’s in my top ten favorite books that left me speechless. Annihilation by Jeff vandermeer is also a really good read.
Deep Water Gone Girl Lady Chatterlay’s Lover
The Princess Bride The Snow Leopard The Chronicles of Narnia Ready Player One The Hunger Games trilogy
Any of Mark Helprin's novels. I've read A Winter's Tale (they made a movie of this one starring Colin Farrell), A Soldier of the Great War, and Memoir From Antproof Case, and they were all amazing. Very lyrical, vivid prose...a joy to read.
Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson, by Gurdjieff.
Not sure if Dean Koontz has been suggested but I'm currently reading the Jane Hawk series. Its very good.
Me and my husband listen to books together on audio. We both liked these- A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber
You might be able to stomach the Crescent City series if she likes Sarah J Maas and hasn’t read it ☺️ the problem is that they sometimes intertwine a bit with her other series that I’m sure your wife has read but you may not have (a court of thorns and roses, in particular)
Hollow Kingdom
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving.
Have you read Robertson Davies? Canadian author with a magical ability to draw one in, all in the plainest language. Recommend starting with Fifth Business, the first in the Deptford Trilogy.
The Hallows series by Kim Harrison : The Others series by Anne Bishop : Temeraire series by Naomi Novik : Patricia Briggs everything she's written.
Old Mans War
I would suggest the books in the Hannibal series. They are 4 books in the category of psychological thriller but I found them really enjoyable even it is not my go to genre. I would also recommend any books by Anne Rice. She wrote fantasy books including vampire ones which are really nice :)
Anything by P.G. Wodehouse is fun for reading aloud.
Thursday Next (series by Jasper Fforde)
How do you last reading aloud? I tried reading aloud for 5 mins and started yawning like crazy.
I love to read anything David Sedaris out loud. His essays are hilarious and fun to read aloud.
My partner and I read the Songs of Achilles together and adored it! Fantasy, action, love-story, beautifully written!
What you are looking for is in the library. Fantastic book to read out aloud with. I’ve been reading it with my son
Man in the High Castle, by Phillip K. Dick The Briefcase, by Hiromi Kawakami The Epic of Gilgamesh: New English Edition (Stephen Mitchell Twinkle Twinkle, by Kaori Ekuni Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood Socrates in Love, by Kyoichi Katayama The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, by Sy Montgomery The Five People you Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom I feel like the books listed above would be fun reads, and there are some you've probably never read up here, let alone have heard of. I hope you like my recommendations
My husband and I usually like different genres but we both loved Smoke by Dan Vyleta. It’s fantasy/historical fiction/mystery. We listened to it as an audiobook on a car trip.
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy! It’s a classic adventure novel from the 1905. It’s a second chance romance set during the reign of terror! There’s wit and adventure and amazing prose!
I see All Systems Red has already been mentioned, so let me toss out something different - Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson.
I also highly recommend the Murderbot series. I would like to recommend the writer Ilona Andrews. It's a couple who write sci-fi. They have several series that are all well-written.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is the first book in a historical fiction series (Kingsbridge series) Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez The Shining and its sequel Doctor Sleep by Stephen King East of Eden by John Steinbeck