I read a lot. I’ve been a voracious reader since I was a young child and had to beg my mom for new books, and even so, in my entire life, I’ve only read perhaps a dozen books that I would classify as “unputdownable.”
Those books you’d ignore your chores over, the ones you’d call in sick to finish – you must read the end.
If that sort of thing appeals to you, here are 10 books people swear are far too gripping to even think about putting down.
10. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
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“I read the whole thing in one day. I HAD to know what happened at the end! It follows a girl who basically raises herself in a swamp in the Carolinas throughout her whole life.
There’s love, life, and even a murder mystery. SO GOOD!”
—jessicak489b53b42
9. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
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“The plot is so good and, within just two books, she managed to get six highly developed three-dimensional characters, which is no easy feat.
The banter between the characters is gold, the writing is amazing, and the relationships aren’t too shabby either. I loved the first book, but she outdid herself on the sequel.
It’s easily one of my top five favorite books ever. They are quite dark and gory at times, but I read the books almost a year ago and I still think about them often.
There has been a lot of hype around them, but it is deserved.”
—human_being1757
8. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
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“I have loved John Green since I was in high school and I loved every single one of his books.
When I found this one in the store, I just grabbed it, unaware of what it was even about. It was such a beautiful and emotional story.
Like all his novels, it hit me on an emotional level and it was an absolute page turner.
A brilliant look into the mind of someone with OCD, which Green himself has.
It had such real characters who were extremely complex and very endearing.”
—riaxisaac
7. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
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“I am an adult who doesn’t usually like YA books, but this series was absolutely riveting!
The mixed media format is incredible!”
—kmivy24
6. I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
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“It’s a government spy thriller that you think can’t possibly get wilder, and then it does.
So gripping the entire way through. Highly recommend!”
—taylord485a356e3
5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
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“The first book in the Lunar Chronicles series.
As a fan of Sailor Moon and fairytale retellings, it was a perfect futuristic mashup of those two ideas, plus little bit of Star Wars in a way.
I couldn’t put it down.”
—meownik
4. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
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“I ended up staying up all night to finish this book.
She’s a great writer anyway, but I think this book is her crowning achievement.”
—thia_m
3. Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
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“I bought the book at a charity book sale some time back and finally read it a month ago.
I literally read the final half of the book in one sitting. It was so damn good.
The story was super interesting and thrilling and, by the end, I was second-guessing everything.
I actually started tearing up because I forgot to blink a couple times.
When I was not reading it, I could not stop thinking about reading it.”
—riaxisaac
2. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
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“She has such an amazing way with creating layered characters I could really empathize with.
It’s extremely morally ambiguous, which makes me love it even more.”
—pearl2223
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
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“I bought the book at a charity book sale some time back and finally read it a month ago.
I literally read the final half of the book in one sitting. It was so damn good.
The story was super interesting and thrilling and, by the end, I was second-guessing everything. I actually started tearing up because I forgot to blink a couple times.
When I was not reading it, I could not stop thinking about reading it.”
—riaxisaac
I’m definitely going to add some of these to my list!
Have you read any of these? What is your recommendation that’s “unputdownable?” Share in the comments!
