If You Like The Reading List…

I recently listened to The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (2021) as an audiobook (narrated by Tara Divina, Sagar Arya, and Paul Panting) and found it a charming read. In the novel, Aleisha and Mukesh become friends thanks to a mysterious list of recommended books. Aleisha is a student who works at the library and cares for her mom who is suffering from depression. Mukesh is recently widowed and would rather stay at home with the memories of his wife (herself a devoted reader). When he manages to make it to the library, he asks Aleisha for a book suggestion. She scrambles for a response and relies on a slip of paper that she found in a returned book that lists a series of (real) books: To Kill a Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice Beloved, The Kite Runner, etc. It was super fun to watch others reacting to books I’d read. Through their ups and downs, the two find comfort in the books and in each other.

Here are other books that fans of this book will likely enjoy. All of the suggestions below have both intergenerational friendships and a deep love of books.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (2014)

Fikry owns and runs a bookstore on Alice Island. He is a widower and, increasingly, a loner, pushing away those who reach out. When a baby is abandoned in his store, with a note saying that the biological parent wants her to grow up surrounded by books, Fikry must think about someone other than himself for a change. Delightful and heartwarming — keep the tissues at the ready for this one.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (2023)

I picked up this book after enjoying her Shaffer’s The Lost Story. In this novel, Lucy is a teacher’s aide in California with driving but nearly impossible desire to adopt a student currently in foster care. A reclusive author of a beloved children’s series offers Lucy and three other longtime fans the opportunity to come to his island home off the coast of Maine and compete for a valuable prize. Lucy jumps at the chance to change her fate, hoping that it will allow her to create the family she longs for.

The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts (2024)

Karissa moves to Gig Harbor with her daughter in the wake of her divorce. She meets some friendly neighbors and forms a book club with Josie, Alice, and Margo. The four take turns picking the titles, which are a mix of real books (Jane Eyre) and imaginary self-help and romance titles. Everyone gets a happy ending and the books help them reach these satisfying conclusions.

Mrs. Christie and the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman (2025)

Tory lives in an apartment above the New York City–based Mystery Guild Library, home to an exact replica of Agatha Christie’s study. When Tory’s cousin Nicola becomes entwined in a series of crimes, a woman appears in the Christie room to help Tory solve them. Is she the ghost of Agatha Christie or someone suffering from delusions? Either way, she is essential in helping to solve the crimes and find the culprits. Full of references to and quotes from Christie’s books and other beloved mysteries.