58 of the Best Long Books over 500 Pages
I don’t know about you but when I see a long book (over 500 pages) it can seem a little overwhelming. But, as I have looked back over the books I have read and loved, I was surprised by the length of some of these books. It is amazing how a well-written book can be closer to 1000 pages and you never notice.
We made a list of our favorite long books. We have classics, fantasy, historical fiction and more. We don’t think any of these books feel long when you are reading them- unless you choose to read a hard-back. If that is the case, you can definitely skip your arms if you go to the gym.
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Long Classic Books You Will Love
The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Year: 1887-1927
Genre: Mystery
More info:
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Sherlock Holmes’ ability to solve each crime is fascinating. His observations are astute and I can never, ever guess who committed the crime.
If you are looking for the best mystery books of all time, Sherlock Holmes cannot be missed. This complete collection has all the short stories and the 4 Holmes novels.
Why Kirsten loves it
I am a HUGE detective story lover and no one does detective stories better than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These books have inspired countless adaptations and retellings since their initial publication.
Find this book in: Sherlock Holmes Books / Literary Classics / Best Mystery Books / British Mysteries / Short Stories
The Count of Monte Cristo
Author: Alexander Dumas
Year: 1844
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Translated from French
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The first time I read this book was actually before I saw the movie Shawshank Redemption. I read it a bunch of times and loved it. I did not realize, however, that it was an abridged version.
When I was at University, I embarked on a journey to read the unabridged version of this book. I was so amazed at the brilliance and detail that it has been a favorite ever since.
Edmund Dantès is thrown into the Chateau D’If for a crime he did not commit. There, he meets a fellow prisoner who teaches him to read and write, math, languages, and how to fight, all within the confines of their cells before telling him of a treasure. When the other prisoner dies, Dantès escapes and seeks his revenge on those who had him sent to prison. All of this is set in the time of Napolean Bonaparte who is a part of the political landscape of the book.
Why Jackie loves it
There is a reason this classic is still read today. This is the original story of revenge. The writing, plot, and details in this book are unsurpassed.
Find this book in: Best Classic Novels / Jackie’s Top 10 All-Time Favorite Books / Books Set in France to Love / Books with Food in the Title / Best Books in Translation
Plot
This is the classic tale of Odysseus’s struggle to leave the Trojan War and return to his beloved wife, Penelope, and his homeland of Ithaca. Homer’s original tale has spawned countless retellings, movie adaptations, and literary scholars. From epic monsters to vengeful gods this book is filled with iconic legends and stories within stories.
Why Kirsten loves it
There is a reason this boat book is one of my favorite books of all time. I find this classic tale to be so entertaining. It’s a classic for a reason. Odysseus’s struggle to get home to his family is truly epic. Those Greeks sure knew what they were doing.
Find this book in: Literary Classics / Long Books / Boat Books / Greek Mythology / Kirsten’s Favorite Books / Best Books in Translation
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The only Charles Dickens book I’ve ever read and was recently nominated for PBS’s Great American Read.
The story features orphan Pip who comes into an unexpected fortune. His life is changed forever when he becomes a man of leisure and meets beautiful but aloof Estella. It’s a great tale that could just as easily have been set in modern-day London.
Find this book in Must-Read Classic Books
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
I read this book in college and absolutely fell in love with Scarlett and Rhett. His passion to win her and then her determination to win him back set my adolescent heart a-flutter. The movie ranks high on our list of best adaptations too!
The Brothers Karamazov
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Year: 1880
Genre: Classic
More info: Originally Published in Russian
Age Range: 15+
Plot
I read this MASSIVE text for fun when I was a sophomore in college. It took me an entire semester but it was worth it. Dostoevsky’s classic features a mystery, multiple love triangles, and brother relationships.
It’s about the four sons of Fyodor Karamazov and the change in their worlds after he is murdered. As with most families, each brother is very different and their reactions to the murder are as well. It’s a SUPER complex book but it’s seriously worth it.
Why Kirsten loves it
There is so much meaning in this amazingly complex classic. It has something for everyone and I would recommend giving this book a try, along with the time and effort it will take to fully immerse yourseelf.
Find this book in: Literary Classics / Best Books in Translation
Epic Fantasy Books Over 500 pages
House of Earth and Blood
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Year: 2020
Genre: Fantasy Romance
More info: Book #1 of the Crescent City Series
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
House of Earth and Blood is the first in a new series by Sarah J. Maas, of ACOTAR fame. It’s an urban fantasy – and tells the story of Bryce Quinlan and her bodyguard, Hunt Athalar. Strange things are happening in Lunathion and together, Bryce and Hunt are trying to uncover the source of murders happening around Crescent City. If only because then they will be permitted to get away from one another.
But Bryce’s hunt for answers is deeper, she knows that what’s going on now is connected to her best friend, Danika’s murder two years prior. This wild ride was filled with skyscrapers, cellphones, and video surveillance, but also fairies, werewolves, angels, demons, and witches with history and power.
Why Kirsten loves it
My initial turn-off of too many names/places/tribes/species types was quickly overcome by the insane world-building and a story that kept me up until 3 a.m. I fell in love with Bryce and Hunt’s romance, the epic world of the Crescent City series, and the many breadcrumbs and clues SJM scattered throughout this story.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this world-building fantasy. Unlike so many of the other EPIC series, this one is set in an urban setting which makes it unique to any other series I have read. The characters are fantastic in their imperfect, but relatable ways.
Find this book in: Guide to All of Sarah J. Maas’s Books / Urban Fantasy Books / Books Like ACOTAR / Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Best Adult Fantasy Novels
Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Year: 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Legacy of Orisha, #1
An Instant New York Times Bestseller, A TIME top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time, A New York Times Notable Children’s Books, A Kirkus Prize Finalist
Age Range: 14+
Plot
When magic disappeared from Orisha, Zelie’s world changed forever. When the king ordered all the Maji killed, Zelie was left without a mother or magic. She is on a quest to find revenge and bring magic back to Orisha (Orisha is a mythical Nigeria). This is one of the fantasy books for teens that builds a whole new world and brings young adult fantasy books to a whole new level.
Zelie must use the help of a princess to escape from the crown prince who wants to finish what his father started and erase all magic permanently. This book is filled with magic, spirits, and danger.
Why Jackie loves it
I enjoyed this book which is the first in a fantasy series for Young Adults. I listened to the amazing audiobook and I loved listening to the story the way that the story was intended to sound.
Find this book in: Fantasy Book Series for Young Adults / The Ultimate List of YA Fantasy Books / YA Books About Witches / 15 Novels About Africa / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / The Best Books Like Fourth Wing
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
This book started so strong for me, I was completely enraptured with this world. As the story continued, I found the story changed tones. What was once a hopeful story, slowly became a story of unreachable love.
200 years ago Weep was cut off from the world, so much so that nobody can even remember the city’s real name. When Lazio starts dreaming of a blue-skinned woman, he cannot forget her.
This YA fantasy book has warriors and magic, but is it also a completely original paranormal book. It is unlike any other.
Lord of the Rings
Author: J.R.R Tolkein
Year: 1954
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Classic Fantasy and Academy Award-Winning Movie Adaptation
Age Range: 15+
Plot
It is hard to believe that this trilogy was published in 1954. This epic fantasy is the first in a trilogy that has withstood the test of time. In ancient times, on Middle Earth, the elves created the Rings of Power. Sauron, the dark lord, forged his own ring, The One Ring, that ruled over all the others. The ring went missing and was discovered by Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit. Now, Sauron’s power is rising and the only way to stop him is to destroy the ring.
Gandolf the Wizard; Merry, Pippin, and Sam the Hobbits; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gandor (a human); and Aragorn (called Strider initially but is the King of Men), set out together on a quest to destroy the ring. This is the ultimate story of the fight between good and evil and the fight to overcome the evil within.
Trigger Warnings
Death, violence
Why Jackie loves it
This is an epic trilogy with world-building and characters that are timeless. I love that there are not hundreds of characters to keep track of which makes this series feel more readable than some of the other series with generations of characters to remember
Find this book in: Best Classic Novels to Read / Books Like Game of Thrones / Adult Fantasy Novels /Best Long Books over 500 Pages
The Best Long Historical Fantasy Books
Plot
I went on a vampire kick this month and I loved this really creepy classic vampire book about a historian’s search for Dracula. The story is told in two timelines. One in which a young woman must decide if she is going to follow her father in his quest and the other is told through her father’s stories and old journals.
This is a complicated history and a journey in a search for Vlad the Impaler while simultaneously trying to avoid the fate that most people meet when they get too close.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a historical fantasy that is CREEPY. I wanted to stop reading it but I wanted to know what happened. The dual-timeline made this book even more intriguing as well as the epistolary aspect.
Find this book in: Epistolary Novels / Vampire Books
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
Author: Susanna Clarke
Year: 2000
Genre:
More info: World Fantasy Award Winner, 2005
Hugo Award Winner, 2005
Locus Award Winner, 2005
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This book. So many people recommended it to me because of my love for Harry Potter. The writing style was Victorian, which fit the book’s time period but felt hard to read at times. The story, however, is full, complex and epic. If you love witch books, this is a must-read.
In nineteenth-century England, people believed that magic had disappeared until Mr. Norrell revealed his powers. He then takes Jonathan Strange as a student. But when Strange is drawn to darker magic, the two men develop a rivalry that can change history.
Why Kirsten likes it
There are so many things that I liked about this book- from the writing to the time period and the complex plot. I can see why it is a best-seller and award winner. For me, the story was a bit too complex and heavy to be considered a favorite. However, I still consider it a must-read for fantasy lovers.
Find this book in: The Best Witch Books
The Mists of Avalon by
Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley
Year: 2020
Genre: Historical Fantasy
More info: Locus Award Winner
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is a fairy tale retelling of the story of King Arthur, featuring the Lady of the Lake, Paganism vs. Christianity, and an epic struggle for power.
Merlin and the Lady of the Lake practice pagan witchcraft, as they try to keep the old ways alive against the new religion gaining popularity, the choices they make for Arthur’s kingdom inspire the tale we know so well.
The mini-series adaptation of this adult fantasy book is wonderful too and well worth the watch!
Why Kirsten loves it
This was my first high fantasy book series, which I routinely think about. I read it in middle school (which I absolutely shouldn’t have) and devoured this tome in days. It captivated my imagination unlike anything I had ever read before.
Find this book in: Books Set in Cornwall / Fairy Tale Retellings / Lake Books / Witch Books
The Lost Queen
Author: Signe Pike
Year: 2018
Genre: Historical Fantasy
More info: Book 1 of 3 in The Lost Queen
Age Range: 18+
Plot
If you love Outlander, The Mists of Avalon, or The Clan of the Cave Bear, then you will love this pick from royal reads. Set in Britain/ Scotland when Christianity is poised to become the religion of the country, a future queen who swore to the old ways is learning how to balance the needs of her people and her religion with the role she’s expected to play.
Meanwhile, her twin brother is training to be the man history knows as Merlin. The first in a new trilogy about Arthurian legend.
This book is a perfect pick for a list of books like A Discovery of Witches or a list of books like Outlander. If you love books set in Scotland, this book is a must-read.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love historical fiction books and I also love stories about King Arthur. This series is perfect for me especially because it also takes place in Scotland. This is a triple win in my books.
Why Jackie loves it
When I first got this book, I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it. I had a very difficult time reading it since I could not pronounce any of the names. As soon as I started listening to this book, I was immediately drawn into the story. If you love historical fiction or historical fantasy, I would highly suggest listening to this series.
Find this book in: Best Books About Scotland / Books Like A Discovery of Witches / The Best Witch Books / Books like Outlander / Mythology Books
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
This is a dual-timeline story about the invading Jacobites in 1708 that takes place at Slains Castle. A writer from the present decides to write a story about her ancestor from this time frame and begins to live the experience herself.
There is romance, ghostly memories, and a wonderful perspective of the famous Jacobite uprising we know from Outlander. How could we not include this pick on a list of books like Outlander? This is also perfect pick from books set in Scotland to add to your list.
Long Magical Realism Books
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Author: Anthony Doerr
Year: 2021
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: National Book Award Finalist
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I don’t know how to begin to describe this book. This is NOTHING like All The Light We Cannot See and yet, I absolutely loved it. It is part historical fiction, part sci-fi, and absolutely amazing.
The book is set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, Five hundred years later in a library in Idaho and in a spaceship traveling to a new planet sometime in the near future. Even while trying to describe this book, it does not seem to go together and yet, the story of Cloud Cuckoo Land (a story within the Novel) acts as the glue that brings the characters together. The result is an amazing sci-fi book with a very powerful message.
This is not an easy read but is well worth it.
Trigger Warnings
War, school shooting
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this unique sci-fi historical fiction novel. The story within the story was woven perfectly throughout. I think people will either LOVE this book or hate it. But the mark of a good book is one that will be remembered and talked about.
Find this book in: Nonlinear Narrative Novels / 20 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time / The Best Audiobooks of All Time / Books about Libraries / Best Books of 2021
Plot
Ursula Todd is born one night in 1910 and died before taking her first breath. She is born again on the same snowy night in 1910 and so the story continues.
Ursula lives her life over and over and hopes that she can get it right and change her story. As she grows, she grapples with family life and WWII.
Why Kirsten loves it
This masterful work by Kate Atkinson is a family drama, historical fiction, and magical realism all rolled into one fantastic book. This unique story is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Why Jackie loves it
The story is so unique and Atkinson’s writing is wonderful. This story felt fresh, even when watching Ursula live her life over and over again. The story gives such a fresh glimpse of WWII but is also a story about family.
Find this book in: Best WWII Books / Books Like the Time Traveler’s Wife / Magical Realism / Time Loop Books / British Books
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Year: 2003
Genre: Time Travel Fiction
More info: 2009 Movie starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:16+
Plot
Clare and Henry have an unusual love story. They’ve known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six but were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry was thirty-one. Henry is an adventurous librarian who inadvertently travels through time.
He never knows where he will turn up and when he will disappear. He knows that he will travel suddenly and without warning. Will Clare and Henry be able to determine what causes the time jumps or is Henry destined to spend the rest of his life wondering and worrying?
Trigger Warnings
Sudden Death
Why Kirsten loves it
I adore how this story explores very real challenges that any couple faces. With the added time travel element, it becomes an unforgettable pick from our list of romance books.
Why Jackie loves it
The way Clare and Henry fight for their love shows a deep connection between the two that is unmatched.
Find this book in: Best Time Travel Books / Time Travel Romance Books / Books Like A Discovery of Witches / Best Romance Novels of All Time / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books About Librarians
The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Author: Stuart Turton
Year: 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: 15+
Plot
Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered every day at 11:00 PM. In order to escape Blackheath, Aiden Bishop must solve her murder. He will wake up every day for 8 days inhabiting a different host body. He will experience the same day until he solves the murder.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best books that I have read in a really long time. It is so smart and so well written- the complexity of the plot line is mind-boggling and kept me entranced until the very last page.
Find this book in: Locked Room Mystery / Books About Puzzles / Best Time Loop Books / The 20 Best Books of 2018
Plot
This historical fantasy book was brilliantly researched and had an amazing premise in which Jake Epping steps into a time hole to stop the assassination of Kennedy. Every time he leaves history, time resets itself. Each time something does not go right, he can reset the clock by stepping out of the hole no matter how much time has passed while he was in the past.
Sound confusing? King is a brilliant writer who can make transitions between the past and present seamless. His attention to detail in this whopper of a book is unmatched.
Why Jackie likes it
The historic details in this book were immaculate but, as much as everyone loved this book, I thought that it was much too long. You have to be prepared for almost 900 pages. The beginning and the end of the book were outstanding.
Find this book in: Historical Fantasy Books / Time Loop Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books Set in the 1960s
Long Historical Fiction Books
Plot
A young girl is abandoned on a ship headed to Australia. When she arrives, the only thing in her possession is a suitcase with some clothes and a book of fairy tales. The dock master and his wife adopt Nell and tell her the story of her arrival in Australia on her 21st birthday. She goes back to England on a quest to find her lost identity.
Unsuccessful, her granddaughter later takes up the search and tries to assemble the pieces of her grandmother’s mystery and unlock the secrets of her past.
Trigger Warnings
Child Death, Infertility
Why Kirsten loves it
I was swept away by this story and found myself dreaming of Cornwall while reading. This gothic fiction is a perfect book for fall.
Find this book in: Kate Morton Books / Cozy Books / Family Saga / Books set in Cornwall / Historical Mystery / British Books / Best Cozy Mystery Books
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen
Jonathan Franzen is back with this incredible 70s book about a pastor and his family as they navigate who they are in the midst of the tumultuous of the era.
As each character questions their relationship with their family, with god, and with their community at large, they also turn inward and try to remain true to themselves.
The depth of the characters is meticulous, the plot had me flipping the pages (which at 500 or so is saying something.) I can’t recommend this story enough. It’s truly wonderful. If you love 70s historical fiction, this is a perfect pick from our list of books like Daisy Jones and the Six.
Sunflower Sisters
Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller, Woodsey-Ferriday Trilogy
Age Range:16+
Plot
The third and final installment in the Lilac Girls series, Sunflower Sisters focuses on the Civil War. I found myself pondering how much easier it is as an American to look at WW1 and WW2 as distant history, but the Civil War makes me so uncomfortable to read about.
I like to think that’s the work I’ve been doing to learn the history of slavery that is at the root of this country’s origin and examine my own privilege.
Why Kirsten loves it
I did love this story and I learned more about slavery in the border states during the war and just how complex that issue was for the Union.
Find this book in: Books About Sisters and Bonds of Sisterhood / Best Long Books over 500 Pages / Books With Flowers in the Title
The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten
I’ve been enthralled with the Romanovs since I saw my first Faberge egg. While most of my reading has focused on the fall of the dynasty, I was intrigued by this biographical fiction novel set after the reign of Peter the Great.
Why We Liked It It was FASCINATING to see the cultural backdrop of Russia’s imperial court. I loved learning about the court intrigue and the ruthless way power changed hands.
Find this book in Cozy Winter Books / Royal Reads / Romanov Novels
A Fine Balance
Author: Rohinton Mistry
Year: 1995
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: November 2001 Oprah Book Club Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
A Fine Balance is an epic and heartbreaking family saga of life in India. It’s a story of love and friendship in an unnamed city in 1975. Lovers come together and are ripped apart in this memorable book.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide, Violence
Why Jackie loves it
I read this book years before it was an Oprah Book Club pick, but it is not a book that is easy to forget. It is heart-wrenching in every way and a literary feat.
Find this book in: Books that will Emotionally Wreck You / Long Books / Family Sagas / Books About Poverty / Books Set in the 70s / Best Oprah’s Book Club Books
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
While this book is not about tea alone, it is about the life of a geisha. 9 year old Nitta is taken from her fishing village to learn the subtle art of becoming a geisha. She learns how to walk, dance, put on make-up and of course, how to conduct the Japanese tea ceremony. This is a powerful and unforgettable book.
Long WWI Books Worth the Read
Plot
This is an incredible novel about the women of Smith College who went to help French war victims on the war front. The band of 15 women in this novel is based on the 18 real-life heroes of Smith College.
These ladies started from scratch to help those ravaged by war only to have the war come back and destroy the lands around them again. But they never faltered in their quest to help the war-torn villages of women and children impacted by the war.
The book gives a well-rounded feeling of what these women needed to do to save the lands and the people and is an emotional pick from books about friends.
Why Kirsten loves it
This historical fiction is based on real events and had me captivated from the first page. I love the bravery and camaraderie of these amazing women.
Why Jackie loves it
The role of women is so often overlooked and so this story about the women of Smith College was enlightening. I loved the characters and the story, but the fact that it was based on real events of WWI made it even better.
Find this book in: Friendship Books / Books About Sisters and Sisterhood / Books Set in France / Best Book Club Books / WWI Books / Ultimate Beach Reads 2021 / Best Books of 2021
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
I don’t know what took me so long to listen to this story. It was absolutely captivating and could not stop listening.
This dramatic story about 5 families before and during WWI was incredible. The way Follett has woven all their stories together was dynamic and mesmerizing. The story was a little more battle and politics-focused than most WWI books I have read, but I loved learning new historical information.
This is a story that would be EXCELLENT for the men in your life too. Now if only I could get my husband to read.
Amazing (and Long) WWII Books
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II
Author: Liza Mundy
Year: 2017
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This fascinating book tells the story of the code girls, the women who worked to decode messages during WWII. They worked incredibly hard to save the men on the frontlines, yet their work has been largely overlooked. Mundy shines a light on their story, which was almost lost completely.
Trigger Warnings
War, Sexism
Why Kirsten loves it
I’m not generally a huge non-fiction reader unless the topic is of particular interest to me. Having seen the Imitation Game and read quite a few non-fiction books about coding in war times, I thought this one would be interesting and it did not disappoint. I loved finding out about the trials and tribulations of the real-life heroes of the war that we rarely hear about.
Find this book in: Good Nonfiction Books for Beginners / Books like Lessons in Chemistry / Books about WWII / Books about Female Spies
All the Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr
Year: 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Pulitzer Prize winner
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This beautiful book takes place in occupied France during the Second World War. It is the coming-of-age story of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths cross as they try to survive the war. Marie-Laure is trying to save a valuable jewel from the Nazis, while orphan Werner’s skills at the radio find him drafted into the army. When their stories converge it becomes a story that you will not soon forget.
Trigger Warnings
War
Why Kirsten loves it
This Pulitzer Prize winner is well-written but also an immensely readable book. I was swept into the story and on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Find this book in: Coming-of-Age Books / Books Set in France / WWII Books
The Distant Hours
Author: The Distant Hours
Year: 2010
Genre: Gothic Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a dual timeline gothic novel about Edie Burchhill, a woman who returns to Milderhurst Castle where her mother stayed as a child ward during WWII. She has received a lost letter in the mail and now wants to question the inhabitants of the castle in a quest to discover the mysteries of her mother’s past.
Why Kirsten loves it
I could not put this novel by Kate Morton down – it was filled with Grey Gardens vibes. It was fascinating to see what happened to children in England during the Blitz. This is one of the cozy books you will want to curl up and read without stopping. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.
Find this book in: Kate Morton Books Ranked / Books About WWII
The Rose Code
Author: Kate Quinn
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of The Alice Network
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
While the main portion of this story features 3 code breakers at Bletchley during WWII, one of the main characters is dating Prince Philip. You know, the same Prince Philip who eventually marries the queen?
It’s a dual-timeline story and one of those storylines is set against the backdrop of Philip’s wedding to QE2.
Trigger Warnings
Death, child death, forced institutionalization
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a Kate Quinn royal novel, so the writing and story are both top-notch.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Mystery Books / WWII Books / Royal Reads / Books With Color in the Title / Best Books of 2021 / Books With Flowers in the Title
Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini
This books was fascinating but SOOOOOOOOO long. It felt like I was listening to it for weeks on end and I think some of it could have been cut out for sure, but the writing was captivating and the story was fresh.
A lot has been written about WWII but this story focuses on the before. The years before WWII broke out, the people that tried to stop the atrocities and those that tried to prevent Hitler from coming to power.
It was so interested, and frankly scary, to see the slow slide of acceptance from the German people. It was also frightening to see the parallels that seem to be coming about today in America.
The Light of Days by Judy Batalion
This harrowing non-fiction book tells the stories of the Jewish female resistance members during WW2. These women have not been given nearly enough attention for their bravery, fearlessness, and sacrifice.
As Battalion explores the different experiences each female operative goes through during the war, I had tears streaming down my face. The sheer gall of these women was inspiring to me, especially in light of the danger they were in if caught out.
I picked this up during International Holocaust day and I couldn’t put it down. A must-read for those looking for WWII books and courage in the face of hatred.
Celebrity Book Club Picks Over 500 Pages
The Lincoln Highway
Author: Amor Towles
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: October 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
The coming-of-age story is all about Emmett and his 8-year-old brother, Billy, and their quest to get to California to start a new life following the death of their father. Along for the ride are the scheming Duchess and his sidekick.
Why Kirsten loves it
Once again, Amor Towles writes an incredible, character-driven story that had me marveling at his writing ability. Their journey intertwines in this fast-moving character study of the 4 boys. It was a touch too long, but still a wonderful story from a gifted writer.
Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Best Read With Jenna Books
The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois
Author: Honorèe Fanonne Jeffers
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: August 2021 Oprah’s Book Club Pick
National Book Critics Circle AwardWinner, 2021
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Wow. This is one of the best books I’ve listened to this year, and yes, I recommend it on audio for a few reasons.
First, the different narrators help tell this dual-timeline contemporary fiction. Through one narrator, we learn about Ailey’s life as an African American woman in the 20th century. The other narrator tells the story of the female ancestors of Ailey’s going all the way back to her Indigenous, black, and white relatives from two centuries earlier.
Through Ailey and her ancestors, the weight of what it means to be a black woman in America means. The sacrifices, injustices, struggles, and harassment endured by Ailey and her kin in the present day and the past are explored with a depth so real, I forgot it was a fictional story at times.
The second reason this book is great on audio? It’s LONG. It clocks in at over 800 pages or almost 30 hours of audiobook time. The narrators sucked me in and those 30 hrs flew by.
Trigger Warnings
Rape, slavery, incest
Why Kirsten loves it
I will say, this book made me consider my White Privilege in a way no non-fiction book could have. It’s a heavy story, but very worth the read and a great book for book clubs. The audiobook was fantastic and the 30 hours of story sucked me in.
Find this book in: The Best Celebrity Book Clubs / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Best Books of 2021 / Best Oprah’s Book Club Books
The Last Mrs. Parrish
Author: Liv Constantine
Year: 2017
Genre: Thriller
More info: December 2017 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I found this stalker book to be enjoyable if only because of the plotting of Amber Patterson. I adored being in the head of the villain.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this popular thriller book because it was a Reese Witherspoon pick AND because I heard wonderful things about it. I had read another thriller in January so I completely predicted what was going to happen in this book. As with all thrillers, especially domestic thrillers, when the element of surprise is missing, it’s not as good a read. Still, if you are looking for a very readable psychological thriller book, this is a great pick.
Find this book in: Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Domestic Thriller Books/ Popular Thriller Books
Epic Love Stories Over 500 Pages
Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Year: 1991
Genre: Historical Fantasy
More info: Outlander Series Book 1 of 9
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This epic story begins in 1945 when Claire Randall and her husband take a second honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands to celebrate being reunited after the war. When Claire touches one of the standing stones, she is transported to 1743.
This is when the real story begins. In order to stay safe as an English woman in Scotland, Clare must depend on Jamie Frasier for protection. Soon Clare finds herself living in a world she has only read about in history books and torn between two men that she loves. In addition to being a brilliant fiction that is rich in historical details, it is an epic love story as well. For me, this is magical realism at its finest.
Trigger Warnings
Rape, sexual assault, sexual violence
Why Kirsten loves it
How do I love Outlander? I cannot count the ways. There is a reason this is one of my favorite books of all time. I am a huge reader of historical fiction and this one checks all the boxes for me. The characters are rich, the plot is complex without being overly complicated and the epic love story make it almost perfect in my eyes.
Why Jackie loves it
Even though I am not a huge historical fiction connoisseur, I could not put this book down. Even at 640 pages, I did not want it to end and immediately picked up the next book in the series. I love the touch of magical realism that transported Clare back in time 200 years and Gabaldon’s story telling made the characters jump off the page.
Find this book in: Best Romance Novels of All Time / Ultimate List of Historical Fiction/ Books Like A Discovery of Witches / Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Magical Realism Books / Best Adult Fantasy Novels
The Bronze Horseman
Author: Paullina Simons
Year: 2009
Genre: Historical Romance
More info: Bronze Horseman #1
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This epic love story can almost rival that of Jamie and Claire in Outlander. This saga takes place over decades and all over the world. This is an epic love story that begins in Leningrad during WWII.
Tatiana Metanova meets Alexander, an officer of the Red Army. Amid the terror of the war, the two fall in love, but Alexander is keeping a secret that can devastate them all.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a fantastic story from a historical fiction perspective because of the attention to detail. I learned a lot about everyday life in that era. Like Outlander, it’s a whopping 1000 pages but I couldn’t stop!
Find this book in: Historical Romance / Books About WWII / Books Like Outlander / Cozy Books / Books with Colors in the Title
Grey by E. L. James
While the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy was told entirely from Anastasia’s perspective, Grey and the subsequent books are told from Christian’s point of you.
I thought these books were so much better than the first in the series because we got insight into what was going on in Christian’s mind.
The Royal Secret by Lucinda Riley
I love guilty pleasure royal romances, but this is so much more! Part romance, part mystery, this book has something for everyone and is an amazing beach read.
A young journalist is given a mystery to uncover after an old actor passes away, but her investigation quickly turns deadly. I felt all the feelings on this one. There were a couple of times when I was truly angry at the author, but in the end, I really enjoyed this mystery book about royalty!
Books Over 500 Pages Adapted to the Screen
After
Author: Anna Todd
Year: 2014
Genre: Romance
More info: After #1
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Todd’s smash hit is set in college when bookworm Tessa meets bad boy Hardin. Their relationship is toxic and terrible and yet, anchored in love.
Trigger Warnings
Emotional Abuse
Why Kirsten likes it
Hardin and Tessa’s push-and-pull is at times frustrating but their chemistry is so good! Just make sure you have the second book in the series ready to go. This one ends on a cliffhanger.
This hit book series is now a motion picture series starring Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin! Not as popular with the US market, the Netflix book adaption was a smash over seas.
Find this book in: Long Books / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey / Netflix Book Adaptations
Crazy Rich Asians
Author: Kevin Kwan
Year: 2013
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: Crazy Rich Asians #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Ready for some over-the-top wedding shenanigans? Kevin Kwan delivers in this wedding book! When a young man decides to bring his girlfriend home to Singapore for a wedding, she has no idea what to expect.
She didn’t know he was crazy rich, that his family was crazy, and that everything in Singapore is more, more, more.
Why Kirsten loves it
The details within these pages were so vivid, I could picture everything in this one-of-a-kind contemporary fiction! The adaptation is one of my favorite comfort movies too.
Find this book in: Contemporary Fiction Books / Long Books / Best Beach Reads of All Time / Books About Weddings / Billionaire Romance Books
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
The modern-day monarchy has NOTHING on Henry VIII’s England. That man was a serial philander who literally changed the course of history over his love of Anne Boleyn. While everyone knows about Anne, this particular story is about Mary, her sister whom he fell in love with first.
We see the entire sequence of events through the eyes of Mary, the only member of Anne’s family to survive. This book is also a movie starring Scarlett Johanssen and Natalie Portman.
Long Middle-Grade Books
Plot
This magical realism book is narrated by Death. Death tells the story of Liesel, a young girl in Nazi Germany in 1939. Liesel is living with her foster parents and learning to read from stolen books. She also shares these books with the Jewish man who is hiding in her basement.
Trigger Warnings
Death, Antisemitism, War
Why Kirsten loves it
This book is a brilliant, powerful, poignant, and unforgettable look at Nazi Germany. It’s becoming part of many school curriculums for good reason. I’ve never read a story that encapsulates life for ordinary children during this harrowing time in history.
Find this book in: WWII Books for Kids / YA Historical Fiction Books / Books about the Holocaust / Coming-of-age Books for Teens
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J. K. Rowling
Year: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 10+
More info: Harry Potter #4, New York Times Bestseller
Plot
Harry Potter finds himself participating in the Triwizard Tournament when someone tricked the Goblet of Fire and entered Harry’s name. He must compete against much more experienced wizards in tasks that will bring him glory or death.
Why Kirsten loves it
Harry faces dragons, dark wizards, and mermaids while performing magic he never thought possible. He faces the Deatheaters for the first time!
Why Jackie loves it
Although the order changes sometimes, this is my second favorite Harry Potter book in the series. In my opinion, it was the first book that really showed Rowling’s potential for great storytelling. If you are reading the Harry Potter books in order, as you should, you will LOVE this book.
Find this book in: Books About Secret Societies / Harry Potter Books in Order / Best Puzzle Books / Dragon Books for Tweens
Echo
Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan
Year: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 10 – 12
More info: Newbery Honor Book, New York Times Bestseller, Children’s Literature Legacy Award Winner
Plot
The story is three tales woven together in one with a magical harmonica at the center. The story follows a harmonica as it lands in the hands of Freidrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California.
Part fairy tale and part historical fiction, this is one story that is amazing for middle grade and adults alike. Each child has their own adventure but the end brings the three stories together in a beautiful way.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, Antisemitism
Why Kirsten loves it
It’s not often that I find myself contemplating a middle grade story long after I have finished it, but I have thought of this one many times in the years since I read it. My children loved it just as much as I did when we listened to it during a road trip.
Why Jackie loves it
I listened to this feel-good book and it blew me away. The full-cast audiobook plays music so it is a full sensory experience. In our opinion, this story is best in audiobook format.
Find this book in: World War II Books for Kids / Magical Realism Books / Books for 11-Year-Olds / Audiobooks for Kids / Novels About Music / Newbery Award Winners
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Year: 2007
Genre: Graphic Novel
Age: 8 – 11
More info: Caldecott Medal Winner
Plot
This middle grade mystery is an amazing story of Hugo Cabret, an orphan in the Paris train station where he winds the clocks so that nobody will discover his secrets. Soon he discovers a drawing and a notebook that will lead him to the biggest adventure of his life.
Trigger Warnings
Grief, Death of parent
Why Jackie loves it
Don’t let the length of this mystery book for kids deter you. Even though it’s long, there are gorgeous illustrations on every other page and the writing is only a paragraph at a time.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Middle Grade Books for Tweens / Mystery Books for Tweens / Long Books
Long Fiction Books Over 500 Pages
The Most Fun We Ever Had
Author: Claire Lombardo
Year: 2019
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: April 2024 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Lombardo’s debut is a tremendous contemporary fiction book about the complicated dynamics and hidden secrets of the Sorenson parents and their 4 daughters.
The story alternates between the present day and the past. In the current storyline, Jonah reunites with the daughter who gave him up 15 years prior. The flashbacks touch on moments in the Sorenson family history that are returning to haunt them.
Why Kirsten loves it
I’m a sucker for character-driven novels. Each of Lombardo’s characters is deliciously flawed and complex. She writes in a way that brings characters to life. I could have sworn I’d met them before.
Why Jackie loves it
I love that at the heart of the story, the book is about the many forms of love and how to live well. I cannot believe that Claire Lombardo is not a 50 or 60-year-old woman with children of her own.
Find this book in: Books Becoming Movies / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Books About Sisters / Best Contemporary Fiction Novels / Best Books About Siblings
Plot
The Bushes are modern-day American royalty. This story, while heavily fictionalized, is based on the life of Laura Bush. It covers her young life, meeting her husband and his illustrious family, and also his presidency.
I didn’t know much about the Bush dynasty prior to reading this and while I realize it is political fiction, it gave me some good insight into the political world of America.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is such an interesting and well-written book. It gave me such insight into a different world.
Find this book in: Fiction Books About Women in Politics
Hearts Invisible Furies
Author: John Boyne
Year: 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Winner of the 2018 Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Cyril Avery is not a real Avery- this is what his adoptive parents tell him. Cyril is born to a young woman out of wedlock and is adopted by a rich family in Dublin.
He spends his life coming to know himself and who he wants to be.
Trigger Warnings
Homophobia
Why Jackie loves it
This is a touching and heartfelt story from the first page to the last. Even though this book is well over 500 pages, it didn’t feel long while I was reading it. The writing and the story will pull you in if you give this book the chance.
Find this book in: Books Set in the 1960s / Books to Emotionally Wreck You / LGBTQ Books / Best Long Books
I Know This Much is True
Author: Wally Lamb
Year: 1998
Genre: Fiction
More info: June 1998 Oprah Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a story of identical twin brothers, one of whom is a paranoid schizophrenic. When he shockingly mutilates himself, his brother must become his caretaker. It is powerful and heartbreaking.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide, Rape, Domestic abuse
Why Jackie loves it
I read this book more than 20 years ago, and I still feel emotional about this book. I have not re-read it to see if it has withstood the test of time, but I do not doubt that it has.
Find this book in: Long Books / Books About Mental Illness / Best Oprah’s Book Club Books
The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
In this list of long books, this book is worth every single page because it is such beautifully written historical fiction. The writing is so lyrical- which is usually too poetic for me. But, in this case, it was hard to put down.
The story moves between two strong, intelligent women living centuries apart and the choices and decisions that they have to make in order to be true to themselves If you have the time to invest in one read, this book is my pick and one of my all-time favorite books.
Best Long Mysteries
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair
Author: Joel Dicker
Year: 2014
Genre: Mystery
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The story of Marcus Goldman and his quest to learn what really happened between his mentor Harry Quebert and 15-year-old Nola Kellergan.
Did Harry commit the murder he is now being accused of? Will Marcus write the great American novel? Well, you’ll just have to read it to find out!
Why Kirsten loves it
This book was heavily hyped when it first came out but having just had a baby I was not interested in reading this whopper of a book. Then in 2018, Patrick Dempsey started in a TV mini-series based on the novel. I finally decided to pick it up.
Find this book in: Best Long Books / Mystery and Thriller Novels About Writers
Plot
Anne Fortier did it again with this feminist retelling of the Amazon legend. This dual timeline story has a modern-day Amazon expert on a hunt to find the treasure left behind by the Amazons she’s sure existed. It flashes back to the time of the Trojan war as readers learn about the origins of the Amazons and what caused the female warriors to become involved with the Trojans.
Why Kirsten loves it
I adore Anne Fortier’s retellings and this one still has me thinking about the ending. I love the dual time line narrative because to allows for suspenseful cliffhangers that add to the story’s thrilling vibes.
Find this book in: Greek Mythology Retellings / Books about Sisters / Long Books / Novels Set in Egypt
Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (Cormoran Strike #4)
It wasn’t until I was done with this long book that I realized quite how long it was. I read it on my Kindle and was wondering why I was reading so slowly.
In this fourth book, Billy comes to Cormoran Strike to help him investigate a crime he witnessed as a child. Billy is clearly mentally distressed and cannot remember clearly.
Cormoran and his assistant Robin set off on a trail that leads them from London to a manor house in the countryside.
Dark Academia Books Over 500 Pages
Plot
The lines between reality and fiction are perfectly blurred. It is a book about a book and making a movie about that same book. ( follow that? Lol) Flo and Clara were two students at the Brookhants School for girls. When they become obsessed with a book by Mary MacLane, it ultimately leads to their deaths and the school closes soon after.
Now, Merritt Emmons has published a book about Brookhants that is being made into a movie, and the doors of Brookhants are open for filming. The story intertwines the lives of all those who read the book and the mystery and supernatural that follow them.
Why Jackie loves it
I started Plain Bad Heroines and I did not know what to think. I was debating giving up on the book for a little while because I just wasn’t sure where the book was going. Fast forward. I loved it and I am glad I stuck with it. This YA fantasy book has all the makings of cult horror. It is scary, complex and so well-written.
Find this book in: Thriller Horror / Books Like Ninth House / Books Set in High School / Dark Academia Books
The Secret History
Author: Donna Tartt
Year: 1992
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: December 2022 Read with Jenna Book Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Richard is one of a select group of six students who have been hand-picked to work under the guidance of a classics teacher named Julian Morrow. Richard is narrating the story and he begins by telling about the death of one of the students named Bunny.
As the story progresses, it is clear that this secret society of students rides the line of morality. The strained friendships and sexual tensions continue to push the edge until Bunny is killed.
Trigger Warnings
Murder, Alcoholism, Suicide
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the books about secret societies that was deeply disturbing and difficult to read. It certainly earns its place on our list of dark academia books and books about cults! And as with most books set in college, this one is a perfect book for fall.
Find this book in: Books set in College / Books about Cults / Books about Secret Societies / Best Fall Books / Dark Academia Books / Books Set in the 80s
I read The Goldfinch in one sitting.Loved the Wally Lamb,including the much shorter but just as but wrenching She’s Come Undone but going completely against the grain..hated and disgusted by The Time Traveller’s Wife.Was a child protection social worker and the thought of an adult man basically grooming a six year old girl gave me the shivers..
Unfortunately my horrible career coloured quite a few books in this way.
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