The Best Read with Jenna Books

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

Black Cake

Author: Charmaine Wilkerson

Year: 2022

Genre: Fiction

More info: A Read With Jenna Pick for February 2022

Age Range: 16+

Plot

I absolutely loved this contemporary fiction which is a story about love, family, and acceptance. It captured me from the first page with the story and the writing.

When Eleanor Bennett dies, she leaves a voice recording for her two children Benny and Byron. She wants to tell them things about her life that she could not say when she was alive.

While listening to their mother’s story, Byron and Benny learn about their mother, family, and themselves. They try to piece their relationship back together. The novel looks at everyone’s lives in the present and the past, but in its essence, it is a book about motherhood.

Trigger Warnings

Parental death

Why Kirsten loves it

The story, the writing, and the characters all drew me in from the first page. This is such a well-written pick from the Read with Jenna Book Club.

Why Jackie loves it

This is such a deep look at each sibling’s relationship with their mother and each other. I could not put it down.

Find this book in: Books About Women in Sports / Books About Mothers / BIPOC Female Authors / Books with Color in the Title / Books with Food in the Title / Books About Sports /Best Read With Jenna Books

The Family

Author: Naomi Krupitsky

Year: 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

More info: November 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Set in the 30s and 40s in Red Hook, NY, this family drama story is about two girls born into the Italian Mafia. Sophia and Antonia are the best of friends, neighbors, and daughters of local mob members. The story spans their childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood as they navigate their relationships with each other and “The Family.”

Why Kirsten loves it

It was captivating and wonderful to learn about the lives of the women in a crime family. It’s a must-read mob novel because it’s so unique.

Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Friendship Books / Family Drama Books / Best Read With Jenna Books

The Dutch House

Author: Ann Patchett

Year: 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

More info: October 2019 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Ann Patchett has done it again with this tale of sibling devotion that is a testament to the love that holds a family together. Danny and Maeve are victims of an abandoned mother and father who all but ignores them. Danny narrates the story of their lives as it ties into The Dutch House – a storied mansion their father purchased in Elkins Park. The home that is both a blessing and a curse, symbolizes how the mistakes parents make can impact children for a lifetime.

Why Kirsten loves it

I couldn’t put this story down. I did a mix of reading and listening, but ultimately I got swept into Tom Hank’s incredible narration. I was so fully drawn into the story that the world seemed to fall away.

Find this book in: Best Audiobooks / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Family Sagas / Fall Books / Best Books of 2019 / Best Books About Siblings / Best Read With Jenna Books / Best Read With Jenna Books

Valentine

Author: Elizabeth Wetmore

Year: 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

More info: April 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Age Range: 18+

Plot

When an older white man rapes 14-year-old, Hispanic, Gloria, the town of Odessa reacts strongly. Many people take one side and few take the other. ⁣ This story is dark but filled with hope. I connected to many of the characters and their struggles. It’s a book set in the 70s, but it reads very true today.⁣

Trigger Warnings

Rape, Racism

Why Kirsten loves it

I don’t want to say I loved this book, because the subject matter is gritty and dark, yet I enjoyed it deeply.⁣ I loved the unconventional friendships and the stark look at racist double standards in equal measure.⁣

Find this book in: Books Set in the 70s / Best Read With Jenna Books

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Author: Shelby Van Pelt

Year: 2022

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

More info: May 2022 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Instant New York Times Bestseller

Age Range: 12+

Plot

I haven’t read a novel with as much heart as this one in quite some time. Elderly, recently widowed Tova loves her job cleaning the aquarium in town in the quiet of the night, especially because of her fondness for Marcellus, the octopus. She finds solace in the aquarium as it makes her feel closer to her son, Erik – a marine life lover – who disappeared on a boat when he was 18.

But when she hurts herself and is unable to return to work at full capacity, she grows close with her replacement, Cameron, a young man who newly arrived in town looking for his birth mother.

Meanwhile, Marcellus knows what happened to Erik and he wants to help Tova find the closure she needs. His narration is interspersed with Tova and Cameron’s for a story that is compelling, heartwarming, and utterly unique.

I will be shoving this book into the hands of everyone who asks for a book recommendation because it’s my favorite book of 2022

Why Jackie loves it

This book has more heart than any book I have read in a long time. The unique perspective of a grumpy octopus may seem silly, but is brilliantly done and adds a unique perspective.

Why Kirsten loves it

The themes in this book, the plot, and the characters- especially Marcellus- really tugged at my heartstrings. I loved that Marcellus added some laughter and made me smile. I recently gave this book to my son and he adored it as much as I did.

Find this book in: Best Audiobooks of 2022 / Family Drama Books / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Contemporary Fiction Books / Best Book Club Books / Best Read With Jenna Books

Maame

Author: Jessica George

Year: 2023

Genre: Literary Fiction

More info: February 2023 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Age Range: 16+

Plot

This story about Maddie, known as Maame to her family, was immersive and beautifully complex. Dealing with friendships, racism, familial obligations, and then grief, this story swept me away. Maddie lives in London as the primary caretaker of her father who has Parkinson’s. Her mother spends most of her time in Ghana.

Trigger Warnings

Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness

Why Kirsten loves it

I felt fiercely protective of Maddie while reading this book. There were times I wanted to swoop in to relieve some of the burdens of this wonderful character with a heart of gold. But it was more rewarding to see Maddie finding her inner strength and learning to prioritize herself and her dreams. I can’t recommend this coming-of-age book about grief enough – especially as a book for book clubs.

Find this book in: Best Books of 2023 / Best Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Novels about Africa / Beach Reads 2023 / Fiction Books about Grief / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Best Read With Jenna Books

The Wedding People

Author: Alison Espach

Year: 2024

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

More info: August 2024 Read With Jenna Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

When Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn, she is the only person in the hotel who is not there for the wedding. She’s there to commit suicide after her marriage ends and she feels she has nothing else to live for.

Lila, the bride, has thought of every detail but did not account for Phoebe being at the hotel. She figures out what Phoebe is there to do and Lila will NOT let it happen. Soon, Phoebe is joining in on the weeklong festivities and readers get to learn about Lila’s motivations too. This funny, poignant novel about the people we meet along the path of life is sure to be a hit.

Trigger Warnings

Suicide Attempt, Infertility

Why Kirsten loves it

I love it handled anxiety, depression, and the ending of a relationship. It reminded me of Crazy Rich Asians because of the over-the-top wedding vibes. There is so much to discuss in this one that I think it’s perfect for book clubs. #gifted Macmillan Audio and Libro.fm

Find this book in: Books About Weddings / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Best New Fiction Books of 2024: Contemporary and Literary Fiction / Best Read With Jenna Books

Blue Sisters

Author: Coco Mellors

Year: 2024

Genre: Literary Fiction

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 16+

More info: September 2024 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Plot

In this poignant novel, the three Blue sisters are returning home to stop the sale of their family’s NYC apartment a year after their fourth sister, Nicky, dies unexpectedly. Normally scattered across the world, when they are forced to live under one roof, they face just how much each of them has spiraled since Nicky’s death.

Avery, the eldest and a recovering alcoholic, is typically the mom of the bunch. But she’s been sabotaging her relationship with her wife to avoid facing the harder truths of her marriage. Lucky, who struggles to do anything without a drink, has recently been dropped by her modeling agency after ruining a Parisian runway show. Bonnie, is adrift in LA working as a bouncer after a failed run at becoming a boxing champion.

Each sister is struggling with her own demons but together, they might just be able to overcome the loss of Nicky and get their lives back on track.

Trigger Warning

Alcoholism, Addiction

Why Kirsten loves it

This character-driven story focuses on grief and finding your way after a devastating loss. But it also looks at the cycle of addiction and the role our families play in that cycle. This is a meaty story that is filled with discussion points for a book club, but be aware of the trigger warnings. #gifted by Penguin Random House.

Find this book in: Books About Sisters / Best Books About Siblings

Hell of a Book

Author: Jason Mott

Year: 2021

Genre: Literary Fiction

More info: July 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 15+

Plot

There are so many layers to this book that is a book about a fictional author and his book “Hell of a Book”.  I can see why Jenna chose this book as her July 2021 pick.

The novel tells the story of Soot- a young black boy in a rural town. As we hear the story of Soot we also have the author talking to “The Kid”, a young black boy who may or may not be invisible.

Trigger Warnings

Racism, police brutality, child death

Why Jackie loves it

The description of the book does not do it justice. It is a powerful and poignant commentary on family, children, and the lengths that parents will go to to protect their children. This book is haunting.

Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Ultimate List of Contemporary Fiction / Best Read With Jenna Books

Transcendent Kingdom

Author: Yaa Gyasi

Year: 2020

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

More info: September 2020 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Gifty is a PhD candidate at Stanford who is studying depression and addiction through mice. Her brother died of a heroin overdose after becoming addicted to oxy after a sports injury and her suicidal mother lives her life in bed.

Covering drug addiction, immigration, racism, and more, this story is as entertaining as it is stimulating. Its discussion of drug addiction’s impact on the larger family unit was reminiscent of Long Bright River.

Trigger Warnings

Addiction, drug abuse, mental illness, racism.

Why Kirsten loves it

This is a beautifully written and powerful book. I also kept having to remind myself that it was a contemporary fiction story and not a memoir because the emotion and knowledge expressed in the book were so believable.

Find this book in: Non-Fiction & Fiction Books about Grief / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Fiction & Non-Fiction Books About Addiction / 20 Best Books of 2020 / Best Read With Jenna Books

What’s Mine and Yours

Author: Naima Coster

Year: 2021

Genre: Fiction

More info: March 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Age Range: 16+

Plot

What a story. Sadly relevant still in today’s world, this story covers a time when a school district in North Carolina decided to bus black children from a poorer area into the white wealthy high school.

Told across 3 timelines, we see how the decision impacts two families on either side of the divide. How entwined will they become? How entwined were they in the past? And how will all of it affect their future?

Trigger Warnings

Racism

Why Kirsten loves it

Thought-provoking and relevant, this would be an excellent book club pick. I’ve found myself thinking about this book even years after I read it.

Find this book in: Best Read With Jenna Books

All Adults Here

Author: Emma Straub

Year: 2020

Genre: Fiction

More info: May 2020 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

There is something about this book that makes it so easy to read and easy to love.  Every character in this book is perfectly flawed.  They are funny and relatable. When Astrid Strick witnesses an accident,  her life gets turned upside down.  

She starts to think about her life, her children, and her parenting.  She questions if she has inadvertently ruined the life of her three grown children, who all have issues in their own ways.  

Why Jackie loves it

This book is not all light and funny- it deals with some heavier topics.  But, it is the perfect mix of life that makes it so easy to read.

Find this book in: Beach Reads 2020 / Best Read With Jenna Books

Dear Edward

Author: Ann Napolitano

Year: 2020

Genre: Fiction

More info: January 2020 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Age Range: 16+

Plot

This compelling story is about a boy who survives a plane crash within the first few pages of the book.  However, the book moves back and forth between the plane flight and the aftermath, so you get to know the people on the flight and their stories.

It’s a heartbreaking tale that you won’t soon forget. While I like it, I don’t recommend reading it while travelling.

Why Jackie loves it

The minute I read the first page, I was immediately captured. I love the way this book was written. 

Find this book in: Plane Crash Novels / Best Read With Jenna Books

The House on Mango Street

Author: Sandra Cisneros

Year: 1984

Genre: YA Fiction

Age: 13+

More info: March 2024 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Plot

This classic kid’s book is about a Latino neighborhood in Chicago. Widely studied (and banned) across the country, Esperanza Cordero’s coming-of-age story defines a generation.

Within its pages, Esperanza is struggling against stereotypes and the expectations of growing up on Mango Street. While she fights to leave her neighborhood behind, she realizes that she can’t outrun the impact the neighborhood had on shaping her.

Trigger Warnings

Sexual Assault

Why Kirsten loves it

While Jenna recently picked the 25th-anniversary edition for her book club, I have loved this story since I read it in middle school. The way Cisneros writes paints the most vivid picture in my mind.

Find this book in: Coming-of-Age Books for Teens / Read with Jenna / Books with Food in the Title / Best Read With Jenna Books

All the Colors of the Dark

Author: Chris Whitaker

Year: 2024

Genre: Literary Fiction/ Mystery

More info: July 2024 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

The book begins in 1975 when Patch, a local boy, saves the daughter of a wealthy family from abduction. He is taken by the serial killer and presumed dead by everyone except his best friend, Saint. She spends almost a year following the clues to find him.

Patch spends the rest of his life searching for Grace, the girl who kept him company while he was a captive unsure if she is real or a figment of his imagination to keep him sane while alone in the dark. And Saint dedicated her life to finding people. Nobody’s life will ever be the same.

This book is much more than a mystery. It is the story of a life and all those that are connected to that life. What happens to those who survive and can we ever move on from tragedy?

Trigger Warnings

Abduction, Murder, Abuse

Why Jackie loves it

This book is a long one and there were some parts in the middle that I felt were a little too long. However, I absolutely loved this book. Whitaker weaves a story like nobody else. The characters are complex, flawed, and relatable on many levels. The writing is beautiful and the story comes together seamlessly.

Find this book in: Giftable Books / The July 2024 Celebrity Book Club Spoilers / Best New Fiction Books of 2024 / The Best Books of 2024 / Best Read With Jenna Books

Nothing to See Here by

Author: Kevin Wilson

Year: 2019

Genre: Magical Realism

More info: November 2019 Read by Jenna Book Club Pick

Age Range:16+

Plot

This magical realism book is about a woman who becomes a nanny for two children who start on fire when they get mad.  There is wonderful humor in this book that is centered around strong and beautiful relationships.  I cannot recommend this family drama story highly enough.⁣

Why Jackie loves it

There is so much that I love about this family drama novel.  It is such a feel-good book that is more than what it seems.  It is well-written and funny and made our top books of 2019 list.

Find this book in: Best Family Drama Books/ Best Adult Fantasy Novels / Magical Realism Books/2024 Read with Jenna Book Club List / Adult Fantasy Novels / Best Books About Siblings / Best Read With Jenna Books

The Measure

Author: Nikki Erlick

Year: 2022

Genre: Sci-Fi

More info: July 2022 Read With Jenna Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

This is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. One day everyone over the age of 22 wakes up to find a string on their doorstep. It’s soon clear that the length of one’s string determines the length of their life.

Soon short stringers are being discriminated against around the globe which begs the question – what is the true measure of a valuable life?

Why Kirsten loves it

This would be a fabulous book club book. There is so much to talk about. Don’t let the fact that this is a sci-fi book deter you if it is not your usual genre.

Find this book in: Best Books for Book Clubs / New Dystopian Novels /Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time / Best Read With Jenna Books

Chain-Gang All-Stars

Author: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Year: 2023

Genre: Sci-fi

More info: May 2023 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This book was a doozy in the most thought-provoking way. The story is about the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the reality tv show that pits prisoners against each other in gladiator-type fights to the death.

Thurwar and Staxxx are stars of the show, brutally killing anyone they come up against, but as Thurwar gets ready to win her freedom after 3 years on TV, the creators of the show throw many hurdles in her path.

Trigger Warnings

Violence

Why Kirsten loves it

This searing look at racism and classism feels highly relevant to today’s world, when a show like this could easily exist in some states. The reality TV book was so unique. Even days later, I can’t stop thinking about the all-stars, the protesters fighting for their rights, and the stunning conclusion.

Find this book in: Dystopian Novels / Best Books of 2023 / Best Read With Jenna Books / Reality TV Novels

The Husbands

Author: Holly Gramazio

Year: 2024

Genre: Sci-fi Fiction

More info: April 2024 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Think of this book as Sci-Fi lite. It calls upon sci-fi-based principles – mainly multiverses – but it doesn’t dwell on the scientific for even a moment.

The premise is simple. Lauren, a single woman, comes home one night to a husband she didn’t know she had. Her phone, friends, and photos in her apartment reflect this new life but she can’t remember it. And then something crazy happens.

He goes up to the attic to change a lightbulb and a new husband descends from the attic. Whenever a new husband emerges, the life around her shifts again. So with an endless supply of husbands, she finds herself torn between knowing when to send them back and when to keep one and start living.

Why Kirsten loves it

Easily one of the most unique plots I’ve ever read. Even as a confirmed disliker of Sci-Fi books, I found this story compulsively readable. I had a blast watching Lauren try to figure out her life and the revolving door of husbands had me giggling at times. #gifted by PRH Audio

Find this book in: Best Sci-Fi Books / Summer Reads 2024 / 2024 Fiction Favorites / Best Read With Jenna Books