Reading books is one of those things that people always say they want to do more but never really get to it. There’s just so many books out there and so little time, and then you don’t know what to pick — fiction or non‑fiction? A story to get lost in or something you learn from? And then there’s the fear of picking a dud and feeling like “why did I even start this book?” So here i made this list of best fiction & non‑fiction books to read this year — a mix of new books, old favorites, and stuff that might even surprise you. Some are classics, some are trending, some are underrated, messy but hopefully helpful.
📚 Fiction Books (Stories That Pull You In)
1. The Night Circus (or something like that…)
This book — people talk about it like everyone’s read it, but a lot havent. It’s about a magical circus that only opens at night, and there’s all these characters and weird beautiful things. Honestly sometimes it’s confusing, but also really pretty. Perfect for slow nights when you want to get lost and forget work.
People compare it to:
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Harry Potter vibes but grown‑upish
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The Prestige kind of magic feels
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Somewhere between dreamy and weird
2. Some Big New Bestseller (I forget the name)
Alright i admit i forgot one title (human slip), but definitely look up the bestseller list — usually the latest fiction that’s trending on Goodreads or Netflix adapted stuff — they tend to be popular for a reason. Some are love stories, some are thrillers, some are weird dystopias.
This year, look at:
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Mystery / thriller stuff
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Sci‑fi that talks about AI / future
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Magical realism bestsellers
Sometimes popular books are overrated, but often they’re entertaining even if sloppy, so nothing wrong with that.
3. Classic Teen / Young Adult You Probably Skipped
There are so many YA books people skim over but are actually really good. Like — sorry, they’re fun. They make you feel feelings, and you read whole night because you “just want to finish this chapter”.
Examples (not exact list cause human memory):
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Love‑triangle books
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Boarding‑school mysteries
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Dystopian planet … you know the vibe
Don’t knock YA till you try it. It’s fun and quick.
4. Literary Fiction to Make You Think
If you want something more deep, maybe try a literary book that makes you pause a lot.
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Characters are complicated
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You’re like “wait what does this mean?”
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Themes: memory, time, identity
These sometimes take longer to finish, but they stay with you more than fast thrillers.
📘 Non‑Fiction Books (Real Stuff, Real Learning)
Now non‑fiction is huge category — self‑help, history, science, business, memoirs, politics, everything. Here’s some picks that actually matter and not just “influencer recommended”.
1. A Science / Brain Book
There’s always one science book — like that one you pick up thinking “oh i’ll read one chapter” and then 3 hours later you’re going “wait what did i just learn?”
Good categories:
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How brain works
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Why we sleep
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Psychology of habits
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Human behavior
Not too technical, something you can read even if you’re not science major.
2. Memoir That Feels Like Story
Memoirs can be better than fiction sometimes. People have crazy life stories, you can’t make this stuff up.
Pick ones about:
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Travel adventures
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Rising from nothing
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Weird life decisions
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People surviving big stuff
These often feel more real than anything.
3. History, But Not The Boring Kind
History books that read like stories are the best. Not “dates and wars”, but why stuff happened, weird plots, little known facts, odds and twists in human civilization. Like — random empires, weird inventions, lost cities, people you’ve never heard of but super interesting.
4. Personal Growth / Productivity
Yeah yeah, everyone hates self‑help because it sounds cheesy, but some books actually help. Not “positive affirmations” but real psychology, methods that actually work. Like books that talk about habits, willpower, creativity, focus, procrastination — these hit differently when you read them at the right time.
📖 Mix It Up: Read Fiction + Non‑Fiction
One of best habits is pairing your reading — read one fiction and one non‑fiction at the same time, so your brain gets both fun and learning. Some people read like that:
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Fiction at night before bed
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Non‑fiction in the morning coffee
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Or alternate every week
This way you don’t burn out on one kind.
🧠 How to Actually Finish the Books (because you will abandon them otherwise)
Okay this list is cool, but let’s be honest — most people start books and then forget them in week.
Here’s human tips on finishing books:
Start Small
A book that seems huge — skip it till you’ve finished a smaller one first. Small wins matter.
Set Tiny Goals
Like “read 1 chapter a day” or even “read 10 pages” — feels more doable than “I’ll read 100 pages”.
Keep a Notebook
Write one sentence from each chapter that you loved or confused you — makes you more engaged.
Have a Reading Spot
Not bed (you’ll sleep), not phone — find a chair, table, library corner … somewhere that feels like “reading zone”.
Don’t Force a Book You Hate
If plot sucks or non‑fiction is boring, just drop it. Life’s short and books are many.
📅 Suggested Reading Plan This Year
You don’t need to read 100 books but aim for variety:
January — April:
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2 fiction (one fun, one deep)
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1 science / brain book
May — August:
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1 YA or light fiction
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1 memoir
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1 productivity book
September — December:
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1 big classic
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1 history that feels like story
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1 surprise pick (something random you’ve never heard of)
It’s ok if you skip, change order, take longer. Just pick what feels right that day.
🪄 A Few Random Book Ideas (Because human brain likes lists)
I’m not gonna remember exact titles but genre + vibe:
Fiction:
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Magical realistic circus stuff
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Classic twisty story you should have read in college
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YA school + mystery
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Small town detective tale
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Love + travel + baggage kind of novels
Non‑Fiction:
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Brain / habits / psychology books
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Travel memoirs — crazy real journeys
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History books that read like thriller
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Books about leadership but not corporate boring
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Scientific food books (why we eat, metabolism, weird biology)
You’ll find these in bestseller lists too, not just random.
📘 Quick Mistakes People Make When Choosing Books
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Only picking books on Instagram/TikTok
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Skipping summaries or reviews
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Starting big book first (dangerous!)
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Reading on phone notifications on
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Not finishing books at all
Stop scrolling during reading time 😅
📚 Final Thoughts
This year, read both fiction and non‑fiction because your brain needs both — stories and knowledge. Some books entertain, some teach, some change you a little, sometimes a lot. Doesn’t matter whether the book is “famous” or not, what matters is if you enjoyed it or you learned something useful.
Books can be escape, comfort, challenge, weird distraction, or serious teacher. Read some slow, read some fast, skip what sucks, and stick with what you love.
Happy reading! 📖
Your next favorite book is probably on this list or one you haven’t even heard yet.