Jodi Picoult Recommends 5 Books That Are Just As Gripping As Her Own Novels
From ‘Happiness Falls’ to ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue,’ these are her picks
Key Takeaways
- The bestselling author shares five books she’s loved and recommends to readers.
- Her recommendations explore family, love, identity, grief and unexpected twists.
- Discover picks spanning literary fiction, thrillers, fantasy and YA.
Jodi Picoult just released her 30th novel, Hollow Bones, a deeply moving 9/11-themed story of love and loss, and many readers have already torn through it and are now searching for something that has the same emotional depth and intriguing plot. Many readers are diving into some of the author’s past books, but if you’ve already read them all, you’re in luck: Over the years, the My Sister’s Keeper and Mad Honey writer has shared a variety of book recommendations that are just as good as her own. To discover what they are, keep scrolling!
‘Happiness Falls’ by Angie Kim
In this 2023 Good Morning America book club pick, 20-year-old Mia has an answer for everything, which is why she’s not concerned when her father and brother Eugene don’t come home from a walk in a park. But when her brother arrives at her front door covered in blood hours later, she is forced to realize that something bad has happened to their father. But Eugene—who has a rare genetic condition and cannot speak—is the only witness. Can Mia find a way to discover what her brother knows and find out what happened to their father?
What Jodi says: “I read Happiness Falls in a single day. I can’t remember a book with more layers—this is a nuanced story about bias, language, ableism, racism and family dynamics—but above all else this is a story with so many twists and turns I was riveted through the last page.”
What readers are saying: “Angie Kim is such a talented author; not only is she able to write captivating stories with a tinge of mystery, but she seamlessly weaves complex emotions and timely, thought provoking subjects into the narrative that stick with the reader long after they finish the book. If you’re looking for a substantial, emotional family drama, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up.”
‘This Time Tomorrow’ by Emma Straub
From bestselling author Emma Straub comes a page-turning tale centered around the idea of “what if.” Alice expects to celebrate her 40th birthday in a mundane way, but instead she wakes up in 1996 as her 16-year-old self. Her father is no longer the ailing man she’s been caring for, but the vibrant 40-something from her youth. Armed with decades of hindsight, Alice faces an impossible choice: Should she alter the past, even though she knows what the future holds?
What Jodi says: “I just finished This Time Tomorrow and I’m crying at its message and its honesty and its utter beauty. And now I have to go call my mom.”
What readers are saying: “This novel features time travel from the present to a specific time in the past, but is really a love story. The special love between a father and daughter, and how it transcends time. I loved it because it took me back to places of love and loss where we all have been.”
‘All My Rage’ by Sabaa Tahir
This National Book Award winner is a dual-timeline young adult tale that will appeal to readers of all ages. Long ago in Lahore, Pakistan, Misbah entered into an arranged marriage to Toufiq. Shortly after the ceremony, they are forced to relocate to the United States and open the Cloud’s Rest Inn Motel. In modern-day Juniper, California, Salahudin and Noor are best friends. Sal runs the motel and Noor works at her uncle’s liquor store, but when both businesses and families go up in flames, the two friends are forced to figure out how to save themselves, their friendship and their families.
What Jodi says: “All My Rage is a gorgeous, star-crossed story about the costs of the American dream and the way unexpected routes appear when you need them most. I read this in a single day.” Jodi loved this book so much she wrote a blurb on the book’s cover (above).
What readers are saying: “All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir is a beautiful and meaningful story about Salahudin and Noor. They are young high school students who are facing unthinkable circumstances. Though they often make the wrong choices, they must always deal with the consequences. They are sympathetic characters who captured my heart and had me rooting for them.”
‘The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue’ by V.E. Schwab
This New York Times bestselling book by V.E. Schwab begins in France, 1714, when Addie LaRue makes a deal with a mysterious creature. As part of the deal, she can live forever, but everyone she meets will forget her. For the most part, it doesn’t bother her, but when she meets a man in modern day, that all changes. Not only do they have a connection, but he seems to remember who she is. But with that knowledge comes a secret that will leave readers questioning everything.
What Jodi says: “I always gift The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, which I just loved. It’s one of those books that I wish I had written first; I’m so jealous that I didn’t. It’s about a woman who makes a deal with the devil for immortality but–in doing so–no one will remember her name.”
What readers are saying: “If you haven’t read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue yet, I cannot recommend it enough. Prepare to be swept away by a story that feels like a timeless classic yet utterly unique. This is a novel I will treasure and revisit, and I’m certain it will remain a favorite for years to come.”
‘Famous Last Words’ by Gillian McAllister
In this heart-stopping thriller, a mother’s world explodes when she learns that her loving husband Luke is holding hostages at gunpoint in London. Left with nothing but a mysterious note, Camilla must piece together the truth about the man she thought she knew. As time runs out, secrets emerge and Camilla is forced to figure out what’s going on and who she can trust. A gripping thriller with a twist no one will see coming.
What Jodi says: “This novel blindsided me with twists and surprises that had me gasping…and with a poignancy about relationships and love that one rarely finds in the genre. A brilliant, brilliant book.”
What readers are saying: “The story takes off quickly and my heart skipped a beat more than once. Some parts read like an action movie, chapters with little cliff hangers made it impossible to stop! I don’t want to say too much because there are many surprises and spine tingling moments. I don’t want to give anything away. Just read it if you enjoy suspense and rooting for some likeable characters!”
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