Bonnie Garmus Recommends 5 Books—One Is ‘Required Reading’—and Goodreads Readers Agree

Bonnie Garmus’ new novel, Peck & Peck, is out this week, and whether you’ve already started it, have a copy on hold or are still waiting for your turn, the Lessons in Chemistry author has plenty of other books to recommend. Here are five she has praised, plus what Goodreads readers say about each. 

‘Whistler’ by Ann Patchett 

Ann Patchett’s newest novel is filled with love, heart and depth. When 53-year-old Daphne Fuller unexpectedly runs into her ex-stepfather Eddie Triplett at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, she is shocked to see him. But as the two get to talking, Daphne is reminded of how much she loved him when he was married to her mother—a relationship that came to an end after Daphne and Eddie were involved in a car accident. As they continue to catch up, Daphne and Eddie realize how much they need each other.

What Bonnie says: “I don’t cry very easily but when I got to that part in Ann Patchett’s Whistler when we finally understood what happened, I lost it.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “I think I can officially say this is the best fiction I’ve read this year so far, and honestly, when it comes to Ann Patchett, I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. She has this almost unfair ability to take ordinary human lives, complicated relationships, old wounds, missed opportunities, and all the things people carry silently for decades—and somehow turn them into something that feels completely extraordinary. And seeing Whistler among Barack Obama’s favorite books made me ridiculously happy because apparently my reading taste and his can occasionally have a little reunion.” 

‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara

This bestselling novel by Hanya Yanagihara is hard to read, but that doesn’t make it any less poignant and important. The plot follows a group of college friends—Willem, JB and Malcolm—navigating life in New York City. At the center of the group is Jude, who has a past he’s desperate to keep hidden. As time goes on, Jude’s friends begin to wonder who he truly is and what he’s been hiding. [Editor’s note: This novel includes distressing, graphic depictions of abuse, self-harm and suicide, so consider checking a full list of content warnings before you read.

What Bonnie says: “The most difficult read on sexual abuse I’ve ever encountered and yet interlaced with amazing passages of theoretical thought.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “Where to even begin reviewing this book? I just finished this book today, and I am so emotionally drained it’s hard to put my thoughts into words. Despite this book’s emotional pain, there are moments of hope, beautiful characters, and loving relationships. Maybe the coolest part of this book is that we follow Jude through his entire life. I have never ever read a book before where we get such a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of our main character’s life. If you choose to read this book, proceed with extreme caution. There are so many trigger warnings, and it is such an emotional read, but if you feel that you are in the right headspace to read it, it will be a worthwhile read on trauma and friendship.” 

‘American Wife’ by Curtis Sittenfeld

Inspired by former First Lady Laura Bush, this story follows Alice Lindgren, a Wisconsin native whose life is upended after a tragic accident when she is a teenager. Years later, Alice’s entire life has changed and she finds herself falling in love with the son of a powerful Republican family named Charlie. Eventually, Charlie becomes President of the United States and Alice is the First Lady, a position she never thought she would have. Now, eight years after arriving at the White House, Alice begins to question if the life she has is the one she really wants. 

What Bonnie says: “Sittenfeld sees right through everything and everyone and writes with such grace and honesty, even when she’s reinventing real people. Only Sittenfeld could make me adore Laura Bush.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “American Wife is the best thing I have read in a very long time. I picked this book up from my local library in a moment of desperation when I had nothing else to read. I was about to pass on it when two of my holds came in, but I am so glad I cracked the front cover, because I was immediately and hopelessly hooked. Sittenfeld does an extraordinary job bringing Charlie and Alice to life in all their glory, warts and all. The prose is beautiful—clear, plain and heartfelt—and the story both moving and matter-of-fact.” 

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‘Take My Hand’ by Dolen Perkins-Valdez 

Set in 1973 and inspired by real events, this novel follows nurse Civil Townsend, who works at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic and is determined to make a difference in her community. During her first week on the job, Civil meets two Black sisters, 13-year-old Erica and 11-year-old India Williams, who are forced to go on birth control, and she’s shocked at how young they are. As she grows close to the girls and their family, something happens that changes all of their lives, and Civil is pulled into a fight for justice. Decades later, Civil is ready to retire and leave the past behind, but the past isn’t finished with her. A powerful, moving look at a painful chapter of American history.

What Bonnie says: “Although it’s a work of fiction, Take My Hand is based on true events. That fact alone should make this required reading, but it is Perkins-Valdez’s electric prose that brings this shameful chapter of American history back where it belongs: on the front burner.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “Take My Hand is a gem of a read! It reminds us just how important it is for these stories to be told, for them to be heard, to be acknowledged and remembered and to care; that feels crucial right now. This is why I read the books I do!”  

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‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ by Roald Dahl 

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Originally published in 1964, this classic novel has been adapted into two different movies. One day, the mysterious chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka sends out five golden tickets. The children who find them will be invited into his factory. Among the children who find one is Charlie Bucket, a poor boy with a kind and giving personality, which he will need if he’s going to survive the life-changing tour of the chocolate factory. A magical tale.

What Bonnie says: “When I was a kid, I wrote Dahl and told him how much I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (I’d also written other authors —it’s just what I did whenever I loved a book that much.) I never heard back from anyone—I’d come to accept that authors were very busy people and probably got a thousand such letters a week. But then one day, several months later, I came home from school and my mom said, ‘who in the world would be writing you all the way from England?’ Dahl!” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “Charlie and Willy Wonka bring back a lot of nostalgia for me. I watched the movie and read the book (and its sequel) several times as a child. It was one of those stories I could watch/read over and over again without a break between.”