If you’re a college student, chances are that sometimes you just want an enjoyable book to read outside of school. We’ve been there before. That’s why we made a list of some of our favorite books that fit that criteria!
Criteria
- Length. We’re not looking for thousand-page novels to recommend to college students. The books on this list are a manageable length for you to read over break or fit in between classes and homework.
- Contemporaneity. We also tried to keep the list to more recent (but not super new) books, for both ease of reading and increasing the likelihood that other people have read it.
- Genre and content. The list contains a variety of genres. The content is more mature than a children’s book, but hopefully nothing too depressing.
So without further ado, let’s get to it!
Our recommendations
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This 2020 novel can best be described as gothic horror meets postcolonial literature in the best way possible. A young woman from Mexico City goes to the mountains after receiving a concerning letter from her cousin who married into an English family. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what comes next — and you’ll never be disappointed by the twists and turns it takes! We strongly suggest checking out content warnings before picking up this book to see if it is the right choice for you.
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
This high school set rom-com is adorably perfect. It’s about students in their senior year, so not terribly far removed from your current age, either!
Childhood enemies to lovers? Check.
Rom-com and music references? Check.
Fake dating trope? Check.
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
This classic sci-fi book made up of interconnected short stories is a great and easy introduction to Asimov and the Golden Age of science fiction. Asimov uses his three Laws of Robotics to create problems and then find loopholes to solve them. The book also has an interesting cast of characters, from a robopsychologist to politicians.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
If you know us, you know we love a good murder mystery. And Christie is the Queen of Mystery. Murder on the Orient Express is one of her most famous novels, and there are good reasons for that! A detective aboard a train has to solve a murder that occurred when the train was stopped by an avalanche. With a wide variety of passengers, backstories, and dilemmas, you will not be able to see the end coming! And plus, once you’re done, you can watch one of the many film and TV adaptations.
To learn more about Christie’s mysteries, check out our post The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie: Reasons to Read (or Not Read), Fun Facts, and Summary.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
This contemporary science fiction duology starts with mysterious statue figures appearing all around the world and an interactive dream that everyone experiences when they sleep. Combining everyday issues and science fiction, the main characters are young, flawed adults, who make mistakes but still are a lively cast that you will root for.
The series is complete, so there’s no cliffhanger you have to wait to resolve. Plus, it’s by Hank Green! Need I say more?
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
A classic science fiction comedy, this book is bizarre and hilarious. It’s science-fiction-y enough, but not too much for anyone to read, and follows a normal man from Earth as he gets dragged into various escapades. It’s delightfully self-conscious, and pokes fun at ideas of science fiction. And Douglas Adams is a master of using language in delightful ways, for example: “The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don’t.”
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
We like to describe Terry Pratchett’s novel as being to fantasy what Hitchhiker’s Guide is to science fiction. The first of the Discworld series, The Color of Magic is a unconventional fantasy book, and will make you confused and laugh at its characters. The main character, Rincewind (a magician who only knows one spell), is tasked with showing a tourist from the other side of the world around. This book is worth reading for its tongue-in-cheek comparison of magic and technology (which does not exist in Discworld) alone!
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
This speculative, post-apocalyptic novel is a compelling story of what happens to society after a fictional pandemic. While this might seem too close to home, the novel (published in 2014) has a completely different approach. Their society has lost much technology, travel, and communication ability, yet part of the book surrounds a nomadic troupe of actors and musicians who show the survival of human culture. Though perhaps not as evidently upbeat as other books on this list, Station Eleven is definitely worth the read!
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
Imagine Romeo and Juliet if the Montagues and Capulets were rival Vietnamese restauranteurs — that’s what this book is, but better. Don’t worry if you hate Romeo and Juliet, as the novel goes far beyond the borrowed premise. A Pho Love Story is a nuanced, adorable read that will warm your heart and make you hungry for Vietnamese food!
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
This first book of a fantasy series is a modern take on King Arthur lore with a Black teenage girl who discovers magic and a historically white society while grappling with grief and questions about her mother’s death. It has badass magic fight scenes, budding romances, great representation, and explores many complicated issues to boot.
However, before you read this, you should know that the series is not yet complete. As of 2023, the third book in the trilogy has not been released. So if you don’t want to get stuck on a cliffhanger, that is why we also have a bonus suggestion for you:
Your favorite childhood book
Ok, so maybe this is cheating since it’s not a specific book, but it’s a great choice! Revisiting an old favorite is a perfect way to enjoy reading.
Reading for fun in college
Any college student has loads of required readings, but that does not have to be the only thing you read! We hope this list gave you a few books to add to your TBR. Enjoy!