I love reading new books and exploring new genres. However, lately I’ve been discovering new books on social media that I’ve been interested in. The following books are ones I personally recommended mixed with books others strongly recommend reading at least once in your life!

1. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This is one of my all-time favorite books. This classic never fails to bring me to tears while showing me the coldness of humans. On the surface, it focuses on the human want to create something from nothing and play God. But the further you get into the novel, the more you see the human want to belong, to feel accepted, and be loved. It is a novel that has the capacity to change your perspective and make you question whether or not we are on the same path as Dr. Frankenstein with our modern technology.

2. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Miller completely transformed the story of Achilles, giving the audience a deeper understanding of a man who believed he could never fail and his lover who was willing to give up everything for him. This novel is deemed to be a future classic on social media because of how well-written and heart-wrenching the story is. It is a story we might have heard before, but Miller’s rendition will haunt you forever.

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Zusak’s novel is fictional, but it takes place during Nazi Germany. It follows the life of young Liesel, but it is narrated by Death. This book gives you the carefreeness of childhood, the horrors of death and war, and the triumphs of people in adversity. It keeps you on the edge of the seat, all the while crushing your soul.

4. Caligula by Albert Camus

Camus’s Caligula tells a story about the Roman emperor of the same name. While the first read through can be complicated, it is worth reading through again. Camus is amazing at absurdism, and the way he portrays Caligula’s loss of logic and self due to his grief. He loses all sanity and forces everyone to suffer to try to make sense of the unexplainable. This tragic play showcases the inherent need to have answers and control in the face of the unknown.

5. The Women by Kristin Hannah

This novel is popular all over social media, and for good reason. It’s historical fiction and follows the story of Frankie, a woman who wants to overcome the expectation of her gender while bettering the world. It takes place during the Vietnam War, showcasing the sacrifices of the women who went to war and still had to face the troubles of the home they left behind.

6. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

This short fiction story presents the reality of women not being taken seriously, even when their feelings and fears are completely justified. While presumably suffering from postpartum depression, she’s isolated instead of helped, leading to her psychological downfall and obsession with the yellow wallpaper in the room. This short story is a feminist classic that addresses the control men have over women, going as far as determining whether or not their ailments or mental diseases are significant enough to take seriously.

7. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is popular on almost every social media platform I have. From the moment I first saw videos of references of the book, I was hooked on the premise. Once again, this is a novel that addresses our inherent need to belong, be accepted, and be loved. To go from a human to a bug and lose everything you once had is a simultaneously funny premise and a thought-provoking one.

8. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Ishiguro presents a dystopian novel revolving around the idea of clones. It raises the question: “What makes a human truly human?” It follows the story of students who are isolated from the rest of society until they are needed to contribute to the members of society who are not students. The plot twist is jaw dropping and completely unexpected, sure to leave you distraught and questioning whether or not our modern technology could lead us down a similar path.

9. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Tartt’s novel is another one that is thought to have a chance of being a classic in the future. It is popular amongst multiple social media platforms and for good reason. It’s a psychological thriller that follows college students who lose their sense of morality and commit evil acts in attempts to reach a transcendent level of knowledge.

10. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Wilde’s novel is another that is popular amongst social media users. It follows Dorian Gray who wishes for eternal beauty and youth by asking for his portrait to age instead of him. This wish is one that many people would ask for, but this story shows the downfalls and negative effects of this horrific wish. It tells us of the consequences of our vanity and wicked desires.