A good story is an experience, and many of us—myself included—enjoy the extra layer of bibliophile enjoyment provided by a book about books. I cannot get enough of plots set in publishing, authorial main characters, books within books, and love stories that unfold in the stacks.
In this book list featuring books about books and reading I’ve gathered fifteen titles for book lovers to read when they need a heaping dose of bookish charm. This collection of titles crosses five different genres and features a mix of recent novels, backlist favorites, and heartfelt nonfiction.
With book-centered plot lines and characters who love reading as much as we do, these books will capture your attention as a reader and inspire your devotion as a bookworm. One of the titles is this month’s selection in Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club. Sara Nisha Adams will join us on December 8 to discuss The Reading List. We would love for you to join us.
Do you have a favorite book about books and reading? We would all appreciate you sharing your recommendations in the comments section.
Books about books from (almost) every genreSome links (including all Amazon links) are affiliate links. More details here.
Bookish Fiction Author: Alan Bennett
This fictional homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II will delight anglophiles and bibliophiles alike. When an unnamed (but not well-disguised) Queen goes for a walk, her corgis stray into a bookmobile library parked near the Palace, so she feels obligated to take a book to be polite. The Queen finds a newfound obsession with reading—so much so that she begins to neglect her duties as monarch. You can read this one in a few hours, but the power of reading to transform even the most uncommon of lives and the numerous book recommendations (from Jean Genet to Ivy Compton-Burnett to the classics) will stay with you much longer. More info →Author: Jason Mott
More than one year later, I’m still thinking about this 2021 Summer Reading Guide selection that features poignant and stylish prose and the ever popular literary trope: a book within a book. The story unfolds in two strands, the first featuring a Black author on a book tour for his bestselling novel Hell of a Book. No matter what city he goes to, someone wants to know what he thinks about the most recent tragic police shooting on the news. But the author is afraid of saying the wrong thing. It’s not just that he wants to keep the focus on book sales (though he does), but also because he experiences daydreams so vivid he can’t always tell the difference between imagination and reality. His story converges with that of a young Black boy called The Kid who is invisible to everyone but the author, setting up one hell of an ending. More info →Author: Sara Nisha Adams
A story of how books intersect with our lives in unexpected ways, and occasionally lead to unexpected friendships, as well. Thanks to a handwritten list of books found between the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird, teen library worker Aleisha connects with Mukesh, a widower who wants a better relationship with his avid reader granddaughter. Aleisha shares the list she found, and the two lonely readers find solace in reading and discussing each title. Deeply moving, sad and sweet, this literary tale serves as a reminder of the power of books to give us strength and connect us to one another. Content warnings apply. (This is our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club selection for December 2022.) More info → Literary Mystery Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Often cited as a modern classic in translation, this dark, historical, and magical novel is a lifetime favorite of several readers I know with great taste. It's a mystery, a love letter to literature, and a beautifully written masterpiece. I'll confess I had a hard time getting into this sweeping story at first, but after I got oriented I couldn't turn the pages fast enough: I loved the 1940s Barcelona setting, the rich cast of characters, and the surprising twists and turns the story took. If you're looking for a book in translation to broaden your reading horizons, consider this atmospheric novel originally written in Spanish and translated by Lucia Graves. More info →Author: David Foenkinos
Imagine a library filled with unpublished manuscripts, countless novels that never came to be. In the tiny village of Crozon, a small town librarian collects and cares for these unloved manuscripts. While on holiday, a renowned French editor visits the library and stumbles upon an undiscovered masterpiece, which she and her author boyfriend soon discover was written by a small-town French pizza chef. She champions its publication and turns it into an instant bestseller. Readers everywhere swoon for the book and the story behind its publication, but one snobby literary critic questions the book’s origins, and resolves to get the real story. (Is it weird to say this plot thread reminds me of Ratatoille?) Funny and endearing, a quirky mystery for book lovers, and a great read for anyone who fancies a peek into the publishing industry. More info →Author: Jean Hanff Korelitz
An audacious literary theft sets the plot in motion for this unputdownable thriller. Jacob Finch Bonner found modest success with his critically-lauded debut, but now he’s totally blocked. His agent keeps pestering him for the second novel he’s supposed to deliver, but the truth is he hasn’t written a word in years. But then he decides to do a terrible thing: he steals another writer’s brilliant story idea, writes the book, and zooms to the top of the bestseller list. He’s sure he’s gotten away with it. But then nine months later, he gets an ominous note that says only, “You are a thief.” This twisty thriller about a washed-up novelist driven to desperate acts will keep you enthralled until its shocking conclusion. More info → Readerly Romance Author: Emily Henry
In WSIRN Episode 332: Beach Reads for Book Lovers, Emily Henry told us her goal for this book was to write the ultimate comfort read, and nothing says comfort like books, bookstores, and Nora Ephron-inspired chemistry. Successful literary agent Nora Stephens’s colleagues call her the Shark, but Nora doesn’t care. She's (mostly) at peace with who she is, plus she’s proud of fighting for her clients—even if that same fierceness has always spelled disaster for her love life. When her beloved sister Libby persuades her to take a sisters’ trip to the too-cute-to-be-real hamlet of Sunshine Falls, Nora is gobsmacked to encounter her professional nemesis Charlie Lastra, a famously grumpy and inconveniently handsome editor. Soon the sparks are flying—and Nora has to keep reminding herself she hates his guts, lest she succumb to their undeniable chemistry. A heartwarming love letter to readers, and a moving exploration of family, ambition, love, and belonging. This steamy rom com is open door. More info →Author: Tia Williams
I read this book in anticipation of moderating a panel at the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors that included Tia Williams (which was a BLAST, and you can listen to the recording thanks to bookish podcast magic!). Described as a “romance novel with serious depth,” the early pages are set at a literary festival, where bestselling writers Eva and Shane are reunited after nearly twenty years apart, in front of an audience of delighted readers. Nobody knows the two have met before, or that they were high school soulmates before they were wrenched apart due to circumstances neither fully understands. This was a lot of fun and also insightful about the complexities of romantic and family relationships, with a summer-in-NYC setting I particularly enjoyed. A couple of content notes: this is open door and includes addiction and self-harm, as Williams shows her characters working through trauma in order to find both healing and their way to each other. More info →Author: Julia Whelan
Perhaps the most “meta” book on this list, Whelan’s long-awaited sophomore novel responds to the tired objections of romance skeptics and takes us deep into the world of audiobook narration. Actress-turned-narrator Sewanee is still recovering from a terrible accident that scarred her inside and out when she’s cast alongside the sexy and secretive Brock McKnight in a coveted project. Whelan clearly enjoys playing with the genre’s familiar tropes—snowed in, just one night, mistaken identity. With wittily named chapter titles (don’t miss them!) and great supporting characters, this sometimes steamy romance shows our heroine forgiving herself and finding true love. With Whelan narrating her own work, audiophiles are sure to enjoy listening to this one—but don’t forget your headphones as it is open door. More info → Bookish Fantasy Author: Cornelia Funke
Originally written in German and translated by Anthea Bell, this fantastical children’s novel features characters who literally jump off the page. Maggie and her dad Mo live the literary dream: he repairs books, and she reads as many as she can get her hands on. One dark and eerie night, a mysterious figure visits their home and throws their cozy existence into chaos. Mo takes Meggie on the run, soon revealing his secret talent for reading stories into real life—but what gets pulled into reality must be replaced, leaving a trail of unfortunate mishaps in Mo’s past. Can Meggie save her father—and the characters he’s displaced—before a storybook evil villain takes control of the narrative? Whimsical, bookish, and suspenseful, this novel is perfect for young-at-heart readers or a family read aloud. More info →Author: Alix E. Harrow
There’s so much to love about this novel: it's a literary mystery, a book about books, a coming-of-age story, and a tale of suspense and revenge. Neglected by her guardian, January Scaller spends her days surrounded by antique treasures in a sprawling old mansion. She keeps to herself, stays quiet, and explores the grounds, when she happens upon a magical old book. What follows is the story of a young girl finding belonging and adventure in the pages of a book—and across many lands and secret worlds. This debut made the list of our favorite MMD Book Club selections that have stood the test of time. More info →Author: A. J. Hackwith
Incredibly clever, imaginative, and a book-lover’s dream: the first book in the Hell’s Library series introduces us to the world of unfinished stories…in hell. Claire, the head librarian, finds herself “well suited for damnation” as she performs her job of shelving, repairing, and watching over the books. When part of Lucifer’s Codex randomly appears in her wing, it launches a quest for both hell’s librarian and heaven’s angels. A ragtag band of book-wranglers, a battle of good and evil, and a terrifically twisty plot make for an unputdownable series opener. Among the many perks of backlist reading: the next two books are available now. Check it out if you enjoyed Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series. More info → Nonfiction for Book Lovers Author: Helene Hanff
Charming, comforting, and bittersweet, this classic memoir is a must-read for bibliophiles. It’s now common to support small bookstores across the country thanks to the convenience of online storefronts, but decades ago Helene Hanff corresponded with the owner of Marks & Co via letters to purchase her desired volumes, a whole ocean away. In a short 106 pages, you’ll follow their continued relationship as it turns from bookshop patronage to abiding friendship over the course of 20 years. Pick it up when you need a quick read full of literary references, acts of kindness, and cheeky humor. More info →Author: Anne Bogel
Reading isn’t just our hobby or a way to pass the time–it’s a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can’t imagine life without them. With you (book lovers) in mind, I (a book lover) wrote a collection of essays by turns wistful, funny, inspiring, and entertaining. I wax poetic on the magic of the library next door, bookworm problems, the books that made me fall in love with reading, and an "instructive" piece on how to organize your bookshelves that would fit right in at McSweeney's. I’m partial to the pretty cover for shelving or gifting, but I also narrated the audiobook version myself (thanks to copious cups of tea). More info →TargetAuthor: James Mustich
Reading 1000 books may sound daunting at first, but Mustich’s enthusiasm for every title in this volume is contagious. This fun doorstop of a collection (and I say "doorstop" with affection) includes titles I expected (all six Austen novels) and titles I didn't (Make Way for Ducklings, Into Thin Air, The Hunt for Red October). The book also includes numerous shorter reading lists, thorough indexes, and a checklist so you can see how many on the list you have read. Jim joined us on What Should I Read Next, where he gave ME three book recommendations. That special episode makes a perfect audio companion for perusing this lovely tome. More info → What book about books and reading would you add to this list? There is no such thing as too many bookish recommendations: stack yours up in the comments section!
P.S. Stay cozy and bookish with 20 wonderful books about books and bookstores or 10 books about books and reading. In the mood for a suspenseful story? Try 12 bookish mysteries about bibliophiles and bookstores.
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