15 Relatable and Engaging Novels You’ll Enjoy Reading from Start to Finish
Posted on September 16, 2019
by April S
Welcome to our appeal series.
We’re highlighting a variety of books to help our readers find something “good” to read. And yes, “good” is a relative term, which is why this series includes a variety of selections with a wide range of appeal.
Each post in this series highlights books that share similar appeal (or story elements) like genre, storyline, tone, writing style and/or characters. The selections in this blog post include fiction novels that are relatable (characters) and engaging (writing style).
What does that mean exactly?
Appeal Defined
Relatable Characters
Because their emotions and experiences are recognizable, readers are able to identify with these characters and their dilemmas. ~ Novelist
Engaging Writing Style
These books capture the imagination of readers through narrative style, character, or use of detail. ~ Novelist
15 Enjoyable Reads
1. The Summer of Sunshine & Margot by Susan MalleryDescended from a long line of women with disastrous luck in love, twin sisters Margot and Sunshine transform their controversial relationships with a client’s son and an employer into unexpected sources of happiness. Appeal
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2. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi WaxmanNina Hill enjoys living quietly with a job at a bookstore and her small circle of friends, until a brand-new family, as well as a persistent suitor, enter her life and change everything. Appeal
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3. Miss You by Kate EberlenA chance meeting fails to bring the 18-year-old Tess and Gus the love with each other that they deserve, and they wind through lives that bring surprises and divert them from their intended paths, but will they get a second chance at love together? Appeal
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4. Now That You Mention It by Kristan HigginsReturning to her hometown in the hopes of reconciling with her estranged family, a woman who recently survived a brush with death makes discoveries with the potential to heal the rift or permanently separate her from her surviving relatives. Appeal
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5. The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues by Edward Kelsey MooreThe late-in-life marriage of two infamous natives of an Indiana community attracts the return of a famous guitar bluesman while compelling numerous locals to resolve long-standing disputes. Appeal
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6. The Shortest Way Home by Miriam ParkerWhen a moment’s hesitation unravels all of her carefully organized life goals, grad student Hannah impulsively accepts a job in Sonoma, where new friends and an unexpected romance shape her efforts to save a family winery. Appeal
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7. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro ArikawaAn ode to kindness, sacrifice, and the power of small things traces the experiences of adventurous Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they embark on a road trip across Japan to visit three old friends. Appeal
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8. Extraordinary Adventures by Daniel WallaceEdsel Bronfman, a single man with a dead-end job who lives in a seedy neighborhood with his spirited mother, wins a couples-only vacation and is given only seventy-nine days to find someone to take with him. Appeal
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9. Chemistry by Weike WangA novel about a young Chinese woman whose graduate studies in chemistry go off track and lead her to discover the truths about her goals and desires. Appeal
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10. Fight No More : Stories by Lydia MilletA collection of 12 interlocking stories is set in Los Angeles and describes a broken family through the homes they inhabit, their estranged relationships and the victimization they endure at the hands of corrupt employers. Appeal
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11. Ghosted by Rosie WalshSarah thinks she has met the love her life in Eddie–until he disappears after leaving for a long-booked vacation. Appeal
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12. The Editor by Steven RowleyA struggling writer in 1990s New York City gets his big break from none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Appeal
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13. Elsewhere, Home by Leila AboulelaThe first story collection from the New York Times Notable author since winning the Caine Prize offers a rich tableau of life as an immigrant abroad, attempting to navigate the conflicts of assimilation and difference in an unfamiliar world. Appeal
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14. Tomorrow There Will Be Sun by Dana ReinhardtOrganizing a group birthday vacation in Mexico for her loved ones, Jenna is dismayed when her friends’ personalities change, her husband begins making clandestine calls and her teen daughter bonds with a local delinquent. Appeal
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15. Love at First Like by Hannah OrensteinFrom the author of Playing with Matches, the rollicking tale of a young jewelry shop owner who accidentally leads her Instagram followers to believe that she’s engaged—and then decides to keep up the ruse. Appeal
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Looking for more great reads?
- Explore our appeal blog series
- Check out our book and movie lists on our website
- Try Give 3 Get 3 to receive personalized recommendations
