Lately, we’ve been rediscovering our first love: books. It can be difficult to turn off our phones and disconnect from our TV long enough to nurture a novel, but on the rare occasion we’re able to make this happen, it’s always magic. Here, 12 reads—both old and new—that we TZR editors are currently getting lost in.
Read With Us
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
"I’m in that weird post-college phase where I'm realizing I don't derive enjoyment out of the same things and people that I used to. This book has been incredibly instrumental for me because it’s about choosing the things you actually care about and gracefully surrendering the rest. I no longer feel guilty about letting that one (very expired) friendship fade into the abyss, or not frequenting the 'go-to bar' that just feels like one big fraternity exchange."
—Aidan Macaluso, Associate Social Media Manager
"Obviously there is a ton of hype around the Hulu series (because it's amazing), but I wanted to make sure to read the book before diving into the show. So glad I did! The book is seriously captivating and consuming ... I could not put it down."
—Alyson Fishbein, Social Media Director
Party Girls Die in Pearls: An Oxford Girl Mystery
"I read a lot of heavy stuff, but lately I just want to have fun whenever I'm digging in to something that isn't the news. Plum Sykes is my forever girl crush, and her newest book is such a trip—it's got high-society satire, amazing '80s fashion references and, best of all, a murder. Described as Clueless meets Agatha Christie, this book definitely has me in its thrall right now."
—Erin Bunch, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch
"A (very) oldie but goodie, a friend loaned me this when I forgot a book on a Mexico road trip. It was the perfect read for the setting—capturing the beauty of California, the bizarreness of people and humanity's pursuit of paradise in one."
—Natalie Mattozzi, Senior Video Producer
"This book landed on my desk the day before I boarded a flight, so I threw it in my bag and hoped for the best. From the first page, I was hooked. I love a good crime story, and this one involves a missing baby, an affair and an ending that not even I could predict (and I'm usually pretty good at this!). "
—Stephanie Montes, Beauty Director
How to Murder Your Life: A Memoir
"Cat herself is a former beauty editor who's trying to balance her work while masking much deeper personal issues. This is a raw look into what it's like to live with everything from addiction to an eating disorder, and it is detailed in a both brilliant and sad way. The more I keep reading, the more I feel like I know her and am rooting for her."
—Andrea Navarro, Associate Beauty Editor
Wild Child: Life with Jim Morrison
"This book was recommended to me by a friend (ahem, the author of this article), and I quickly became obsessed to the point of running home to read it every night. It's like a fairytale for the music- and romance-obsessed. But there's a twist at the end that only the true fans will pick up. Not telling!" —Leah Benzie, Social Media Coordinator
"I read this book my senior year of college and have recommended it to literally anyone and everyone I come in contact with. An atypical coming-of-age story, this memoir recounts the nomadic and unstable life of writer Jeanette Walls and her family. Despite their undeniable flaws and dysfunction, you can't help but sympathize and warm to the characters in this book. When I found out it would be translated to film (starring one of my faves, Brie Larson), I about had an out-of-body experience. This book is a must-read for anyone with an unconventional or even painful story under their belt."
—Angela Melero, Managing Editor
"Caitlin Moran uses her hilarious voice to address pressing societal issues in a way that doesn't feel demeaning, overly complicated or overwrought—which is too often the case with today's self-important social commentators. The bite-sized chapters cover everything from online misogyny to migration to Benedict Cumberbatch with an eloquence that maintains my rapidly shrinking attention span."—Nicky Deam, Editorial Director
A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses)
"This is the third book in one of my favorite YA series, and I've already read it twice. The heroine is strong and badass, the romance is the complete opposite of cheesy and so good/empowering, and it's filled with action and magic and intrigue. I'm actually having trouble finding the words to describe how wonderful this book is. Just go read it immediately. (Start with the first two books in the series, obvi.)"
—Allie Flinn, Associate Lifestyle Editor
"This book is on everyone's reading list for a reason. It perfectly captures that raw, sometimes empty feeling that comes along with growing up and figuring out how to be an adult. What I love about it most, though, is that Tess's often dark, yet somehow enchanting story doesn't necessarily fill your own emptiness, but makes you feel okay with it. If you're still not convinced, this is my favorite excerpt, because yes, I Instagrammed it—twice."
—Lauren Black, Content Analyst
Toms River
Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation
“I have this time-consuming goal, which is reading all Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction books, and I feel that documenting it here will really keep the momentum going. Right now, I’m picking up Toms River, the finished product of an investigation into a New Jersey town that had become the dumping ground of industrial pollutants, leading to a cancer cluster that affected children as young as a few months old. No, it’s not your typical beach novel, but I figure that reading it in the summer (a.k.a. the season of sunshine and happiness) will make me less likely to hurl myself into a state of depression."
—Samantha McDonald, News Editor
