What’s better than curling up with a good book on a quiet winter night? With not much else to do on those cold nights, escaping with an adventure-filled page-turner is the perfect way to wind the night away. Add a hot cup of cocoa to the mix and what you have is the perfect setting.
If you are looking for a good book that you can sink your teeth into, you’ll be pleased by the wide array of options that you have to choose from. From unpredictable thrillers and addictive romance novels that will have you at the edge of your seat, there’s truly a read for everyone.
But to make things easier for you, we’ve narrowed down the expansive selection to 5 great novels. Here are 5 cool books that you should consider reading this winter:
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (January 8)
Authors Pekkanen and Hendricks are well known in the thriller genre. They join forces for the second time to create this fascinating and enthralling novel of mental suspense. An Anonymous Girl is a gripping tale featuring Jessica Ferris, a struggling makeup artist in her 20s looking for a quick fix. She’s always loved being a makeup artist, but the clients aren’t enough to make ends meet.
As such, when she gets wind of a study on ethics and morality that’s being conducted by a professor at a nearby local college, she’s more than happy to hop on the opportunity. The study promised a generous payout. Plus, what’s the worst that can happen, right?
Unfortunately for Jess, there is a lot more involved in the study’s, far more than was advertised. Things go well at first, but Jess starts to suspect that things could be a miss when the good professor starts showing Jess a little more attention than she deserves. Against her better judgment, she continues to participate in the study where Dr. Shield’s intentions soon become clear.
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
If you are a fan of dystopian tales such as Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale, then you are in for a treat with this read. This apocalyptic tale is centered on a family that’s isolated themselves on an island. The family is comprised of 3 daughters and their nameless mother and their father, whom they call King.
King has taken it upon himself to isolate his family from a strange plague which among many things, makes females allergic to males; other than King. At first glance, the family seems normal until it becomes apparent that the first daughter Grace, is carrying King’s child. King also exposes his daughters and wife to strange cult-like practices including strange diets and therapies.
King and Mother are quick to constantly remind their girls of their physical weakness as women. If any of the girls should go against the doctrine established by King, they risk extinction. This is a story about male excess and the role of women in society. Lacking anything but the beliefs that they have been taught to believe in all their lives, this is also a survival story.
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
If you loved the movie Inception, then you will be pleasantly surprised by the plot weaved by Thompson Walker. This tale is set in a college based in Southern California where a young student passes out in her bedroom never to awaken.
The incident perplexes doctors and specialists, who seem unable to point to the exact cause of the student’s state. if this wasn’t bizarre enough, a second student passes out in her dorm room in a similar incident. Then a third, and a fourth, and so the story goes.
The victims remain in this dream state while doctors and specialists continue to try everything they can to get them to wake up. In this trance-like state, the girls are exposed to all sorts of hallucinations and nightmares. As the number of people continues falling ill, the town goes into hysteria.
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
In this murder mystery based in 1930s Malaysia, an 11-year-old boy finds himself without a master, who has died unexpectedly. Before his death, the master had tasked the boy servant with an errand; for him to find his finger, which he had lost years earlier in an accident. According to traditions, the master’s soul is fated to wander this world cursed unless the boy can find his finger and bury it with the rest of the remains.
Across the other side of the country is another character, Jin Lin, who is on her own special assignment. Jin is an apprentice dressmaker who also dances at the town’s dance hall during the night. One night, she comes by an item that one of her dance partners leaves behind. And thus, Ren and Jin’s paths cross to reveal an even deeper story.
A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski
Anyone that appreciates the best genetic engineering books will appreciate this Golden Oldie, A door into the Ocean, first released in 1986. This novel is set in the far future and features a tribe of women that have formed a sacred commune on the distant moon. The Sharers of Shona, as they are known, have no males within their community and reproduce through a process known as parthenogenesis.
So you can imagine how sparks fly when a neighboring patriarchal society attempts to invade and develop their ocean world. The Sharers are pacifists by nature while the Valedon are militaristic, mechanistic, and led by capitalistic ideologies. There is no shortage of bite nailing action in this intriguing tale full of twists and turns.
Final Thoughts
The benefits of reading cannot be overstated. But we’ll be the first to admit that keeping up with all the latest books can quickly transform an otherwise pleasant activity into an overwhelming endeavor. That’s why we’ve selected these 5 picks so that you can have an easy go of the picking process. You’re welcome!
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