Tomorrow, I enter a new decade of my life. The third decade of my life. OK. I’m turning 30. Happy now?
🎵They’re singing happy birthday. You just want to lay down and cry…🎵
As a sort of celebration, I thought I would do a blog post to highlight 30 books that have made the biggest impression on me during my 30 years on this planet. As a note, it was very hard to choose just 30 books!
The below list are a mixture of books that have been firm favourites for many years, and also books that are recent encounters. I hope you’ll find some books on this list that will impact you the same way they impacted me.
The Lion of Senet by Jennifer Fallon
The book that got me into adult fantasy.
The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan
My all-time favourite book.
Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
A fantastic multi-generational family story.
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
My favourite of Alice Oseman’s books – first time I saw demi-sexual representation.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
My favourite Brandon Sanderson book. Fantastic world building.
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
The story that got me through a very difficult year, and my favourite manga series. Possibly my favourite story of all time.
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata Kabi
I relate to Nagata Kabi on a lot of levels, and even on the ones that I don’t I feel her emotions so strongly.
Haikyuu!! by Haruichi Furudate
The most uplifting and inspiration story. Ever.
The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
The series that has become one of my all-time favourite fantasy series.
Princess Jellyfish by Akiko Higashimura
Such a lovely series. So soft and gentle, but hard hitting in all the right places.
Meat Market by Juno Dawson
A dark look at the fashion industry. Well rounded characters. Juno Dawson at her best.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
A very difficult book to read, but a very important one. Will destroy you.
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
One of the books I needed as a teenager that celebrates the joy of being yourself.
Aristole & Dante by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Just a lovely romance. Perhaps a bit dated now, but the heart should still shine through.
Blank Canvas by Akiko Higashimura
This series will make you sob, but such a touching story about the impact people can have on our lives.
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Another book that will make you sob your eyes out, but all about the importance of parent/child relationships.
Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
A story about fighting for love in a world where there are strong racial divides.
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Half-human half-dragon girl who needs to keep her dragon side a secret from everyone, which becomes hard when dragon kind start rebelling against their treatment by humans.
Nabari no Ou by Yuki Kamatani
Like Naruto, but 1,000 times gayer. Story about accepting yourself, finding a reason to live and fighting for your place in the world.
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
A violent Western about two muscle-for-hire brothers who are overcoming a traumatic family past, and are on the hunt for a man whose invention may change the game for gold prospectors in mid-1800s California.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A love letter to fanfiction, as well as a story about family and finding your voice.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Sci-fi reimagining of fairy tales with a cyborg Cinderella.
More Than This by Patrick Ness
Matrix-like story with a mind bending premise, a big plot twist and a gay main character. Patrick Ness at his best.
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
World War One steampunk, with a royal fighting to reclaim his family right, and a girl cross-dressing in order to fulfil her dream.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
A soft, tense horror story about meat-eating sea horses, and a race with everything on the line.
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Urban fantasy at its best. With lots of mysteries to solve by a magical detective force in the Met Police.
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
An exciting adventure ghost story, full of mystery, and talking skulls.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
One of the best romances I have ever read. Made me cry with happiness.
BEASTARS by Paru Itagaki
A rich world full of 3D characters who are trying to find their place in a complex society.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
A delicious tale of teenage motherhood, working towards your dreams and family, with a dash of romance.
Bookworm Scribe 
This is useful, because I feel like you might have similar taste in books to my niece (I know she has read that Aristotle and Dante one, and books by Alice Oseman and Casey McQuiston), and since I always spend Christmas at her mother’s house (my sister), it’s good to have ideas about what to buy for her.
I’m afraid the only one of these books I’ve read is Noughts & Crosses, which I didn’t like! I think I have Princess Jellyfish and Rivers of London on my Kindle, unread. Blank Canvas looks like something I might like. I might check out a few of the others although my TBR list is about 5000 books long, and I’m limiting myself to buying 60 books a year (physical books, and Kindle books over £5). I bought Otaku Trash for 99p in a Kindle Countdown sale (and enjoyed it, which is why I’m visiting your blog).
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Hello. Thanks for dropping by and glad that you enjoyed Otaku Trash. Hope that you find some books that your niece will like on this list.
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