539.

That’s how many books I’ve read since I started this blog in 2011! I absolutely love reading, so I thought it would be fun to start a series sharing the books that have stayed with me over the years—from novels I still think about to Christian books that have shaped my faith, memoirs I couldn’t put down, parenting books that influenced me, nonfiction that changed how I think, and more.

I decided to start with 12 novels I’ve read since 2011 that I still find myself thinking about. Whether because of unforgettable characters, an ending I can’t shake, or a story that changed the way I see something, these books have stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

From historical fiction and literary fiction to romance and contemporary novels, each of these stories left a lasting impression. For each one, I’ve included the publisher’s description, followed by a few of my own thoughts about why it earned a spot on this list. I hope you’ll discover your next great read!

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📚 12 Novels I Still Think About (Years After Reading Them)

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Contemporary Fiction | 🌸 Flowers • Foster Care • Healing • Found Family

“The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.

Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.”

My thoughts: This book made me want to learn more about the language of flowers. It also opened my eyes to the challenges many children in the foster care system face, and it made San Francisco come alive for me.

📖 You might also enjoy Lucy by The Sea by Elizabeth Strout.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Literary Fiction | 🌊 Lighthouse • Moral Dilemma • Family • Australia

“After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a ‘gift from God,’ and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.”

My thoughts: This was one of those books that had me asking myself, What would I do in this situation? I can vividly remember not being able to put it down until I finished it.

📖 You might also enjoy What You Wish For by Katherine Center.

Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen

Historical Fiction | 🎪 Circus • Great Depression • Romance • Animals

“Jacob Janowski’s luck had run out–orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie.

It was the Great Depression and for Jacob the circus was both his salvation and a living hell. There he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but brutal animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this group of misfits was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.”

My thoughts: This novel had a bit of everything—history, romance, memorable characters, and plenty of tension. I found myself completely invested in the story, loved learning about life in a traveling circus, and really enjoyed the movie adaptation afterward.

📖 You might also enjoy Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Biblical Historical Fiction | 📖 Old Testament • Women’s Lives • Family • Ancient World

“In the Bible, Dinah’s life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that tell of her father, Jacob, and his twelve sons.

The Red Tent begins with the story of the mothers–Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah–the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through childhood, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah’s story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past.”

My thoughts: This novel really brought some of the Old Testament characters and stories to life for me. It made me think about familiar biblical events from a completely different perspective.

📖 You might also enjoy Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

Christian Fiction |🏖️ Outer Banks • Faith • Hope • Second Chances

“When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola’s rambling Victorian house.

Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola’s walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning from Iola’s youth to her last days. Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper–the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman passing through the seasons of an extraordinary, unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations on love, and one final lesson that could change everything.”

My thoughts: I loved that much of this book was set in the Outer Banks! It was a beautiful story of hope and healing, and I couldn’t wait to see how all the pieces fit together.

📖 You might also enjoy Family Pictures by Jane Green.

The Baker’s Daughter by Sarah McCoy

Historical Fiction | 🍞 WWII • Baking • Dual Timeline • Forgiveness

“In 1945, Elsie Schmidt is a naive teenager, as eager for her first sip of champagne as she is for her first kiss. She and her family have been protected from the worst of the terror and desperation overtaking her country by a high-ranking Nazi who wishes to marry her. So when an escaped Jewish boy arrives on Elsie’s doorstep on Christmas Eve, Elsie understands that opening the door would jeopardize the lives of her family.

Sixty years later, in El Paso, Texas, Reba Adams is trying to file a feel-good Christmas piece for the local magazine when she sits down with the owner of Elsie’s German Bakery for what she expects will be an easy interview. But Reba finds herself returning to the bakery again and again, anxious to find the heart of the story—a story that resonates with her own turbulent past. For Elsie, Reba’s questions are a stinging reminder of that last bleak year of World War II.”

As the two women’s lives become intertwined, both are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths of the past and seek out the courage to forgive.

My thoughts: This book had me in the kitchen! I ended up baking several of the recipes included in the story because I was so inspired by it. The combination of historical fiction and baking made this such a memorable read.

📖 You might also enjoy Boston Girl by Anita Diamant.

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio

Contemporary Fiction | 🚤 Dual Timeline • Seattle • Mystery • Love

“Fleeing an East Coast life marred by tragedy, Ada Santorini takes up residence on houseboat number seven on Boat Street in search of inspiration and new opportunities. When she discovers a trunk left behind by Penny Wentworth, a young newlywed who lived on the boat half a century earlier, she is immediately drawn into this long lost story. Ever-curious, Ada longs to know her predecessor’s fate, but does not suspect that Penny’s mysterious past and her own clouded future are destined to converge…”

My thoughts: The parallel storytelling was so gripping! I also wanted to pack my bags and move onto a houseboat in Seattle after reading this. 😂

📖 You might also enjoy Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Young Adult Fantasy | 🧛 Vampires • Werewolves • Romance • Coming of Age

“Isabella Swan’s move to Forks—a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington—could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn.

So far, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger.”

My thoughts: I don’t care if you judge me for being a Twilight fan—it’s such a classic for me! Even with all the vampire-versus-werewolf drama, at its heart it’s a beautiful love story. I don’t think I’ll ever stop rooting for Team Edward.

📖 You might also enjoy Midnight Sun (Twilight written from Edward Cullen’s perspective!).

Food Person by Adam Roberts

Contemporary Fiction | 🍝 Food • Friendship • Influencers • Personal Growth

“Isabella Pasternack is a food person. She revels in the beauty of a perfectly cooked egg, she daydreams about her first meal at Chez Panisse, and every inch of her tiny apartment teems with cookbooks, from Prune to Cooking by Hand to Roast Chicken and Other Stories. What Isabella is not, unfortunately, is a gainfully employed person. In the wake of a disastrous live-streamed soufflé demonstration, Isabella is summarily fired from her job at a digital food magazine and must quickly find a way to keep herself in buckwheat and anchovy paste.

When offered the opportunity to ghostwrite a cookbook for Molly Babcock, the once-beloved television actress now mired in scandal, Isabella warily accepts. Unfortunately, Molly quickly proves herself to be a nightmare collaborator: hungover, flaky, shallow, and—worst of all—indifferent to food. But between Molly’s bizarre late-night texts, goofy confessions, and impromptu road trips, Isabella reluctantly begins to see Molly’s charms. Can Isabella corral Molly out of the gossip rags and into the kitchen? Can she find the key to Molly’s heart and stomach? Or will Isabella’s devotion to her culinary idols and Molly’s monstrous ego send the entire cookbook—and both of their careers—up in flames?”

My thoughts: The author did such a great job creating characters who felt so real that you almost didn’t want to like them—because they were so much like us. What I loved most was seeing how Isabella and Molly grew by the end of the story. As a foodie, I also loved all the food references! It even made me see influencers in a more compassionate light.

📖 You might also enjoy Swipe Up For More! by Stephanie McNeal.

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

Literary Fiction | 🇺🇸 Politics • White House • Marriage • Character Study

“A kind, bookish only child born in the 1940s, Alice Lindgren has no idea that she will one day end up in the White House, married to the president. In her small Wisconsin hometown she learns the virtues of politeness, but a tragic accident when she is seventeen shatters her identity and changes the trajectory of her life. More than a decade later, when the charismatic son of a powerful Republican family sweeps her off her feet, she is surprised to find herself admitted into a world of privilege.

And when her husband unexpectedly becomes governor and then president, she discovers that she is married to a man she both loves and fundamentally disagrees with—and that her private beliefs increasingly run against her public persona. As her husband’s presidency enters its second term, Alice must confront contradictions years in the making and face questions nearly impossible to answer.”

My thoughts: I was so curious about this book because it’s loosely based on the life of former First Lady Laura Bush. It was a gripping read that kept me turning the pages!

📖 You might also enjoy The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

Lulu’s Cafe by T.I. Lowe

Southern Fiction | ☕ Southern Town • Healing • Romance • Found Family

“When a young woman is given a chance to reclaim her life in a small Southern town, she must reckon with the dark secrets she left behind in order to accept the love she deserves.

On the run from a violent past, Leah Allen arrives in tiny Rivertown, South Carolina, battered and broken but ready to reinvent herself. By a stroke of fate, Leah is drawn to the Southern hospitality of a small café, looking for a warm meal but finding so much more. Lulu, the owner, offers her a job, a place to stay, and a new lease on life. Leah quickly finds herself embraced by the quaint community as she tries to put herself back together.

Not long after arriving, Leah meets Crowley Mason, the most eligible bachelor in town. A lawyer and friend of Lulu’s, Crowley is wary of Leah’s sudden, mysterious arrival. Despite his reserve, something sparks between them that can’t be denied. But after all she’s been through, can Leah allow herself to truly love and be loved, especially when her first urge is to run?”

My thoughts: The main character’s difficult past completely drew me into this story. The characters felt so real, and I found myself invested in each of them. This is one of those books I’d gladly read again.

📖 You might also enjoy The Peacock Emporium by Jojo Moyes

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Women’s Fiction | 👠 Friendship • Reinvention • Humor • Second Chances

“Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope–she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.

That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag–she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself.”

My thoughts: This book was full of little details that all came together in the end. The author tied everything together so beautifully that my jaw literally dropped. I also loved how the main character went from being someone I almost couldn’t stand to someone I was genuinely rooting for.

📖 You might also enjoy Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren.

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There you have it—12 novels that have stayed with me long after I turned the last page. I hope you found a new book (or two!) to add to your reading list. 😉

If you enjoyed this post, stay tuned! Next in this series, I’ll be sharing memoirs, Christian books, parenting books, and nonfiction that changed how I think.

What novels have stuck with you over the years?