lou's library

Some books become so special to me and inhabit such a prime spot in my brain that there comes a point where I genuinely don’t remember what it was like not to have read, known, and loved them. These are the sort of books that have had a lasting impact on me, that I have read at exactly the right time in my life, that I would die on a hill for. And precisely because they are so special to me, I would sell a kidney to get to experience them again for the first time. Here are some of those books.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I’m pretty sure To Kill A Mockingbird features on a lot of people’s list of favourite books and books they would love to read for the first time ever again. Harper Lee really said be right back, quickly gonna write a masterpiece with this one and I shall be forever grateful. I’m not sure how many times I have read To Kill A Mockingbird, but I think the first time around I was nineteen and I will never forget how it instantly made me feel like a child again (in a good way!!). Scout is such an unforgettable character and witnessing the story through her eyes felt so right and I basically haven’t stopped thinking about this book ever since I first read it. With every reread, I discover something new, have a slightly different (although always good) opinion on it and while that is great, nothing comes close to meeting these characters for the very first time and witnessing this masterpiece of storytelling without knowing what’s about to happen.

One Day by David Nicholls

Speaking of not knowing what’s about to happen, One Day was spoiled for me because I had seen the (pretty bad) movie adaptation starring Anne Hathaway maybe ten years before reading the book. So, while I certainly did not remember any details or even big plot points, it’s safe to say the ending did have a lasting impression on me. In that sense, I knew what I was getting into when I finally picked up the book a couple years ago (alongside everyone else who was intrigued by the Netflix adaptation, which I’m still utterly obsessed with). But my God, nothing had prepared me for David Nicholls’ STUNNING WRITING AND EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTERS. Sorry, but the all caps really were necessary there because it’s been months and months and yet my heart still aches just thinking about Dexter and Emma. I know I will continue to read One Day throughout my life, and I cannot wait to see how my perception of the story will change over the years, but man, getting to meet the two of them for the first time was a spectacular reading experience and I so envy past me who got far too attached to this story while on summer holiday in Italy (nothing beats a bit of sad reading on the beach).

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander, to me, is the perfect historical fantasy novel. No notes. So many vibes. It seriously doesn’t get better than Outlander, trust me!!! I know that is by no means a secret given the massive success of the TV show, but I will never get tired of praising this book. The setting, the pacing, Jamie, the plot, it’s all just so damn good. I have reread Outlander since first picking it up during my semester abroad in Scotland (yes, I fear I peaked in life at this precise moment), but nothing will ever beat falling headfirst into this world for the very first time. I had never seen the show and had hardly heard of the book (it came recommended by a friend), so I had no idea what I was getting into. Safe to say I could not put the book down until I had finished it, by which point I was an emotional wreck because my god, you really go through the trenches with Claire and Jamie and I would gladly do it again any day, but getting to know them for the first time just hits different.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I did not grow up in a household where period dramas existed. We never watched any Jane Austen adaptations, or Little Women, or really anything like that (I was raised on The Beatles documentaries and Mamma Mia, which was not a bad way to be raised at all). So when I first read Pride and Prejudice aged 17, it’s safe to say a whole new world opened up to me. And boy, am I glad it did! Jane Austen’s witty, sarcastic, beautiful writing sure was a revelation to teenage me and I quickly made my way through the rest of her novels (and caught up on some of those adaptations, too). And now I obviously love them. I genuinely do think that rereading Austen’s novels is so fun and helpful, because new layers get revealed and I understand what she was trying to do better upon a second (or third) read. So, it’s fun to keep reading Austen, no matter how familiar I now might be with her work. But I will never forget meeting Elizabeth and Darcy for the first time and feeling a hundred different things over the course of the book. It’s one of the greatest love stories ever written and the fact I will never be introduced to this story again is quite sad.

There you go, some of the books I would do anything to read again for the very first time! Do let me know which books you would have chosen and if you would like some more recommendations, I have a blog post about the best queer book romances as well as one about books that inspired Taylor Swift songs. Happy reading!