Book I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

by Susan Roberts

What books do you wish you could read again for the first time? I recently saw this question posted on social media and have thought a lot about what books I would list.  Part of the answer was easy because, although I rarely re-read books, I have several books that I re-read every couple of years.  These are books that frequently come to mind with characters I haven’t forgotten.  For the sake of brevity, I am ignoring classic books because, as an English major in college, including them would make this list way too long. 

Here are the top 5 books that I wish I could read again for the first time.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

Why you should read it: This is the book that made me fall in love with Southern Fiction.  The writing is exquisite, and the plot is heart-wrenching and emotional with well-developed characters.  This is probably my favorite book of all time.

Synopsis: A modern American classic and a sweeping family saga that spans decades, this powerful work of Southern literary fiction is the story of the volatile Tom Wingo, his brilliant but troubled twin sister, Savannah, and the complex and damaging legacy of their dysfunctional family.

Buy The Prince of Tides at Amazon

The Stand by Stephen King

Why you should read it: I have read this book numerous times and never get bored with the plot or the characters.  Parts of it became even more believable after COVID shut down the world several years ago.

Synopsis: A patient escapes from a biological testing facility, unknowingly carrying a deadly weapon: a mutated strain of superflu that will wipe out 99 percent of the world’s population within a few weeks. Those who remain are scared, bewildered, and in need of a leader. Two emerge—Mother Abagail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a peaceful community in Boulder, Colorado, and Randall Flagg, the nefarious “Dark Man,” who delights in chaos and violence. As the dark man and the peaceful woman gather power, the survivors will have to choose between them—and ultimately decide the fate of all humanity.

Buy The Stand at Amazon

The Shell Seeker by Rosamunde Pilcher

Why you should read it: This is one of the first English Fiction books that I fell in love with.  Now at least 25% of the books that I read would fall into that category,

Synopsis: The Shell Seekers is an enduring classic which has touched the hearts of millions of readers worldwide. A novel of connection, it is the story of one family—mothers and daughters, husbands and lovers—and of the passions and heartbreak that have held them together for three generations

At the end of a long and useful life, Penelope Keeling's prized possession is The Shell Seekers, painted by her father, and symbolizing her unconventional life, from bohemian childhood to wartime romance. When her grown children learn their grandfather's work is now worth a fortune, each has an idea as to what Penelope should do. But as she recalls the passions, tragedies, and secrets of her life, she knows there is only one answer...and it lies in her heart.

Buy The Shell Seekers at Amazon

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Why you should read it: This is one of the first books that I read about Afghanistan, and I have re-read it several times.

Synopsis: The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history, The Kite Runner transports readers to Afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction. A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

Buy The Kite Runner at Amazon

Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian

Why you should read it: I have read every book that Chris Bohjalian has written but no matter how good his books are, this one remains my favorite. Did you know this is the first book Donna reviewed on Girl Who Reads?

Synopsis: In the waning months of World War II, a small group of people begin the longest journey of their lives.

At the center is eighteen-year-old Anna, the daughter of Prussian aristocrats, and her first love, a twenty-year-old Scottish prisoner of war named Callum. With his boyish good looks and his dedication to her family, he has captured Anna’s heart. But he is the enemy, and their love must remain a closely guarded secret. Only Manfred, a twenty-six-year-old Wehrmacht corporal, knows the truth. And Manfred, who is not what he seems to be, is reluctantly taken with Anna, just as she finds herself drawn uncomfortably to him.

Buy Skeletons at the Feast at Amazon

Susan Roberts grew up in Michigan but loves the laid-back life at her home in the Piedmont area of North Carolina where she is three hours from the beach to the east and the mountains in the west.  She reads almost anything but her favorite genres are Southern Fiction and Historical Fiction.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.