Book Club: The Books We Didn't Pick

A compiled list of the books that weren't chosen for book club, for reference if we ever find ourselves without options, or if anyone is looking for another great book to read on their own.

You can click on the images to be taken to a book description page.

The Vanishing Half, by Britt Bennett

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

My Heart Lies South, by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino

When Breath Becomes Air

Graphic

Cancer, Death, Medical content

Moderate

Grief, Suicide, Pregnancy

Hello Beautiful

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Alcoholism

Hannah Coulter

Graphic

War, Death, Grief

Moderate

Cancer, Gore, Death of parent

Minor

Terminal illness, Drug use, Addiction

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Britt-Marie Was Here, by Fredrik Backman.

This author wrote "A Man Called Ove", which I enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to reading another of his books. The author is Swedish which gives him a unique voice, I think. Very well reviewed.

Content warnings, Moderate: Car accident, Murder, Gun violence, Death, Grief, Child death, and Death of parent

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes.

A classic summer read that I have seen on so many lists! This looks like the quintessential summer book.

Content warnings, Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse

Content warnings, Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship

Content warnings, Minor: Car accident, Sexual content, Abandonment

House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.

A super-popular YA novel with a fantasy flair. So many people were talking about this one when it came out!

Content warnings, Graphic: Child abuse, Xenophobia, Confinement

Content warnings, Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Abandonment

Content warnings, Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse

House in the Pines by Ana Reyes.

I wanted to give a mystery option and this is the only summer book type that I could find without major content warnings. It looks good!

Content warnings, Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcoholism

Content warnings, Moderate: Murder, Death, Alcohol

Content warnings, Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Mental illness

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Midlife Sarah

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