Rating Books Based on My Favorite Reads

Updated on January 24th, 2025

I have been watching various BookTubers including Haley Pham, and she recently shared a video reading books based on her 5-star reads. I thought it would be fun to try for myself and read 4 books based on my favorite reads! On a book’s page on Goodreads, you can scroll to the “Readers also enjoyed” section, which lists 20 recommended books based on that book. I chose the first recommendation (at the time) to read and see if I enjoyed it.

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Favorite Read: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

I read A Man Called Ove earlier this year after it sat on my shelf for some years. I have read and enjoyed a few of Backman’s books including Beartown and the sequel Us Against You, and I do not know why it took me so long to get around to reading A Man Called Ove because I loved it! A Man Called Ove follows Ove who is a grumpy man with a soft heart. A young family then moves in next door and runs over his mailbox, which puts a halt to his plans. The story is sweet and at times emotional, and I highly recommend it. I am curious to read the recommended book!

Available at Bookshop

Recommend Book: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine follows Eleanor who struggles with appropriate social skills. Nothing is missing in her carefully planned life of avoiding social interactions, but everything changes when she meets Raymond, the new IT guy from her office. Together, Eleanor and Raymond save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who fell on the sidewalk, and they become the kind of friends who rescue each other from their isolated lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book! I loved Eleanor as the narrator because she says what she thinks even though it might not be the most socially appropriate response. However, you begin to understand the logic behind her thoughts and actions. As the story progresses, you learn more about what happened in Eleanor’s past that affected who she is as an adult. The relationship between Eleanor and Raymond was sweet, and I liked seeing their bond grow. There are some emotional moments in the book, and the ending wraps up the story well. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a great recommendation based on A Man Called Ove,

Available at Bookshop

Rate: 9/10

Favorite Read: Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper is my favorite graphic novel series. The story follows Charlie and Nick who attend the Truham Grammar School for Boys. After being placed in the same form group, Charlie and Nick quickly become friends. Charlie starts falling for Nick, but he does not think he has a chance. I love Charlie and Nick as the main characters, and the support characters are fantastic as well. The story is sweet and at times emotional. Later volumes also explore more serious topics as well, and Heartstopper is a wonderful series.

Available at Bookshop

Recommended Book: The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

The graphic novel follows Camembert whose father is dying. However, she cannot inherit the estate unless she finds a husband or disguises herself as a man. Camembert decides to do the latter and becomes Count Camembert and moves to the capital of Fondue. Camembert tries to keep a low profile, but she soon meets Princess Brie and develops a crush on her.

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich has numerous cheese references, which I loved. For example. the main character is named Camembert, the royal princess is named Brie. and her dog is called Gouda. I also love the full-color illustrations especially from the events because it showcases their fashion. As far as the plot, there is drama between Camembert and Brie, which keeps the story interesting, and the ending is perfect. The graphic novel ends with an author’s note where Deya talks about how the story came to be and also about meeting and marrying their wife, which was sweet. The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a heartwarming story like Heartstopper, and it was a perfect recommendation.

Available at Bookshop

Rate: 10/10

Favorite Read: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I first read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children in 2016, and I loved it. The book follows Jacob after the tragic death of his grandfather. Jacob and his father visit the small island in Wales where his grandfather grew up during the war. Once on the island, Jacob visits the abandoned children’s home and learns his grandfather’s stories are true.

I found the story of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children unique, and the addition of black and white pictures helped set the mood. Also, I did not find the story predictable, and I enjoyed learning about Jacob and the other children’s peculiarities. I have since finished the whole Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series, and overall, I do think it is a good series.

Available at Bookshop

Recommend Book: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent is the first novel in the Divergent series which is set in a dystopian society divided into 5 factions. Each year, 16-year-olds take an aptitude test to determine which faction they fit into. When Beatrice takes the aptitude test, she learns she is divergent and fits multiple factions. However, she must keep it a secret as it can cause death. During the Choosing Ceremony, Beatrice must decide which faction to join and devote the rest of her life to.

I can see why Divergent was recommended based on Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, but the vibes are definitely different. Beatrice is divergent and Jacob is different too, but Divergent is set in a dystopian society while Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is set in the present with time loops to the past. Divergent is a good book though and I enjoyed learning which faction Beatrice chose and the initiation process she went through. There is drama between the initiates because only 10 will be able to become members while the rest will become factionless, so the stakes are high. However, Beatrice does make friends and even finds romance along the way. At the end, things ramp up and this part is especially fast-paced and sets up the next book, Insurgent. I am curious to continue the series.

Available at Bookshop

Rate: 8/10

Favorite Read: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

I loved The Woman in Cabin 10 and read it back in 2016. The story follows Lo, a travel journalist who is given the opportunity to spend a week on a luxury cruise in Norway. During the night, she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard, but all the passengers and crew are accounted for in the morning. I loved the setting of the luxury cruise ship sailing in the fjords in Norway. I also did not expect the twists, which cannot be said about other mysteries I read this year where I found the plot predictable. The Woman in Cabin 10 is a fantastic mystery, and I am looking forward to reading the book that is recommended.

Available at Bookshop

Recommend Book: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

The Woman in the Window follows Anna who has agoraphobia and has not left her house in almost a year. She spends her days drinking wine, watching old movies, and spying on her neighbors through her window. A new family, the Russells, moves in across the park. They appear to be the perfect family with a mother, father, and teen son. However, when Anna looks out her window one night, she sees something shocking.

Anna is an unreliable narrator. She is on medication to help with her anxiety and is constantly drinking wine, which could cause side effects. I did doubt what Anna claims to have seen especially since everyone else disagrees with her. I was left wondering what really happened that night. At the same time, I do feel for Anna. As the story progresses, you learn what triggered Anna’s anxiety and you also see her help others on the agoraphobia forum.

Even though Anna is a flawed character, I could not help but root for her to figure out what actually happened. I cannot give too much of the plot away without spoiling the story, but there are twists that I did not expect, and I did not expect the ending. I can see why The Woman in the Window was recommended based on The Woman in Cabin 10 because I found them both great mysteries with unexpected twists.

Available at Bookshop

Rate: 9/10

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Have you read any books based on your favorite reads? What did you think of them?