The #1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah recently shared with The New York Times the books she loves and the books she thinks everyone should read. Take note of the author’s favorites and add her newest novel The Great Alone to your #TBR pile now.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

“The Shadow of the Wind is probably my favorite novel of the past decade. It’s the one I recommend most often to book clubs.”

Recovering from the Spanish Civil War, Daniel mourns the loss of his mother, taking solace in a book called The Shadow of the Wind by mysterious writer, Julián Carax. After reading the book, Daniel looks for other works by the author only to discover someone is destroying all books by Carax. Daniel will soon discover a dark secret, one involving murder, madness and love.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates changed my perspective on race relations in America, changed the very vocabulary I use to think about it. I can’t remember the last time a book touched me as deeply as this one did.”

Written as a letter to his adolescent son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers up answers to some of the country’s most difficult questions about race in America. He shares what it’s like to be black in the United States and how we can be free of previous race burdens in our history. This delicate and powerful book is one that all Americans should read.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

“I know that Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life was polarizing, but I loved it. And the ending broke my heart.”

Following four college classmates, A Little Life is a story about the families we choose and the impact of friendship on our lives. The four men, all struggling for various reasons, are connected by one common bond: Jude, a man scarred by a traumatic childhood event. A touching story about friendship and family, this novel is a nod to brotherly bonds.

To find out more about what Kristin Hannah is reading, read the full article here.

(photo by Kevin Lynch)