Some books come in our lives at exactly the right moment, like they’ve been waiting for us to find them. They become more than stories on a page - they shift the way we think, the way we see the world, sometimes even the way we see ourselves. We’ve gathered the books that left a lasting impression on our lives. Each one altered something within us, whether it was the thing that made us fall in love with reading, or what pushed us to write our own stories, or helped us understand a life very different from our own.
There’s no single kind of book here. Savages belongs as much for Don Winslow’s sharp, irreverent writing as for the questions it raises about love and loyalty. I Am the Messenger made us think about the difference we could make in someone else’s day. A Long Way Gone brought us close to an experience we’d previously understood only at a distance. They’ve stayed with us for different reasons, and that’s what we wanted this list to reflect.
So, for your September TBR, these are the books that could change your lives. Some we read when we were young and still figuring out what mattered to us; others found us with a little more life in the rear view. We’re curious which ones will stay with you, too.
1. Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan
Why Read It: Asks what happens when caring about people becomes a responsibility you can no longer walk away from. His effort to reunite those families makes the book worth reading: it shows how much more is required than sympathy or good intentions. You don’t have to arrive as an extraordinary person to do something meaningful, but you do have to decide what you’ll do once someone else’s suffering becomes impossible to ignore.
About the Book: At twenty-nine, Conor Grennan set out on a yearlong global adventure, starting with volunteering at a Nepalese orphanage - only to discover the children were victims of trafficking, not orphans. What began as carefree travel turned into a dangerous mission to reunite them with their families, a journey he recounts in Little Princes through the perilous mountains of Nepal.
From its Pages: “If walking into the responsibility of caring for eighteen children was difficult, walking out on that responsibility was almost impossible. The children had become a constant presence, little spinning tops that splattered joy onto everyone they bumped into.” - Conor Grennan, Little Princes
2. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Why Read It: I Am the Messenger shows how even the most ordinary person can create extraordinary change. It’s about an ordinary guy who suddenly finds himself tasked with delivering messages, both painful and kind, that end up transforming not only the people around him but himself.
About the Book: Ed Kennedy is an aimless young cabdriver whose life changes after he accidentally foils a bank robbery. Soon, mysterious playing cards arrive, sending him on a mission to deliver messages - sometimes of help, sometimes of harm - until he’s forced to confront the ultimate question: who is behind it all?
From its Pages: “It's not a big thing, but I guess it's true - big things are often just small things that are noticed.” - Markus Zusak, I Am the Messenger
3. A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer
Why Read It: Child Called It is a heartbreaking yet powerful memoir that shows the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable abuse. Dave Pelzer’s story is difficult to read but impossible to forget, reminding us of the importance of resilience, hope, and compassion. It’s a book that changes the way you see both suffering and survival.
About the Book: This memoir tells the harrowing story of Dave Pelzer, a young boy brutally abused and starved by his alcoholic mother, who reduced him to a “slave” and an “it.” Living in a basement on scraps unfit for dogs, Dave endured unimaginable cruelty hidden from the outside world, surviving only through his dreams of love and belonging.
From its Pages: “I told myself no matter what she did, I would not let the bitch take me down.” - Dave Pelzer, A Child Called It
4. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Why Read It: It's an extraordinary journey that blends thrilling adventure with deep philosophical reflection. Gregory David Roberts weaves a sweeping story of crime, love, friendship, and redemption set in the vibrant chaos of Bombay, immersing readers in a world that is as dangerous as it is unforgettable
About the Book: Shantaram follows Lin, an escaped Australian convict who disappears into the chaotic streets of Bombay, where he finds both refuge and danger. From running a clinic in the slums to becoming entangled with the city’s mafia, Lin’s search for love, identity, and redemption takes him through betrayal, violence, and unexpected connections in a story that captures the beauty and brutality of India.
From its Pages: “Fate gives all of us three teachers, three friends, three enemies, and three great loves in our lives. But these twelve are always disguised, and we can never know which one is which until we’ve loved them, left them, or fought them.” - Gregory David Roberts, Shantaram
5. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Why Read It: It's one of the most powerful, eye-opening stories about the human cost of war and the strength it takes to survive it. Ishmael Beah’s memoir isn’t just a war story; it’s a deeply moving, firsthand account that changes how you see violence, resilience, and the possibility of redemption.
About the Book: A Long Way Gone is Ishmael Beah’s powerful memoir of surviving as a child soldier in Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war. Taken from his home at age twelve, Beah endured unimaginable violence, drug addiction, and loss, living a life defined by war until he found a path to redemption. His story is a rare and deeply human account of survival, resilience, and the lasting impact of conflict.
From its Pages: “I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I've come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end...” - Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
6. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Why Read It: This book shows how a single act of betrayal can shape a lifetime. It's a deeply moving story of friendship and redemption set against the turbulent history of Afghanistan. Khaled Hosseini masterfully blends personal heartbreak with a sweeping portrayal of a nation’s struggles.
About the Book: The Kite Runner tells the unforgettable story of Amir and Hassan, childhood friends in Kabul whose bond is shattered by a devastating betrayal. Spanning decades and set against Afghanistan’s turbulent history.
From its Pages: “There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth.” - Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
7. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Why Read It: It’s a deeply moving story that shines a light on the courage and sacrifices of women during World War II - stories history often overlooks. Through Vianne and Isabelle’s struggles, Kristin Hannah captures both the quiet endurance of survival and the fierce bravery of resistance, reminding us of the resilience of love, family, and the human spirit in the darkest times.
About the Book: Follows two sisters in Nazi-occupied France - Vianne, who must make impossible choices to keep her family alive when a German officer takes over her home, and Isabelle, a rebellious young woman who joins the Resistance and risks everything for freedom.
From its Pages: “If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.” - Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale
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8. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Why Read It: It's a raw, honest portrayal of mental illness and the suffocating expectations placed on women in the 1950s. Sylvia Plath captures the inner unraveling of a brilliant young woman with haunting clarity, making the novel both timeless and deeply relatable for anyone who’s wrestled with identity, ambition, or the weight of societal pressure.
About the Book: The Bell Jar follows Esther Greenwood, a gifted young woman in 1950s America, as she struggles with societal pressures to abandon her ambitions for marriage and motherhood. While working at a prestigious New York magazine, her growing disillusionment leads to a devastating breakdown and harsh treatments that starkly portray her battle with mental illness.
From its Pages: “I began to think vodka was my drink at last. It didn’t taste like anything, but it went straight down into my stomach like a sword swallowers’ sword and made me feel powerful and godlike.” - Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
9. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Why Read It: It’s an exploration of friendship, trauma, and love that leaves a lasting mark on its readers. Hanya Yanagihara captures the beauty and brutality of human connection with rare emotional depth, making it a heartbreaking yet profoundly moving story about the families we create and the resilience of the human spirit.
About the Book: A Little Life follows four college friends as they chase success in New York, bound together by ambition, love, and hardship. At the center is Jude, a brilliant yet deeply scarred man whose past trauma shapes their lives and friendships, making this a powerful story about chosen family, resilience, and the complexities of love.
From its Pages: “But what was happiness but an extravagance, an impossible state to maintain, partly because it was so difficult to articulate?” - Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life
10. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Why Read It: It's a heartfelt reminder of what truly matters in life - love, connection, and purpose. Through Morrie’s wisdom and Mitch Albom’s reflections, the book offers timeless lessons that can shift your perspective and inspire you to live more intentionally.
About the Book: Tuesdays with Morrie tells the true story of Mitch Albom reconnecting with his dying college professor, Morrie Schwartz. In their final “class” together, held every Tuesday, Morrie shares profound lessons on love, loss, and what truly matters, offering timeless wisdom on how to live by first understanding death.
From its Pages: “If you're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down on you anyhow. And if you're trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere.” - Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie
11. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Why Read It: It's a guide for anyone searching for purpose, meaning, or courage to follow their dreams. Its central message is that when you pursue your true “Personal Legend” (your deepest calling), the universe conspires to help you achieve it and reminds us to trust our intuition, embrace the unknown, and recognize that fulfillment often comes from within, not from external success.
About the Book: Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd who journeys in search of treasure and discovers that true riches lie within. A timeless fable of dreams, destiny, and self-discovery, it continues to inspire readers worldwide with its simple yet profound wisdom.
From its Pages: “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
12. Savages by Don Winslow
Why Read It: Asks how much your principles mean when protecting someone you love requires you to violate them. As Ben and Chon fight to rescue O from a cartel, their loyalty becomes both deeply human and a justification for brutality. Read it for the uncomfortable position it puts you in: rooting for people whose actions you might otherwise condemn, then questioning why love makes those actions easier to excuse. Winslow makes you consider whether the line between “us” and “them” is as firm as we like to believe.
About the Book: Savages follows three best friends in Southern California who build a lucrative marijuana business until a cartel kidnaps one of them. What follows is a high-stakes, darkly thrilling battle filled with danger, loyalty, and unexpected twists - a provocative story of love, friendship, and survival.
From its Pages: We made gods of wealth and health. A religion of narcissism. In the end, we worshiped only ourselves. In the end, it wasn't enough.” - Don Winslow, Savages
13. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
Why Read It: Theo’s mission to return portraits becomes more than a gesture - it’s a journey that brings strangers together, heals hidden wounds, and reveals the deep value of empathy. Its message is simple but profound: kindness has the power to change lives, often in ways we cannot foresee.
About the Book: Theo of Golden follows a mysterious man who arrives one spring with an unusual mission: to buy 92 framed portraits and quietly return them to their rightful owners. Through these acts, stories unfold, friendships form, and lives are forever changed.
From its Pages: “Living with sadness, accepting it, is easier than trying to pretend it isn’t there. It is another of life’s great mysteries that sadness and joy can coexist so compatibly with one another.” - Allen Levi, Theo of Golden
14. Night by Elie Wiesel
Why Read It: It is a powerful, firsthand account of the horrors of the Holocaust and the depths of human suffering - and resilience. Its message is a solemn reminder of the dangers of hatred, indifference, and forgetting, urging readers to bear witness so such atrocities are never repeated.
About the Book: Night by Elie Wiesel is a harrowing memoir of a young boy’s survival during the Holocaust. Wiesel recounts his experiences as a teenager in Nazi concentration camps, bearing witness to unimaginable cruelty, loss, and the struggle to hold on to faith and humanity.
From its Pages: “In the beginning there was faith - which is childish; trust - which is vain; and illusion - which is dangerous.” - Elie Wiesel, Night
15. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Why Read It: It understands how badly we want to be loved by our parents - and how that hunger can turn into jealousy, shame, or cruelty when we feel less worthy than a sibling. Through Cal’s fear that he is inherently bad, Steinbeck asks whether our worst impulses define us or whether we can choose what we do with them.
About the Book: In California’s Salinas Valley, Adam Trask hopes to build a new life with his wife, Cathy, but her betrayal leaves him to raise their twin sons, Cal and Aron. As the brothers grow up competing for their father’s love, Cal struggles with jealousy and the fear that he has inherited his mother’s cruelty. Their lives intertwine with those of the neighboring Hamilton family in a story of buried secrets, sibling rivalry, and the struggle to escape the past.
From its Pages: “And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about.” - John Steinbeck, East of Eden
16. The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Why Read It: Shows what it costs to spend years hiding who you are: the relationships you enter for cover, the people you hurt, and the love you don’t allow yourself to accept. Through Cyril’s life, John Boyne makes clear how a society’s prejudice becomes someone’s private shame.
About the Book: Born to an unmarried teenager cast out of her Irish village, Cyril Avery is adopted by an eccentric Dublin couple who never quite treat him as their own. Growing up gay in a country that condemns his sexuality, he falls in love with his best friend, Julian, and spends decades navigating secrecy, heartbreak, and the consequences of trying to be someone he isn’t. His search for belonging takes him from Dublin to Amsterdam and New York, and eventually back to the country - and the past - he left behind.
From its Pages: “Every man is afraid of women as far as I can see," said Julian, displaying an understanding of the universe far beyond his years. "That's true," she said. "But only because most men are not as smart as women and yet they continue to hold all the power, they fear a change of the world order.” - John Boyne, The Hearts Invisible Furies
17. Beloved by Toni Morrison
Why Read It: Makes you confront what surviving slavery meant after escape: trying to raise children, accept love, and live in a body that other people once claimed to own. Toni Morrison shows how Sethe’s desperate need to protect her children becomes inseparable from the violence she endured.
About the Book: Eighteen years after escaping slavery, Sethe remains haunted by the brutality of her past and the ghost of her baby. In her Ohio home, memories of the plantation she fled collide with a grief she cannot leave behind.
From its Pages: “She did not tell them to clean up their lives, or go and sin no more. She did not tell them they were the blessed of the earth, its inheriting meek, or its glory-bound pure. She told them that the only grace they could have is the grace they could imagine. That if they could not see it, they could not have it.” - Toni Morrison, Beloved
18. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Why Read It: Shows a father so convinced he is doing God’s work that he ignores the people he came to help and puts his own family in danger. What makes it worth reading is watching his wife and daughters reckon with what they were taught to believe, what they allowed to happen, and what they must change. It makes you question whether being well-intentioned means much if you refuse to listen when someone tells you you’re hurting them.
About the Book: In 1959, an uncompromising Baptist missionary takes his wife and four daughters from Georgia to the Belgian Congo, where his rigid beliefs collide with a world he refuses to understand. Told through the women’s voices against the backdrop of Congo’s struggle for independence, The Poisonwood Bible follows a family fractured by tragedy as each confronts questions of faith, guilt, and responsibility.
From its Pages: “Don’t try to make life a mathematics problem with yourself in the center and everything coming out equal. When you’re good, bad things can still happen. And if you’re bad, you can still be lucky.” - Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible
19. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Why Read It: Asks what happens when the people and routines that gave your life meaning are gone - and you’re still here. Beneath Ove’s hostility is the grief of someone who no longer knows where he belongs. Read it for the way it challenges our impatience with difficult people and shows how belonging grows through ordinary acts: asking for help, showing up again, making room for someone. It understands that being needed can become a reason to stay long enough to discover you are loved.
About the Book: Ove is a grumpy, fiercely principled man whose strict routines conceal a profound sadness. When a chatty young family moves in next door and promptly flattens his mailbox, his solitary life gives way to stray cats, unlikely friendships, and a series of interruptions that might just give him a reason to keep going.
From its Pages: “We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.” - Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove
20. A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
Why Read It: It explores how women can inherit - and enforce - the very expectations that have hurt them. Through three generations of Palestinian women, Etaf Rum asks what it costs to choose your own life when obedience is treated as love and independence as betrayal.
About the Book: Married at seventeen, Isra leaves Palestine for Brooklyn, where she faces mounting pressure from her husband and mother-in-law as she gives birth to four daughters. Eighteen years later, her eldest daughter, Deya, dreams of college while her grandmother insists on marriage. Determined to choose a different future, Deya uncovers buried family secrets that challenge everything she believes about her parents and the life she’s expected to lead.
From its Pages: “Too often being happy means being passive or playing it safe. There's no skill required in happiness, no strength of character, nothing extraordinary. Its discontent that drives creation the most - passion, desire, defiance. Revolutions don't come from a place of happiness. If anything, I think it's sadness, or discontent at least, that's at the root of everything beautiful.” - Etaf Rum, A Woman is No Man
In the end, these books are more than recommendations; they prove that stories have the power to meet us where we are and carry us somewhere new - whether into the depths of another person’s experience or into a corner of ourselves we hadn’t yet discovered. Our hope in sharing them is simple: that one of these books might find its way into your hands at just the right moment, and leave you changed in the best possible way.
If you want to dive even deeper, join our book club, the Banned Literary Dept.,where we read all kinds of books, but often spotlight titles that have been banned, challenged or tackle bold and thought-provoking topics. Join us and become part of our community of readers. Your next favorite book is waiting.
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