“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
They say there is no such thing as a bad book, only bad readers. Here at What We Reading, we aren’t sure if we 100% agree with that. Sometimes, reading isn’t for everyone—books can be bloated and overly complicated, plots can be badly conceived, characters can be infuriating, and twists can be underwhelming. A book should be able to pull you in with an interesting premise and keep the reader hooked throughout.
People don’t want to have to slog it out and work for their enjoyment; they want a book that is easy to read and memorable in its storytelling. That’s why we have compiled the best books for people who don’t typically read. These fiction recommendations include fantasy, romance, horror, crime, and thriller books, featuring accessible writing and imaginatively developed worlds perfect for readers to escape into.
I Am Pilgrim – Terry Hayes
Terry Hayes’ I Am Pilgrim is first up on our list of the best books for people who don’t read. This 2013 espionage classic is a suspense-filled, action-packed thriller, with its fast pacing making it easy to digest and a favourite for crime fans to keep returning to.
The story centres around an intelligence agent known only as ‘Pilgrim.’ He is a retired investigator with expertise in forensic analysis but is drawn back into the high-stakes world of espionage after a wealthy individual commits the seemingly perfect murder. However, after being brought in to solve the case, he is quickly engulfed by the web of international intrigue. Told at breakneck speed and whisking readers on a whirlwind ride around the world, I Am Pilgrim is still one of the best spy novels of recent times.
None Shall Sleep (None Shall Sleep #1) – Ellie Marney
In the first book of her None Shall Sleep series, Ellie Marney introduces readers to Emma Lewis, a survivor of a serial killer, and Travis Bell, a US Marshal candidate. The FBI hires these two teenagers to interview convicted high-profile criminals and provide advice on cold cases.
Similar to Mindhunter, Red Dragon, and True Detective, None Shall Sleep is the perfect easy read for anyone with an obsession with crime documentaries, shows, or films. Emma and Travis form a warm friendship, but their world is rocked when a new killer begins targeting exclusively teenagers. With the clock ticking, they turn to the incarcerated teenage sociopath Simon Gutmunsson for help, with Emma acting as the conduit between him and the FBI, despite Travis’ objections. Although Simon appears to be providing all the information the pair requires, he plays a longer game than them, with Emma firmly placed as one of its key players.
11/22/63 – Stephen King
On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out across Dallas, rocking not only the United States but the whole world. But what if they didn’t? Stephen King hooks readers with an alternative retelling of history’s most infamous moments on 11/22/63.
Winning Best Science Fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards, the book follows Jake Epping, an English teacher from Lisbon Falls. Leaving behind his life of mobile phones and computers in favour of root beer, big cars, diners, and the music of Elvis Presley, he is sent back to the swinging sixties where he meets and falls in love with the beautiful high school librarian, Sadie. However, as the ominous date of 11/22/63 approaches, he also runs into a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald.
Check Out The Best Books Like 11/22/63
The Martian – Andy Weir
For anyone who loved Ridley Scott’s 2015 masterpiece adaptation, Andy Weir’s original material offers one of the most compelling sci-fi books with a chilling premise and stripped-back storytelling that is easy to digest.
The Martian is the story of Mark Watney. Six days ago, he became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s certain he is going to be one of the first people to die on it. After a dust storm strands him alone on the planet, he must contend with broken equipment, an unforgiving environment, and the risk of making one basic mistake in a desperate battle for survival. However, through his resolve and resourcefulness, he slowly overcomes one obstacle after another. Through the combination of scientific ingenuity and the resilience to survive, this gripping sci-fi adventure still stands as a seriously addictive read that is perfect for people who don’t typically read.
Check Out The Best Time Travel Books
Don’t Let Go – Harlan Coben
Through one of the most gripping and suspenseful thrillers of recent years, Harlan Coben exposes how big secrets and little lies can destroy a relationship, a family, and an entire town in his 2017 book, Don’t Let Go.
New Jersey Detective Napoleon ‘Nap’ Dumas hasn’t been the same since senior year in high school when he found his twin brother, Leo, and Leo’s girlfriend, Diana, dead by the rail tracks. At the same time, the woman he considered to be the love of his life, Maura, disappeared without a trace. Fifteen years later, investigators found Maura’s fingerprints on a rental car they suspected belonged to a serial killer. Nap embarks on an intrigue-filled investigation into the woman he thought he loved, the abandoned military base near where he grew up, and the horrifyingly dark truth behind Leo and Diana’s deaths.
Check Out Our Don’t Let Go Book Review
Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas #1) – Dean Koontz
In the first instalment of his acclaimed bestselling series, Odd Thomas, Dean Koontz tells the story of an unassuming fry cook at Pico Mundo Grill who possesses the ‘gift’ of being able to see dead people.
Something wicked has landed in the desert town that Odd and his girlfriend, Stormy Llewellyn, call home. It comes in the form of a mysterious man with a wealth of knowledge on the world’s bloodiest serial killers, a macabre appetite, and a host of hyena-shaped shadows that follow him wherever he goes. Odd knows that the man is going to unleash a whirlwind of violence and terror in just twenty-four hours, and he understands that he’s the only one capable of stopping him. He’s just not sure if he can. With mysteries to solve, twists unfolding on every page, and a sucker punch of an ending to deal with, Koontz’s fantasy series is the perfect choice for people who don’t read!
Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
A Goodreads winner for Best Fiction, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is an exhilarating story that blends the worlds of video game design with contemporary romance. Set across thirty years and featuring vivid locales ranging from Venice Beach to Cambridge and a host of digital outer worlds, it follows the bond of Sam Masur and Sadie Green.
Having been friends since childhood, the pair embarked on an ambitious collaboration that resulted in hitting fame and fortune with their first blockbuster video game release, “Ichigo.” Overnight, the world becomes their oyster. Fame brings them joy, tragedy, duplicity, and redemption in a stunningly innovative commentary on our need to connect and love. The emphasis on video gaming makes this a unique approach to romance and a fantastic book for people who don’t typically read.
Check Out The Best Books Like Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
