I’ve wasted plenty of money buying books that I did not like; so thought it would be helpful to share with you books that were worth the time and money! I am lucky enough to be in a book club with a group of fantastic friends for about 12 years now. We’ve read tons of books and enjoyed discussing them over gallons of wine. I’ve listed below some of the books most of our group really liked (plus a few of my guilty pleasures). Feel free to comment and add books you’ve enjoyed…it is a work in progress.
| Book Name | Description | All Time Favs |
| The Help | About the black maids in Alabama | |
| Someone Knows my Name | Composite character of young black woman’s life as a slave in 1770’s | x |
| The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks | non fiction. Where did the famous HELA cell line come from? What happened to her family? | |
| Memoirs of a Geisha | Follows young girl as she learns to be a geisha | x |
| Secret Life of Bees | Young girl in the South escaping her past | |
| Girl with the Pearl Earring | Poor English maid’s story | |
| Life of Pi | Indian boy’s travels – | |
| The Hours | ||
| The Kite Runner | Two boys growing up in Afghanistan | x |
| 2000 Sunrises (or Sunsets?) | Two Afghan women’s lives | |
| Devil in The White City | Non fiction. 1893 Chicago World’s fair incredible feats contrasted to a Serial Killer who also was there | x |
| Middlesex | Non fiction follows young transsexual and his issues | |
| Reading Lolita in Tehran | Teacher Defies Iranian Law | |
| Growing up Fast | Studies Teen Pregnancy in small town | |
| Rainey | Small town southern girl marries big City boy…live in small town- funny | |
| Pope Joan | First Woman Pope | |
| The Other Boleyn Girl | Anne Boleyn’s sister as well as Anne’s fate with Henry | |
| Running with Scissors | boy grows up in super crazy family. Supposed to be funny but mainly disturbing | |
| To Kill a Mockingbird | classic…you know | x |
| Fast Food Nation | ||
| The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night | Autistic boy tries to figure out a who-done-it . Warm book | |
| 13 Moons | almost biographical life of fronteersman in the Tenn/NC region | x |
| The Glass Castle | Helped show me I’m NOT the worst parent in the world. Super book | x |
| Unbroke Horses | Prequel to The Glass Castle. Her grand mom’s life | x |
| Snowflower and the Secret Fan | follows two Chinese girls through their friendship to old age | x |
| Omnivore’s Delima | Follows the actual source of 4 meals. Very powerful read | x |
| Water for Elephants | ||
| Wicked | I love books that turn our ideas on end. | |
| Confessions of an Ugle Stepsister | same as above…save author | |
| Angela’s Ashes | Biographical of the hard life endured by an Irish boy – yet funny, too | x |
| Naked | I love David Sedaris..all his books about growing up in Raleigh are funny | |
| The Lovely Bones | Sister tries to learn the fate of her dead sister | |
| Angels and Demons | guilty pleasure | |
| Divinci Code | guilty pleasure | |
| Pillars of the Earth | follows the Evil clergy vs the good in building a Cathedral | |
| Where the Heart Is | Young mother lives in Walmart | |
| Omnivore’s Delima | Author investigates the source an contents of 4 meals. SUPER book | x |
| Jesus Land | Two kids living in a cult-like Christian camp. Biographical | |
| Under the Banner of Heaven | A girl’s experience growing up Mormon (not very pro) | |
| Come Back | Mom tries to bring her daughter back from drug filled life. Both real mom and daughter alternate chapters | |
| The Golden Compass (Series) | guilty pleasure | |
| Harry Potter Series | guilty pleasure | x |
| Twilight Series | guilty pleasure |
Wake Real Estate Tips 
Thanks for sharing such a Great List of the best of the books over the past 10 years in bookclub for me as well. Loved “To Kill a Mockingbird”, its wonderful to include the classics.
You’re right! To Kill A Mockingbird should be added! I almost named my daughter Scout because of that book! (but was afraid she’d be a girly girl who did not really like to Scout…as it turned out she’d be a GREAT Scout!