The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

36. Recommended By A Favorite Author


Chances are, if you’re hanging out here at The 52 Book Club, you love book recommendations as much as we do! So what could be better than a recommendation from a favorite author?

Where do I find their recommendations? First, try a quick web search. (For example: “What books does John Grisham recommend?”) You could also pick a book that’s been endorsed by one of your favorite authors. Some authors may also share new and recommended reads on their social media pages, so follow along with your favorites for ideas! And if you’re following them on Goodreads, we’d certainly consider any books they’ve rated 5 stars to be a recommendation!

Check out our Goodreads List for examples

Our Country Friends

Just got mine yesterday from an author event. I'm thinking of reading The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson, recommended by Brigid Kemmerer. Or I might do Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian, recommended by Jodi Picoult.

I follow some authors in Goodreads. I've listed here a few of their recommendations but only when they gave the book a 5 star rating and wrote a review describing why they loved it so much.

Jaime Ford:
Hard Rain Falling
The Great Alone

Victoria Thompson:
One by One

Chris Bohjalian:
Crossroads

Kelli Estes:
The Vanished Days

Lisa Unger:
The Turnout

Kristin Hannah: A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance

I am going to read Dare Me. I am considering it recommended from Riley Sager as he has it listed in his "My Favorite Thrillers" here on Goodreads. It is one I have had on my to read list all year.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is recommended and a favorite of Neil Gaiman.

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. Recommended by Stephen King

I was having a hard time with this until I remembered that my favorite author Jane Austen "recommends" some books by way of Isabella Thorpe in Northanger Abbey.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

The Yellow Bird Sings, which has a recommendation/review from Kate Quinn

This book was recommended on Bookbub by one of my favorite author's Carrie Turansky. The book I will be reading is "Night Bird Calling" by Cathy Gohlke. I bought the book just for this prompt.

Just starting Rebecca Zanetti's new book "You Can Run" recommended by Lisa Jackson.......

One of my favorite authors is on TikTok and she recommended Stalked By the Kraken if you like bonkers, paranormal romance. Another Booktokker I follow also recommended a while back so giving it a shot.

I will finally be reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, as suggested by Christopher Moore.

I read A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It was recommended by Laurell K. Hamilton.

I read Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn for this PROMPT #36: Recommended by a favorite author (Stephen King)

I will be reading "Night Bird Calling" by Cathy Gohlke. Recommended by Carrie Turansky one of my favorite authors.

I read A Keeper by Graham Norton, recommended by author John Boyne.

My favourite author is Shea Ernshaw and I found these:

https://theweek.com/feature/1007455/b...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I chose Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism by Anne Applebaum for my book that was recommended by my favorite author. The author in question was Neal Stephenson.

I liked the book and liked what Applebaum has to say. I especially liked the lens she brings to the conversation about authoritarian governments in Eastern Europe. However, there's this Reaganite handwringing that is very common among center-right authors that sticks in my craw a bit. I get why it was recommended, but am still a little steamed at the "how did it get to this point?" perspective.

For more thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxmlq...

I am reading Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple. John Green said that it was the funniest novel he had read recently in an interview, I'm taking that as a recommendation

Stuff and Nonsense. Was recommended to me by my brother Cameron Benham author of Promises (Lordsbane Tale #1). Number 2 is in production right now!

Pluck: A Memoir of a Newfoundland Childhood and the Raucous, Terrible, Amazing Journey to Becoming a Novelist. By Donna Morrissey; recommended by author Laura Best (I started at about #34 on a wait list for this book and picked it up today.)

The Minders which was recommended by Alex Michaelides.

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Lynn wrote: "Pluck: A Memoir of a Newfoundland Childhood and the Raucous, Terrible, Amazing Journey to Becoming a Novelist. By Donna Morrissey; recommended by author Laura Best (I started at about #34 on a wait..."

PS - I finished reading this book today and Oh. My. Gosh! It is an excellent read.

Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca -- recommended by Sarah Waters

I read Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz, 4 Stars. The cover has a recommendation by Neil Gaiman

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

I just finished This Must Be The Place by Maggie O’Farrell that was recommended numerous times on Anne Bogel’s podcast and her MMD Book Club. Anne is also the author of three books that I have read and enjoyed. This book is 5 stars. Highly recommend!

I read Wilder Girls by Rory Power (recommended by Jeff VanderMeer). If interested, see my brief review here: my link text

Howls moving castle by Diana Wynne Jones (any of her books are recommended by Neil Gaiman)

Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terri Farley Moran 2/10/22

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://titlesurfingwithtraci.blogspo...

I read Lessons in Chemistry recommended by Kristen Hannah.

Also check fantastic fiction as if u type in your favourite author it lists what books they recommend at the bottom of the page

I read "The Insanity of God," by Nik Ripkin. Very challenging and encouraging! "Recommended" in the front pages of the book by Brother Andrew, who wrote an endorsement of it.

LeAnne wrote: "I read "The Insanity of God," by Nik Ripkin. Very challenging and encouraging! "Recommended" in the front pages of the book by Brother Andrew, who wrote an endorsement of it."
This is one of my favorite books. I got to sit in a seminar with the author, it was life changing.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell, ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just finished "The American Roommate Experiment", recommended by Ali Hazelwood.

Belle wrote: "Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn"

This is such a lovely book. <3

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher

I read Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo. Rick Riordan is one of my favorite authors, and he did a blurb on the front cover.

"The Donut Trap" by Julie Tieu

I read Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

I read "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion which was recommended by Atul Gawande.

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney