9 Fiction Books You Should Read on a Long Holiday Weekend, From Romantasy, and Historical Fiction to LitFic, This Rec List Has You Covered
It’s officially Memorial Weekend, and this year has equally felt a gazillion years long, and a blink to get here. Where are you off to? The beach? Poolside? Camping or a road trip? Maybe you’re doing a staycation and just want to cozy up at home and read or work on some home projects you’ve been putting off. Wherever you might be, you can always use a good book for these long, lazy weekends, and I’ve got nine book recommendations for you to pick from based on your mood. We’re all mood readers here, right? Of course, there’s some great Romantasy books, including a recent release, novellas, LitFic tear jerkers, Historical Fiction with unrequited love, and of course, Epic Fantasy with amazing magic systems. Scroll to the bottom to see what I’m reading this weekend while I work on some organizing projects at home. There might just be a Discord channel for it too, if you want to join in and read it with the BAMTP community (more info below). If you don’t already own these, and don’t have time to run to the bookstore, some are part of Kindle Unlimited, which I’ve marked, and you can also always check your local library apps on Libby and Hoopla. Happy long weekend reading all! What would you recommend for people’s holiday reads?
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
Regency setting with tradition fairies?! I absolutely adored this book. It can be read as a standalone, has the perfect grumpy sunshine trope, and I adored the Jane Austen vibes with the addition of magic. Full review is here.
Available in Kindle Unlimited? No
Radiance and Eidolon by Grace Draven
Ok, I know you might not be able to finish two books in a long weekend, but they’re both pretty short, so I believe in you! Plus, this story is one of the cutest friends to lovers series I’ve ever read. This author sometimes likes to use arcane words, which can feel a bit over the top sometimes, but I absolutely adored these characters and this love story.
Available in Kindle Unlimited? No
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
If LitFic is your vibe, and you haven’t read this book yet, remedy that immediately! This book made me sob and completely fall for one of the most unlikeable characters. The MMC is so grumpy, but this is a story of tragedy, of humanity, and ultimately, of love. All the stars.
Available in Kindle Unlimited? Yes
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
If you love portal fantasies set in our world, the idea of magic books, and a clever approach to time travel, you may love this standalone. I promise you’ll be thinking about this book long after you finish.
Available in Kindle Unlimited? No
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
Where are my epic fantasy readers who love complex, science-based magic systems and morally gray characters? This book will grip you from the first page, and you’ll be enraptured by this world. I could not put this book down. It was my first five star read of the year and deserves all of the hype.
Available in Kindle Unlimited? No
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
If you’re looking for a short, but perfect romantasy with vampires and Autism rep, look no further. While this technically should be read between books 1+2 of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, this novella is a standalone within the same world and can be read on its own. For it being so short, I was so impressed with the depth of the characters and the plot. I absolutely loved it.
Available in Kindle Unlimited? Yes
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
A Historical fiction standalone I read several years ago, which immediately cemented Ruta Sepetys as one of my favorite Historical Fiction writers. Set in Spain during the Franco Dictatorship, this book had so many layers. There’s a love story, but there’s also a darker true story of ~300K babies being stolen from political opponents and raised by Franco supporters that only came to light in recent years. While this book is technically listed as YA, it very much reads like an adult book to me.
In Kindle Unlimited? No
What I’ll be Reading:
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
I actually cannot wait to pick this up! I enjoyed Devney’s Indigo Ridge contemporary romance (wait, bonus rec?!), so I’m curious to see how she does with a foray into Romantasy. I’m really hoping modernisms don’t sneak their way in, but I’ve been hearing good things from early reviews, so I have hope it’ll be a good time! We’ve also got a Discord chat open, so make sure to pop in (if you’re not already part of the community, make sure you sign up for the weekly newsletter, which includes an invite to the private Discord).
Available in Kindle Unlimited? Yes
—
P.S. If you end up getting a copy of any books through an Amazon affiliate link above, you’ll be helping me support this site and newsletter. Thanks in advance for supporting a fellow bookworm! BTW, I will always disclose affiliate links when they’re present. :) Happy reading!