If You Like That... Why Not Check Out This?

"There is only one thing that can replace a book - the next book."

We've all been there before. We finish a fantastic book and then we're stuck. What should our next read be? How do we figure it out when our TBR list just continues to grow and grow and grow?! Well, that's where we come in! We've curated a short list of books we think you should give a chance based on books you might have read! And if you haven't read any, then you get to add all of them to your TBR! Sounds like a win-win situation to us!

Our first suggestion is based on the book We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. The story follows a group of four friends - the Liars - whose families annually vacation on a private island. What happens that leads to lies upon lies? And when does the truth come to light? We Were Liars is full of suspense with an ending that haunts us. If you've read We Were Liars and are looking for a new book with an unexpected twist, we have you covered.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, which is now also a Netflix series, is a book we recommend ALL THE TIME. The book follows Louise, a single mom and secretary, who meets a man in a bar. Sparks fly and they kiss. This man, it turns out, is her new boss - her married, new boss. Louise then becomes friends with the boss's wife and she's drawn into their world, which on the outside seems normal, but is far from it.

I remember listening to this book and with 10 minutes left in the story, it automatically returned to the library. I immediately bought the book to finish listening to it before walking into work. I am still shocked to this day at the ending and no one that we've recommended the book to has seen it coming.

Have you read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig? The Midnight Library is full of different books - each with a different version of your life based on choices you've made. In this novel, Nora is given the opportunity to browse the different editions of her life. As she travels through the Midnight Library, she has to decide what makes life worth living and which version of her life best suits her.

If you loved the adventure that came along with 'living' each life with Nora in The Midnight Library, then your next read should be The Ten Thousand Doors of January. January is a ward of Mr. Locke, who is a wealthy man with an interest in collecting peculiar items. Within these peculiar items, January finds a book that tells of secret doors leading to adventure, danger, and love. As January sets out on an adventure through these doors, you never know where she may end up, or what secrets may be revealed.

These books may not sound very similar, but the sense of adventure and the choices Nora and January must make keep you on the edge of your seat. It was difficult to put down either of these books. Both books also make you wonder, what little choices have affected my life?

Our next suggestion is Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren. This is a story about one couple and their journey from meeting and instantly connecting, to deception breaking the trust that was built, to finally finding each other again and whether a once in a lifetime experience can actually come around twice. While on a whirlwind two week vacation overseas, two strangers meet and fall hard. They share their hopes, dreams, and, for one of them, their biggest secret. When it becomes clear that the trust was misplaced, Tate's world as she knows it is shattered for good. Fourteen years later and Tate only thinks of her first love, Sam, once in a blue moon, until she walks onto the set of her first big break and who does she see? Sam. The same handsome and charismatic man she once knew but with even more confidence and charisma. Now she must face the man who once betrayed her and see if young love can really have a second chance.

Now if you have read this book and loved it, then we can't help but recommend Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata. This story is about Ruby who thought she knew what she was getting into by signing up to write letters to a soldier overseas. It was nice and easy. Write a letter or email once a week, at least, and if she wants to send care packages, that is optional. Done that before. There shouldn't be anything out of the ordinary to expect from doing this. What she didn't count on happening though? Falling in love with the soldier overseas.

We know these two stories do not have a similar synopsis at all but they do have a few things in common that we feel gives them a connection. Twice in a Blue Moon is about young love at first sight, but the biggest takeaway from the story is second chances - yes, second chances for a couple where it all went wrong towards the beginning and then years later find each other again - and Dear Aaron is about individuals who find each other in an unexpected way and get an unexpected chance at love. They also both have main characters that find an instant attraction and connection (one couple realizes it way sooner than the other but we digress, LOL).

Have you read The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story by Ann Rule? All I can say is wow, this was such an interesting read! In this book, Ann Rule describes her relationship and awareness of Ted Bundy. She describes how she originally knew Ted, a sensitive and shy coworker at a crisis hotline, how he turned into a true friend, and then the dawning realization that he was the serial killer that she was helping the police find at the time. Ted Bundy confesses to killing thirty-six young women across the country. This is a chilling rendition of Ann's role helping the authorities find connections and mistakes to find a serial killer, her personal connection to the top suspect, and her role as a true crime reporter while also still keeping a friendship with Ted Bundy.

If you enjoy true crime stories like Ted Bundy's, then we highly recommend you checking out If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen. This is an absolute page turner. This is the story of three sisters that, behind closed doors in Raymond, WA, their sadistic mother treated the girls to unimaginable torture, terrors, degradation, and psychological abuse. Through all of the abuse, these sisters developed an unshakeable bond that did not allow them to be quite as vulnerable as their mother, Shelly, wanted them to be. Even as they are twisted into the horrors that their mother subjected them to, they found the courage to escape and speak up, and give evidence to multiple murders.

There are many differences between these two true crime stories but the biggest connection is how long both Ted Bundy and Shelly Knotek were able to get away with the murder and torture of innocent people. We also find it fascinating how they both were able to show different personas for the situation that they were in. They both came across as charismatic all while hiding these evil traits. You learn a little about each of their pasts and you wonder what it is that makes them decide to become a killer. Is there a connection between past emotional or psychological trauma and becoming just a sadistically evil person? True crime is quite fascinating and we recommend either one of these books. Learning the history of both of these killers lives makes you wonder what happens, what changes, what switches in their mind to snap and take away innocent lives?

Have you read any of these books? If not, we hope that we might have piqued your interest into checking one or all of them out! Is there a book that you have read you feel is similar to any of the ones we have mentioned? We are always looking for new reads and suggestions for books that we love! If you’d like to see what we are reading now, check out our Goodreads profiles (Kelli and Chelsea) or follow 2 Girls Bookin' It on Instagram and Facebook! If you’re excited to see what other topics we’ll be covering in the coming months, make sure to subscribe. Thanks for reading with us!