If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I love reading series books. But I know that for some people, reading a series is an investment, especially, when we have a lot of other responsibilities and obligations to juggle.
One of my favorite things is to provide recommendations of books that I’ve loved, and that I would absolutely read again. (See Part 1 here and Part 2 here.) For this third installment, here are five series, in five different genres, that I think are worth your time:
The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson (YA fantasy; 3 books): If you are looking for an easy entry point into reading fantasy that won’t have overwhelming world building, The Mistborn Trilogy is a great place to start. With a strong female main character, a heist narrative, and one of the more interesting magic systems I’m come across, you can’t go wrong with this series. (Note: while these are the first three books in a longer series, they can be read as a standalone trilogy.) The books in this trilogy include:
- The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell by Chelsea Cain (mystery; 6 books): Not for the faint of heart, this series about a female serial killer and the cop who becomes obsessed with her can be pretty dark. I read this series years ago and it’s always stuck with me—I’m actually planning to revisit it again in 2025. The books in this series include:
- Heartsick
- Sweetheart
- Evil at Heart
- The Night Season
- Kill You Twice
- Let Me Go
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (YA romance; 6 volumes): This charming set of graphic novels tells the story of two high school boys who fall in love. It was adapted into a Netflix show, but the original series is one that you won’t want to miss. The first five volumes are out now with a sixth promised by the author. The volumes in this series include:
- Heartstopper, Volume 1
- Heartstopper, Volume 2
- Heartstopper, Volume 3
- Heartstopper, Volume 4
- Heartstopper, Volume 5
- Heartstopper, Volume 6 (forthcoming)
Chronicles of the One by Nora Roberts (dystopian fantasy; 3 books): Nora Roberts is one of the most prolific writers out there. She is currently producing books in a wide range of genres including romance, fantasy, thriller, mystery, and more. I found this trilogy about a pandemic as a catalyst for the emergence of good and bad magic to be a fun escape. The books in this series include:
- Year One
- Of Blood and Bone
- The Rise of Magicks
Playing for Keeps by Becka Mack (romance; 4 books): I’ve read the first three books in this series and that is enough for me to highly recommend it. This interconnected set of romance narratives follows the lives of several players of a professional hockey team and the relationships they are pursuing. Each book has wonderful found family elements, fun romance tropes, and plenty of humor combined with the love stories. The books in this series include:
- Consider Me
- Play With Me
- Unravel Me
- Fall With Me
What series are you loving lately?
