UBN Participant Recommendations

These books were recommended by participants of Ultimate Book Nerd. Any of these books may be used to complete Category #46 of Ultimate Book Nerd 2026.

Updated January 14, 2026
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The tainted cup : a novel
Bennett, Robert Jackson
Paper Book
LEGENDS AND LATTES
BALDREE, TRAVIS
Paper Book
The Instant New York Times Bestseller and TikTok Sensation! A cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts. Perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher. From the Hugo Award-winning author, Travis Baldree.
By any other name : a novel
Picoult, Jodi
Paper Book
The Number 1 New York Times bestseller from the author of My Sister's Keeper and Mad Honey 'Her best one yet' JOJO MOYES 'A timeless classic' CHRIS WHITAKER -- Student playwright Melina Green finds that even in New...
WOMEN
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
The instant Number One Sunday Times bestselling novel, soon to be a major motion picture. The Women is the essential story of the women who answered the call of the Vietnam War and paid a price that was heartbreakingly unique. This is a novel of epic...
CORRESPONDENT
EVANS, VIRGINIA
Paper Book
Discover the word-of-mouth bestselling phenomenon that thousands of readers are calling their favourite book of the year! THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLEROVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD WORDLWIDEA TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR A...
Name of the wind ; the kingkiller chronicle. Day 01
Rothfuss, Patrick
Paper Book
The lyrical fantasy masterpiece about stories, legends and how they change the world. The Name of the Wind is an absolute must-read for any fan of fantasy fiction. 'This is a magnificent book' Anne McCaffrey 'I was reminded of Ursula...
HEART THE LOVER
KING, LILY
The Goblin Emperor
Addison, Katherine.
Paper Book
Maia, the youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only...
MY FRIENDS
BACKMAN, FREDRIK
Paper Book
The beautiful new novel that will make you laugh and cry, from the global bestselling author of Anxious People and A Man Called Ove. Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond...
Firekeeper's daughter
Boulley, Angeline
Paper Book
A ground-breaking, heart-racing thriller perfect for fans of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange An instant no. 1 New York Times Bestseller, April 4 2021 Winner of the Goodreads Choice Awards for YA Fiction, 2021 Winner of CrimeFest Best YA Crime Fiction Prize, 2022 ...
Legendborn
Deonn, Tracy
Paper Book
SOME LEGACIES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN. "I love the feeling of a magical world existing just beneath the surface of our own and this story gave me everything I wanted: incredible characters, ancient lore and secret societies - all grounded in our very real, very flawed world...
BEAUTIFUL UGLY
FEENEY, ALICE
Paper Book
'I was consumed by this book, it's her best ever, a work of genius' - Lisa Jewell, author of None of This is True 'Her best book yet' - Harlan Coben, author of Fool Me Once The million-copy bestselling author of His and Hers, Alice Feeney, returns...
Boy swallows universe
Dalton, Trent
Paper Book
'The most extraordinary writer - a rare talent' Nikki Gemmell An utterly wonderful novel of love, crime, magic, fate and coming of age from one of Australia's most exciting new writers. Brisbane, 1983: A lost father, a mute brother, a mum in jail, a heroin dealer for a stepfather...
The wedding people : a novel
Espach, Alison
Paper Book
SECRET OF SECRETS
BROWN, DAN
Paper Book
Robert Langdon is back in the long-awaited new race-against-time thriller from the global bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Accompanying celebrated academic, Katherine Solomon, to a lecture she's been invited to give in Prague, Robert...
The perfect wife : a novel
Delaney, JP
Paper Book
'Seriously, amazingly, awesomely brilliant'CJ Tudor, author of The Chalk Man'Chilling . . . compulsive and deeply thought-provoking'Cara Hunter, author of Close to Home**********"There's something I have to explain, my love," he says,...
The last hour between worlds
Caruso, Melissa
Paper Book
A Prayer for Owen Meany
Irving, John
Paper Book
'A work of genius' Independent 'Marvellously funny . . . What better entertainment is there than a serious book which makes you laugh?' Spectator 'If you care about something you have to protect it. If you're lucky...
YELLOWFACE
KUANG, R.F.
Paper Book
The Number One Global Sensation *Foyle's Fiction Book of the Year* *Amazon Book of the Year* *Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year* *Fiction Book of the Year 2024 - British Book Awards* 'Addictive' Grazia 'Hugely entertaining' Observer<...
Wake up and open your eyes : a novel
Chapman, Clay McLeod
Paper Book
Noah Fairchild has been losing his formerly polite Southern parents to far-right cable news for years, so when his mother leaves him a voicemail warning him that the "Great Reckoning" is here, he assumes it's related to one of the many conspiracy theories she believes in. But when his own phone...
TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA
SANDERSON, BRANDON
Paper Book
#1 New York Times Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us deeper into the Cosmere Universe with a standalone adventure that will appeal to fans of The Princess Bride. The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green...
TOM LAKE
PRATCHETT, ANN
Paper Book
The breathtaking new novel from Ann Patchett - a Sunday Times and No. 1 New York Times bestseller 'Filled with the moments I live for in a story' BONNIE GARMUS, author of Lessons in Chemistry '[Tom Lake<...
The hate u give
Thomas, Angie
Paper Book
Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2018. Winner of the 2018 Silver Inky Award #1 New York Times bestseller A Teen Vogue Best YA Book of the Year "Stunning."-John Green "A masterpiece."-The Huffington Post "An essential read for everyone."-Teen Vogue "Outstanding." -The Guardian Sixteen...
Crave
Wolff, Tracy
Ebook
I'm glad my mom died
McCurdy, Jennette
Paper Book
* #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER * MORE THAN 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD! A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor--including eating...
The Briar Club : a novel
Quinn, Kate
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code returns with a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era. Washington, D.C., 1950 Everyone keeps to themselves at...
Atomic habits : tiny changes, remarkable results : an easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones
Clear, James
Paper Book
***OUT NOW - THE ATOMIC HABITS WORKBOOK: OFFICIAL COMPANION TO THE #1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER*** THE PHENOMENAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER: OVER 25 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE Transform your life with tiny changes in behaviour, starting now.<...
The hobbit or, There and back again
Tolkien, J. R. R.
Paper Book
The Hobbit is the unforgettable story of Bilbo, a peace-loving hobbit, who embarks on a strange and magical adventure. A timeless classic. Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet and contented life, with no desire to travel far from the comforts of home; then one day the wizard...
Before the coffee gets cold : a novel
Kawaguchi, Toshikazu
Paper Book
The first book in the multi-million copy bestselling series about a cosy Japanese cafe that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time. Toshikazu Kawaguchi's heart-warming Before the Coffee Gets Cold, translated from Japanese, explores the age-old question: what...
Wrong place wrong time : a novel
McAllister, Gillian
Paper Book
It's every parent's nightmare. Your happy, funny, innocent son commits a terrible crime- murdering a complete stranger. You don't know who. You don't know why. You only know your teenage boy is in custody and his future lost. That night you fall asleep in despair....
Looking for Jane
Marshall, Heather.
Paper Book
*THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER IN CANADA* 'A fascinating and compelling story peopled with strong, brave women who had me cheering them on and moved to tears' Tracy Rees, bestselling author of The Rose Garden 'Just tell them you're looking...
FIRST LIE WINS
ELSTON, ASHLEY
Paper Book
🔥 Don't be the last to discover the twist that a million readers didn't see coming 🔥 The Sunday Times Thriller of the Month, soon to become a major TV series. _______________ You meet a stranger at a party. She looks like...
ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI
CHAKRABORTY, SHANNON
Paper Book
Shannon Chakraborty, the bestselling author of The City of Brass, launches a new trilogy of magic and mayhem with this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artefacts and ancient mysteries, and one woman's quest to seize a final chance at glory... A pirate of infamy and...
ANYONE'S GHOST
THOMPSON, AUGUST
Paper Book
'This new novel is a real heart-squeezer' - Matt Berninger of The National 'Genuinely powerful' - The Irish Times 'Electric' - Vogue IT TOOK THREE CAR CRASHES TO KILL JAKE The first crash. New Hampshire....
The cruel prince
Black, Holly
Paper Book
The start of a thrilling new fantasy series from bestselling author Holly Black about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a dangerous web of royal faerie intrigue.
REFORMATORY
DUE, TANANARIVE
Paper Book
Jim Crow Florida, 1950. Twelve-year-old Robert Stephens Jr., who for a trivial scuffle with a white boy is sent to The Gracetown School for Boys. But the segregated reformatory is a chamber of horrors, haunted by the boys that have died there. In order to survive the school...
Breath : the new science of a lost art
Nestor, James
Paper Book
AN UPDATED EDITION OF THE PHENOMOENAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing- take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave...
FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP
HENDRIX, GRADY
Paper Book
In horror movies, the final girl is the one who's left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her? Lynnette...
Problematic summer romance
Hazelwood, Ali
What is wrong meets what feels right in this romance set in Italy by the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of Deep End. Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life. ...
Jurassic Park
Crichton, Michael
Ebook
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * From the author of Timeline, Sphere, and Congo, this is the classic thriller of science run amok that took the world by storm. Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's...
The lion women of Tehran
Kamali, Marjan
Paper Book
A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK 'As heart-wrenching as it is achingly beautiful' Sadeqa Johnson, author of The House of Eve 'Heartbreaking and life affirming' Adrienne Brodeur, author of Little Monsters 'Courage, friendship,...
MAGNOLIA PALACE
DAVIS, FIONA
Ebook
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue, returns with a tantalizing novel about the secrets, betrayal, and murder within one of New York City's most impressive Gilded Age mansions....
The plot
Korelitz, Jean Hanff
Audiobook

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