Best Books to Read During Quarantine

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

woman reading in window — Unsplash/Thought Catalog

As we settle in to our social distanced lives, we've been relying heavily on Zoom happy hours, Netflix watch parties, and at-home workouts to keep us occupied. But one of our favorite ways to pass the time is cracking open those books we've been meaning to read for ages.

We asked the teams of MyDomaine and The Spruce what they've been reading during this period of self isolation. And whether you're looking for a new novel to get lost in, or a hefty non-fiction read, we've got the perfect thing to keep you occupied for the rest of your quarantine and beyond.

The World of Ice & Fire

"My nerdy self is excited to finally spend some time reading The World of Ice & Fire. This came out a while ago, but since it is a coffee table book, I haven't gotten very far with it (I get most of my reading done on my commute). I hope it is the antidote to season 8." — Allison Bean, editorial director

Talking to Strangers

"I've been meaning to listen to the audiobook version of Malcolm Gladwell's Talking to Strangers for a long time, so that audio experience is first on my pandemic list." — Mélanie Berliet

Emma

"I recently saw the adaptation of "Emma" in theaters and thought it was so good that I need to go back and reread the novel (haven't touched it since high school!)." — Sami Allen, lifestyle editor for The Spruce

Little Fires Everywhere

"I'm planning on reading Little Fires Everywhere. Hulu has a book-to-limited series adaptation out now is the perfect time to soar through the book so I can watch the show shortly after." — Kim Carvalho, associate social editor

The Goldfinch

"I've had The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt sitting on my coffee table for months! I'm pretty sure the 784 page read will keep be busy for a week or so." — Caroline Utz, associate editor

All That You Leave Behind

"I'm currently going through a memoir phase, and I'm planning on diving into Erin Lee Car's All That You Leave Behind next. I've heard it's very moving, so it's a great pick to read while I'm at home and won't get caught crying in public." — Karli Bendlin, newsletter editor

19 Instagram Shelfies That Prove Books Are One of the Most Versatile Forms of Décor