Books that kept me up at night

Alice Dawson
Oct 31
7 min read

There’s a quote I heard a while back that I’ve never forgotten: The person who doesn’t read lives only one life, but the person who reads lives a thousand. They say a picture says a thousand words, but a book lets you experience the words.

The following is a compilation of books that kept me up at night, and not just because I couldn't stop reading them. Everyone has different tastes and experiences when it comes to reading, and we all have those stories that linger long after we’ve closed the final page.

Here are mine...

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

This book broke me, made me cry, then left me in complete awe. It's a true story, written as a first hand account of a woman who lost her Mum to cancer. When her Mum, who is her best friend, dies, she hits rock bottom. Her marriage ends, she drifts into destructive relationships, and she turns to heroin. One day, sitting in a post office, she picks up a brochure with a picture of a mountain on the cover. It is for the Pacific Crest Trail, a hiking route running from Mexico to Canada along America’s west coast.

Despite having absolutely zero experience hiking, at that moment, with nothing left to lose, she decides to do the hike.

I found the book was filled with heartache that made my eyes swell, but also humour and unbelievable stories during her hike that made my heart glow. Her story completely captured my heart, and even though I first read it nearly ten years ago, I still think about her story to this day.

This book taught me: when life is hard, sometimes the only thing you can do is put one foot in front of the other.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

This book is absolutely gorgeous. It follows Eleanor, a socially awkward and deeply lonely woman whose carefully ordered life begins to shift when an unexpected friendship develops.

The themes of the book are tender and powerful. Loneliness, connection, kindness, and the idea that it’s never too late to change up your life. Some parts broke my heart, others made me laugh out loud, but overall it left me with such a warmth in my heart. It’s one of those rare novels that makes you see the quiet power of human connection in a whole new way.

This book taught me: meaningful friendships and connections can come in all shapes and sizes.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

It had been years since I’d picked up a fantasy novel. Like most people, my childhood was filled with stories of magic, myth, fairies, and dragons, but when you reach a certain age, it feels a bit childish to still be reading those books. Little did I know that a whole world of adult fantasy existed. Fourth Wing was like my gateway to that world.

As adults, we rarely get those escapes into fantasy the way we did as kids. But with this book, I forgot I was even reading. I devoured it on the tube, in the staffroom, in the kitchen, and late into the night. It reignited something in me. It lit a flame I didn’t even know had gone out, and since then, I’ve fallen back in love with fantasy novels. And no, I’m not going to tell you what this book is about. Because if you haven’t read it yet, you need to go and find out for yourself.

This book taught me: it’s never too late to rediscover the magic that made you fall in love with stories in the first place.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

My sister and mum were the ones who recommended this book to me, and at the time I hadn’t read much historical fiction. This book follows the life of two sisters in France during WWII. It opens with the line: “In love we find out who we want to be. In war we find out who we are.”

At its core, the novel asks: how far are you willing to go to save a stranger? It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, weaving together betrayal, love, family, and sacrifice in a way that left me breathless. I still think about this story often, and it cemented Kristin Hannah as one of my all-time favourite authors.

This book taught me: humans are capable of both unimaginable cruelty and remarkable kindness.

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

I first read this book as a kid, and recently I reread it as an adult. This story is one of the reasons I fell in love with England and dreamed of living here one day. Jane Austen’s writing is unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

The old English writing, the sharp inner dialogue, and the depth of her characters drew me in completely. I was so fascinated that Jane Austen herself (the so-called 'Queen of Romance') never found love in her real life. She was fiercely independent and refused to settle for a loveless marriage, which makes her work all the more remarkable.

I truly believe she infused Elizabeth Bennet with characteristics very much like her own, and I can’t help but wonder, if she had lived a little longer, she might have met her very own Mr Darcy.

This book taught me: stay true to yourself, even when society pressures you to do otherwise.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

This novel follows a young woman who is deeply unhappy with where her life has ended up. After she tries to take her own life, she finds herself in an “in-between” world: a library where every book offers her the chance to step into a different version of her life. To see what might have happened if she had made different choices.

This story made me laugh, cry, and then cry again. Matt Haig captures so beautifully our human tendency to wonder “what if” and to believe the grass is always greener on the other side. It’s a moving, hopeful book that blends philosophy with storytelling, reminding us that even the smallest choices can shape our lives in profound ways.

This book taught me: the grass isn't greener on the other side, it's greener where you water it.

**The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson**

If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend. It's not a whirlwind romance, a heart-wrenching fiction or a captivating fantasy. It is, in fact, a self-help book. I know, I know. Before you roll your eyes and skip to the next book, hear me out.

I'm not overly into self-help books. I'd much rather get lost in a novel. However, there is a reason this book is a best-seller. Mark Manson doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He writes through real stories about real people, using them to show how we can learn from failure, pain, and imperfection. His book cuts through the crap and delivers brutally honest truths about what really matters in life.

I found this book refreshing. It wasn't about 'how to manifest your perfect life' or 'these 5 steps will make you happy!' It isn't about chasing endless positivity or pretending everything’s fine. It's about accepting that life is hard, messy, and full of challenges, and learning to care only about the things that truly matter. Give it a read and see her your perspective changes.

This book taught me: peace comes from caring less about everything, and more about what really matters to you.

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Emma Carey

I read this book recently, and it left such an impact on me that I wrote an entire blog about the lessons it taught me. It’s the first-hand account of Emma Carey, who at just twenty years old was in a skydiving accident that left her paralysed. In seconds, her life changed forever.

Her story is raw and powerful. It’s about how quickly everything can crumble, the long and painful process of healing, and the extraordinary strength of gratitude. The line that has stayed with me ever since is: “If you can, you must.”

This book taught me: don't wait until you lose something to appreciate it.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

This novel follows the life of a twenty-year-old nurse from California who decides to assist in the Vietnam War in the 1960’s, despite having no experience in combat nursing.

While the story focuses on Frankie's personal experiences of the war, it shines a light on the countless true stories of women whose contributions during the Vietnam war have largely been forgotten. My favourite quote from the book is: “The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn’t quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there.”

I found myself deeply drawn to Frankie and the friendships she formed during the war. Despite everything they endured throughout the war, one thing remained constant: the bond between the women.

This book taught me: ordinary people can do extraordinary things, even when history fails to remember them.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass

When I picked up this book, I was apprehensive. Everyone was talking about this book but I had no idea what it was about. But when I started reading, I couldn't stop. I cancelled my plans for the day, bought snacks, and finished it in two days.

It’s one of the fantasy books I read soon after finishing Fourth Wing.

Sarah J. Mass was actually heavily inspired by Beauty and the Beast when writing this novel. It’s about a mortal girl who ends up living in the confines of a palace with a mysterious beast. However, this is only the beginning of a six (almost seven) book series.