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Daily life has become stranger than fiction as COVID-19 spreads across the world, shuts down schools and college campuses, forces the cancelation of public gatherings, and leaves us wondering what will happen next. Our reality parallels the plots of dystopian novels, and we’ve all spent too much time scrolling social media for news updates and distracting ourselves with memes. But if we’re going to be stuck inside for a few weeks, we’ll need to take breaks from screen time where we can. That’s where a good book comes in.
Because a demand for groceries and other basic supplies is putting a strain on delivery services like Amazon and UPS, it’s worth checking if your parents or roommates already have one of these titles. If not, see if your library has an e-book version. Check out an audiobook version, or see if any smaller independent bookstores in your area are doing home delivery.
Teen Vogue put together a list of page-turners to escape into while the world stands still.
All products featured on Teen Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Lower Manhattan comes to a standstill in this gorgeous novel based around the true story of French tightrope walker Phillipe Petit, who traversed between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on a thin high wire in August 1974. Readers are able to glean a glimmer of the humanity that is forged when a city is halted by the unusual in this tale told from a kaleidoscope of perspectives.
Flaming Iguanas by Erika Lopez
It’s easy to understand the impulse to hop on a motorcycle and get the hell out. Erika Lopez’s clever story about a female-led motorcycle journey combines humor, illustrations, and rubber stamp art as it takes readers on a wild ride of gender issues, sexuality, and discovery.
The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman
Nate Piven, writer and notorious Brooklyn bachelor, has a handful of beautiful, talented, and interesting women after him — but he can’t really be bothered. This insightful novel about the inner anxieties and not-so-desirable traits of potential partners and former flames will remind you of the awful things about not being in quarantine, like dating.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
In the ultimate epic novel, Don Quixote and his faithful Sancho Panza embark on an adventure to follow the values of the chivalric code: love, honor, duty, and adventure. The novel delights with tales of honor and friendship and will similarly devastate with its examination of the human experience.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck explores family bonds, love, and identity in this achingly beautiful, sprawling novel. The Bible’s “Book of Genesis” is reimagined in Salinas, California and told through the interwoven stories of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. The book leads readers to question the boundaries of connection and the consequences of neglect.
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Life is a little lonely during this moment of social distancing and quarantine. Nicole Krauss’s tender novel is driven by a young girl on a mission to remedy her mother’s chronic loneliness and an aging man who longs for the love he lost in Poland half a century earlier.
Now You See Me by S.J. Bolton
Detective Lacey Flint finds herself investigating a series of Jack-the- Ripper-esque murders in which she is also the prime suspect. This detective fiction novel takes you through London neighborhoods and on a journey of recovery from trauma in a culture that does not always value or believe women.
Corazón by Yesika Salgado
Yesika Salgado’s gorgeous collection of poetry is the literary equivalent to stepping into a bubble bath: intimate, warm, and enveloping. The poems celebrate love and its loss, showcasing the beauty and heartache that make us who we are.
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