Since being inside has quickly become the new norm, we’re constantly trying to find different ways to stay grounded (and entertained). Whether it’s finally bingeing that show you’ve been dying to watch, or sprucing up your space here and there, a lot of us have taken a moment to do the things we wouldn’t typically have the time to do. For us, diving into a new book has become a priority—spending time with yourself and a good book might be just the thing you need right now. Ahead, the 30 books our staff have on their quarantine reading lists.
Jessica Teves
Head of Content
1. The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday: Small bits of digestible wisdom on how to stay present and aware—can’t stress enough how much I enjoy my daily passage that has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with being conscious and living your best life.
2. The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin: My guilty-pleasure read of the moment. This book centers around the friendship between Truman Capote and Babe Paley—it’s slightly scandalous and chock-full of wonderful anecdotes from a semi-bygone era that make it deliciously enjoyable.
3. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis: I read these books over and over again as a child, getting hopelessly lost in the fairy tale and make-believe that is Narnia. I’ve recently started reading them again, but this time to my son (who is almost three) and feel magically transported back to a place where we’re uniting the people with Aslan and saving the world from perpetual darkness.
2. The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin: My guilty-pleasure read of the moment. This book centers around the friendship between Truman Capote and Babe Paley—it’s slightly scandalous and chock-full of wonderful anecdotes from a semi-bygone era that make it deliciously enjoyable.
3. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis: I read these books over and over again as a child, getting hopelessly lost in the fairy tale and make-believe that is Narnia. I’ve recently started reading them again, but this time to my son (who is almost three) and feel magically transported back to a place where we’re uniting the people with Aslan and saving the world from perpetual darkness.
Jacquelyn Greenfield
Editorial Production Fellow
1. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid: I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I’m so glad I did with this one. Initially, smirking at the irony of the title, I just knew this had to be a good read. This novel offers a very funny but also uncomfortable and awkward story that I found to be so relatable I couldn’t put it down.
2. How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs: During this time I’ve become a bit homesick, to say the least. From time to time I listen to the audio version of this book to feel a little comfort of home. With portions of the book written in patois, along with the complexities and wittiness of the characters, it’s the perfect reminder of my Jamaican family and culture.
3. Whisper Network: A Novel by Chandler Baker: If you’re like me, you can appreciate a good but not-too-corny mystery—and this one seems promising. I’ve had this book on my list for quite some time now, and since I’m looking for some thrilling excitement from inside these days, what a perfect time to give this one a read.
2. How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs: During this time I’ve become a bit homesick, to say the least. From time to time I listen to the audio version of this book to feel a little comfort of home. With portions of the book written in patois, along with the complexities and wittiness of the characters, it’s the perfect reminder of my Jamaican family and culture.
3. Whisper Network: A Novel by Chandler Baker: If you’re like me, you can appreciate a good but not-too-corny mystery—and this one seems promising. I’ve had this book on my list for quite some time now, and since I’m looking for some thrilling excitement from inside these days, what a perfect time to give this one a read.
Hannah Baxter
Senior Beauty Editor
1. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion: I’ve been making my way through Didion’s canon for years, but this latest read, about her husband’s death and her daughter’s illness and hospitalization (which happened only five days apart), is particularly striking right now. Her realizations of grief and the process by which she eventually comes to accept it is equal parts heartbreaking and illuminating. It puts some perspective on our current situation and helps me feel a bit more gratitude for my friends and family, even though we’re far apart.
2. How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones: I’ll always love a memoir, and Jones’ story about growing up as a young gay black man in the South is particularly affecting. I’m about halfway through and truly cannot put it down. The writer never apologizes for his experience and doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable parts of his truth. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
3. Let Me Tell You: New Stories, Essays, and Other Writing by Shirley Jackson: Shirley Jackson is the godmother of new American horror writing, and if you are as big a fan of her infamous short story “The Lottery” as I am (if you haven’t read it, drop everything and go do so now), then you will adore this new anthology of her unpublished works. Her writing is so subtle, you barely notice the twists and turns of her plots sneaking up on you until you’re clutching the book’s edges, desperate to know what happens next.
2. How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones: I’ll always love a memoir, and Jones’ story about growing up as a young gay black man in the South is particularly affecting. I’m about halfway through and truly cannot put it down. The writer never apologizes for his experience and doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable parts of his truth. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
3. Let Me Tell You: New Stories, Essays, and Other Writing by Shirley Jackson: Shirley Jackson is the godmother of new American horror writing, and if you are as big a fan of her infamous short story “The Lottery” as I am (if you haven’t read it, drop everything and go do so now), then you will adore this new anthology of her unpublished works. Her writing is so subtle, you barely notice the twists and turns of her plots sneaking up on you until you’re clutching the book’s edges, desperate to know what happens next.
Halle Lagatta
Production Coordinator
1. The Woman Destroyed by Simone de Beauvoir: The world we once knew seems so far away… I find solace in reading how one woman fought hard to live a life she cherished and loved, despite nostalgia clouding her judgment and perception of reality. Maybe I’m just taking out my own frustrations through living vicariously through the non-problems of a woman living in a much simpler time.
2. Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés: This was given to me by a friend, and I cherish the lessons I’ve learned from it. It’s incredible how little we, as women, still know about our powerful and independent selves. This book makes me feel like I can survive anything life throws at me—toxic relationships, traumatic pasts, pandemics… As women, we are born with the tools needed to survive turbulent times. We just need to look inwards and hear the call of the wolf.
3. Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets: When the world feels like it’s ending, I turn to the goofy and profoundly knowledgeable Paul Stamets. His passion for mushrooms and mycelium networks is both inspiring and reassuring. Even if you don’t like scientific scripture, this book will captivate you.
2. Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés: This was given to me by a friend, and I cherish the lessons I’ve learned from it. It’s incredible how little we, as women, still know about our powerful and independent selves. This book makes me feel like I can survive anything life throws at me—toxic relationships, traumatic pasts, pandemics… As women, we are born with the tools needed to survive turbulent times. We just need to look inwards and hear the call of the wolf.
3. Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets: When the world feels like it’s ending, I turn to the goofy and profoundly knowledgeable Paul Stamets. His passion for mushrooms and mycelium networks is both inspiring and reassuring. Even if you don’t like scientific scripture, this book will captivate you.
Leah Faye Cooper
Editorial Director
1. I Can’t Date Jesus by Michael Arceneaux: As a fan of Michael Arceneaux’s work, it’s criminal that I haven’t finished this yet, but I vow to by the end of the month. A collection of essays about being a black gay man in America, it’s touching, beautifully written, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, which is something we all need right now.
2. The Engagement Game by Joi-Marie Mckenzie: Recently I’ve found myself watching a mix of new shows and movies and old favorites (Unorthodox one night, Troop Beverly Hills the next), and I’ve been inclined to do the same with books. I’m delving back into my good friend’s memoir, and it’s just as hilarious (and relatable) as it was the first time I read it.
3. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: A few of my friends read this while I was in the middle of another book, and the result was extreme fomo on my part. I hear that it’s a searing page-turner that touches on relationships, race, culture, and politics, and it’s currently high on my must-read list.
2. The Engagement Game by Joi-Marie Mckenzie: Recently I’ve found myself watching a mix of new shows and movies and old favorites (Unorthodox one night, Troop Beverly Hills the next), and I’ve been inclined to do the same with books. I’m delving back into my good friend’s memoir, and it’s just as hilarious (and relatable) as it was the first time I read it.
3. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: A few of my friends read this while I was in the middle of another book, and the result was extreme fomo on my part. I hear that it’s a searing page-turner that touches on relationships, race, culture, and politics, and it’s currently high on my must-read list.
Giselle Persak
Campaign Manager
1. Untamed by Glennon Doyle: I stumbled across this book while listening to a podcast that was recommended by a friend of mine. Glennon Doyle spoke about this cheetah that she saw at the zoo with her children—a beautiful, powerful creature who had accepted the constraints of its life in the zoo since being raised in captivity. She made the analogy that as women we are often raised with certain limitations that we accept without realizing, often asking ourselves, Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? This book is a discussion meant to liberate us from our own invisible constraints.
2. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson: This book has been sitting atop my pile of unread books since I bought it at the airport maybe a year ago. Being the type of person who this book was probably written exactly for, I think it has intimidated me a bit. Sitting at home trying desperately to not stress about the state of the world, I think now may be the time to crack it open.
3. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller: My mom first read this book back when she and my dad had just started dating. The story goes that my dad walked into the house to my mom sobbing and famously turned right back around to let my mom cry in peace. This book is a beautifully written love story that you’ll be able to read in one long sitting, and one that I’ve turned to throughout my life when in need of a good cry.
2. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson: This book has been sitting atop my pile of unread books since I bought it at the airport maybe a year ago. Being the type of person who this book was probably written exactly for, I think it has intimidated me a bit. Sitting at home trying desperately to not stress about the state of the world, I think now may be the time to crack it open.
3. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller: My mom first read this book back when she and my dad had just started dating. The story goes that my dad walked into the house to my mom sobbing and famously turned right back around to let my mom cry in peace. This book is a beautifully written love story that you’ll be able to read in one long sitting, and one that I’ve turned to throughout my life when in need of a good cry.
Alex Bair
Senior Manager of Sales and Brand Partnerships
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: There have been so many times when someone recommends a book to me and I end up slowly making my way through and not entirely loving it. This is NOT one of those books. Where the Crawdads Sing is a beautifully written story about love, crime, and the emergence of an independent, wild, brave young girl. It makes one rethink how emotionally and physically strong one can be and about surviving despite all odds.
2. Three Women by Lisa Taddeo: This book reveals a compelling truth about women and their personal desires (both in life and in relationships). It follows three women over the course of eight years, each with their own unique journeys in “love.” It makes you realize how contrasting individual relationships are, and how both societal pressures and a woman’s own inner voice lead her to discovering what she really craves. It was both compelling and heartbreaking, but I think what I enjoyed the most was getting to know the women through their individual stories. It was to the point where I knew what they were thinking at any given moment and could plan out what their next move was going to be.
3. Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstein: If Gabby Bernstein has taught me one thing in this life, it’s that whatever emotional struggles I am dealing with in response to unexpected changes, I am the gatekeeper to my own feelings. I’ve found this book of hers particularly calming during quarantine, mostly because it has served as a reminder of acceptance in the current landscape. It’s actually one of those books that I’ve read before, but have it downloaded on my iPad so I can read through a chapter or two before bed when I need some mental guidance.
2. Three Women by Lisa Taddeo: This book reveals a compelling truth about women and their personal desires (both in life and in relationships). It follows three women over the course of eight years, each with their own unique journeys in “love.” It makes you realize how contrasting individual relationships are, and how both societal pressures and a woman’s own inner voice lead her to discovering what she really craves. It was both compelling and heartbreaking, but I think what I enjoyed the most was getting to know the women through their individual stories. It was to the point where I knew what they were thinking at any given moment and could plan out what their next move was going to be.
3. Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstein: If Gabby Bernstein has taught me one thing in this life, it’s that whatever emotional struggles I am dealing with in response to unexpected changes, I am the gatekeeper to my own feelings. I’ve found this book of hers particularly calming during quarantine, mostly because it has served as a reminder of acceptance in the current landscape. It’s actually one of those books that I’ve read before, but have it downloaded on my iPad so I can read through a chapter or two before bed when I need some mental guidance.
Leya Kaufman
Head of Sales and Brand Partnerships
1. Hatched by Robert F. Barsky: My favorite college professor’s new masterpiece offers the escape I needed right now between motherhood and work. I might be “at home,” but I still find myself in the Fabergé restaurant every day after work for a few minutes, hungry for more. Glad I started reading this one before I cracked.
2. The Circle by Dave Eggers: This novel is at once a thriller and a modern-day digital horror story. One of my best friends recommended this one, and its underlying message is all too familiar during these unforeseen, socially distanced times.
3. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek: I started reading this New York Times bestseller after catching it on a mentor’s Instagram feed a few months ago. But to feel more prepared in this current climate, I find myself rereading its relevant wartime lessons and professional leadership advice.
2. The Circle by Dave Eggers: This novel is at once a thriller and a modern-day digital horror story. One of my best friends recommended this one, and its underlying message is all too familiar during these unforeseen, socially distanced times.
3. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek: I started reading this New York Times bestseller after catching it on a mentor’s Instagram feed a few months ago. But to feel more prepared in this current climate, I find myself rereading its relevant wartime lessons and professional leadership advice.
Ariane Martins
Manager of Experiential & Brand Partnerships
1. Slow Days, Fast Company: The World, The Flesh, and L.A. by Eve Babitz: “I did not become famous, but I got near enough to smell the stench of success. It smelt like burnt cloth and rancid gardenias, and I realized that the truly awful thing about success is that it’s held up all those years as the thing that would make everything all right. And the only thing that makes things even slightly bearable is a friend who knows what you’re talking about.” Eve Babitz’s collection of vignettes and quotable gems about L.A. in the 1960s and ’70s is the ultimate transportive time capsule, and as the title suggests, it is excellent company in times like these. I pick it back up whenever I need a dose of inspiration, wit, and escape.
2. Attached by Amir Levine: This book changed the way I look at relationships, and I’m guilty of constantly referencing it when offering advice to friends. Think of it as a science-backed version of “love languages.” According to attachment theory, every person behaves in relationships in one of three distinct ways: Anxious, Avoidant, and Secure. This book acts as a guide for how to navigate relationships and dating more wisely based on the attachment style you and your partner (or potential partners) fall into.
3. Goldmining the Shadows by Pixie Lighthorse: Right before starting quarantine, I came across this book and was drawn to it as if it were calling my name. I feel like there couldn’t be a more timely moment than the one we’re currently living in to face our own shadows and the shadows of history and society. This book offers a super digestible yet powerful road map to begin the process of personal and collective healing by honoring the darkest parts of ourselves rather than masking them.
2. Attached by Amir Levine: This book changed the way I look at relationships, and I’m guilty of constantly referencing it when offering advice to friends. Think of it as a science-backed version of “love languages.” According to attachment theory, every person behaves in relationships in one of three distinct ways: Anxious, Avoidant, and Secure. This book acts as a guide for how to navigate relationships and dating more wisely based on the attachment style you and your partner (or potential partners) fall into.
3. Goldmining the Shadows by Pixie Lighthorse: Right before starting quarantine, I came across this book and was drawn to it as if it were calling my name. I feel like there couldn’t be a more timely moment than the one we’re currently living in to face our own shadows and the shadows of history and society. This book offers a super digestible yet powerful road map to begin the process of personal and collective healing by honoring the darkest parts of ourselves rather than masking them.
Camille Freestone
Freelance Writer
1. The Secret History by Donna Tart: I picked this book up one Sunday morning and couldn’t put it down until I finished it around Monday. The story is a mystery built into a drama that slowly unfolds as you learn more about the multifaceted characters. Definitely one of my favorite books of all time and perfect for a heavy dose of escapism during these strange times.
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: I’ve been using my newfound free time to catch up on classics that I feel like I should have read. This one has so far been my favorite with the perfect balance between darkness and hope. Charlotte Brontë will make you fall in love with her characters as she weaves their tales through the Yorkshire moors—a favorite setting of the Brontë sisters.
3. The Vanity Fair Diaries by Tina Brown: Tina Brown’s memoir of her time as editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair in the ’80s is fascinating. It discusses the backstory behind monumental actions she took, like putting Demi Moore pregnant on the cover. It’s set back in the time where editors had huge expense accounts, so the stories are as entertaining as they are informative. She even has a few brushes with Donald Trump…
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2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: I’ve been using my newfound free time to catch up on classics that I feel like I should have read. This one has so far been my favorite with the perfect balance between darkness and hope. Charlotte Brontë will make you fall in love with her characters as she weaves their tales through the Yorkshire moors—a favorite setting of the Brontë sisters.
3. The Vanity Fair Diaries by Tina Brown: Tina Brown’s memoir of her time as editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair in the ’80s is fascinating. It discusses the backstory behind monumental actions she took, like putting Demi Moore pregnant on the cover. It’s set back in the time where editors had huge expense accounts, so the stories are as entertaining as they are informative. She even has a few brushes with Donald Trump…
Want more stories like this?
Need a Distraction? The Best Shows, Movies, and Books to Delve Into
21 Books Fashion Lovers Should Add to Their Collection
31 Books to Help Pass the Time Indoors