'I was weirdly obsessed...' The 14 best books to read, then read again.

Unpopular opinion: I love a re-read.

I know, I know – plenty of people are very against doubling back on banger books, which I found out when I spoke about it in the Mamamia office.

“I’ll re-watch a movie because it’s mind-numbing and I don’t mind knowing what’s coming. Re-reading, though… what’s the point? It takes too much concentration, I’d skip over parts I remember, get bored, know the ending, and would much rather read something new.”

Respectfully, I... could not disagree more. I love re-reading my favourite books, stumbling on nuggets of gold I missed the first time around, hidden Easter eggs, subtle nods to twists that I didn’t pick up on before I knew The Big Finish…

But it doesn’t apply to ALL books. There are only SOME books that I deem read-again worthy, and my other re-readers feel the same. 

Listen to the Out Loud hosts rec their favourite reads on the Mamamia Book Club podcast. Post continues below.

“I love a good re-read! It always brings me back to the first time I’ve read it and what was happening in my life at that stage,” said one of my work girlies.

“Oh, I LOVE a re-read," said another. "But after the 10th read I find that I just skip to my fave chapters.”

I admit, though, the real question is: why in the heck...? We already know what's going to happen. The suspense is done. So... why?

“I re-read so I can dip in and out of something that doesn’t require effort," claimed one of my fellow re-readers. "It’s like a comfort thing.”

And yep, I get that. For me, re-reading a favourite book is like snuggling up with an old friend. It’s comfortable, it’s cosy, and honestly, you’d be surprised how often you can spot little clues and hints you missed the first time around.

So, in the spirit of more reading (and re-reading), here are the 14 books (and book series) your Mamamia mates can’t stop reading (over… and over… and over…) – and you should give them a go, too. Trust me, they get better on every single read.

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City by Sarah J Maas.

Image: Booktopia.

 “I’m all about the YA and New Adult fantasy epics. I’ve read Sarah J Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series of five books twice, her Crescent City books twice, and I’m now embarking on my second read of the epic eight-book Throne of Glass series. If you like fantasy with killer twists, some steamy scenes and SO MANY juicy hidden Easter eggs, you have to read these books – and then read them again.”

2. The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose, by Mary Hooper.

Image: Booktopia.

“I definitely re-read books, and my main one I have been re-reading since young adulthood is The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose, because it brings me such nostalgia – it was my first historical romance novel.”

3. Harry Potter, by JK Rowling.

“Before JKR got cancelled I'd re-read the Harry Potter books every year.”

4. Tully, by Paullina Simons.

Image: Booktopia.

“I re-read this book every few years, and it hits me differently at every life stage.”

5. The Age of X Series, by Richelle Mead.

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 “I have read the two books – Gameboard of the Gods and The Immortal Crown – in this (as-yet-unfinished-and-it's-killing-me) series more times than I can count. I… can’t explain it. I could recite those damn books to you, I know exactly what happens with every turn of the page, but if I have nothing new to read, I just keep going back. I am in a co-dependent relationship with these books. Except… not co. Just dependent."

6. The Twilight Saga, by Stephanie Meyer.

Image: Booktopia.

 “I love a re-read. Recently read the Twilight books again for the lols…”

7. Cormoran Strike series, by Robert Galbraith.

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 “I have re-read all the Cormoran Strike books, I am incredibly problematic.”

8. The Alchemist, by Paul Coelho.

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 “I reread The Alchemist every time I need a big life pep-talk.”

9. The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz.

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 “I read this book at least once a year.”

10. His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman.

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 “I re-read these a LOT! Also, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez."

11. Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, by JD Salinger.

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 "I used to be weirdly obsessed with this book – a very niche JD Salinger.”

12. Vampire Academy, by Richelle Mead.

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 “The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead – there are six thick books, so it keeps me entertained for a while, and yes I know the title is incredibly lame but this is peak YA soft fantasy. So fun."

13. The Bronze Horseman, by Paullina Simons.

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 “Whether I re-read depends how emotionally invested I got into the book. After 15 years, I think I'm ready to re-read The Bronze Horseman again.”

14. Tiny Beautiful Things, by Cheryl Strayed. 

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 "I've only read this once cover to cover, but so often when I'm going through something tough, I go back to different parts of this book. It's a series of 'Agony Aunt'-style letters and the responses are just... beyond. There's always something in there that resonates, always some advice that hits hard depending on the situation, always a new perspective to take. Love it."

Feature image: Booktopia, Canva.