affiliate links // I love re-reading books. I know some people read a book once and don’t want to waste time reading it again if they already know what’s happened but I am literally the complete opposite. I adore dipping back in to some of my old favourites.

And actually, they don’t even have to be a complete favourite for me to want to re-read them.

I found myself having a re-read month in April. I don’t know what made me do it but I picked up a book I’d re-read in the past and enjoyed reading it again so much that I decided to dedicated the entire month to re-reading some stand out books.

But first, why do I love re-reading books so much?

  • It’s comforting: I find real comfort in re-reading my favourite books. Despite already knowing what’s going to happen, I feel like going back in to an old favourite is a really safe space.
  • It’s nice to meet the characters again: I’m certainly not the only person who can feel connected to certain characters. Some book characters can come to feel like friends or family. And it’s nice to go back and re-visit them.
  • It’s a different experience: Re-reading books IS a difference experience every time. You’re at a different point in YOUR life when you re-read these books so you’re going to take very different things from them each time!

I’m a serial re-reader; having read my FAVOURITE book more than 5 times. So today I wanted to share with you some of the books I’ve re-read more than once and hopefully give you some book recommendations too!

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

THIS is the book that I’ve read 6 times – no word of a lie. There’s something about this book that just… ugh, I don’t even know. It’s my absolutely favourite book of all time and although it’s a scary concept, I find it such a comfort to read. I really do feel part of the story, in some weird way. And reading this after a global pandemic where so many things have changed hit differently.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I kicked off my re-read month in April with this and honestly, I loved it 10x more the second time around. I don’t know what made me pick this up again but whatever did knew that this was exactly what I needed and wanted. Cheryl is such an inspiring woman and Wild is both breath-taking and heartbreaking in equal measures.

Not That Kind of Love by Claire and Greg Wise

I read this years ago when I was sent it to review (you can read my review of Not That Kind of Love here!) and I hadn’t thought about it much since. Until my boyfriend and I were watching the Hornblower movies and Greg Wise popped up. I instantly thought about this book and knew I had to pick it up again. Despite it’s tragic end and heart-breaking story, it’s incredibly funny, witty and moving.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This book was kinda my first foray into this sort of contemporary YA genre and I absolutely loved it. I’ve re-read this book around 4 times since my first read, wayyy back in like 2013. I love the movie as well and just feel like this sort of book and story can offer up a whole lot of nostalgia. Which is why I like a re-read of this every now and again!

Paper Towns, Looking For Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

There’s no point me talking about each one of these individually because I’ll have probably said the same thing but John Green books demand to be re-read. He’s one of my favourite authors and although I’ve grown up a bit since I first discovered his books, there’s still magic to be found by re-reading his work.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Granted, I’ve only re-read this twice because it makes me cry so much that I don’t reaaally want to put myself through it too often. But it’s still a book I will keep on my bookshelf forever and continue to re-read. I’ll never get bored of this boring story and I swear the writing gets more stunning every time you read it.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

This is the story that I’m probably the most familiar with out of the lot. Only because the film is my favourite film of all time and I must have seen it over 100 times. I find the film really comforting, which is weird, considering what it’s about haha! But I’ve read the book a couple of times as well – just because.

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Back to Markus Zusak and his beautiful writing for my final book of this list. I Am the Messenger isn’t sad like The Book Thief but its still beautiful and profound and draws you in completely. I’d probably be more inclined to re-read this than The Book Thief on any given day because I just love this storyline so much!

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Do you like re-reading books? I’d love to hear about the books you have read more than once! Have you re-read any of these? Let me know and let’s chat in the comments!

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99 Comments

  1. Wonderful article! I love the idea that re-reading a book gives you a chance to “meet” the characters again. I’ve certainly formed attachments to various book characters, and that’s what keeps me returning to certain books over and over again! I’ve reread The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings a bunch — the bumbling, yet brave hobbits will always have my heart, and I also approached these books through an academic lens by writing my senior thesis on them! I’ve also reread a bunch of Bill Bryson’s travel books (A Walk in the Woods, In A Sunburned Country, etc.) as well as David Sedaris’ essay collections, which are hilarious!

  2. You don’t mention why you love “The fault in our stars”? I love that book and have also re-read it? What do you think of the movie? I didn’t like it as much, the book is too witty. I am a major re-reader. Tara Road by Maeve Binchy is the book I have re-read the most – probably 12 times!

  3. I’m also a re-reader. I find comfort and escape returning to familiar places & characters. Also, I didn’t know Coraline was a book, I’m going to put it on my TBR list.

  4. I listened to the audiobook of Wild and really enjoyed it, but I think I’d like to read the book now that you’ve reminded me of how good it was! Great list. 🙂

  5. I find that when I re read books the most prominent emotion is nostalgia. It reminds me of the time I read it first. The emotions I went through at that time in life. Followed by surprise upon finding things I missed in the first reading.

  6. I have read a few of these books. However, Not that kind of love, The Age of Miracles and The Book Thief sound like amazing books. I will be adding them to my reading list. Thanks for the recommendation.

    goalofhappiness.com

  7. i’ve had the perks of being a wallflower on my tbr for a long time now, i keep meaning to read it but never get round to doing so as i’m always buying new books instead. i’ve never actually thought about re-reading books before, this is something i’m definitely going to do in future with some of my favourites.

  8. I don’t often re-read books because I have such a huge list of new books that I want to read! It’s great to get some recommendations for books that are good enough to read over and over again though – I will be adding them all to my TBR list! x

  9. I don’t re-read that much because I’m always drawn to new stories but there are definitely some books I’d like to re-read in the near future and I also like to re-read the first book in the series right before continuing with it to refresh my memories about everything :- )
    Still haven’t read Wild but it’s on my TBR!

  10. I very rarely fancy re-reading a book, but the ones I do end up re-reading are often very special to me!! Sometimes I think I should re-read books more frequently, but I still have a fair few on my to-be-read pile that need some attention!!!

  11. I ADORE re-reading books! The comfort of returning to a favourite is sometimes just what you need (I honestly couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve read the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini), especially when you know you just want a GOOD book rather than risking something new.

  12. Thank you for sharing your list of favorite books! I think you are right…when we reread a book, we have changed, and we interpret what we read differently. Good insights here as to why we read what we read…:)

  13. For some reason Im not a big fan of rereading or rewatching, one that I want to reread is Ocean at the end of the lane by Neil Gaiman but I misplaced my copy and will have to repurchase. Love your book selection.

  14. I love rereading books as well! I’m used to do it with favourite fantasy and dystopian books but now I do it with romance books because I need quick comfort 😂

  15. A good re-read is the pinnacle of reading for pleasure. It’s like going to your favorite restaurant and ordering your favorite meal, knowing your will love it.

  16. I love re-reading murder mysteries and thrillers. The first time is to find out just who “did it”, and the second time is to see how they “did it” and hoped to get away with it, which I always find the most interesting part! I’m currently re-reading Taylor Adams’ books in preparation for his new book this summer, which I’m soooooo excited for 😊😊😊

  17. Oo I’ve read a few books more than once, one of them also being paper towns! I love that book and I also find it so comforting rereading old favourites! X

  18. Ive definitely Te read books but I’d have to sit and think about those titles before I could tell you them lol I love re reading too. You do find something new in the book each time.

  19. I love rereading books! I agree, there is something comforting about the familiar story and revisiting the characters. I have a series that I reread at least once a year and love it just as much as the first time I read it. Thanks for sharing the books you reread. I will definitely have to check them out!

  20. Oh yes, I’m a serial re-reader too, it’s like coming home to a dear friend. And I often find things I’d missed on a previous reading as well. My go-to re-reads are Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy of books, they are just FAB! x

  21. Oh wow, haven’t heard of paper towns in a long time! I read it in middle school and it absolutely loved it. The whole mystery element and the road trip section of the novel I remember quite vividly. I don’t think I read anymore of his books (I think I might have read one more, but I can’t remember the title) but I think I might give it a re-read. Thanks for sharing x

  22. I have reread many books, some for the reasons you mentioned. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse and The Four Agreements by Jon Miguel Ruiz always feel fresh.

  23. I love re-reading books, especially Harry Potter! I have read The Book Thief once, it’s awesome. I haven’t read the rest of your list here, will check them out for sure x

  24. The Book Thief is amazing. I’ve read it countless times. I highly recommend The Secrets She Kept. It’s fantastic and also based in Nazi Germany.

  25. I love re-reading books, especially when I’m feeling anxious. My faves to re-read are The Princess Diaries and Harry Potter! I haven’t actually read any of these – I cannot read sad ending books but a few of these are on my TBR list x

  26. I used to be someone that never understood re reading, but going back to those characters can be so comforting and familiar and what you need sometimes! I have only seen the movie, so adding Wild to my reading list x

  27. Do you know, I’ve not read any of these books before. I’m so shocked. I am also a massive re-reader of the books I love. I love picking them back up at different time of my life to see how I explore the themes differently. Next on my list once I’ve finished re-reading Harry Potter is To Kill A Mockingbird

    Rosie

  28. I absolutely agree with the observation that when you read a book at a different stage of your life it is a different experience. Leaving aside Christmas books – I have about a dozen or more I reread every year or every other year – I think the book I have reread more than any other is To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfield. It is the story of David Powlett Jones who is invalided out of the army after 3 years fighting at the front in WWI. He starts teaching at a minor public school and the book follows his personal and professional journey over the next 25 years. It influenced the type of teacher I wanted to become and I often find myself reading accounts of his lessons even now and thinking ‘that’s a good idea, I must try that’! I have read it 7 or 8 times and every time I do I get something new from it, and it is a book that I will never tire of. I have nearly finished watching the BBC series from 1980 which I picked up recently on DVD. It has reminded me that it is not long before I will be compelled to pick up the original novel again!

      1. It really has! It was the first ‘grown up’ book I ever read, one summer when I was at a loose end, and I was captivated by it. At the time I hated school so there was no way I was ever going to become a teacher! It’s a bit old fashioned now, and the full book is about 700 pages long, but if you can find it on Kindle or second hand on ebay or amazon I really think you might enjoy it. Along with A Christmas Carol, it’s the only book I am truly evangelical about!

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