I’ve always felt like the books we love leave little marks on us—sometimes in ways we don’t even realize. As a writer, there are certain stories that have stuck with me, shaping not just what I write, but how I write. Some of these books wrecked me, some lit a fire in me, and some just made me fall completely in love with words. Here are a few that helped make me the writer I am today.
📖 The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
This book was my first real introduction to the kind of writing that’s both devastating and beautiful at the same time. Even with its dark subject matter, the imagery was breathtaking. The way Sebold wove such a haunting, lyrical narrative made me realize how powerful language can be—how even the heaviest stories can have moments of light and grace.
📖 The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington
If you’ve never read this book, do yourself a favor and pick it up. Tim Farrington’s way with words is like poetry on the page—effortless, yet deeply meaningful. The romance in this story isn’t about grand gestures or high drama; it’s about two imperfect people finding something real and raw in each other. That kind of honest, human connection is what I strive to bring to my own stories.
Fun Fact: I actually got to “meet” and get to know Tim Farrington online. I’ve lost touch with him since, but during that time, he offered me many words of encouragement that helped me keep going as an author.
📖 Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher
This book shattered me. There’s no other way to put it. The angst, the impossible situation, the way Fisher makes you feel every raw emotion—it’s top-notch. I love stories that aren’t afraid to break the rules and make you uncomfortable in the best way, and Mud Vein is a masterclass in that. It showed me how powerful deep, gut-wrenching emotions can be in a story, and I don’t shy away from that in my own writing.
📖 Sorrow by Tiffanie DeBartolo
I am obsessed with how DeBartolo uses setting as a character in her books. Sorrow is full of longing and angst (are you sensing a theme here?), but what really stood out to me was how the places in the book carried just as much weight as the characters. The way she builds atmosphere and emotion through setting made me so much more intentional in how I describe place in my own writing.
📖 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
This book was ahead of its time in so many ways, but what stuck with me the most was how Jane saved herself. She wasn’t waiting for anyone to rescue her—she made her own choices, took her own path, and held onto her integrity no matter what. That kind of strength in a heroine is something I always want to bring into my stories.
Here’s a list of books I am reading or just finished:
Just Finished — Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
I finished this one a few weeks ago, and I’m doing my best not to re-read this book immediately. It was so good!
Just Finished — Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
I am waiting until April when they come out with the Graphic Audio for the re-read. In the meantime, I am happily studying my little heart out by listening to the Fantasy Fangirls podcast as they do a deep dive into Book 3. IMO, this was the best book of the series, hands down.
Currently Reading — Bride by Ali Hazelwood
If I must show constraint (by my own rules) to not re-read Deep End, the least I can do is devoir all of Ali Hazelwood’s other books. This one has been a delight, and YAY, the next in the series is coming later this year!
What about you? What books have left a mark on you—whether as a reader, a writer, or just as a person? And what are you currently reading? I’d love to hear in the comments! 💛
P.S. ICYMI, I wrote a blog that details my next book, which you can read here. I also shared an excerpt from my book Savior Complex that you can read here.