Reading Recommendations: The Writer’s Life

A new month means another batch of reading recommendations! This month’s theme is The Writer’s Life! I know a lot of readers who are also writers (including myself) and I wanted to share some recommendations of books that explore the topic of writing/writers. You can also check out a similar list I wrote feature manga recommendations here.

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When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction? 

Swear on This Life is a contemporary novel about a woman who finds out her first love wrote a book about their past. Emiline, our narrator, is an aspiring writer who is stuck in her life. She has extreme writer’s block, doesn’t really feel a connection in her current relationship, and is unsure of the direction she should take in her life. Revisiting her past helps her to move on and move forward. This is such a sweet book with a happily ever after, but it takes a lot of soul-searching for Emiline to get to that point. I loved the overall plot and the way Emiline developed over the course of the book, and when the reader finally realizes why J. Colby wrote the book for her, my heart practically melted.

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Sixteen-year-old Tessa Johnson has never felt like the protagonist in her own life. She’s rarely seen herself reflected in the pages of the romance novels she loves. The only place she’s a true leading lady is in her own writing—in the swoony love stories she shares only with Caroline, her best friend and #1 devoted reader.

When Tessa is accepted into the creative writing program of a prestigious art school, she’s excited to finally let her stories shine. But when she goes to her first workshop, the words are just…gone. Fortunately, Caroline has a solution: Tessa just needs to find some inspiration in a real-life love story of her own. And she’s ready with a list of romance novel-inspired steps to a happily ever after. Nico, the brooding artist who looks like he walked out of one of Tessa’s stories, is cast as the perfect Prince Charming.

But as Tessa checks off each item off Caroline’s list, she gets further and further away from herself. She risks losing everything she cares about—including the surprising bond she develops with sweet Sam, who lives across the street. She’s well on her way to having her own real-life love story, but is it the one she wants, after all? 

Happily Ever Afters is a novel that I’ve had my eye on since I first heard about it. Not only did the colorful cover of a girl that reflected my younger self catch my eye, but the synopsis had me hooked too. The story follows Tessa, a budding writer who loves to create stories. She obtains an amazing opportunity to be in a prestigious art school only for her to experience a bad case of writer’s block. On top of this, she struggles to deal with living in a new town away from her best friend Caroline, adjusting to a new school, a love interest, and trying to find her artistic voice. (Review)

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When Nora landed an editorial assistant position at Parsons Press, it was her first step towards The Dream Job. Because, honestly, is there anything dreamier than making books for a living? But after five years of lunch orders, finicky authors, and per my last emails, Nora has come to one grand conclusion: Dream Jobs do not exist.

With her life spiraling and the Parsons staff sinking, Nora gets hit with even worse news. Parsons is cutting her already unlivable salary. Unable to afford her rent and without even the novels she once loved as a comfort, Nora decides to moonlight for a rival publisher to make ends meet…and maybe poach some Parsons authors along the way.

But when Andrew Santos, a bestselling Parsons author no one can afford to lose, is thrown into the mix, Nora has to decide where her loyalties lie. Her new Dream Job, ever-optimistic Andrew, or…herself and her future. 

Must Love Books is Nora’s story, an editorial assistant who has worked at Parsons Press for the past five years. With people coming and going from her current job, it propels her to change her career. Parsons Press specializes in Nonfiction, but Norah’s passion lies in the Fiction genre. When she was a little girl, she dreamed of publishing; however, her real-life experiences have jaded her dreams of where her career is. Being a woman of color (a minority) in publishing, layoffs, and low pay at Parsons has taken a toll on her mentally, and she wonders if she made the right career choice. Though this book focuses more on the pulling world it features a lot of writers as well. (Review)

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While investigating police brutality and corruption in 1970s Detroit, journalist Elena Abbott uncovers supernatural forces being controlled by a secret society of the city’s elite.

In the uncertain social and political climate of 1972 Detroit, hard-nosed, chain-smoking tabloid reporter Elena Abbott investigates a series of grisly crimes that the police have ignored. Crimes she knows to be the work of dark occult forces. Forces that took her husband from her. Forces she has sworn to destroy.

This graphic novel is about hard-nosed, chain-smoking tabloid reporter Elena Abbott who investigates a series of grisly crimes that the police have ignored. She soon finds out that these crimes are a result of dark forces at work.
If you love mystery stories with a supernatural twist this is a must-read! Being a native Detroiter I was excited to hear that this is set in the Motor City during the 70s. The art is breathtaking and the story is a page-turner. I can’t wait to read the sequel too!

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Synopsis: As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?
Abducted by handsome highwayman?
Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and… Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.

The story follows Izzy who is a bit of a romantic (and a writer) she has lost everything but has managed to inherit a castle where she meets the surly Ransom. Ransom is a recluse and is hurt by the past and is struggling with his disability. Though the two are complete opposites they manage to fall in love despite that their differences while restoring the castle to its former glory. They help each other see their faults Izzy’s insecurities and motivate each other. This is a fun romance full of many steamy moments and witty humor. Regency romances aren’t usually my jam, but books like this make me want to explore the genre a bit more.

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BELIEVING IS DANGEROUS…

Darcy Patel is afraid to believe all the hype. But it’s really happening – her teen novel is getting published. Instead of heading to college, she’s living in New York City, where she’s welcomed into the dazzling world of YA publishing. That means book tours, parties with her favorite authors, and finding a place to live that won’t leave her penniless. It means sleepless nights rewriting her first draft and struggling to find the perfect ending… all while dealing with the intoxicating, terrifying experience of falling in love – with another writer.

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy’s novel, the thrilling story of Lizzie, who wills her way into the afterworld to survive a deadly terrorist attack. With survival comes the responsibility to guide the restless spirits that walk our world, including one ghost with whom she shares a surprising personal connection. But Lizzie’s not alone in her new calling – she has counsel from a fellow spirit guide, a very desirable one, who is torn between wanting Lizzie and warning her that…

BELIEVING IS DANGEROUS.

I thought the alternation of chapters between Darcy (the writer) and Lizzie (the main protagonist of Darcy’s story) was a nice touch. Where one story paused, another one started. The novel not only takes an in-depth look at the process of creative writing but also gives a glimpse of the book publishing industry. What I liked the most about the novel is that I felt I could really sympathize with Darcy’s struggles of wanting to reinvent herself in the “Big Apple”. I also could relate to how hard it actually is to write a good story. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks. But this book ultimately got me to start thinking about taking the time to write again and work on creating a novel when I read it years ago.

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That concludes my reading recommendations for stories about writers! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!