The Best Books PureWow Editors Have Read This Year (Psst…They’re All on Sale from Amazon)

“I usually don't do nonfiction, but the one thing I finished this year was Pixel Flesh by Ellen Atlanta. It's a deep, scary, emotional, clarifying dive into beauty culture and feminism. My eyes were totally opened. For years I've had thoughts, wondered things, speculating if I was alone...it was a relief and heartbreak to know that I am not alone, and that I'm not even as deep in it as I could have been. I think anyone struggling with beauty standards (all of us?!) and MEN need to read this book.” – Marissa Wu, SEO Editor

This is the conclusion to Rachel Gillig’s The Shepherd King duology and it is PERFECT. One Dark Window was in my top books of last year and this follow up might have been even better. The magic system is incredibly unique and I cared about the characters so much that I was so sad when it was over. Definitely a 5-star read.” – Natalie LaBarbera, Assistant Commerce Editor

“It was extremely hard to choose this year, because I read so many wonderful things. But I think my vote goes to Absolution by Alice McDermott, which is one of those books that both teaches you things, and absolutely immerses you in a world you didn't know existed. Set in Saigon just before the Vietnam War, it's from the perspective of a "helpmeet," i.e.: an American woman whose job is to support her husband (who is stationed there) by doing "good" in the community. As you follow her friendships, attempted altruism and small, quiet tragedies, you learn so much about the ways female interiority has always been downplayed and marginalized. I was riveted by every gorgeous word.” – Jillian Quint, Editor-in-Chief

“This year I DEVOURED the book Bunny by Mona Awad. I was definitely late to the hype on this one, but was in a reading slump and needed something to help me crawl out of it. This book is surprising, chilling, super weird and satirical. Perfect for those who like a thriller but don't want to be kept up at night from the content.” – Madeline Merinuk, Assistant Editor of Branded Content

“I read so many incredible new books this year (honorable mention to The God of the Woods by Liz Moore and The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins), but my absolute favorite was Greta & Valdin, a funny and touching debut novel about the misfortunes of two siblings by New Zealand writer Rebbeca Reilly. These characters are messy and lovable, and I so enjoyed reading about the complicated romances, sibling relationships and the dynamics of an eccentric, Māori-Russian-Catalonian family.” – Sarah Stiefvater, Wellness Director

“I loved The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell. It takes concepts like confirmation bias and the halo effect and other critical thinking skills and applies them to the most zeitgeisty topics of the day, from being a stan (or hate-follower) of certain celebrities to the idea of manifestation. It inspired so many conversations in my group chat—and made me rethink some of the irrationalities in my own day-to-day life.” – Candace Davison, VP of Editorial

“I recently reread this book and again was struck by how wonderfully it paints a picture of two of the greatest designers of our time—John Galliano and Alexander McQueen—and gives context to the current fashion industry climate without feeling boring or overly sensationalized. Highly recommend for anyone interested in fashion or art!” – Abby Hepworth, Fashion Editor

“I love everything Kristin Hannah writes and her newest novel, The Women, is no exception. Beginning in the '60s, it follows the life of a young army nurse named Frankie McGrath as she heads off to Vietnam to fight in the war. It's an epic saga of her time in country, as well as the challenges she and many other vets faced when they returned home—including an outright denial by naysayers that insist women were never in Vietnam. (Imagine dedicating your life to heal and protect, as you witness horrible atrocities, men barely out of their teens dying in your arms, only to come home and have it all be discredited.) Horrific, heartbreaking and epically romantic, it's historical fiction at its finest.” – Catrina Yohay, Executive Managing Editor

“I've been trying to get back to reading and looking for a refresh for the new year, so I read Atomic Habits to work on my habit-making skills. I tend to roll my eyes at self-help books, but this one was very motivating and super interesting. The author offers templates to create habits, while keeping readers engage through multiple examples with pop culture and historical references. I completely highlighted so many pages to go back to and I can see why it's a best-seller on Amazon.” – Chelsea Candelario, Beauty and Cultures Editor