The 30 Books I Want to Read Before I Turn 30

I turned 29 last week, which means I’ve had a handful of internal crises about the impending big 3-0, even though it’s quite literally 51 weeks away. I know age is but a number and turning 30 will probably feel no different than turning 29 did, but I can’t help but think I need to squeeze a bunch of “fun in my 20s” bucket list items into the next year. Blame it on society—or my emotional Cancer self for all of my fellow Zodiac girlies.

Of course, I have no clue what the next year of my life will look like. There’s a 99% chance I’m getting my hip replaced this fall, so we can cross the “Run a marathon” (Pffft, as if I would ever have the willpower or skill to train for/complete that) or “Hike a mountain” (I’m actually one of the least outdoorsy people to walk this planet) items off. I’ll also likely be spending a decent chunk of time outside of New York, as climbing the stairs to my fifth floor walk-up while recovering from a joint replacement feels a little counterproductive, so checking off the remaining items from my NYC bucket list will have to wait until I make my triumphant return with my new hip in tow.

Being that I am who I am, when I started thinking about this lofty list of things I want to accomplish before I turn 30, I decided there had to be a bookish element. I have a lot of personal goals that I’m not going to expound on here (But perhaps at a later date, say, if I actually accomplish them?), but today, we’re chatting about the 30 books I want to read before I turn 30.

Before I starting posting about books on the internet, I used to pick up whatever books struck my fancy. I didn’t put together monthly TBRs, I didn’t track new releases beyond what popped up on the front tables at my favorite book stores or the library, and I didn’t read with a content calendar in mind.

Now that I’m nearly seven years into documenting my reading life via (very colorful) Instagram dispatches, the way I read has changed a lot. The balance of what titles I pick up tilts strongly in favor of whatever publishers have sent me (which I will absolutely NEVER complain about) or what buzzy books I think will garner the most engagement. I love creating content about books, but to be honest, a lot of the free-wheeling, organic side of my reading life has dissipated as my account has grown.

For a while, I was making those lists of “23 In 23,” “24 in 24", and so on, full of books I vowed to read during the calendar year. I always started off strong, checking two or three off each month before petering out around April or May. I spent a few years rereading one of my favorite books each month, which I really loved doing. Back in 2020, I even decided to read one classic novel a month, which was a fun challenge, albeit one that probably only got completed because it was in the midst of COVID. And this year, I’ve challenged myself to read at least one 500+ page book a month.

Now, I’ve decided that I’m hellbent on bringing back this type of reading challenge but in a way that still feels like I have the element of choice, yet appeals to my type-A, everything needs its own graphic style. I’ve picked out 30 books I want to read before I turn 30 but some of ‘em are subject to change.

I came up with some fun parameters I wanted to follow—a book published in the year I was born (Hello!! 1997 had some BANGERS—MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL anyone?); a book set in each state I’ve lived in (Maryland, Mississippi, New York if you’re counting); the final Ann Patchett book I need to read to be a completionist; ditto for Beatriz Williams, whose historical fiction I’ve become obsessed with in recent years; a title that’s over 1,000 pages because your girl loves a challenge.

For these, I’ve picked out a book that fits the bill, but if I stumble upon something that fits into these categories that I’d rather read, by all means, go for it! I also raided my Kindle + my shelves for books that have been lingering on there for wayyyy too long and added a smattering of very highly anticipated releases to come up with a list that I think seems pretty dang perfect.

Because this is already getting long AF, I’ll leave ya with a little blurb about each—and if you feel moved about any of my picks, feel free to drop me a note!

1. AMERICAN HAGWON by Min Jin Lee: FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES is one of my all time favorite book and Lee’s latest (out in September!) has shades of that premise. Plus, I’m always looking for long lit fic (this is 650+ pages!) in the fall.

2. AMERICAN PASTORAL by Phillip Roth: Not only is this a Pulitzer Prize winner that came out in the year I was born, but I’ve always been curious about Roth’s work.

3. BACK WHEN WE WERE GROWNUPS by Anne Tyler: There’s a fun family story about this one in that when I was 3, my grandma was reading this. As the legend goes, I walked up to her, read the title aloud and that’s how my family realized I knew how to read. Plus, it fits the “set in Maryland” prompt.

4. BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2025 edited by Celeste Ng: Because I always say I want to read more short fiction and this feels like the perfect place to start. Plus, I adore Celeste Ng.

5. COMFORT ME WITH APPLES by Ruth Reichl: Reichl is one of my all-time favorite food writers, but I haven’t read this memoir about her journey from chef to writer/critic.

6. EAST OF EDEN by John Steinbeck: I have been saying I was going to read this for YEARS and now that the Netflix series is about to debut, it’s time to make good on that promise.

7. I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE by Wally Lamb: This has been on my Kindle since 2020 and I always see it recommended for people who love long reads and family dramas.

8. INTO THIN AIR by John Kraukaer — Not only did this come out the year I was born, but it’s so out of the realm of what I usually read, so it feels very fitting for this challenge.

9. LONDON by Edward Rutherford: I looooved NEW YORK and have been wanting to try another one of Rutherford’s location-centric epics. Plus, it’s over 1,000 pages!

10. LONGTIME LISTENER by B.K. Borison: This checks sooo many boxes: It’s a highly anticipated 2027 releases that’s set in Baltimore and is based on one of my all-time favorite movies (You’ve Got Mail!).

11. MEDIUM RAW by Anthony Bourdain: Feels like a good opportunity to read my final Anthony Bourdain book (It’s been on my Kindle since 2020!).

12. MY DARK VANESSA by Kate Elizabeth Russell: Because I shockingly have never read it but I get questions about if often, so it might as well get checked off during this challenge!

13. NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE US by Stephanie Powell Watts: A Gatsby retelling set in the South piqued my interest as is, but the fact that it has been on my Kindle since 2020 really sealed the deal.

14. OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon: Because I have always been so curious about this time traveling series! Love a genre bender and this feels like a good series to dive into while I’m laid up recovering from my hip surgery.

15. PREP by Curtis Sittenfeld: It’s kind of a gimme because I reread this campus novel every September, but HEY—my challenge, my rules.

16. SALVAGE THE BONES by Jesmyn Ward: This has tons of praise and has been on my Kindle since 2020. Plus, it’s set in Mississippi in the lead-up to Hurricane Katrina.

17. SOPHIE, STANDING THERE by Meg Mason: This is one of my most anticipated books of 2026. I absolutely adored SORROW AND BLISS.

18. TAIPEI STORY by R.F. Kuang: Because I really like R.F. Kuang’s work and am veryyyy intrigued by her latest coming of age story.

19. THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES by Tom Wolfe: I loooove Tom Wolfe, I looooove rich people problems, I loooove New York City books. Say less. Oh, and did I mention I already own it?

20. THE BRIGHTNESS by Chad Harbach: I’m pretty sure I’ve googled “Chad Harbach new book” every year since finishing THE ART OF FIELDING, so of course I’m screaming over the news we’re getting a sequel this fall.

21. THE LITTLE FRIEND by Donna Tartt: This is one of those books that I can’t believe I haven’t read yet. Plus, it’s set in Mississippi and I already own in. Win-win-win.

22. THE PATRON SAINT OF LIARS by Ann Patchett: Onto my completionist missions! This is my final Ann Patchett novel—and it just so happens to be her debut.

23. THE SECRET LIFE OF VIOLET GRANT by Beatriz Williams: I want to be a Beatriz Williams completionist because I adore her coastal historical fiction. I thought this trilogy might be a nice place to start.

24. TINY LITTLE THING by Beatriz Williams: This is book 2 of the aforementioned trilogy. Apparently I already own this on Kindle (and have since 2019).

25. ALONG THE INFINITE SEA by Beatriz Williams: And ditto. This is the final book!

26. THE THOROUGHBREDS by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham: Because I’ve read every single Elin book and am not gonna stop now.

27. THE TWO MRS. GRENVILLES by Dominick Dunne: I’ve always wanted to dip my toes in Dominick Dunne. Very Vanity Fair of me—and it’s been on my Kindle since 2022.

28. THE WIFE by Meg Wolitzer: Have always wanted to read this and have owned it since 2018. Easy choice.

29. UNDER STORY by Chloe Benjamin: THE IMMORTALISTS is one of my favorite books of all-time and this is a HIGHLY anticipated read for me.

30. WINTER’S TALE by Mark Helprin: A snowy long read set in NYC (on the Upper West Side, my neighborhood!). Feels like a good one to dive into in December—or during a blizzard.

Wish me luck completing this! I’m genuinely really excited about all of these, which is a fab sign. Will be sharing thoughts + reviews as I read ‘em and perhaps we’ll circle back with a post on how I did, say, same time next year?