Welcome back to our series of updates on the Thryft blog, where we share the exciting changes we've made to our website as our online inventory grows to over 25,000 books and clothing items!

In this second instalment, we're thrilled to introduce you to our upgraded product recommender, also known as Similar Reads. This is not a new feature, but we've given it some major upgrades to make it easier than ever to find the perfect book. Read on to find out more!

AI-Powered Product Recommender for Relevant Titles

At the bottom of every product page, you'll see our Similar Reads feature. We've taken our product recommender to the next level by utilising artificial intelligence to suggest a list of relevant titles available in store.

The Similar Reads recommender analyses the book you're currently viewing and suggests similar books based on various factors to ensure that the books suggested truly match what you're browsing!

Theme and Topic Connections for a More Personalised Experience

Our upgraded Similar Reads feature connects books by detecting similar themes, topics, genres, and writing styles, resulting in a curated list of relevant titles. This means that it's easier to find more of what you're looking for and discover new reads that you'll love.

Browse Similar Reads for Sold-Out Items

As a second-hand store, most of our items are one of a kind, and might not be in stock all the time. We understand how frustrating it can be when the book you're interested in is sold out.

To help you find an alternative, our Similar Reads feature comes to the rescue! If the product you're looking at is unavailable, simply click the "Browse similar reads" button to explore other titles that share similar themes and topics. This way, you won't miss out on an amazing reading experience.

Our enhanced AI-powered product recommender, Similar Reads, is designed to help you find what you have in mind more easily and discover new books that resonate with your interests. As our inventory continues to grow, we remain committed to improving your Thryft experience, making it more enjoyable and user-friendly.

Stay tuned for more updates on our blog as we reveal additional features and improvements. In the meantime, have fun exploring our upgraded product pages and taking advantage of our new Similar Reads feature.

Happy reading and thrifting!

It's been a busy few months at Thryft, where we've been quietly but furiously working on website upgrades to make your online thrifting experience better. As our online inventory grows to over 25,000 books and clothing items, we know a seamless browsing experience is even more important so that you can find gems that you love.

We're excited to welcome you to the first in a series of updates on our blog, where we'll be sharing these exciting changes that we've made.

In this post, we'll be focusing on the enhancements we've made to our product pages to create a more seamless and enjoyable shopping experience for you.

1. Related Categories for Easy Browsing

Having an intuitive browsing experience is important, and that's why we've made it easier for you to explore books from similar genres or sub-genres. Now, every product page features links to related categories that the book is sorted into. This allows you to dive deeper into the world of your favourite literary styles and discover even more fantastic reads!

2. Clickable Author Names for More of Your Favourites

If you've ever wanted to explore other books by the same author, you're in luck! On our updated product pages, author names are now clickable, making it simple to find and browse other books by the same author. This feature is perfect for those moments when you finish a fantastic book and just can't get enough of the author's work.

3. Discover More Books by the Same Publisher

Have you ever noticed that certain publishers have a knack for consistently producing books that resonate with you? With our upgraded product pages, you can now click on publisher names to explore more books by the same publisher. This is a great way to uncover new gems from the publishers you already know and love.

4. Make informed choices with Goodreads Ratings and Reviews

Ratings and reviews are valuable resources when it comes to choosing your next read. To help you make informed decisions, we've incorporated Goodreads ratings and the number of reviews on the product page of each book. Now, you can get an insight into what other readers think before making a purchase.

These product page upgrades are just the beginning of our journey to improve your Thryft experience. As our inventory grows and our community expands, we're committed to continually enhancing our website to make it even more user-friendly and enjoyable for all our customers.

Stay tuned for more updates on our blog, as we'll be sharing additional improvements and exciting news in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy exploring our updated product pages and discovering new books and clothing items to love!

Happy thrifting!

It’s International Women’s Day in March, so there’s been plenty of (necessary!) attention, on renowned women writers all over the world. As in our blog post on this week’s online curation! In store at Second Story, we’d like to focus closer to home, on local women writers we hope you’d like to read. And here there’re different genres for different readers; there’s romance, a murder mystery, drama and poetry!

The Mimosa Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu

The Mimosa Tree Mystery is #4 in Ovidia Yu’s Crown Colony series, a set of six murder mysteries set in Singapore in the 1930s. When Mirza, a known collaborator and blackmailer, is found murdered in his garden clutching a branch of mimosa, police suspect local acquaintances, Japanese officials and his own daughters. Amateur detective Su Lin must find out who killed Mirza and why, before her friends and family are made to pay, the price of Mirza’s secrets.

Yu has described in a Straits Times article, Su Lin’s “approach to handling life, murder, the British and the Japanese” as "wry, practical" and distinctly Singaporean. I’ve read and loved the series, which I’m enthusiastically recommending now, especially if, like me, you’re a fan of Agatha Christie!

In the Company of Heroes by Verena Tay

Here’s an anthology of seven plays by seasoned theatre practitioner Verena Tay, that weave the mythic into the everyday reality of the modern Singaporean, in all its peculiarities. Plays include The Lunar Interviews, a sequence of monologues delivered by Hina of Polynesia, Chang’e of China and Diana of Greece/Rome, and Bumiputra Cina, a multilingual exploration of a Chinese Singaporean woman’s conflicted sense of belonging, and identity in this country.

At the same time, Tay’s plays are personal and moving. In her preface, she says of The Car, in which a young woman must get rid of her late father’s most favourite possession, his car:

“…in the process of doing so, she comes to terms with what her father means to her… its autobiographical impetus was so close to my heart (the three characters are loosely based on me, my father and my father’s actual beloved Fiat Marvellete). Growing up [my father’s daughter] was a highly traumatic experience; yet I sensed that there was a story within all that pain that would have meaning for others, if only I could write it out as simply and honestly as possible…”

In the Company of Heroes promises to warm our hearts, and is an essential volume of Singaporean plays to add to any library.

Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho

As do all good, obedient Chinese children, Andrea Tang is doing her best to fulfil her mother’s plans for her life. She’s on track to make partner at a top law firm in Singapore, she’s staying in a beautiful apartment and she’s with the perfect boyfriend…

Who is now her perfect ex-boyfriend, and suddenly her life is falling apart: she is knee deep in credit card debt, and an unfairly attractive new lawyer is out to steal her promotion. Set in Singapore, written by Malaysian author Lauren Ho, Last Tang Standing is a hilarious story of love, friendship and family. Read if you like Crazy Rich Asians, or Bridget Jones’s Diary!

If It Were Up to Mrs Dada by Carissa Foo

"Mrs Dada said she would buy the flowers herself.

For Lulu had her work cut out for her. The tables had to be set; the men from Neo Garden were coming. And then, thought Cheryl Dada, what a morning —"

A modern, Singaporean take on Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway, If It Were Up to Mrs Dada is Cheryl Dada’s reflection on her life, and her relationships, as she gets ready for her birthday party.

"...Instead Cheryl Dada thought about all the things that mattered to her. She had wanted a normal family and the love that would assure her that there was still a unit of good in the world. She tried to do the right thing and made sure her new family was nothing like the one she had had: a father who had died before she could call him Pa and a mother whose life’s mission was to forget that she had a daughter — and it wasn’t like that at all, thankfully. But it wasn’t better either. She could not bring herself to love Adam; and Clare, who preferred women, was moving away to Toronto. For most of her life Cheryl Dada wanted love and she almost had it. She also wanted expression but there was no one to talk to. Suddenly impassioned, she let herself admit that all she really wanted was Sarah."

It’s a story of a woman coming to terms with age, loss and love, and it’s perceptive and deeply moving.

And Other Rivers by Jing-Jing Lee

Author of How We Disappeared, longlisted in 2020 for the Women’s Prize of Fiction, Jing-Jing Lee wrote poetry as well. And Other Rivers is a collection centred on longings, and one’s searches to fulfil these longings.

In “Still”, Lee writes,

All this time, Ah Gong sits with his coffee cup
at the head of the table. Or in his armchair
watching the news, his lips tight
as if he still held pins in them.
He gets smaller with every picture
like he’s folding into himself, falling
inward. Even with a walking cane, he doesn’t move
but leans into it, so far
that I’m not surprised
when I picture him lying down next,
stretched out on his narrow bed,
head turned from our noise, our lives.

In other poems, a child watches her father perform a lunar new year ritual, a twin sister is given away and first-generation migrants swim for shore. And Other Rivers is a collection that starts close to home, winds its way across foreign landscapes, and finds its way home again.

Find these titles and more in store, at Second Story, our shophouse store located at 617A Bukit Timah Road!

If I keep a green bough in my heart,
the singing bird will come.

- Anon., taken from Anne Harvey's Shades of Green

This March, celebrate nature with us at Second Story! It’s encouraging there’re so many dates centred on nature and our environment this month - did you know National Panda Day, World Frog Day and International Seal Day fall in March? Additionally, World Wildlife Day on 3rd pays tribute to the world’s wild animals and plants, and the contribution they make to our lives and the planet. International Day of Forests on 21st focuses on the role of forests in fighting global warming. Earth Hour on 25th symbolises worldwide commitment, to protecting our planet.

At Second Story, celebrate nature with this month’s curation for the store!

Shades of Green by Anne Harvey

In her introduction, Anne Harvey writes:

“…my study floor is piled with poems for Shades of Green. Reading through the collection I am struck by the persistence of the word “green”. It seems to leap out at me from almost every poem, and not only to describe leaves, grass, trees, moss, hedges… there’s something else. Poets of all times have used green in a celebratory way to express hope and inspiration…”

Shades of Green is a collection of nature poems for both adults and children, including poems by Thomas Hardy, William Blake, Emily Dickinson and Philip Larkin. Enjoy the use of imagery in these poems, as you cultivate an appreciation of nature!

Wonders of Life: Exploring the Most Extraordinary Phenomenon in the Universe by Brian Cox

“When we began thinking about filming Wonders of Life,” Brian Cox reflects, on the acclaimed BBC documentary this book’s based on, “…the idea of the series came from an off-hand reference I made about a little book I had read as a physics undergraduate. What is Life? is an account of a series of lectures given by the physicist Erwin Schrödinger, published in 1944… In the book, he poses a simple yet profound question: “How can the events in space and time which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics and chemistry?”… Wonders of Life might be best described as a series exploring our current understanding of Schrödinger’s “How” question.”

Could you imagine, everything in our universe, from the smallest microbe to the largest cluster of galaxies, is constructed from the same fundamental building blocks and is subject to the same laws of nature. What is true for a bacterium is true for a blue whale! Wonders of Life is the story of the amazing diversity and adaptability of life, told through the fundamental laws that govern it, by physicist and presenter Brian Cox.

Bonzo’s War: Animals under Fire 1939 - 1945 by Clare Campbell

Bonzo’s War is inspired by a story Clare Campbell’s mother told her of her uncle’s wire fox terrier:

“The way she told it, each evening my Aunt Lena would walk Paddy across the common to the suburban station to meet Ernest off his train, the dog jumping up to greet him with joy. It was summer 1939; war was coming. Everybody sensed it, even if the pets of the southwest London suburbs were as yet blissfully unaware of Herr Hitler’s intentions.

Then, when the Invasion of Poland was at last announced on the BBC News, my mother told me that Uncle Ernest had suddenly decreed that Paddy must go.

Always a very “rational” man and totally lacking in sentiment, he took the dog from my aunt’s arms the following day and went out the front door, I assume, with Paddy happily beside him on a lead. The next day, the sirens sounded and Britain really was at war.

My aunt never saw Paddy again. I was horrified. I thought of my uncle, otherwise a twinkly-eyed, kindly man of whom I was very fond, and decided then and there that he must be a monster. “Well, it was the war, darling,” my mother explained unconvincingly. “Food was going to be rationed, everybody thought so, and your Uncle Ernest decided Paddy was one more mouth to feed. He wasn’t the only one who thought like that at the time.”

Campbell wondered, what was it like to be a pet, a dog or a cat, when the world was at war? In this thoroughly researched and deeply moving account of man’s companion animals, Campbell has gathered inspiring and harrowing stories of animals under fire, of evacuated and homeless pets, and of animals who comforted humans while the bombs fell.

On Truth, Courage & Saving Our Planet by Greta Thunberg

As recounted in Time, in 2018, Greta Thunberg told her parents she’d go on strike to pressure the Swedish government to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. At first Thunberg’s parents and teachers didn’t support the strike. But Thunberg was insistent. She created informative flyers for distribution, then wrote on each: “My name is Greta, I am in ninth grade, and I am school-striking for the climate. Since you adults don’t give a damn about my future, I won’t either.”

Now Thunberg’s one of today’s most prominent climate change activists. In this interview with I Know This to be True, she discusses the irrefutable facts surrounding climate change, the need to hold political figures and lawmakers accountable and why every person has the power to make a difference.

Ill Nature: Rants and Reflections on Humanity and Other Animals by Joy Williams

“…You don’t even take pleasure in looking at nature photographs these days. Oh, they can be just as pretty as always, but don’t they make you feel increasingly… anxious? Filled with more trepidation than peace? So what’s the point? You see the picture of the baby condor or the panda munching on a bamboo shoot, and your heart just sinks, doesn’t it? A picture of a poor old sea turtle with barnacles on her back, all ancient and exhausted, depositing her five gallons of doomed eggs in the sand hardly fills you with joy, because you realize, quite rightly, that just outside the frame falls the shadow of the condo. What’s cropped from the shot of ocean waves crashing on a pristine shore is the plastics plant, and just beyond the dunes lies a parking lot… Those lovely pictures of leopards and herons and wild rivers — well, you just know they’re going to be accompanied by a text that will serve only to bring you down. You don’t want to think about it! It’s all so uncool. And you don’t want to feel guilty either. Guilt is uncool. Regret maybe you’ll consider. Maybe. Regret is a possibility, but don’t push me, you say.”

Surely a compelling opening, this excerpt from “Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp”, Joy Williams’s first essay in Ill Nature! In this collection, Williams urges readers to not stop at mild concern for what is done to nature, but to instead confront our complicity, and to recognise that we are, as consumers, all guilty.

Read reviews on Literary Hub and Kirkus, and an excerpt of “Hawk”, another essay, on Granta.

Find these titles and more in store, at Second Story, our shophouse store located at 617A Bukit Timah Road!

August 2022 marks 10 years since the first book in the Throne of Glass series was published. Taking the book lover community by storm with its combination of action-packed fantasy, cute romance, and a strong heroine, this New York Times bestseller has even been opted for a TV series adaptation by Hulu and Disney.

If you're looking for similar reads that perfectly capture the same sense of excitement and high fantasy, you're in luck. We've curated a special collection of novels just like the hit book series that will have you hooked the moment you read that very first page. Read on to find your next favourite story!

Browse by Category:
1. High Fantasy
2. Fast-paced Adventure
3. Fantastical Romance

High Fantasy

If you're a fan of fantasy novels with elaborate worldbuilding and thrilling plots, these recommendations are for you.

Witchmark

Witchmark is a stunning steampunk-fantasy murder mystery set in an alternate history England, with nobility using unique magical powers amidst the shadow of World War I.

Miles Singer wants only to live a life of his own, but with his magic powers, he is doomed either to use them for his abusive family's benefit or to be sent away to a witches' asylum. Resorting to faking his death and joining a war to escape from his relatives, Miles later disguises himself as a doctor – only for a murdered patient to expose his healing gift. Now he must work with a handsome stranger to find out who killed this man, and why... This engrossing fantasy, complete with a sweet romance and insightful commentary on war and class privilege, is definitely one you won't want to miss.

Red Queen

This YA fantasy novel has been highly praised for its worldbuilding and character-driven plot.

In a dystopian world where society is divided into castes by their blood colour, the Silvers reign supreme over the commoner Reds, with the former bearing magical superpowers. Mare Borrow, a young poverty-stricken Red girl, is bitter about the way things are – but her life is turned upside down when she suddenly displays a powerful gift of her own despite her status.

Declared a long-lost Silver princess, Mare resolves to help the Red resistance group while navigating the cutthroat world of the Silver elite. But in a world where a single misstep could mean death, and as she finds herself falling for a Silver prince, Mare ends up locked in a battle against her own heart, and the difficult choices she has to make. Read on to find out more!

The Rook

This stunning debut and winner of the 2012 Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel is one that fans of Throne of Glass won't want to miss!

"The body you are wearing used to be mine." Those are the words Myfanwy Thomas finds on the letter in her hand when she awakes in a park surrounded by bodies wearing latex gloves, unable to remember anything. Struggling to navigate her past and the agents that want her dead, she soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organisation responsible for protecting the UK from supernatural threats. Filled with fantastical characters, creative worldbuilding and a suspenseful plot, you won't be able to put this sci-fi thriller down.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a must-read fantasy novel that has been highly praised by critics, and was even selected as a finalist for the 2011 Andre Norton Award.

Meet Karou, a seventeen-year-old art student living in Prague. Her sketchbook is filled with fantastic figures and monsters – all of which are demons she has personally met and known. Raised by the chimaera, beast-like creatures who send her on teeth-collecting errands in exchange for wishes, Karou ends up meeting a mysterious seraph named Akiva on one of her missions. Strangely drawn to each other, what follows next is a compelling love story and supernatural tale of magic, truth, and lies.

Mirrormask

This stunning novella based on the movie of the same name by Neil Gaiman is a thrilling sci-fi must-read.

Raised in a family of circus performers, all Helena wants is to live a normal life. But things take an unexpected turn when she finds herself in a strange new world full of mysterious creatures, and realises that a doppelganger has taken over her life. Helena will have to escape the magical realm that is Mirrorworld in order to get back to her not-so-ordinary life. Read on to find out more!

Fast-paced Adventure

If you loved the thrilling high stakes and fun adventure in Throne of Glass, you'll love this selection of fast-paced and engrossing reads.

The Looking Glass Wars

If you're a fan of Alice in Wonderland, this innovative retelling is the book for you.

In this version of Wonderland, the government is a Queendom with a Parliament dominated by a playing card based hierarchy. Our protagonist, Alyss Heart, is the princess of Wonderland, who flees through the Pool of Tears to escape her murderous Aunt Redd after a bloody coup d'état. Ending up in Victorian London, she relays her tragic story to aspiring author Lewis Caroll – only for him to get it all wrong, and even misspell her name! The Looking Glass Wars tells the true story of Alyss's journey, with our favourite lovable characters reimagined in remarkable ways in an exciting, whimsical new world.

Flame in the Mist

This historical fantasy by the best-selling author who wrote The Wrath & The Dawn is a spellbinding retelling of Mulan, set in feudal Japan.

Seventeen-year-old Mariko is the daughter of a prominent samurai, raised for one purpose only – to marry, for the sake of her family. Sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed for the first time, she survives a vicious assassination attack by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who slaughter the rest of her convoy. Now, disguising herself as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and plot her revenge... Full of twists and turns, forbidden romance, and a strong, lovable heroine, this feminist fantasy is full of plenty of action and suspense that readers will love.

Three Dark Crowns

A New York Times bestseller named one of the best books of 2016, Three Dark Crowns tells a dark, riveting tale of sisterhood, power, and betrayal.

In every generation of the royal family, a set of triplets is born – three young queens, possessing unique powers of their own. There's Mirabella, gifted with strong elemental powers; Katharine, talented at creating deadly poisons; and Arsinoe, a naturalist who can control plants and animals. The night the sisters turn sixteen, their once-close relationships are put to the test as they engage in a deadly battle of wits. All bear equal right to the throne, but only one can become the Queen Crowned – and the last one standing who murders her two sisters becomes the sole heir. You won't want to miss this thrilling tale!

Grave Mercy

A 2017 Abe Lincoln Teen Choice Book Award nominee that has been widely praised by readers, Grave Mercy has all the action-packed thrills that fans of Throne of Glass would love – also featuring an assassin main character!

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage and a life of poverty by joining a mysterious convent. The sisters of St Mortain still serve the gods of old, and Ismae learns that the God of Death Himself has blessed her with a violent destiny – if she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden of Death. Soon plunged into the high court of Brittany and engulfed in a game of political intrigue, she instead finds herself falling for the man she has to kill... With a powerful, strong heroine, heartwarming romance, and plenty of action, this is a must-read for Throne of Glass fans.

Fantastical Romance

If you're looking for dreamy, mesmerising romances set against the backdrop of an intriguing fantasy world, you'll love this selection of books.

Rebel of the Sands

This thrilling YA fantasy romance novel is the debut novel and first of a trilogy by Alwyn Hamilton.

In the desert nation of Miraji mythical creatures roam the streets, but the unforgiving place is no fairytale land for the poor, orphaned, or female. Sixteen-year-old gunslinger and sharpshooter Amani is all three – but when she's finally offered a chance out of her dead-end town by Jin, a mysterious foreigner, she takes it wholeheartedly. What follows is an epic journey and passionate love story between two unlikely companions, with spectacular world-building and an engaging plot as Western meets Middle Eastern fantasy.

The Raven Boys

Written by New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Boys is the first of a thrilling four-part series that fans of the fantasy and romance genres will love.

Blue has always been told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. Raised in a family of psychics, she joins them in the annual tradition of watching the soon-to-be-dead walk past a line called the Corpse Road – but then a boy named Gansey emerges from the dark and speaks to her, and the prophecy starts to fall into place. Drawn to Gansey in ways that she can't explain, and knowing she will inevitably be the cause of his death, the pair find themselves caught up in a forbidden romance destined to end in tragedy. With plenty of romance, supernatural fantasy, and memorable characters, The Raven Boys is a beautiful, atmospheric novel that you'll find yourself unable to put down.

Snow Like Ashes

A striking fantasy romance reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass, Snow Like Ashes is a definite must-read for fans of either series.

The kingdom of Winter lies in ruins since sixteen years ago, its citizens enslaved and left without magic by an evil magician. The country's only hope lies in the eight survivors who escaped the crisis, and Meira is one of them – having trained her whole life to be a warrior and desperately in love with her best friend, Winter's future king. When the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter's magic is discovered, Meira decides to go after it – only to find herself thrust into a world of evil magic and politics, and caught in a steamy love triangle between the soldier she has loved all her life, and the poet willing to start a war for her. With the perfect balance between intriguing high fantasy and cute romance, you won't want to miss this thrilling novel!

We hope you enjoyed our recommendations for Throne of Glass fans. If you'd like more thrilling must-reads from similar genres, check out our Romance and Fantasy collections on our store for even more binge-able series.

Happy reading!

More often than not, the most talked-about novels reflect the lives and experiences of foreign authors – particularly those in the Western world. While these stories definitely deserve praise, you might be looking for something else if you'd prefer to be a little closer to home.

Why not indulge in some local literature from authentic Asian voices? We've picked out a collection of the best Asian Literature must-reads – from love stories to historical and cultural novels – with relatable stories and characters that you're sure to love. Read on to find out more!

Browse by Category:
1. Love & Romance
2. Asian Historical
3. Contemporary & Cultural

Love & Romance

Whether you're looking for light, fluffy romances or emotional love stories, these novels from Asian writers are must-reads you won't want to miss.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Now a major film streaming on Netflix, To All the Boys I've Loved Before is a teen rom-com by Korean-American author Jenny Han, later named a Times Best YA Book of All Time!

Meet 16-year-old Lara Jean Song, a regular teenage girl – but her love life is about to spiral out of control when her biggest secret is revealed. Inside a hatbox her mother gave her are a collection of heartfelt love letters – five in total, written by her for every boy she's ever loved. Meant for her eyes only, they contain some of the deepest, most intimate things she'd never dream of saying in real life – but when the letters are suddenly mailed to all her crushes, what follows is a dramatic story of love, heartbreak, and coming-of-age. You won't want to miss this beautiful and sweet romance!

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers

Written by acclaimed Chinese novelist Xiaolu Guo, this poignant love story has been nominated for the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction and translated into over 20 languages!

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers tells the story of a 23-year-old Chinese woman called Z, who travels to London to learn English. Initially unable to even ask for a cup of tea, as Z begins to improve in the language, she also falls for and moves in with her new English boyfriend, deciding to write a Chinese-English dictionary for lovers. This utterly spellbinding novel on self-discovery, alienation, and cultural differences is a must-read that you'll find yourself unable to forget!

Bittersweet Harvest

Written by Malaysian author Chan Ling Yap, this powerful novel is set in late 1960s Malaysia, emerging from the outbreak of racial conflict in 1969.

Here we are introduced to a unique couple – Chinese Christian An Mei, and Malay Muslim Hussein – as we explore the difficulties and tensions in an interracial marriage during such turbulent times in history. Powerful, emotional, and intriguing, this novel is a definite must-read for fans of the Asian Lit or romance genres.

Asian Historical

If you're interested in exploring our own unique Asian stories and histories, you'll love these recommendations we have lined up for you – set in ancient Korea, Japan-occupied China, and more!

The Calligrapher's Daughter

This stunning debut by Korean-American author Eugenia Kim is perfect for Asian Lit fans, inspired by the life of the writer's mother!

Set in Japan-occupied Korea in the early 1900s, Najin Han, the privileged daughter of a calligrapher, yearns for the power to choose her own destiny. Headstrong and ambitious, she narrowly escapes an arranged marriage to serve as a companion to a young princess – but the king is then assassinated, and she has to navigate her new life in the shadow of a dying monarchy...

A beautiful novel about love, family, and tradition, The Calligrapher's Daughter is perfect for fans of Amy Tan and Lisa See's works.

A Single Shard

Winner of the 2002 Newberry Medal for excellence in children's literature, this beautiful novel by Korean-American author Linda Sue Park also received special mention by the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature.

Set in 12th-century Korea, a young orphan named Tree-ear lives a lonely existence under a bridge with Crane-man, a physically disabled man who took him in when he was only a small child. Fascinated by the potters in the village, Tree-ear takes a liking to master potter Min, developing an overwhelming desire to follow in his footsteps –  but how can he when the technique is only passed down from father to son? What follows is an epic journey and coming-of-age, as a young boy seeks to prove himself amidst hardship and pain. You won't want to miss this heartwarming tale.

Empress Orchid

Based on the true story of China's last empress and a nominee for the Richard and Judy Best Read of the Year Award, this stunning novel by Chinese-American writer Anchee Min is perfect for fans of the Asian lit and historical genres.

To rescue her family from poverty, seventeen-year-old Orchid takes the chance to better her life by competing to be one of the Emperor's wives. Starting from humble beginnings as a low-ranked concubine, Empress Orchid tells the breathtaking tale of her rise as the Empress Dowager, bribing her way into the royal bed, seducing the Emperor and escaping from dangerous threats. If you love reading about royal history, drama, tragedy and life in court, be sure to pick up a copy of this novel!

The Message

Written by award-winning Chinese novelist Mai Jia, this dazzling literary thriller tells a story of war, secret service, and compelling metafiction set in 1941 Japan-occupied China.

Japan has asserted its presence as the supreme power in Asia, establishing a stronghold in the beautiful province of Hangzhou. But one day, five officers from the code-breaking department are suddenly brought to a remote mansion  – one of them has been sharing secrets with the communists, and now all five must fight to prove their supposed innocence. A gripping page-turner that's a brilliant mix of spy thriller and historical saga, The Message is definitely a story you won't want to miss.

When We Were Orphans

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2000, this spellbinding crime novel by award-winning writer Kazuo Ishiguro set in 1930s Shanghai is a beautiful story of human memory, truth and lies, and childhood.

Christopher Banks, a young English orphan born in Shanghai, is sent to live in England after his parents mysteriously vanish when he is only nine. Now grown up twenty years later to become a renowned detective, Christopher returns to his hometown amidst the ongoing Sino-Japanese war to investigate the mystery of the disappearances – and a stunning narrative of childhood trauma, repressed memories, and elusive surrealism unfolds. A haunting detective novel with a twist and an unreliable narrator, this unforgettable book is one you won't be able to put down.

Saving Fish from Drowning

Awarded an honourable mention from the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature, this novel written by the Chinese-American author who also wrote The Joy Luck Club is perfect for fans of her other works!

Saving Fish from Drowning tells a comical tale of twelve American tourists travelling the Burma Road from China to Myanmar, only to get kidnapped by a group of Karen people who mistake one of them to be their prophesized saviour. Full of tons of adventure, memorable characters, and beautifully vivid scenery, this book tells a spellbinding tale of the uneasy political situation in Burma and provides an insightful commentary on human nature and morality.

Contemporary & Cultural

If you're looking for novels set in more modern times with insightful cultural narratives, you'll love this selection of Asian-lit books.

UFO in Her Eyes

UFO in Her Eyes is a charming satirical novel by Chinese novelist Xiaolu Guo, best known for her romance novel A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers which we've also covered in our first section!

In the Chinese peasant village of Silver Hill in 2012, a woman named Kwok Yun is making her way across the rice fields when she spots what she claims to be a UFO – a flying metal plate in the sky. On this day, the world is turned upside down, as national intelligence agents rush to the city armed with pointed questions. Meanwhile, the village chief decides to take advantage of this unexpected event to boost the poverty-stricken economy by encouraging tourism. This stunning tale of modernization, politics and tradition provides insightful commentary on Chinese culture that fans of the Asian lit genre will love.

Red Birds

This spellbinding must-read novel is one you won't want to miss by Mohammed Hanif, an award-winning British Pakistani writer.

A satirical novel about war, family, and love, Red Birds follows an American pilot, Major Ellie. Sent to bomb a Middle Eastern country, he instead ends up crash-landing near a refugee camp, saved by a teenager, Momo, and his talking dog Mutt. With an alternating narrative between these three distinct voices, what follows is an absurd, witty tale revealing critical truths about today's world and the ugliness of war.

Impractical Uses of Cake

Winner of the 2018 Epigram Books Fiction Prize, this debut novel by Singaporean writer Yeoh Jo-Ann tells a heartwarming and relatable tale that you'll surely love.

Sukhin is a thirty-five-year-old literature teacher living alone. He is handsome and wealthy, but his social life is non-existent; dodging uncomfortable questions from his parents about marriage, all he wants is to escape in his collection of books. But one afternoon in Chinatown, he runs into his ex-girlfriend, Jinn – now a homeless vagrant. As the two bond over this chance encounter and their shared fondness for cake, a tale of love and sacrifice unfolds... For fans of Singlit, you definitely won't want to miss this story!

We hope you enjoyed our recommendations for the best Asian lit reads. If you'd like to browse more of our collection, head to our Asian Literature section on our store for even more suggestions. Happy reading!

Where The Crawdads Sing is now a hot topic within the book-lovers community, and for good reason. This bestselling novel about a wild girl who raised herself in the marshes of the deep South is a powerful story of resilience and hope, and truly a page-turner with its murder mystery storyline.

As the film adaptation of the book was released on July 21, you might be looking for some similar reads to tide you through after binging it. We've curated a list of equally wild, engrossing tales that are sure to satisfy your cravings, from mystery novels to thrillers and coming-of-age stories. Read on to find out more!

Browse by Category:
1. Wild Tales
2. Thrilling Mysteries
3. Love, Hope and Coming-of-age

Wild Tales

Looking for wild, awe-inspiring tales set deep in the heart of rural forests and swamplands? These books effortlessly capture the beauty of nature and freedom that is such a crucial part of Where The Crawdads Sing.

The Wild Girls

The year is 1972, and twelve-year-old Joan isn't thrilled to be moving from her old home in California to Connecticut. Then she makes an unlikely friend – a wild, feral girl named Sarah living in a rundown house in the woods, who refers to herself as “The Queen of All the Foxes”, or “Fox”, for short. Through their friendship, the girls learn to confide in each other about their problems, and they develop an interest in creative writing that leads to them being recruited for a summer writing class taught by the peculiar Verla Volante.

With a gorgeous, rural setting and a compelling message about friendship and the power of stories, you'll love this charming novel.

My Absolute Darling

Dark, chilling and utterly gripping, this bestselling debut by Gabriel Tallent which has been named a Times Book of the Year is perfect for anyone who enjoyed Where The Crawdads Sing.

In rural California lives a 14-year-old girl, who calls herself Turtle – and she knows how to use every gun on her wall, how to snare a rabbit, and other survivalist skills like the back of her hand. Her father tells her he loves her more than anything in the world, and he'll do whatever it takes to keep her with him – but sometimes the people you're supposed to trust are the ones who do the most harm. In this coming-of-age survival thriller, Tallent skillfully explores issues of abuse, trauma, resilience and – in spite of everything – healing.

Lyrebird

Lyrebird is an intriguing, compelling tale that starts off much like Where The Crawdads Sing – with a mysterious young woman in the wilderness, who has lived in isolation her whole life. Strikingly beautiful with an extraordinary talent for mimicry, she is discovered by a documentary crew in the mountains of West Cork, who affectionately nicknamed her after the Australian Lyrebird. But what will happen when they decide to take Lyreback back with them to the city, where she'll leave her peaceful life behind?

This heartwarming tale and endearing love story is one which you won't want to miss!

The Great Alone

This number one New York Times bestseller will leave you unable to put it down!

13-year-old Leni is caught in a tumultuous time of her life, as she grows up in the shadow of her parents' volatile, stormy relationship. When the family decide to move to Alaska, she hopes it will lead to a better future for her family, and a place where she can finally belong. Soon after, she meets Matthew – kind, thoughtful, and considerate – and slowly begins to learn that, unlike her parents' unhealthy marriage, not all love is to be feared...

This gorgeous historical fiction beautifully depicts the wilderness of Alaska and a young girl's journey to find herself, after being alone for most of her life.

Thrilling Mysteries

Interested in some compelling mysteries that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you rush through the pages? You'll love these recommendations for those who enjoyed of the murder mystery aspect of Where The Crawdads Sing.

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Winner of the Costa First Novel Award and a number one Saturday Times Bestseller, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a delightful murder mystery you won't want to miss!

The young and beautiful lady of the house, Evelyn Hardcastle, will die every night in a celebration turned tragedy. And every night, our protagonist Aiden Bishop will have to find her killer to break the cycle – but he wakes up in the body of a different guest each time, and the mystery only grows curious and curiouser... Suspenseful and full of twists and turns, this is a definite must-read you won't be able to put down.

One Good Deed

This novel by number one New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci has all the courtroom drama and thrilling mystery of Where The Crawdads Sing which fans will love.

The year is 1949, and war veteran Aloysius Archer has finally been released from prison and put on parole. He arrives in the small town of Poca City, and lands a seemingly simple job – collecting a debt owed to a powerful local businessman, Hank Pittleman. But when the indebted man refuses to cough up the money and a murder takes place right under his nose, Archer has to act fast to track down the real killer before he's taken back to prison for a crime he didn't commit. This compelling piece of historical crime fiction will surely delight fans of the genre.

The Dry

This debut mystery by award-winning writer Jane Harper features a small town with big secrets.

In the midst of a terrible drought severely affecting the farming community of Kiewarra, three members of a local family are found brutally slain. Federal Police inspector Aaron Falk goes to his hometown to investigate the case, reluctant to face the townsfolk who turned their back on him years before. But the more he learns about the Hadler family's deaths, the more old wounds bleed into new ones. Because Falk and his childhood friend Luke Hadler shared a secret, and the truth, which should have been long-buried, might soon get out...

Fast-paced and excellently written, this is a great suspenseful read to add to your collection.

One of Us is Lying

Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club in this New York Times bestseller, which has even been adapted into a TV series.

Five high school students walk into detention one Monday afternoon, and only four make it out alive. They're Bronwyn, the brainiac who's never broken a rule; Addy, the beauty and picture-perfect homecoming princess; Nate, the criminal on probation for drug dealing; and Cooper, the star athlete and basketball pitcher.

The one found dead at the end of detention is Simon, the outcast and creator of the school's infamous gossip app. But when investigators learn he'd planned to expose the secrets of those four classmates, the teenagers all end up as suspects in his murder. Who truly did it, and what hidden truth could someone be willing to kill for? Read on to find out more!

Love, Hope & Coming-of-age

Where The Crawdads Sing is a darkly compelling tale, but there are also moments of love and hope during the heartfelt coming-of-age story that is Kya's life. If you're looking for similarly heartbreaking yet uplifting reads, check out these recommendations.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

This New York Times and USA Today bestseller has been widely praised for its unconventional storyline, though readers should be wary of its potentially triggering subject matter.

As the daughter of a drug dealer, 8-year-old Wavy is left to fend for herself and raise her little brother. One night she meets Kellen, a friend of her father's and a soft-hearted ex-convict – and an unlikely relationship blooms as they slowly find comfort in each other. Yet their relationship can never truly be healthy due to their age difference, and as Kellen slowly grows more and more obsessed with young Wavy, what follows is a disturbing, heartbreaking, and powerful story.

If you're looking for a dark, gritty coming-of-age with a glimmer of hope much like Where The Crawdads Sing, this is the book for you.

The Secret Life of Bees

This spellbinding novel about divine female power, racism, and family will be a great new read to add to your collection!

In South Carolina in 1964, 14-year-old Lily is haunted by the memory of her mother's death years ago. She is raised by her fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother", Rosaleen, but after Rosaleen gets into a fight with three of the biggest racists in town, they decide to leave on an epic journey to be truly free.

Lily and Rosaleen stay with the Calendar sisters, who teach Lily about beekeeping and mothering, and support her as she grows up. Along the way, Lily also discovers more secrets about her mother, and embarks on a journey of acceptance and healing from her past. This beautiful coming-of-age novel will surely delight fans with its sweet and heartfelt message.

Lovely, Dark and Deep

This stunning debut novel about isolation and loss is perfect for fans who loved those themes in Where The Crawdads Sing.

After a car accident kills her boyfriend and destroys her plans for her future, high school senior Wren, still reeling from her grief, retreats into the deep woods of Maine to live with her artist father where she can be alone. But then she meets a boy named Cal, who has troubles of his own to deal with – and as the pair grow attracted to each other, can Wren risk opening up her broken heart and stepping back into the real world again?

Powerful, evocative, and heartbreaking at times, this is a beautifully-written coming-of-age novel that you ought to check out.

Y

This coming-of-age about a young orphan girl will tug at your heartstrings.

Abandoned at the doorstep of the local YMCA when she was only a baby, Shannon has spent her whole life being bounced from foster home to foster home, until she is finally taken in by single mother Miranda. But life is never just a bed of roses, and as Shannon grows, so too do her questions. Why did her parents abandon her? Who is her true family? And will she ever be able to feel like she truly belongs?

Raw, compelling and unforgettable, Y is a stunning debut exploring issues of identity, inheritance, and ultimately, forgiveness.

We hope you enjoyed our list of recommendations! If you'd like more compelling and great new reads, check out the Fiction category on our store for similarly engrossing bestsellers. Happy reading everyone!

On 13th September 1916 in Wales, a young boy was born to two Norwegian parents, who named him Roald –  after Roald Amundsen, the first man to ever reach the South Pole. Years later, he would end up becoming an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, and poet, and be hailed as one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century. If you're a Roald Dahl fan curious to find out more about his life, or hoping to pick up a copy of one of his books again, read on to find out more!

Browse by Category:
1. The Life of Roald Dahl
2. Famous Classics
3. Children's Books
4. Books About Roald Dahl

The Life of Roald Dahl

While Dahl's early years were marked by the tragic deaths of his older sister, Astri, and his father, he had quite the eventful childhood after his mother enrolled him in boarding school. The first half, Boy, of his humorously penned autobiography collection, Boy and Going Solo, talks about his schoolboy days when he got punished for playing a prank on the "mean and loathsome" old woman, Mrs Prachett, who ran the local sweet shop. Many fun and memorable moments are documented in the book, including Dahl's growing interest in sports and photography, fun summer holiday memories when he would visit his mother's family in Norway and play pranks, and more.

Dahl's life after school is carefully examined in the second half of Boy and Going Solo, delving deep into how his lust for travel took him first to Canada, then to East Africa; his enlistment in the Royal Air Force; and the severe injuries he took to the head, nose and back after a terrible crash-landing in the Western Desert, which later led him to start a career in storytelling. If you're interested, do check out the autobiography to learn more about Dahl's utterly compelling life!

Lastly, while Dahl was undoubtedly a talented writer, it's also worth noting that he's a somewhat controversial figure with a history of anti-Semitism and other offensive statements. While this shouldn't necessarily prevent you from enjoying his works, it is worth keeping in mind and might be best for parents to give guidance to their children while reading.

Famous Classics

These are thought by many to be some of Dahl's most iconic works, and are often considered timeless classics.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Did you know that Roald Dahl was inspired to write Charlie and the Chocolate Factory due to memories of his schoolboy days, when students at his boarding school would be given Cadbury chocolates to be tested by the pupils?

Dahl dreamt of inventing a new chocolate bar that would win the praise of Mr Cadbury himself, which inspired him to write this fantastical tale of young Charlie Bucket winning a Golden Ticket to explore Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Full of humor, wackiness, and plenty of quirky characters, this book bears all the hallmarks of Dahl's delightful writing style. Go ahead and pick up a copy if you'd like to experience Charlie's adventures all over again!

Matilda

This classic story about the precocious and clever Matilda Wormwood has continued to enthrall readers even decades later. As she struggles to deal with her neglectful parents and the nightmare of a principal, Miss ("The") Trunchbull, Matilda presents herself as an extremely likable, intelligent and independent heroine with plenty of rare and eccentric talents to knock Mrs. Trunchbull off her feet. Matilda is a beautifully-written novel about learning to accept yourself, and about the power of reading and stories. This inspiring tale is truly a must-read for any and all kids!

The BFG

The BFG is one of Dahl's most popular novels, and was dedicated to his late daughter, Olivia, who died of measles encephalitis at the age of seven in 1962. This charming story about the unlikely friendship between 8-year-old orphan Sophie and The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) makes for a heartwarming read, as the reader follows their adventures in trying to stop the man-eating giants and save the world. It's no wonder this book has been hailed as one of Dahl's best works, and received numerous awards!

The Witches

This dark fantasy novel by Roald Dahl tells the story of a brave young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, in a world where secret societies of child-hating witches exist in every country. Ruled by the evil and vicious Grand High Witch, who plans to turn all the children in England into mice, what follows is an unforgettable tale that makes for a thrilling, fun read for just about anyone.

Childrens' Books

Apart from Dahl's most popular works, here are some other childrens' books he's written that have continued to delight young readers.

James and the Giant Peach

This imaginative, creative story about a young orphan boy who enters a gigantic magical peach is a great book for any child! In this wild, surrealist tale, 7-year-old James is upset and lonely while living with his two aunts – but when a peach in the garden starts to grow and grow, he stumbles upon seven unusual insects inside of it, all waiting to take him on a great adventure. This charming and delightful tale is one that you won't want to miss!

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Check out the thrilling sequel to the beloved classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! In Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Charlie shows up to take possession of Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory after being announced as the winner – but when the great glass elevator they're in makes a fearful whooshing noise, Charlie and his family find themselves sent into orbit in a fantastical space journey. Full of bizarre twists, quirky characters and tons of fun adventure, this is a must-read for fans of the first book!

Fantastic Mr Fox

This children's story bears all the hallmarks of Roald Dahl's writing, and is full of mischievous fun and adventure! Follow the adventures of the clever Mr Fox as he outwits his farmer neighbours to steal food from right under their noses, coming up with fantastic plans of his own each time. While the premise sounds relatively simple, this endearing fuzzy trickster makes for a lovable, memorable character. If you're a fan of anything and everything Roald Dahl, you'll love this book!

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

This sweet and heartwarming tale follows a young boy named Billy and the animal friends that he meets. Billy has always dreamed of running a sweet shop, and he thinks the abandoned old house nearby would be perfect – but then he finds the building has been renovated and inside lives a giraffe, a pelly, and a monkey! The trio call themselves the Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company, and soon become best friends with Billy and help to make his dream come true. This cute and silly book is perfect for kids, especially those who are animal lovers.

Revolting Rhymes

Did you know that Roald Dahl wasn't just a writer, but a poet too? Revolting Rhymes is one of Dahl's poetry collections for children, and has all of his signature quirkiness and endearing humor. Here, Dahl re-interprets six well-known fairy tales with surprise endings rather than their usual happily-ever-afters. You're sure to find yourself laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all once you've reached the end!

Books About Roald Dahl

While these books weren't written by the man himself, they are perfect for Roald Dahl fans looking to relive their childhood, and great accompaniments to his books!

The Roald Dahl Quiz Book

Think you know all about Roald Dahl and his works? Put your knowledge to the test with this hilarious quiz book that will delight Dahl enthusiasts everywhere. Included are over 300 question-and-answer trivia questions based on six of Dahl's most beloved titles, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, Fantastic Mr Fox, and more. Also featured are some new fascinating facts about Roald Dahl and his world that you won't want to miss!

Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes

This playful, imaginative recipe book offers unique recipes for re-creating the deliciously disgusting foods featured in Roald Dahl's books! Learn how to make Lickable Wallpaper, Stink Bugs Eggs, and more with dishes featured in Dahl stories such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. With simple step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow, you'll definitely love this interesting guide.

Roald Dahl's Mischief and Mayhem

This book is a wonderful accompaniment to Dahl's own stories, and the perfect companion book! If you loved the pranks, tricks, and mischief apparent in so many of Roald Dahl's stories, Roald Dahl's Mischief and Mayhem offers a guide to playing pranks and practical jokes that will have you and your friends keeling over with laughter. Included are extracts from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, The Witches, and more alongside funny quizzes, outrageous jokes and plenty of ideas for mischievous surprises!

Although more than three decades have passed since Roald Dahl's passing, he remains a beloved children's author to this day with his incredibly timeless works. We at Thryft aim to make reading accessible to all through our second-hand books, and if you liked our recommendations, search up "Roald Dahl" in our store to get your hands on them or check out our Children's and Young Adult section for more great reads.

Happy reading!

Time flies and it is already the first week of June! We hope the first half of this year has been treating you well, and that the rest of 2022 goes smoothly too. If you happen to be a parent, this also marks the start of the school break and can be a period of restlessness for your little ones. We know parents will want to help their children utilise free time more meaningfully, and books are a great way to do so!

This month, we've curated some recommended reads for you to encourage your child to read over the June break. Ranging from light comics for the casual readers, interactive stories that will delight and entertain, and guides designed to teach your kid something new, you are bound to find something that will help spark your child's love for reading. With a diverse selection including books for younger readers and stories targeted at teens, read on to find out more!

Browse by Category:
1. Casual Comics
2. Interactive Fun
3. Learn Something New

Casual Comics

Thinking of picking out some light reads for your child, who might be more of a casual reader for now? These recommendations will surely be useful in helping you select graphic novels and comics that will catch their interest.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 1

Written and illustrated by acclaimed artist Tania Del Rio, this American manga tells the story of bubbly teenage witch Sabrina Spellman. By day, she attends Greendale High with her crush Harvey and is your typical teenager. By night, though, Sabrina hones her witchcraft skills by attending Charm School in the Magical Realm, where she meets the handsome and elusive Shinji.

Full of charm and cute illustrations, this graphic novel is a great read primarily for children aged 9-12.

Teen Titans GO!: Their Greatest Hijinks

The Teen Titans are back in this anthology graphic novel featuring their greatest adventures ever! Based on the Cartoon Network series revolving around the world's best teenage heroes, delve deep into a collection of short episodic comics as the group take down their arch-foes and get up to epic hijinks. Kids will love reading about the shenanigans the group gets up to, and the funny dynamics between the members.

This comic collection is great for both longtime and new fans of the series, and is suitable for kids aged 7-10.

Unicorn Bowling: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure

You won't want to miss this collection of comics from the New York Times bestselling series! In Unicorn Bowling, 9-year-old Phoebe Howell embarks on a series of adventures with the unicorn she accidentally befriends, who becomes her magical companion and best friend. Full of fun adventures and cute illustrations, this heartwarming series of relatable comics is a must-read for your little one.

This comic collection is suitable for kids between 8-12.

Bone: Eyes of the Storm

The third book in the award-winning Bone series, this collection of interesting comics will delight young readers. Life in the valley isn't getting any easier for the Bones and their newfound friends, as Lucius, Smiley, and Phoney face an attack by the Rat Creatures. Meanwhile, Fone Bone and Thorne are disturbed by troubling dreams, and Gran'ma Ben's reaction to them is peculiar, revealing hidden dangers and strange secrets. In fact, they may have to leave the farm forever...

Featuring both light-hearted comedy and a hint of fantasy thriller, this volume is recommended for readers aged 8-12.

Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel

The classic children's story of Anne of Green Gables returns in a reimagined graphic novel form! When siblings Matthew and Marilla Cubert adopt an orphan to help out with the family farm, they end up getting more than they bargained for when 11-year-old Anne Shirley takes Green Gables by storm, causing excitement and trouble wherever she goes.

Accompanied by charming illustrations alongside its delightful premise, this classic story is suitable for readers of all ages.

Interactive Fun

Want an interactive book that will help engage an easily bored child? These intriguing recommendations are sure to delight and help him or her discover the joys of reading.

Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book

Having sold over 8 million copies, this bestselling colouring book will take your child on an immersive and interactive journey through a beautiful garden created through intricately detailed illustrations. Your child can watch the pages and scenery come to life through their own colouring, and enjoy the fun experience of filling up the black and white pages.

This colouring book is suitable for all ages and even adults if you'd like to pick up a copy for yourself as well!

Where's Waldo? The Ultimate Travel Collection

The Where's Waldo? series of popular children's puzzles books will prove thoroughly entertaining for young readers. Journey alongside Waldo in this compilation of his world-famous excursions, with a vast array of different places including Hollywood, Rome, Japan and more!

This book is recommended for readers aged 5 and above, and suitable for all ages.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Do-It-Yourself Book

If your child is a fan of the famous Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series, then this is an absolute must-read that will keep him or her entertained for hours! In the Do-It-Yourself Book, kids will get the opportunity to create their own Wimpy Kid diary, with fun and exciting activities for them to express themselves. Kids can draw their own Wimpy Kid cartoons, fill in facts and lists, and check out an array of full-colour comics available inside.

This book is recommended for kids aged 8-12.

Mindfulness Colouring

This cute colouring book is the companion to the best-selling The Little Book of Mindfulness. Mindfulness Colouring includes charming illustrations of our natural world and the beautiful flora and fauna that populate it, which can help your child gain a deeper appreciation for the environment and nature. It also contains a collection of 50 inspirational quotes to relax the mind and encourage readers to nurture creativity. This book is sure to keep your child entertained for hours on end!

Mindfulness Colouring is suitable for readers of all ages.

Learn Something New

Keen to encourage your child to pick up a new skill over the holidays? Look no further than this selection of informative guides that will help expand their knowledge of various topics!

The Art of Public Speaking

Praised as the leading speech textbook of our time, The Art of Public Speaking is an incredibly informative guide that will be able to help anyone learn how to become a better public speaker more effectively. With clear explanations and concrete examples on how to craft a wide variety of speeches and prepare for them, this book will make for a great gift to help your child develop strong communication skills that will aid them in the future. After all, public speaking is an incredibly important skill that will prove useful both at school and in the workplace, so it's best to get started early!

This guide is recommended for high school-age students and above.

Michael Aaron Piano Course Lessons - Grade 1

Written as a guide especially for young children by a piano teacher with years of specialisation in teaching youths, this book is a must-have if you have a child who is interested in trying to learn piano. Featuring a storybook introduction to the first rudiments of music, clear explanations, and music that will undoubtedly appeal to children, Michael Aaron Piano Course Lessons - Grade 1 will help your child master playing the instrument.

This book is suitable for kids aged 8-12.

How to Draw Almost Every Day: An Illustrated Sourcebook

Is your little one a budding artist with a keen interest in drawing? Even if that isn't the case, How to Draw Almost Every Day is still an excellent gift with its charming illustrations and fun challenges that will easily keep a young mind entertained. In this guidebook, readers are encouraged and challenged to draw one simple illustration each day of the year, with step-by-step diagrams and clear explanations that will make it an enjoyable experience. Included also are project photos that can inspire your child to incorporate their doodles into greeting cards, calendars, invitations and more!

This book is recommended for children aged 5-11.

Little Paper Planes

This interesting book will inspire kids to think out of the box and explore new ideas. Little Paper Planes is, quite literally, a collection of constructable paper planes. Featured are innovative works from famous celebrities, with patterns that take the paper plane to a whole new level – paper doll planes, shark planes, plane mobiles, and more that are sure to inspire and delight. Printed on perforated pages for easy removal and assembly, alongside instructions and artist interviews, kids will be encouraged to try their hand at making their own handicrafts in new and exciting ways.

This book is suitable for readers of all ages.

A Little Book of Language

Written by one of the world's most famous linguists, David Crystal, A Little Book of Language chronicles a lively journey through the story of language. With a voice that is accessible and interesting to young audiences, Crystal clearly explains linguistic concepts and expertly narrates the nuances of language, from the first words of an infant to the peculiar modern slang of text messaging. With interesting tables, diagrams, and fun quizzes, your child will be able to broaden his or her horizons and learn more about the world around us, and the way that we speak.

This book is targeted at young children, but suitable for readers of all ages.

We hope you enjoyed our collection of books for you to get your kids to read this holiday break. If you're interested in more recommendations for your little one, head to our Children and Young Adult section for more enriching reads!

Relationships are incredibly important for our well-being and quality of life. Having good and loving relationships have a physical impact on our health as well - did you know that people in healthy relationships have a higher life expectancy and are able to deal with the stressors of life due to their solid support system? Health benefits aside, relationships also bring us a lot of joy.

At the end of the day, no one would back in their life and wished that they could have worked more. Oftentimes, the number one regret is not spending more time with their loved ones or mending their relationships. It's never too late to start working on your relationships. The books below offer some wisdom and advice regarding all kinds of relationships - with friends, family, strangers or even your colleagues.

Browse by Category:
1. Relationship Building Blocks
2. Healing & Mending
3. Romantic Relationships
4. At The Workplace

Relationship Building Blocks

When two people come together in a relationship - be it platonic, romantic or familial - they each bring their own sets of experiences, views, perspectives, and baggage. In order for the relationships that you form to be healthy, there are some fundamental ingredients that make them work.

Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential--and Endangered

From infants, we instinctively seek intimate connections. This is made possible by empathy, the ability to love and share the feelings of others, and is how our brain learns to bond with others.

Child psychiatrist Bruce D. Perry and science journalist Maia Szalavitz connect developmental psychology, sociology, and history to give an insightful look into how empathy works. They argue that empathy is the foundation of society, and the difficulties related to empathy are why problems like war, crime and racism exist. Worse, they argue that recent changes in culture make it such that children nowadays lack human contact and deep relationships that need to develop empathy properly.

Born for Love is an approachable and engaging read on the importance of empathy, how it is developed and how was can combat the negative influences of modern life and cultivate empathy for the betterment of our relationships and society.

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life

Ever been in relationships where boundaries were crossed and disrespected? Perhaps it was unknowingly crossed because it was never drawn, or you keep moving the line back to avoid confrontation over a crossed boundary. Regardless, having a lack of proper boundaries can lead to strained relationships and feelings of resentment.

If you are struggling with saying no to others at the expense of your own time and energy or even safety, Boundaries is a solid guide on the importance of boundaries, how they are formed and how you can begin to set up boundaries in your own life.

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time

Networking might be a word that conjures up images of exhausting small talk, forced smiles and awkward shallow conversations.

Keith Ferrazzi argues that networking can be a way to build genuine relationships through ways such as being generous and reaching out to those in your circle regularly and not just when you need them for something. Full of advice from his own life and how he managed to form deep relationships with people who then helped him to succeed, this book is for anyone who is looking to network better and form solid relationships.

Healing & Mending

Sometimes we hurt each other in our relationships with others, or other circumstances and situations make things tougher - here are some books with practical advice and some stories of those who worked through tough times to end up with bonds that are stronger and healthier.  

Setting Limits with Your Strong-Willed Child

Have a difficult relationship with your child who does not seem to listen? Perhaps this trusted guide used by many parents and educators over the years will help!

Setting Limits provides advice for dealing with misbehaviour and creating relationships that are positive, respectful and rewarding. Instead of traditional methods such as nagging, yelling or pleading that get you nowhere, MacKenzie suggests stating expectations and consequences and following through. Filled with examples that illustrate why older methods don't work, this is an essential read for parents looking to shape and guide their children in a loving but firm way.

The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World

After being hurt, it's easy to want to take revenge over the more difficult route of confession, forgiveness and reconciliation. Yet, that is exactly what South Africa decided to do after the apartheid. Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Reverend Mpho Tutu lead South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and this book distils their learnings on the art of forgiveness.

They break the process of healing into four important steps which are helpful tools through this painful but necessary journey. Ultimately, Tutu argues that forgiveness is the only way for us to heal both ourselves and the world.

We Never Asked for Wings

A powerful story about a woman learning to step up and be a mother. Letty Espinosa has been working three jobs to make ends meet for fourteen years, leaving the job of raising her two children to her own mother. When her mother decides to return home, Letty needs to navigate this new terrain that she previously neglected.

With her daughter desperately missing her grandparents, and her teenage son unwilling to give her a chance, Letty comes up with a plan to escape her dangerous neighbourhood in hopes of a better future.

We Never Asked for Wings is a story of how an imperfect mother tries her best to love her children and mend their relationships. A moving and raw read with themes on immigration and bullying, and learning to make a family.

The End of Your Life Book Club

Mary Anne Schwalbe has cancer, and while she is waiting for her chemotherapy treatment, Will asks her what she is reading. This marks the start of a mother-son book club, where they can talk about something other than the sickness whilst they sit in the hospital waiting room, but also a space for them to touch on uncomfortable end-of-life issues. Through reading everything from classics like Howards End to fantastical novels like The Hobbit, their conversations are filled with passion for reading but more importantly, their love for each other.

A moving memoir of a mother-son relationship, and the shared love of reading. Perhaps after reading this book, you might start a book club with one of your loved ones?  

Romantic Relationships

Having a loving partner can feel like heaven, and heartbreak can feel like hell. Here are some books to equip you with the tools for a healthy and mature romance with none of the screaming and fighting, and stories about amor.

Hold Me Tight: Your Guide to the Most Successful Approach to Building Loving Relationships

Have relationship problems? Why not try some therapy? This book breaks down Emotionally Focused Therapy (or EFT), which has been called one of the only types of therapy to work - with a 75% success rate compared to 30% for other forms of relationship therapy.

Learn how you can de-escalate conflict, create safe emotional connections and strengthen bonds between you and your partner. Filled with a program that you can apply to your own relationship, exercises and theories about EFT, Hold Me Tight covers some truly revelatory concepts that can transform your relationship.

Boundaries in Dating: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Relationships

Written by the same author of Boundaries, this is a deeper dive into boundaries that are specific to romantic relationships. Giving a comprehensive picture of what dating maturely looks like, you can understand how to distinguish between deep character flaws vs petty annoyances, handle conflict honestly and graciously, and more.

Cloud and Townsend show you how to love others well while also being properly loved. Filled with examples, this is a helpful guide for those who feel like they keep dating the wrong people, or want to learn how to communicate their boundaries more effectively with their significant others.

Me Without You

A cute and whimsical book on expressing the millions of ways we can say "I love you" filled with illustrations of scenarios that are not complete without two.

A fun gift to give to your significant other to show them just how much you love them.

By The River Piedra, I Sat Down And Wept: A Novel Of Forgiveness

A story for those who have lost, found or are still looking for love.

Pilar has learned to bury her feelings while her handsome childhood friend turned to religion to hide from his inner conflicts. Reuniting with him after eleven years, they embark together on a difficult journey - along the way, the long-buried resentment and blame resurface again. Written with beautiful and lyrical prose, By The River Piedra, I Sat Down and Wept is a story of the depth of love and life that might shape the way you think about loss, love and keeping your beliefs.

Standard Deviation

A funny and smart novel about love, family, and raising children with special needs. Graham is married to his second wife Audra who is warm, loud and eccentric - and she couldn't be more different than his first wife Elspeth who is cool and organised. He wonders - how is it possible to love two such different women? Is there a right choice?

Laugh out loud funny, Heiny provides insights into the state of the family with some truly unforgettable characters as they go through life and try to love each other well.

At The Workplace

We spend will spend around 90,000 hours at work in our lifetime, which means that we also spend a significant amount of time around our colleagues and bosses. If our relationships with them are strained, or we are working in a toxic workplace, no work gets done and we often feel drained and miserable. Find out how you can have happier and healthier work relationships from the books below!

Be a People Person

If you are a leader, you have to work with people and that can be tough! Forming strong and good interpersonal relationships is what sets a good leader apart from the rest.

Maxwell writes insightfully about how you can build good relationships with the people around you. Everyone is a leader in their own capacity, and this book shows how you can help the people around you succeed wherever you are.  

The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything

Trust is the single most important component that makes a leader and organisation successful - and yet it is often overlooked. We work together with people, and work gets done through people. The foundation that enables this to work is through trust - in every single transaction or relationship even if it seems indirect.

The Speed of Trust takes a practical look at how trust functions in our day to day interactions and how you can build trust within your organisation so that time-wasters like bureaucratic processes can be foregone.

Dealing With People You Can't Stand

As the title suggests, this is a guide on how to deal with difficult people in your life with tact and skill. Especially with technology, it can sometimes be hard to avoid interacting with such people. Revised for the digital age, this bestselling guide shows you how to communicate effectively with different types of people.

Written in a light-hearted manner with mock case studies, readers are also prompted to think about when they have been difficult people in the lives of others. Ultimately, this book aims to help professionals communicate more graciously with each other.  

We hope these books are helpful for you - all the best to everyone trying to upgrade their relationships! It might be hard, but it is definitely worth it when you come out the other side with a healthier relationship that nourishes and strengthens you in the face of life's difficulties.

To browse the whole collection, head to our shop below:

A happy belated Mother's Day to all our readers! Falling on the second Sunday of May every year, Mother's Day is a day for us to honour not just our mothers and the value of maternal bonds, but the significance of parenthood as well.  Indeed, although parenthood can be a profoundly fulfilling experience, both new mothers and fathers alike often face crippling anxieties and difficulties raising children. Moreover, many may feel confused and lost trying to deal with the changes of pregnancy as well.

For these new and expectant parents in need of guidance, we have compiled a curation of books that are all about helping you through parenthood. Whether you're currently expecting a baby or need help with disciplining a young toddler, this collection of insights and helpful advice is for you.

Browse by Needs:
1. Books on Pregnancy
2. Books on Child Nutrition
3. Books on Education
4. Books on Discipline
5. General Parenting Guides

Books on Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be an exciting yet stressful time for new parents, especially for mothers getting used to the changes their bodies are going through. If you're an expectant parent unsure how to cope with the pressures of expecting, these books will help to better prepare and educate you on birth and pregnancy.

From the Hips: A Comprehensive, Open-Minded, Uncensored, Totally Honest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and Becoming a Parent

Can't decide on the best choices to make for your baby, such as breastfeeding versus bottle feeding? Unsure of what you shouldn't eat, do or take when pregnant? Look no further than this insightful guide by Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris for new mothers dealing with the stress of pregnancy.

Odes and Morris expand on the major decisions involved in preparing for a child and share tips on what mothers should and shouldn't do during pregnancy, offering judgement-free advice. The book also contains a section on managing the relationship between you and your partner during pregnancy, with strategies to minimise perfect-parent pressure.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!

Looking for practical advice from qualified experts? This book by the reputable Mayo Clinic offers advice from doctors who are pregnancy experts and parents, making this an essential resource for expectant parents.

Alongside informative illustrations, doctors share their advice on issues such as how to get pregnant, meal planning, exercise, and more. The book also features a 40-week pregnancy calendar and a guide to pregnancy symptoms and decisions. Answers to any embarrassing or difficult questions new parents will have are also included, providing accurate and useful information.

The Mindful Mother: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Enjoying Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond with Mindfulness

Feeling stressed, upset or unprepared while expecting? The key to dealing with such negative feelings might then be to start practicing mindfulness, according to Naomi Chunilal.

The Mindful Mother offers an insightful guide to managing the stressful emotions that surface during pregnancy, and encourages mothers to experience their daily life as a mother with mindfulness. Incorporating mindfulness strategies and techniques based on Buddhist and Yogic principles, this book urges readers view parenthood as a spiritual journey of self-discovery, offering advice to help new mothers be more positive, as they accept and grow into their mothering role.

Books on Child Nutrition

One common way families show their love for their children can be through food, particularly in Asian cultures. Find out from experts what foods your child should be getting more or less of by checking out the following books.

Feed Your Child Right: the First Complete Nutrition Guide for Asian Parents

Are you a new parent who's not sure what foods to introduce to your baby at such a young age? Feed Your Child Right offers useful advice targeted specifically at Asian parents, helping them ensure their child is getting the right amount of nutrition in his or her diet.

This practical guide makes use of local dietary habits and customs to advise parents on meal planning for their baby's first year, with simple recipes included. The book also includes tips for mothers on breastfeeding their infants, alongside symptoms of common illnesses for parents to identify and take note of when caring for their babies.

They Are What You Feed Them: How Food Can Improve Your Child's Behaviour, Mood and Learning

If you're looking for authoritative, accurate advice when it comes to child nutrition, They Are What You Feed Them is the book for you. Written by Dr Alex Richardson, Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University and the UK's leading authority on child nutrition, this informative guide dives deep into how food affects your child's learning and mood.

Dr Richardson takes an exceedingly practical approach by suggesting simple meal plans for parents, calling out common myths about food, and also offering advice for issues other than nutrition, such as the time spent by children on TV and computer screens.

Books on Education

Properly educating your child is essential, but often proves to be a difficult task – especially for first-time parents. If you're lost and unsure on the best ways to teach and help your child learn better, consulting expert advice by picking up a book or two can help immensely.

Baby Play: 100 Fun-Filled Activities to Maximize Your Baby's Potential

Have you ever thought of how engaging your child through play could greatly help in their personal development? This guide might be a good place for you to start.

Developed by close consulting with play experts at Gymboree Play & Music, this book promotes the idea of "play with a purpose", offering ideas for play activities that can help children with their developmental skills for their first 12 months. Both informative and insightful, with a useful glossary of key terms in child development, Child Play is the best book to help your little one get a headstart in learning.

Montessori: A Modern Approach: The Classic Introduction to Montessori for Parents and Teachers

Many parents have heard of the Montessori method of learning for children, but most still remain unsure of whether such an approach would be ideal for educating their own children.

Written by trained educator and parent Paula Pork Lillard, who had years of experience teaching in public school, this book clears up any doubts and questions parents may have on the Montessori method, and offers a modern perspective. Lillard offers a good summary of the philosophy and benefits of the Montessori method, and clearly explains why it still remains one of the bests for child education in this day and age.

How Your Child Learns Best: Brain-Friendly Strategies You Can Use to Ignite Your Child's Learning and Increase School Success

Interested in knowing how to make use of your child's learning style to help him or her reach their fullest potential? Written by Judy Willis, a board-certified neurologist and teacher, this useful guide makes use of the latest brain research and best classroom practices to help your child achieve academic success.

Featuring ideas for enjoyable activities requiring nothing more than ordinary household items, this book offers innovative ways to help children, aged between three to twelve, learn more effectively while reducing their academic stress.

Books on Discipline

First-time parents often struggle with properly disciplining their children, and may find it especially difficult to have their voices be heard and commands followed. It can be particularly hard to strike that healthy balance between being fair and also firm, but not excessively strict. If that sounds like something you struggle with, read on to find out more on how to discipline your child effectively.

Boundaries with Kids : How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children

Stuck on how to set effective, fair boundaries for your kids as their parent? This guide, written by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend who also wrote the bestseller self-help book Boundaries, will offer plenty of helpful advice.

Through making use of biblically-backed principles such as respect and self-control, Boundaries With Kids offers an insightful look into how parents can define appropriate boundaries and consequences for their children, provide balance to their home and family life, and positively nurture their children with both wisdom and compassion.

No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind

If you're interested in looking at a compassionate, empathetic approach to disciplining your child, No-Drama Discipline offers an insightful, informative perspective into how a child's neurological development is linked to the way their parents respond to misbehaviour.

By clarifying how to discipline is to instruct (rather than reprimand), this guide teaches parents how to calm their child down from a meltdown and turn such experiences into opportunities for growth. The book also features facts on child brain development and links them to what forms of discipline are most constructive and appropriate for all ages and stages.

General Parenting Guides

In need of an all-encompassing, informative guidebook on how to parent and nurture your child? Look no further than our collection of general parenting guidebooks that will provide useful information for any and all confused new parents.

The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide to Parenting

Full of wit, humor and brutal honesty, you will find yourself unable to put down this engaging yet useful guide by bestselling author Bunmi Laditan.

Taking on the voice of an amusingly entitled child known as the titular Honest Toddler, this book offers practical advice for new parents, expanding on and explaining typical toddler behaviour via offering a unique and fresh perspective through a child's point of view. For stressed out new parents grappling with the stress of parenting their child, this book will give them a much-needed laugh along with some advice on the side.

Parenting With Love And Logic - Teaching Children Responsibility

Targeted at kids in their pre-school years and beyond, this guide aims to help parents effectively teach their children through a practical psychology-based parenting method, and encourages the creation of healthy boundaries with our children.

Offering solutions to dozens of problems such as how to manage tantrums, effectively communicate with your child, deal with cyberbullying, manage your child's screen time and more, this trusty guide of useful tips acts as the ultimate handbook for any new parent looking for an all-encompassing parenting resource.

How To Raise A Child With High EQ: A Parents Guide to Emotional Intelligence

Most parents would be aware of the concept of emotional intelligence (EQ), but do not know that studies show it may be more important to a person's success than the cognitive intelligence measured by IQ.

In this practical and useful guide, Dr Shapiro outlines the importance of having your child develop high EQ to overcome the emotional stress of growing up in today's times. Featuring games, checklists and practical advice and parenting techniques, this is a must-read for new parents seeking ways to be a better parent and effectively nurture their child for future success.

Planet Middle School: Surviving the Drama of the Crazy Years

Struggling to effectively parent your child during their rebellious middle school years? Parenting expert and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Kevin Leman offers candid advice and practical tips for you to be there for your child during this important phase of life.

Featuring guidance on how to help your child deal with issues such as peer pressure and mood swings, while simultaneously encouraging them to practice selflessness and gratitude, this book will help you raise your child into someone who loves home and family.

Raising Teenagers: 52 Brilliant Ideas for High-performance Parenting

If you're in need of a suitable parenting guide for raising teenagers, look no further than this book by Lynn Huggins-Cooper.

Offering tried-and-tested solutions and techniques for any parent to easily and effectively utilise, Raising teenagers offers a helpful guide for new parents to both pre-empt and deal with problems that arise when engaging with their teenage kids. Reading this book will undoubtedly help you better understand what is going on in your teenager's life and overcome just about any issue.

We hope these recommendations will prove useful in helping you through the journey of ups and downs that is parenthood. If you'd like more parenting-related guides and advice, head to our Health section and look under the sub-category Advice On Parenting.

Happy reading, and happy parenting!

Here's Sophia Ann, also known as Iya, from the Philippines! Read along to find out more about her favourite picks, why she loves second-hand books, and what she recommends you to read. Be sure to head to our website to browse her curated collection! Happy reading🌱

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Sophia Ann, but you can call me Iya. I was born and raised in the Philippines. I’m a college student taking up Financial Management.  Other than reading, I love watching K-dramas! Some of my favourites dramas are Crash Landing on You and True Beauty.

Why/when did you start bookstagramming? How has your experience been?

I've always enjoyed reading, having begun at the age of 14 and being encouraged by a friend who shares the same passion for books. I used to post my reading updates on my personal account before I created a bookstagram. It has been an interesting experience - I realised my non-reader friends were not very interested in books and that not everyone is your target market. I started to create my bookstagram account way back in 2015 to showcase my love for books. And who knew that it would be a successful one? I’m glad I did it because I gained friends.

What keeps you motivated?

My family and all the people that surround me are my biggest motivation. They are the reason why I wake up in the morning and strive every day. Also what drives me the most is helping others and empowering individuals. It instils in me a sense of self-assurance and the belief that I can contribute in some way. The thought of being able to help someone solve their difficulty inspires me to work hard. I make an effort to maintain a positive attitude. This enables me to inspire the same positivity in others when they are in desperate need of it.

What is your favourite book genre, and why?

Contemporary. It is where I find comfort because for me Characters in this genre appear to be individuals with whom I can "connect." I don't always understand what they're going through, but there's something about them that I can relate to. It also gives me ‘kilig’ vibes. I also love reading fantasy books because I like exploring a new world, with new characters, and new ideas.

What is your desert island book/ favourite book?

The House in the Cerulean Sea. It is beyond beautiful. It was so hard to put this book down. It is full of life quotes that will fill your soul. Every line affected me. It taught me lots of lessons especially, acceptance, caring, and opening your heart and soul. It’s also about being grateful and respecting the differences of others. It's a constant reminder not to judge people by what we see, but we need to look beneath the surface and the beauty in it.

Tell us more about your collection topic.

I love reading. I enjoy reading stories that include strong female protagonists. Gender stereotypes are still present in today's society. This will be a reminder that women can rule. We're embracing women's power with this handpicked collection: fiercer feminism, which has its roots in women's history and current contributions to society, and braver leaders. We can overcome the chains of gender stereotypes, and we must stand together to fight injustice.

What are your top 3 picks from your collection, and why?

Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - The story of Addie is unique and magical. At the same time, it’s unbearable. I like the idea of a character who is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets; it was unique yet devastating. I can't imagine the loneliness Addie felt, yet she remains strong. Also, I love the way that the author wrote the characters. It is full of emotions, and it felt so real. You can feel Addie’s sorrow with every word she speaks.

City of Bones - Clary Fray is the main character, and she has a long and tough path ahead of her. She allows herself to be not okay on occasion. Clary has been through a lot of tragedy and grief, and she doesn't try to hide it. She bears the emotional wounds and accepts them as part of her identity. As she learns how to become a Shadowhunter, what it takes to be brave, and how to defend those she cares about.

Cress - One of the main characters in The Lunar Chronicles is Cress. She is a naive, lovely, eager, fearful, secretly courageous, incredibly inventive, and very lonely Lunar hacker and coder who formerly worked for Queen Levana and Sybil and is now working with Linh Cinder. She's a Lunar shell with no knowledge of the outside world, having spent ten years confined in a satellite, performing her terrible mistress's nasty technical bidding. I liked how she had a lot of her preconceived notions about people and life destroyed. In this book, she truly comes into her own. She is my favourite among the characters in the series.

How did you hear about Thryft?

By word-of-mouth and bookstagram.

Tell us more about your sustainable lifestyle journey.

In school, we are reminded that everything we do in our daily life has an influence on the planet. I practice sustainability through the basics. I practice the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. If possible I save paper, I opt to receive letters through email and only print documents when absolutely necessary. It's a small step but it means a lot to our planet Earth.

Do you shop from sustainable stores or avoid certain brands (i.e., fast fashion) to practice sustainability?

I rarely shop for other things except for books. Here in the Philippines, most shops are practising sustainability by reducing plastics. We now use paper bags and eco-bags when we shop. There are certain brands that I avoid such as those cosmetic and beauty brands that still practice animal cruelty.

What are your experiences with second-hand books, and why would you choose second-hand?

I love second-hand books. The smell and feel of the pages of an old book are something else altogether. Buying second-hand books is a sustainable practice because we can help the environment by reducing paper usage. I’m still a student and second-hand shops are my go-to when buying books because it's cheaper and I can find some rare books too. To have the same reading experience, we don't need a brand-new book.

Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Thank you so much, Thryft for reaching out to collaborate on this wonderful project. It was such a privilege collaborating with you. I hope you’ll like this curated collection of mine. Feel free to share your thoughts with me on my bookstagram.

We hope you loved learning more about Sophia Ann and her collection, Strong Female Characters! Head over to our website to browse her whole collection!

Bridgerton Season 2 came out in late March and has been all the buzz. Fans have been swooning over Anthony's and Kate's slow-burn enemies-to-lovers relationship.

If you're looking for other romance reads to binge to deal with post-Bridgerton blues, here are some recommendations from reimaginings of classic historical romances to epic fantasy romances.

Browse by Category:
1. Historical Romance
2. High Fantasy
3. Contemporary Love

Historical Romance

An old soul at heart? Curl up with a cozy blanket and get transported back in time with these romance novels featuring lush stories set in every era from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution.

Pride and Premeditation

A retelling of a classic romance with a murder mystery twist, sure to be enjoyed by fans of Pride and Prejudice!

Lizzie Bennet wants to prove herself as a solicitor by solving a case of a scandalous society murder but the case has already been taken up by none other than Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. She wants to prove that a woman can be just as good as a man, and solve the murder before Darcy can...but as the case gets more complicated, they may have to work together before they become the next victims.

The Pillars of the Earth

Selected for Oprah's Book Club, and adapted into a miniseries, this is a dazzling epic set in the twelth century.

At the center of the drama is the desire to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever seen, and we follow the lives, dreams, labours and love of Tom, Ellen, Aliena and Philip. Filled with romance, drama, intrigue, political maneuvering and fascinating history, Ken Follett carefully crafts a masterpiece that you won't be able to put down.

Enchantee

A tale of magic, intrigue and deception set in eighteenth century Paris.

Seventeen year old Camille has to provide for her sister and brother after they were orphaned, and survives using petty magic. But she decides to pursue richer marks, the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette , after the disappearance of her brother.

Transforming herself into "Baroness de la Fontaine" using dark magic, she presents herself at the court of Versaille and meets a handsome young inventor and starts to believe that love and liberty may be possible.

But soon, she loses control of her secrets, and with revolution erupting she must choose between love or loyalty, reality or magic, democracy or aristocracy before its too late.

The Age of Innocence

A masterful portrait of desire and betrayal during the Golden Age of Old New York, where scandal was worse than disease.

Newland Archer is preparing to marry the beautiful but controversial May Welland, but when Countess Ellen Olenska returns to New York, he finds himself falling deeply in love with her. Archer has to make a decision that will either define his life or destroy it - who will he choose?

This 1921 Pultizer Prize winner is cleverly written and paints a portrait of a society constrained by its own rules and mores.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Henry VIII is best known for his six marriages, especially to his wife Anne Boelyn. Here's the story of the other Boleyn girl, Mary Boelyn. Catching the eye of Henry VIII, she falls in love with him - but finds herself a pawn in her family's ambitious plots and is forced to step aside for her best friend and sister, Anne Boelyn. To take fate into her own hands, she knows she has to defy her family and king.

A rich reimagination of one of the most excitign and glamourous courts in Europe, and how a woman managed to survive by following her heart.

High Fantasy

Not so keen on boring real world romance? How about some magic to spice it up? Set in epic fantastical realms, these romances are definitely something out of this world.

Serpent & Dove series

A slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance set in a fantasy world.

Louise le Blanc is a witch that swore off magic and is hiding within the city of Cesarine. Reid Diggory is sworn to the Church as a Chasseur. They should have never crossed paths, but they find themselves in an impossible situation - an arranged marriage of convenience.  What will happen when their worlds collide?

This trilogy is filled with forbidden romance and dark magic, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.

Winterwood

Nora Walker is a witch, and the women in the family have always shared a special connection to the woods surrounding Fir Haven. One day, she meets Oliver Huntsman, a boy who had disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago with no memory of the time he'd been missing.

The woods are disturbed by the presence of Oliver, and Nora has to find out the truth behind Oliver's appearance while Oliver will do anything to hide secrets of his own.

Atmospheric and mysterious, this romance is perfect for those who enjoy dark fairy tales and enchanted folklore.

A Torch Against the Night

The second instalment of the popular An Ember in the Ashes series, we see Elias and Laia running for their lives. Laia is determined to save her brother, and Elias determined to help Laia succeed even at the cost of his freedom. Dark forces work against the couple, and they must fight to outsmart their enemies.

Breathtaking and exhilarating, A Torch Against the Night will have you on the edge of your seats as we follow this couple through their trials.

The Merciful Crow

Fie is a Crow, the bottom caste immune from the plague and responsible for taking care of the sick and dying.  She crosses path with Jasimir, the royal Phoenix crown prince who faked his own death and is on the run.

She cuts a wager with Jasimir - in exhange for giving him protection, he will ensure that the Crows no longer get abused when he reigns.

Filled with clever magic, a star-crossed romance and high stakes, The Merciful Crow will be enjoyed by fans of Sabaa Tahir and Leigh Bardugo.

The Beholder

As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, Selah knows her duty is to find a match that will help to secure the future of her people. When the day comes to choose her partner, she is painfully rejected by her closest childhood friend. She is then sent on a voyage across the Altlantic to a series of potential suitors and not to return home if she is not engaged.

A mash-up of different fairytales and myths, this is a charming romantic fantasy.

Contemporary Love

More of a modern gal? Or perhaps looking for something more realistic? Here are some modern love stories that you might be able to relate to.

A Word For Love: A Novel

Bea, an American exchange student, travels to Syria after read the great love story "The Astonishing Text" in hopes of a deeper feeling. Once there, she finds herself a witness to a blooming Romeo and Julier-esque romance between a housemaid and policeman from different cultural and political backgrounds. She finds her life mirroring 'The Astonishing Text", but this time as a bystander to a great romance.

A touching and lyrical read set in Syria, that will have you thinking about what it means to love from afar, to be an outsider within a love story.

Crudo

Kathy is a writer on the verge of getting married - but she might be a commitment-phobic artist. She spends the summer of 2017 adjusting to the idea of a lifelong commitment while trying to deal with what seems like the end of the world - climate change, facism on the rise, the threat of nuclear war. How do you make art or a life when the whole world is falling apart?

A fierce, funny, raw and compassionate look at love.

Zenn Diagram

Eva Walker is a math nerd with only one friend, but it's not because she's socially awkward. She's a loner out of necessity, because she can read the secrets, insecurities and fears of those around her with just a single touch.

She keeps her hands to herself, until she meets shy artist Zenn Bennett and touches his jacket. The dark and violent vision she sees intrigues her, and she wants to find out more about this sweet guy who she clicks with.

Filled with math references, and a couple you can't help but root for, Zenn Diagram is a light and fresh read.

We hope that these books will satisfy your romance cravings. If you're hungry for more swoony romances, head over to our Romance section for everything from fantasy romance to historical romance!

Reading is an awesome hobby, and not just because we say so! Author Kate DiCamillo says it well, "Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift.". Indeed, nothing compares to the feeling of being so engrossed in a book that you can't put down and being transported to another world or another life.

Let your children experience the wonderful gift of reading through these recommendations ranging for those who are little and cannot read on their own yet, or for independent readers looking for something exciting.

Browse by Category:
1. For The Little Ones
2. For The Tweens
3. For The Teens

For The Little Ones

It's important to start young when it comes to cultivating a love for reading, and these picture books are sure to keep the little ones interested while helping them to learn more about the big world around them.

Filled with colourful illustrations and entertaining stories, these will make storytime something that Mom and Dad can look forward to as well.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

A classic story loved by generations, your little one will be sure to love it as well!

Telling the story of a hungry caterpillar that transformed into a beautiful butterfly with Eric Carle's beautiful illustrations, this books dramatizes the metamorphosis of the butterfly - one of Nature's common but lovely marvels.

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What do you See?

The final collaboration between Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle, this is another classic.

Follow Baby Bear's quest to find his Mama, and identify all the native North American animal friends that appear along the way with your young one. Filled with Eric Carle's signature illustrations, this book is sure to entertain and educate at the same time.

I Need To Pee

Rahi loves to drink refreshing drinks, but she hates the public toilets. When she goes to visit her aunt in Meghalaya, she has no choice but to pee on a train, hotel and bus depot. What will she do?

Filled with fun illustations, this is a good way to introduce your child to the issue of hygiene and public toilets.

For The Tweens

Written for readers aged 8-12, these middle grade books are perfect for readers starting to read independently. From exciting fantastical worlds to learning how to adapt and adjust to new environments, children will definitely enjoy these reads.

Kyla May Miss. Behaves Around the World

Kyla May has an overactive imagination, so when she is in Geography class, her imagination takes her all around the world to all sorts of exciting locations!

Written like a diary and filled with lots of illustrations, this is a fun read and will definitely be enjoyed by curious about the world.

Seraphina

In the kingdom of Goredd, dragons fold themselves into human shape and attend court, lending their mathematical minds to universities. Seraphina Dombergh joins the court as a musician just as a royal family membered is murdered. She is drawn into the investigation and uncovers a sinister plot. But Serpahina has a secret of her own - the secret behind her musical gift...

An interesting twist on dragons in a fantasy world, this will definitely keep young readers hooked.

Wonder

August Pullman looks different from others and that has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. When he starts 5th Grade at Beecher Prep, his classmates can't seem to get past his face.

An uplifting and moving book about important lessons about acceptance, tolerance and kindness.

Farrer Park : Rhyming Verses from a Singapore Childhood

A collection of charming poems about what it's like to have be a child in Singapore. Ann Peters details her carefree childhood and the places she grew up in, and the rhyming verses show the spirit of the people that she wishes to share with children today.

The Wishing Spell

A book of stories has mysterious powers and whisks twins Alex and Connor to a foreign land full of the fairytale characters that they grew up reading about. How are they going to get back?

A fun and exciting read with lots of familiar fairytales that your children will be sucked into.

The Distance Between Us : Young Readers Edition

Reyna and her siblings are forced to live with their stern grandmother when their parents decide to make the dangerous trek across the Mexican border. When it does not go as planned, Reyna finds herself preparing to make the same trip to live with her absent father.

A funny and heartbreaking story that captures the struggle of assimilating to different cultures, languages and family life. A comforting read for children struggling to adjust to new environments.

For The Teens

Growing pains are universal - everyone goes through it. Here are stories - both real or fictional - about identity, love and friendship that will resonate with teenagers.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Growing Up : Stories about Growing Up, Meeting Challenges, and Learning from Life

Growing up is hard - there are lots of challenges to go through, and lessons to learn. In this book, teens share their personal stories on how they stayed true to themselves, dealing with peer pressure, changing family relationships and many more.

It's always comforting to hear about the experiences of others and see how they go through similar situations. If your teen is facing some growing pains, how about this book to soothe their souls?

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff : Stories of Tough Times and Lessons Learned

Some teens have a harder time growing up than their peers. This book deals with difficult issues - struggles with poor self-image, thoughts of suicide, family discord, coping with loss and so on.

Inspiring and moving, this is a collection of real life anecdotes by teens who lived through these tough problems and emerged on the other side.

Throne of Glass

Celaena is a skilled assassin sent to work in the salt mines as a slave. To win her freedom, she has to defeat 23 killer, thieves and warriors in a competition, and serve as the king's champion. However, when her competitors start getting murdered one by one, her fight for freedom turns into a fight for survival.

The first book in the popular series Throne of Glass series, this book will have your teen at the edge of their seats. There are some mature themes in this book, so parental guidance is advised.

Divergent

One of the popular dystopian fiction series in recent years, Divergent tells the story of a dysopian Chicago where society is divided into five factions based on different virtues.

Sixteen year old Beatrice is set to select the faction they want to stay in for the rest of their lives, and she makes a choice that surprises everyone while keeping a secret that could cause her death. As she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her society, she learns that her secret can help to save those she loves... or destroy her.

The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus Book 1)

Jason wakes up on a bus in the middle of a field trip with no recollection of anything. Who is Piper, who claims to be his girlfriend or this guy named Leo who's apparently his best friend? Jason doesn't know anything, but he does know that this is all very wrong.

After a freak storm unleashes some strange creatures that whisk the trio away to Camp Half-Blood, where they find out about curses... and the fact that they are related to the Greek Gods.

In this new series by Rick Riordan, meet new and old friends from the popular Percy Jackson series and go on an epic, action-packed adventure. Riordan does a splendid job of blending the Greek myths together, and this book is sure to be a new favourite for your teen.

Getting your children to read need not be expensive, second-hand books are an affordable and sustainable option to satisfy the hungry little bookworms you have at home. For more titles, shop our Children and Young Adult section!

Meet Aisyah from Malaysia! This collection features books with impressive storytelling - after all, writing is a big part of what makes the story come to life, and a good author can make words dance on a page. Explore Aisyah's collection here, or read more to find out about her!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m Aisyah Umaira from Pahang, Malaysia. I am currently studying at UiTM Puncak Perdana as an animation student. Obviously, reading is my number one priority all the time. Besides that, I would spend my time drawing, illustrating and discovering software for study purposes. Drawing is another way for me to express myself, to make an idea alive, and to portray what is going on in my mind.

Why did you start bookstagramming and how has your experience been?

At first, I didn’t know bookstagram was a thing. I just stumbled across some accounts and I thought it is really cool to have an account dedicated to your enthusiasm. Plus, I was in my school’s spelling bee team at the time and thought it would be nice to discover more books to read and get to know more people. It is so much fun here in the community. To have someone who relates to you, to inspire more people to read, to discuss a book with your buddy read. I don’t think I can get these anywhere else.

What motivates you to run your account?

What motivates me may vary depending on the situation. I surround myself with people in the bookstagram community to encourage myself to read books. Sometimes I am in a deep slump but having these lovely people around, chatting with them and seeing their enthusiasm really makes me feel like “alright let’s do this!”. Watching movies, k-dramas and listening to K-pop also spark inspiration in a way where they set some certain mood and the next thing I know, I craved for more!

What is your favourite genre, and why?

Historical Fiction, all the way! Even though I think I read historical fiction the least, I found myself really fond of it. I admire the writing style the most. It is gorgeous, melancholic and mesmerizing! The setting and the lifestyle came in second. The 1800s would be my favourite setting as it is full of wonderful ideas and living. The aesthetic of living in that era is perfect to always be my dream.

What is your desert island book/ favourite book?

I have told this to everybody and I am not getting tired of this question. It is We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal. I love every word and page of the book very very much. The second book, We Free The Stars, also had a special place in my heart. They are both my precious possession.

How did you hear about Thryft?

I first heard about Thryft from my friend Adiba @persephtiyareads when she collaborated recently.

Tell us more about your collection topic.

The collection itself is called “Mesmerizing Storytelling”. Here, I would like to emphasize the art of writing. Shouldn’t it be appreciated? I mean, authors work hard on one sentence to deliver the story to us readers. I came to realise that writing styles are also a big part of a book. It would be nice if readers appreciate the writing alongside the story. Writing style sets the mood, the setting and even the world itself. All of these are nothing without the writing and the words the authors chose. Writers always hold tightly to the saying “Show, not tell.”. Therefore, how they write is very important to hook the reader's attention. Everyone can write a book, but not everyone can write a good book.

What are your top 3 picks from your collection, and why?

The first one would be Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. It is the first book of a duology. I really love how the story resolved around time travelling, fantasy and historical fiction at once! The writing is just beautiful as expected and how the author executed the story is just amazing.

Second, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. It is a standalone fantasy that I just finished recently. I kid you not that this book is super heartbreaking. Again, I would mention the writing style because THAT is the one responsible for my tears. I personally love the storyline and the writing which have this dark and gloomy mood but somehow give dreams and hope.

Thirdly, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. This is the first book of the Miss Peregrine Series. Totally in love with the setting and the concept itself is entirely cool! The author’s writing really brings the fantasy world alive and it felt almost real. The book includes these eerie and mysterious photographs that relate to the storyline which left me in awe. The writing, the setting and these photographs give you chills and it is totally satisfying!

What are your experiences with second-hand books, and why would you choose second-hand?

Second-hand books are my alternative way to discover more books. Some of them are out of print or hard to find. I do not mind reading used books because what important to me is the content inside. However, it must be readable and clean! These are my only rules for buying them. Other than that, I will take what you offer. Second-hand books are quite special as they were owned before. Imagine reading a book that had been loved by someone else, knowing that you also will enjoy the book. It felt like a connection to have with someone, a shared loved.

Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Whatever situation you are in right now, I hope you are doing alright. Anyone who is struggling with reading, you are doing great. Don’t let anything get between you and your book because you deserve escapism and that’s your right! To everybody reading this, I hope you enjoy whatever book you are reading right now. Get joy and fun from the book. Write down your thoughts. Share it with people for them to discover new things! And do not forget to always spread kindness <3