Books can be reread over and over again, but nothing will beat that feeling of encountering the plot twist for the first time, or feeling in your gut that an event is a crucial plot point to the story by just the first read. Although I loooove rereading books and reacquainting myself with worlds, characters, and moments that break my heart (both in the good and bad way), I’d give everything to be able to erase my memories of some books, and experience it all over again.

As that’s pretty much an impossible thing for me, at least I can share the excitement with all of you so you can also get the first read jitters for some of my favorite books!

So without further ado, here’s a list of books I wish I could read for the first time again.. which I’m giving to you so you can read them for the first time and experience the magic for yourself:

Mistborn Trilogy (by Brandon Sanderson)

Synopsis: “For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the “Sliver of Infinity,” reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler’s most hellish prison. Kelsier “snapped” and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

“This saga dares to ask a simple question: What if the hero of prophecy fails?”

I’m not doing my job right if I still haven’t convinced you to pick up the Mistborn series by master storyteller Sanderson. To say this series is EPIC, is an understatement. Each book feels like a trilogy in its own with the amount of action and huge plot twists it adds to the overarching story. I’d love to read this for the first time again, and experience the sheer “WHAT?!” feeling after digesting the events of each page. Pure mind f, I’m telling ya.

Three Dark Crowns Series (by Kendare Blake)

Synopsis: “In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

“The last queen standing gets the crown.” 

This four-part YA series is severely underrated, IMO. This world gets increasingly darker and sinister with each book, and the sisters’ individual lives and relationships get so tangled, you’re not going to want to stop reading. For some reason, I always describe this book as intoxicating. Maybe because I remember feeling like I was in a haze every time I went back to Fennbirn with these queens (the island is literally hidden away from humans in mist, so that’s very apt, lol). Plot twists in the first book alone are A+, with unexpected hook-ups, betrayals, and dark magic.

The Remnant Chronicles (by Mary E. Pearson)

Synopsis: “On the morning of her wedding, Princess Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.”

Is it really a skimmingspines recommendations list if The Remnant Chronicles isn’t included?

The first book to the series is definitely a lot more romance-driven, up until about 75% in. And then the plot changes completely to reveal an incredibly high tension story that’s all about a history remembered differently, and three kingdoms warring to fight an unknown enemy. I gotta say that a big charm of this book is the way it delivers plot twists. No clues, no trying to figure things out yourself, and absolutely no easter eggs. The same way it hid the true identities of two crucial characters in Book 1, you best expect it’ll be hiding so many more in the books to come. And that feeling of tense anticipation, mixed with the heart-thumping realization post-reveal? Priceless.

Crescent City (by Sarah J. Maas)

Synopsis: “Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

“With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.“

Another recent favorite. Did I already mention I cried 5 times while reading the last 100 pages? If you follow me on Instagram (@skimmingspines) , you might have already seen my minor breakdown over this first book.

First things first, the world! I haven’t read a lot of Urban Fantasy before, so this metropolitan for humans, werewolves, Faeries, mermaids, and more supernaturals really caught me off guard. But then Bryce’s own story of grief, love, and everything in between–with a cast so infuriating and loving at the same time–it just created the most delicious ride of fantastical magic, high stakes plot, and incredibly raw and powerful emotions. It still gets me teary-eyed whenever I reread certain parts of this, but WHAT I WOULD GIVE TO READ IT ALL OVER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Four fantasy series that are so different, except for one common denominator: the first read is always a ride. I enjoyed these books way too much, and I hope you do too!

My DMs are open if anyone wants to discuss!

Let me know what you think:

• What’s a book you want to read for the first time again?
• What’s a book you never want to read again? (not necessarily bc you didn’t like it)