books that cracked me open

to the books that exposed something in me i didn't know was there

it takes a certain kind of book to completely envelop me — sinking deep into my skin in the way only a book can, and uncovering parts of me i knew were there, but maybe hadn’t met yet.

it doesn’t happen often. that’s what makes these books feel rare. they engrave themselves on my heart, crack me open, and expose what makes me tick.

do i have to have lived the experiences inside them? not necessarily. but because i’m human — and deeply empathetic — many of them offer stepping stones into lives unlike my own, and reflections of emotions i hadn’t put words to yet.

so here’s a list of twenty books that have irrevocably changed me. through their storytelling, character studies, and immersive prose, these are books that feel like friends. like lifelines. like pieces of me i didn’t know were missing.

all of these titles are available to order through massy books, a wholly Indigenous woman-owned independent bookstore in vancouver, bc. when you purchase books using the promo code "COOLGAL" you get 5% off any of the books on my lists, AND it helps me to get paid too! massy books ships anywhere in the world. all books are linked to in the post.