Despite what anyone says, it doesn’t hurt to read a book filled with drama every once in a while— or more than once in a while. Dramas engage you by keeping you guessing at what’s to come next, and there’s nothing better than finding yourself being trapped in suspense over a good book. As we take a deeper look into the fantasy genres, let’s take a look at the top 5 drama books that we’ll surely keep readers engaged.
1. The Silent Patient
What better way to start a book than detailing a gruesome murder that a woman commits on her seemingly perfect husband? Through this psychological thriller, readers follow the perspective of the narrator who commits himself to cracking the code that is the silent woman residing in a mental hospital following her recent crime. Dealing with his own personal struggles in his marriage, the narrator continues to investigate the backstory of what seems to be a deeply misunderstood Alicia Berenson and stops at nothing to help her through her trauma. The best-selling book offers loads of suspense and even surprises readers with an intense plot twist that leaves them in awe. The book was recommended to me by a friend, and its deep psychological dive interests me as a psychology minor who plans to study the subject even further in the near future.
2. Long Shot
In the adult sports-drama written by Kennedy Ryan, Long Shot, intertwines the world of sports with romance, where she introduces characters August West and Iris DuPree. August is a professional basketball player who awaits the NBA Finals as he meets Iris. The two develop an intense connection with one another, but Iris’s abusive partner, Caleb, stands in the way of their potential romance. The book brings to light sensitive subjects such as abuse and domestic violence and allows readers to connect with characters who face seemingly inescapable situations. The combination of sports and romance makes this read a highly intriguing one for me, and after taking a quick look at the book’s summary, I’ll definitely be purchasing a copy in no time.
3. Branded: Fall of Angels
Author Keary Taylor combined angels and romance in the fantasy romance drama Branded: Fall of Angels as Jessica Bailey struggles to find peace, suffering from torturous nightmares that leave her with nasty scars. Due to the absurdity of her nightmares, she struggles to find someone to confide in and connect with until she meets Alex, a loving and understanding companion who brings Jessica peace. Jessica meets another attractive man in her neighbor, Cole, who, over the course of the plot, shows a side of himself that forces Jessica to address all of her supernatural conflicts head-on. The book features so many ups and downs that at times, I felt like I couldn’t keep up, but it was a fun roller coaster ride as I got to witness the evolution and development of the main character, Jessica.
4. Like a Love Story
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, finding a novel that brings awareness to anti-LGBTQ+ themes always piques my interest. In a drama-filled historical fiction, Abdi Nazemian’s Like a Love Story keeps readers on the edge of their seats as it tackles queer themes during the AIDS crisis in the late 1980s and acknowledges the pressures of coming out during a ruthless era of homophobia and anti-queer sentiments. Main character Reza moves to New York and faces his own personal dilemmas, where he fears coming out of the closet. He meets two friends: Judy and Art. Art is an openly gay man who draws the attraction of Reza, but Reza keeps his sexuality hidden and forms a romantic relationship with Judy instead. The three navigate the struggles of society within their dynamics as the AIDS crisis becomes more and more serious.
5. Our Best Intentions
In an attempt to bring light to racism, Vibhuti Jain’s Our Best Intentions showcases themes of crime, romance, and racial prejudice after a teenage girl, Angela Singh, finds her love interest, Henry, dead in the football stadium. Through gossip and town talk, racial discrimination is brought to light, and it examines class differences and how they impact how people are treated and/or viewed. The novel stuck out to me through its deep racial themes and complex social narratives.
