brain-fuel books: reading lists
You’ve spent the last few months surrounded by textbooks, revision guides, flashcards, notes and mind maps. Now the exams are over, it’s time to rest, recharge… and take a well‑earned break.
If you feel like you never want to open another book again, that’s completely normal.
But reading doesn’t have to mean revision.
The Oxford Revise team have come together to share some brilliant books that will pull you in, transport you to new worlds, and introduce you to unforgettable people and places. The kind of stories that make you lose track of time, stay up too late, and remember that reading can be something you want to do.
So take a look through the reading lists below—and find your next adventure.
Useful links
CLASSICS
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Arthur Conan Doyle
- Anne of Green Gables L.M. Montgomery
- The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath
- I Capture The Castle Dodie Smith
- Northanger Abbey Jane Austen
CRIME
- And Then There Were None Agatha Christie
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Holly Jackson
- One Of Us Is Lying Karen M. McManus
- Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls Cynthia Murphy
- Truly Devious Maureen Johnson
FANTASY
- The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkein
- Ink and Bone Rachel Caine
- The Night Circus Erin Morgenstern
- The Prince of Mist Carlos Ruiz Zafon
- Raybearer Jordan Ifueko
- Scythe Neal Shusterman
HISTORICAL
- The Beekeeper’s Apprentice Laurie R. King
- The Book Thief Markus Zusack
- Code Name Verity Elizabeth Wein
- Lies We Sing To The Sea Sarah Underwood
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Schaffer & Annie Barrows
- Things A Bright Girl Can Do Sally Nicholls
RELATIONSHIPS & FAMILY
- As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow Zoulfa Katouh
- Chinese Cinderella Adeline Yen Mah
- Glasgow Boys Margaret McDonald
- No and Me Delphine De Vigan
SCIENCE FICTION
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Douglas Adams
- Maggot Moon Sally Gardner
- Project Hail Mary Andy Weir
- The War Of The Worlds H. G. Wells
NON-FICTION
- 39 Ways To Save The Planet Tom Heap
- A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson
- Anthropocene Reviewed John Green
- Atomic Habits James Clear
- Clearing The Air Hannah Ritchie
- Factfulness Hans Rosling
- Fake History Otto English
- Good News Rashmi Sirdeshpande
- How To Break Up With Fast Fashion Lauren Bravo
- Prisoners Of Geography Tim Marshall
- Unruly David Mitchell
Now over to you.
What books do you recommend?
We know that we’ve only scratched the surface with these lists and we’d love to hear about the books that you would like to see added.