Winter Reads: 5 Bestsellers You Should Be Reading

Winter blues got you down? Sick and tired of shadow-watching the same shows while your mind floats in the empty void of repetitive plots and predictable characters? You need a change of pace–something fresh and exciting that stimulates your imagination, thrills your emotions, and carries you to worlds and novel adventures beyond the monotony of inside.

As always, we’ve got you covered.

Nothing says “joy” quite like the comfort of an amazing read in your favorite seat, with a warm drink, and plenty of time to soak in the excitement of captivating lives twirling in the palm of your hands. Simply put, nothing beats a good book.

For the bookworms, book-avoidant, and suffering-streamers, check out this list of 5 New York Times bestsellers you should be reading right now.

1. "Wish You Were Here" - Jodi Picoult

There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has sent the world spiraling into cacophonous voids of unanswered questions, unsolicited opinions, and deep-dives into our psyches and surrounding environments. With these ever compounding issues of confusion, it’s been hard for many of us to contextualize these strange times and even more difficult to connect.

Acclaimed and best-selling author, Jodi Picoult, takes this challenge head-on with her riveting and breathlessly enduring “Wish You Were Here.”

Tackling the current pandemic through the eyes of spry and ambitious Diane O’Toole, Picoult weaves a “powerful” and “evocative” tale of human triumph and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles. We find our protagonist trapped in the grips of a novel disease and stranded alone in a foreign country–with nothing but her ingenuity and wits to guide her. It’s at once harrowing, humbling, and outright fantastic.

2. "Autopsy: A Scarpetta Novel" Patricia Cornwell

Do we have any “CSI” fans in the house? You’ll want to buckle up for this one. When our protagonist, forensic pathologist, Kay Scarpetta returns to her hometown to assume the role of chief medical examiner, her life is quickly thrown to the fray by two “wildly divergent” and “chilling” murders.

Simultaneously, Scarpetta is tasked with a lead role for the highly classified Doomsday Commission, when catastrophe plagues scientists at a top-secret laboratory in outer space. It’s up to Scarpetta to solve both murders and an unknown plague, all while attempting to hold her strained marriage together. It’s a tale of guts, spirit, brains, brawn, and tireless commitment to doing what’s right.

This relaunch of the electrifying, and critically acclaimed Scarpetta Novels finds author Patricia Cornwell at the top of her game, still thrillingly capable of lighting readers souls on fire while retaining the heart, drama, and emotion that made the original series a classic of the genre.

Looking for some super soft sheets to beat the thrills and chills while you read? Check out the cotton flannel jersey sheets from our Cozy Flex Collection or the 4-piece modal jersey knit sheets from our McKinley Collection.

3. "The Wish" - Nicholas Sparks

Moving away from the thrills and kills, this next entry is from renowned author Nicholas Sparks (“The Longest Ride,” “Dear John,” and “The Notebook”). In 2019, lauded travel photographer Maggie Dawes spends her impressively active days between running a successful art gallery and photographing remote locations around the globe.

Finding herself grounded for Christmas, and faced with a sobering medical diagnosis, Maggie becomes increasingly reliant on her young assistant–confiding in him with secrets that are closest to her heart. As their bond strengthens, Maggie comes to recount the story of another Christmas season, in 1966, and the love that changed her life forever.

“The Wish,” finds author Nicholas Sparks in top-form–flawlessly executing the raw emotion, complex motivations, and seamless storytelling that’s made him famous. We don’t want to give too much away, but you may want to keep some tissues nearby when reading this career-high romance gem.

4. "The Book of Accidents" - Chuck Wendig

Though we’re many months from Halloween, it’s never too late for a little something spooky. From bestselling author Chuck Wendig (“Wayward” “Wanderers,” “Star Wars: The Aftermath Trilogy”)--”The Book of Accidents” tells the tale of a very unlucky family, returned to their hometown and haunted by ghosts of the past.

Named one of the best books of the Year by New York Public Library and Library Journal, this novel deals with forces of dark magic that find its protagonist's family at the “heart of the battle of good versus evil,” that threatens the soul of the family–”and perhaps all of the world.” However, the Graves have one secret weapon in this generational war: their love for each other.

Lauded as Wendig’s magnum opus, “The Book of Accidents” finds its author in peak condition with a human story blazing with imagination, humanity, magic, cruelty, and glimmers of hope reminiscent of Stephen King classics like “The Shining” and “The Stand.”

We never read horror without cozy sheets that keep the ghouls and goblins asleep. Try out the 100% turkish cotton flannel sheets from our Raye Collection or Lakeview Collection to keep the nightmares at bay (...and your goosebumps wrapped in comfort).

Last but not least, let’s give up a little something for our non-fiction lovers…

5. "Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know" - Malcolm Gladwell

Ever wonder how Fidel Castro wrought havoc on the CIA for a generation–through deception and well-played tactics? How about how UK Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, managed to find himself entranced by the evils’ of Adolf Hitler? From Bernie Madoff and Amanda Knox, to Sylvia Plath and Sandra Bland, “Talking to Strangers” finds author Malcolm Gladwell delving into some of the most troubling, complex, and downright mystifying topics of the modern era.

Through deep and well-researched examinations of these ‘special’ and often confounding cases, Gladwell takes the reader on an intellectually challenging journey that picks apart the tools and strategies we use to make sense of strangers, in an attempt to isolate and understand conflicts and misapprehensions that lead us to unsavory predicaments in our everyday lives.

It’s an expertly written, powerful, and engrossing read that leverages history, psychology, and pop-culture to explain some of our most prominent anthropological blind spots. Just make sure you start this one early. It’s nearly impossible to put down.

Wintertime is only boring if you let it be. We hope this list of current bestsellers can help you fill the time with exciting, engaging, and educational fun that’ll spur plenty of great poolside conversation when Spring finally arrives.

Which books are you adding to your reading list? Tell us all about it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest– where you can also find the latest Great Bay Home tips, news, and exclusive deals. Don’t forget to check us out on Amazon while you’re there!

As always…