Memorable Books from Our Publishing Careers
Since beginning our careers in publishing, each of us here at Borrow. Read. Repeat. has worked with special books that stand out in our memories—both in moments when a book broke out into the zeitgeist and in more intimate moments when a book changed us as readers.
Recently, we were reminiscing about these books, and have gathered some of our most memorable staff picks spanning more than 3 decades. Check them out!
Elizabeth’s Pick:
The Da Vinci Code: A Novel by Dan Brown
“I remember first holding the Advance Reader Copy of this now legendary book. It is the only pre-publication book that I have ever received with a companion bookmark, one featuring Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. The premise, the package, and the constant chatter in the office all pointed to a huge publication. That evening, I traveled home to Hoboken on the PATH train telling all of my 20-somthing friends about this upcoming book, feeling like a true publishing insider. Those same (now slightly older) friends still talk about hearing me go on and on about Dan Brown’s novel.”
Elizabeth
The #1 worldwide bestselling phenomenon, with more than 85 million copies sold.
“Blockbuster perfection . . . A gleefully erudite suspense novel.”—The New York Times
Available in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Also Available for Young Adults: The Da Vinci Code (The Young Adult Adaptation)
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Maureen’s Picks:
The Girl on the Train: A Novel by Paula Hawkins
“I still remember when Sarah McGrath, editor of The Girl on the Train, first talked about this book to a room of librarians at a pre-pub event—and the room audibly gasped during her presentation. Something about this book immediately took hold and, as history already tells us, the buzz was real. This was the first “big book” experience of my publishing career, and I’ll never forget watching the Riverhead team update the number for how many weeks it was on the bestseller list on their dry-erase board as I walked to my desk in the morning—I think it was more than 80!”
Maureen
The psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people’s lives, from the author of Into the Water and A Slow Fire Burning.
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Hausfrau: A Novel by Jill Alexander Essbaum
“I will forever remember Hausfrau. Not only did it bring me together with new colleagues at my first Penguin Random House book club gathering, but it also shocked me with its “unhappy ending.” Sure, I could easily find the dark books I loved to read in the horror section, but—categorized as Women’s Fiction—this wolf in sheep’s clothing showed me that I could also find what I was looking for in unexpected places and opened me up to exploring new authors and genres.”
Maureen
Anna was a good wife, mostly.
A striking novel of marriage, fidelity, sex, and morality, featuring a fascinating heroine who struggles to live a life with meaning.
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Jen R.’s Picks:
And Then We Grew Up: On Creativity, Potential, and the Imperfect Art of Adulthood by Rachel Friedman, Read on Audio by Me! (Jennifer Rubins) with a Note read by the Author
“I remember when this galley landed on my desk, I was immediately drawn to the colorful cover and a curiosity about the subtitle that instantly spoke to me. I NEEDED to read this thanks to a sneaking suspicion and that magical bookish feeling: this was written for me and somehow found me at the right time. And it was true. I deeply connected with author Rachel Friedman’s exploration of what it means to be an artist and how that can shift and change into unexpected new possibilities in adulthood—if we let it. And in some truly meant-to-be creative kismet, my pursuit to interview the author landed me an audition to narrate the audiobook . . . and I got the job. It was incredibly meaningful to combine my personal connection to Rachel’s work with my own experience as an actor, and to literally speak the vital message of what And Then We Grew Up is all about. And the icing on the cake? I won an AudioFile Earphones Award for my audiobook narration! I am so grateful to this book for how it inspired me and empowered me to embrace the artist I have always been.”
Jen R.
A journey through the many ways to live an artistic life—from the flashy and famous to the quiet and steady—full of unexpected insights about creativity and contentment, from the author of The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost.
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook, Read by Jennifer Rubins & Rachel Friedman
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
“I still find myself talking about this book over ten years after reading it, bringing up random fascinating facts, and finding the relevance time and again that informs so much of what we do. This holds a forever spot on my shelf, and I know I will reread to refresh my memory on these ideas. “
Jen R.
This instant classic explores how we can change our lives by changing our habits.
Available in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Kate’s Pick:
Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
“Spare was announced shortly after I joined Penguin Random House, and acted as a perfect early-career example of just how prolific some books can become.”
Kate
Discover the global phenomenon that tells an unforgettable story of love, loss, courage, and healing.
Available in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Sharnell’s Picks:
Where the Crawdads Sing: A Novel by Delia Owens
“I’d heard some great buzz about this one around the sales office, so even though it was outside my usual rom-com wheelhouse, I gave it a listen. Pretty soon, I was on the edge of my seat, totally sucked in—and that’s when I really understood just how powerful a story can be.”
Sharnell
The #1 New York Times bestselling worldwide sensation with more than 15 million copies sold, “a painfully beautiful first novel that is at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature” (The New York Times Book Review).
Available in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
My Lovely Wife: A Novel by Samantha Downing
“This is the book that made me fall in love with thrillers! After finishing it, I went on a month-long thriller binge . . . which did not do my anxiety any favors.”
Sharnell
Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting.
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Rachel’s Picks:
All the Colors of the Dark: A Novel by Chris Whitaker
“This is a very special piece of fiction, and I remember the excitement surrounding Chris Whitaker joining our list. After working with him in person, learning his story and the role libraries played in his life, I was reminded of why the work we do is so important.”
Rachel
From the author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that “hits like a sledgehammer . . . an absolutely must-read novel” (Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl).
Available in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Also Available in Spanish: Todos los colores de la oscuridad
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
House of Leaves: A Novel by Mark Z. Danielewski
“Love stories masquerading as horror are my raison d’être. At its heart, House of Leaves is a story of a family grappling with demons, and of falling and fighting for love against harrowing odds. I think about this book constantly and the madness it induces. Read at your own risk, and reap the reward.”
Rachel
A masterpiece of horror and an astonishingly immersive, maze-like reading experience that redefines the boundaries of a novel.
Available in Hardcover and Trade Paperback Editions.
Miriam’s Picks:
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2022: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success by Richard N. Bolles with Katherine Brooks, EdD
“At the heart of Bolle’s What Color Is Your Parachute? is the Flower Exercise. And this self-inventory led me to pursue a career in books.”
Miriam
With timeless advice, up-to-the-minute insights, and more than ten million copies sold over fifty years, the world’s most popular and best-selling career guide is fully revised and expanded for 2022.
Available in Trade Paperback and eBook Editions.
Rules of Civility: A Novel by Amor Towles
“Set in the late 1930s, this astonishing debut is one of my most favorite New York stories.”
Miriam
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway and A Gentleman in Moscow, a “sharply stylish” (Boston Globe) book about a young woman in post-Depression era New York who suddenly finds herself thrust into high society.
Available in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Also Available in Spanish: Normas de cortesía
Kelly’s Picks:
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel by Gail Honeyman
“I remember standing in the kitchen in the office and people were talking about how they never wanted so much to hug a character—this book truly was a collective in house favorite—I read the entire book on my phone on a road trip to Ohio—and was so sad when it ended.”
Kelly
Smart, warm, uplifting, the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes the only way to survive is to open her heart.
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Also Available in Spanish: Eleanor Oliphant está perfectamente
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Plainsong: A Novel by Kent Haruf
“This was the first book I worked on professionally when I thought, ‘wow. we can really change people with what we do.’ One of the most special books I have ever read.”
Kelly
This poignant novel weaves together the lives of a high school teacher, a pregnant teenage girl, and two elderly bachelor brothers, capturing the essence of human resilience and community across four generations.
Available in Trade Paperback and eBook Editions.
Also Available in Spanish: La canción de la llanura
Jen C.’s Pick:
Confessions of a Shopaholic: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella
“ I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard while reading a book as I did with Confessions of a Shopaholic. Sophie Kinsella has a gift for joyful, witty writing, that can sometimes make you squirm with embarrassment for the characters, even as you laugh out loud! I have such fond memories of my first introduction to Becky Bloomwood—I consider her a dear literary friend. I gobbled up every subsequent Shopaholic book that we published.”
Jen C.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Party Crasher and Love Your Life comes “a hilarious tale . . . hijinks worthy of classic I Love Lucy episodes . . . too good to pass up.” (USA Today)
Available in Trade Paperback and eBook Editions.
Click for More Books in the Shopaholic Series