18 Long Books That Are Actually Worth the Time Investment
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Our TBR (that's "to be read") pile is infinite, but time is (unfortunately) finite. That means a solid book recommendation is a crucial time-saver, especially when considering a hefty read. Trust me, you really do want to know if that 800-page saga is a page-turner before it's too late.
To find which reads are actually worth investing loads of precious reading time, we posed a question to our trusty and super knowledgeable POPSUGAR Book Club: Which lengthy books (350 pages or more) have you read that are actually worth the time investment? As always, the POPSUGAR Book Club community delivered, providing a wide range of recommendations. From classics like The Count of Monte Cristo to contemporary titles (think: The Goldfinch), there's an ambitious book below for every kind of reader.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
"A Little Life was excellent! It's a big read . . . but so worth it! It's very emotional, compelling, and thoughtful." — Quand R.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
"I felt [the Outlander series] was worth it because I love historical fiction/romance/fantasy. It had a little bit of everything and [the main character] Claire is such a strong woman. She's not one of these characters that you're like, 'Why are you doing that?? I would not do that!' She's a strong woman who stands up for herself in a time when women couldn't speak for themselves very often." — Allison R.
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
"I just finished The Warmth of Other Suns. So eye-opening and meticulously researched. It should be required reading." — Victoria V.
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
"[The Heart's Invisible Furies] needed all 582 pages to tell you about all of the ups and downs of Cyril Avery's life. You live in Cyril's world, you get to know him and love him and feel for him. I'm so glad I read it, Cyril is now one of my favourite characters I have ever read." — Ashley C.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
"Not one of [A Suitable Boy's] thousand-odd pages felt unnecessary. (Although maybe read it in the three-volume version to avoid wrist strain!)" – Lesley D.
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
"The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert is 501 pages. I read it about two years ago, and I keep remembering flashes of it, even now. No other book I've read in the past few years has affected me like that. The minutiae she went into about moss, of all things, fascinated me." — Saara M.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J Maas
"The A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas, the first fantasy/romance series I've ever read. I was hooked immediately and couldn't put the books down once I picked them up. Seven days straight of non-stop reading, and it was so, SO worth it. I actually wished each book could be longer so I could be immersed in that world longer." — Taylor C.
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
"[Les Misérables] a masterful exploration of injustice and punishment that absolutely holds up today." Rebecca T.
The Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel
"Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy. The last one, The Mirror and the Light, is 700+ pages, but the whole series is amazing! It's taking me ages, but I never want to leave! In general, historical fiction makes great long stories/series." — Liz D.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
"I was so enamoured with the characters and the storyline [in War and Peace] that I had to know what happens to them and it was so worth every word." — Stephanie L.
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Renae R. called The Overstory "incredibly moving," adding, "I was constantly looking forward to reading more."
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Tara C. said,"At 500 pages, [The Starless Sea was way longer than I usually would choose, but I wanted to experience that world." Fellow POPSUGAR Book Club group member Ann D. agreed that this story was worth the time investment. "[T]his has been one of my favourites this year," she said. "At the end, I was feeling so happy and content. Definitely magical."
Salem's Lot by Stephen King
"75 percent of [Salem's Lot] takes place before the actual horror element really comes in to play, but it built up the suspense and tension so much more." — Elsa P.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
"[The Other Boleyn Girl is very well written and just an amazing story. It's such a wonderfully different view of the court of Henry VIII. Totally recommend reading it." — Kara S.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
"It took me a hot minute to finish [The Goldfinch] and it can be slow in some parts but it's just so good, in my opinion." — Maxie F.
Doc by Mary Doria Russell
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Count of Monte Cristo was one of the most frequently mentioned novels that's worth setting aside a big chunk of time to finish. Clocking in at a lengthy 640 pages, this classic will keep you occupied for a while.
All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness
Several group members recommended the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness, which was also adapted into a TV series.
