10 Essential Books for Students to Read at College

The Secret History (1992)
Donna Tartt
Set within a New England college, this dark literary thriller follows a tight-knit group of Classics peers, bound in friendship by evil secrets. Obsessed with breaking free of mundane life, the novel’s characters play with betrayal and corruption. This enthralling campus novel is beloved by readers who share one thing in common: they can’t look away, even when they should.

Normal People (2020)
Sally Rooney
A beloved student read since its release in 2020, the story of Marianne and Connell is more than a romance. From their small Sligo roots to the intertwined lives they lead at Trinity College, the novel’s characters are complex, modern, lovable and as endlessly frustrating as being a person in one’s early twenties often feels.

Acts Of Desperation (2021)
Megan Nolan
Irish author Megan Nolan depicts the harmful, at times embarrassing lengths young people will go to for the sake of love and longing in this raw yet compassionate novel about a young woman and her failed love affair with an enigmatic man. Painfully modern, this story carved out of love addiction is an anti-romance fit for the age.

The Virgin Suicides (1993)
Jeffrey Eugenides
A dark cult classic told in the second person collective, the story of the Lisbon sisters is told by a group of adolescent boys, albeit with Eugenides’ glorious prose. Still proving relevant, this novel invites readers to question a lack of female autonomy in society, when a girl is viewed as a concept, rather than a fully-fledged person.

The Alchemist (1988)
Paul Coelho
On the surface, Coelho’s timeless tale is about a young man who travels from his homeland in search of a treasure buried in the Egyptian desert. Beneath that synopsis, it’s a short, life changing novel that many deem a necessary read, illustrating the importance of living in the present and appreciating the beauty of now in order to find peace.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (2019)
Ocean Vuong
Vuong’s narrator, Little Dog, brings to life this autofiction narrative of a boy and his immigrant mother, and the connecting thread that binds them together as they navigate life. What emerges is a family history rooted in Vietnam, an exploration of burgeoning sexuality, and an understanding of repressed trauma, as well as the unique love that persists despite it all.

Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)
Kurt Vonnegut
Perhaps because it was banned in schools upon its release in 1969 for violence and language, Slaughterhouse-Five remains hugely popular amongst students. Brimming with satire and wit, this idiosyncratic war novel begs reader to question ingrained philosophies. It’s sad and hilarious, disturbing and enjoyable – the kind of rebellious work that resonates through time.

Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir (2018)
Dolly Alderton
Aside from being a helpful read in one’s confusing early adulthood, Alderton’s recollection of her formative twenties is as amusing and enjoyable as bingeing on a guilty pleasure reality show. The writer’s stark humour, fantastic musical references and reckless tales remind us that love exists in many different forms, inspiring readers to value friendship and joy above all else.

Such A Fun Age (2019)
Kiley Reid
This groundbreaking modern novel on racism and privilege is a multi-layered page-turner tackling perspectives on political correctness. During an age when everything is a necessary debate, the story of Emira and the white family she works for is enlightening and refreshing, an ultimately good-hearted novel which sets out to impact its readers permanently and for the better.

The Bell Jar (1963)
Sylvia Plath
Experiencing a resurgence in popularity, Plath’s moody, dark novel is somewhat of a pop culture emblem. It challenges ideas of the female experience, of depression and empathy, and inspires readers to discuss mental health with raw honesty.

Read the full Part 2 of the Student Special in the current issue of Hot Press, out now: