books

"It's the best literary love story of all time." 15 books the Mamamia team just keep re-reading.

Whether it's to pull us out of a reading slump, get that well-known dose of comfort, or take our favourite story in again with fresh eyes; repeat reads are a rare piece of magic.

Amongst a never-ending list of books sitting on our to-be read pile, taking days or weeks out of precious reading time to come back to a story we've read before takes high acclaim.

Particularly amongst a group of reading afficionados like the Mamamia team. 

Side note: You can check out our Pop Culture Editor Keryn Donnelly's top five thriller recommendations right here. Post continues below. 


Video via Mamamia.

So, we decided to take to our community to ask: What are the books you just keep coming back to? 

Because it would be rude not to share 

Here's what they had to say.

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I probably read Pride and Prejudice every few years. I know what to expect and it's just become comfort reading." - Madeline Joannou, Managing Producer of Podcasts.

Anne of Green Gables (the entire series) by L.M. Montgomery

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"The Anne of Green Gables series is filled with the best characters and the best story. It's one of those rare books that you can enjoy and find something new at any age. It's also the best literary love story of all time." - Laura Brodnik, Entertainment Editor and The Spill co-host and Producer.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"Anyone who knows me well has had me force this book upon them. I read it once every few years, just to reunite myself with the characters and check in on them (Camilla, how you doing?). It will forever be the book that changed me, that haunts me, and keeps me spellbound every time. It's simply unforgettable." - Tamara Davis, Head of Lifestyle.

The Women's Room by Marilyn French

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I first read The Women's Room in my mid-twenties and it was a proper feminist awakening. It's just as relevant today." - Laura Jackel, Content Producer.

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I don't really read much, but Watermelon by Marian Keyes is a book I will be picking up for a re-read over the holidays." - Lucy Neville.

Cloudstreet by Tim Winton

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"It’s a great Aussie book, and I read it every summer." - Lize Ratliff, Head of Podcasts.

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"The Shell Seekers is a story that shifts backwards and forwards in time and tells the story of Penelope Keeling, the daughter of unconventional parents and her three adult children. It's a cosy, but sometimes gut-wrenching story about family, love and loss." - Laura Brodnik, Entertainment Editor and The Spill co-host and Producer.

Just Kids by Patti Smith

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I re-read Just Kids by Patti Smith at least once a year. It's an unbelievably heartbreaking story, but Smith is a brilliant writer and it totally transports you into the grimy, crazy NYC art scene in the 60s/70s." - Caitlin Bailey, Head of Partner Strategy.

Tully by Paullina Simons

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I picked this book up at random as a young teen when I was sick and took it to bed with me. My god. I was positively plunged into this intense and deeply emotional story. I loved Tully, I hated her. I laughed, I cried, I threw it across the room then raced to pick it back up. I re-read it every few years and each time it slays me in a different way at every life stage. I feel like I have grown up with this book." - Polly Taylor, Commissioning Editor.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I have read To Kill a Mockingbird a thousand times and I feel like I learn something new every time I read it." - Rikki Waller, Strategic Partnerships Manager.

The Harry Potter Series

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

"Each year I reread the Harry Potter series. I just love them so much and it transports me back to the summer before I started high school when I read the first four books in the space of a few weeks and then would eagerly await the new book each season." - Nicolle Stuart, Head of People and Culture.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cosmos by Carl Sagan

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

"I'm a bit of a space nut and Cosmos helps me get out of my own head by contemplating how insignificant we are in the vastness of the universe." - Maddie King, Social Media Executive.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

"Great characters, set against the backdrop of magazines in Dublin, a slow-burn love story, and just an overall comfort read." - Laura Brodnik, Entertainment Editor and The Spill co-host and Producer.

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"My brother gifted me Northern Lights when I was nine and I’ve always been so captivated by its fictional universe. But as I’ve grown older and re-read it I have been able to appreciate all the nuances and commentary on the world, beyond it being a great fiction story." - Maddie King, Social Media Executive.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Image: Booktopia / Mamamia 

ADVERTISEMENT

"Jane Eyre is an absolute classic as well as being a great comfort read, especially during a pandemic." - Laura Jackel, Content Producer.

At Mamamia, we independently choose and write about products our writers genuinely recommend. We have affiliate partnerships so if you use these links to buy something, Mamamia may earn a small commission. 

Feature Image: Booktopia / Mamamia.

Love watching TV and movies? Take our survey now to go in the running to win a $100 gift voucher.