You probably hear it every year: “New year, new me!” For some, it’s an annoying jingle. For others, it’s a promise. And why shouldn’t it be?
Our lives are full of new beginnings, sometimes planned, sometimes unexpected. We are creatures of habit, and sometimes it takes outside forces to shake up our lives. That’s what New Year’s is for people — an opportunity to start over. To begin living life… differently.
Beginning anew is such a common idea that there are countless stories written about it — and I’ve collected the best for you to read.
The following 8 novels follow people who were given the chance to start over. May their stories encourage anyone looking for a fresh start of their own.
Maame by Jessica George
Maddie’s life is far from rewarding. At home, she takes care of her ailing father while her overbearing mother spends most of her time in Ghana. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie’s tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting. So when her mom returns from her latest trip, Maddie seizes the chance to move out and start living life. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts”. But when tragedy strikes, Maddie is forced to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils ― and rewards ― of putting her heart on the line.
The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
Valancy Stirling is 29, unmarried, and has never been in love. Living with her overbearing mother and meddlesome aunt, she has lived her life in the shadow of family expectations and societal norms. Her only consolation has been in the “forbidden” books of John Foster and her daydreams of the Blue Castle. But everything changes when a life-altering diagnosis forces Valancy to break free from her repressed existence and pursue the life she has always secretly longed for. As Valancy begins to embrace her newfound courage, she embarks on a journey to the idyllic Blue Castle — a place of dreams, secrets, and unanticipated love.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor’s life is fine. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions — but that all changes when she meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When Eleanor and Raymond save Sammy, an elderly man who fell on the sidewalk, the three become unlikely friends, saving one another from their lives of isolation. Soon, Eleanor learns that life should be better than just “fine” — and Raymond’s big heart helps her find a way to repair her own. (Check out the BookTrib review here.)
Again, but Better by Christine Riccio
Shane’s been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents — sounds ideal! But her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. As life passes her by, she’s in need of a change — so why not move to a new country? That’s sure to mix things up! Shane signs up for a semester in London, where she’ll right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure! But that’s easier said than done. As the complicated realities of living outside her comfort zone come crashing down, self-doubt sneaks its way inside. To make it through, Shane’s going to need a lot of courage and determination — and perhaps a touch of magic.
Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler
The headlines are all the same: “Baltimore Woman Disappears During Family Vacation.” But Delia didn’t disappear. She ran. Exhausted with her routine and everyone else’s plans for her, Delia needed an out, a chance to make a new life for herself and to become a different person. The new Delia can let go of all the hurt and resentment that left her stuck in her past. As she eagerly sheds the pieces of herself she no longer needs, Delia discovers feelings of passion and wonder she’d long since forgotten. The thrill of walking away from it all leads to a newfound sense of self and the feeling that she is, finally, the star of her own life story.
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they’re thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister and her husband. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents’ rejection, they try to keep a low profile in a new school. But Ben’s attempts to survive unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan’s friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.
Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy — until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life, but that’s hard to do when she can’t even hold onto her shoes. That’s because Sam Kemp — at the bleakest point of her life — accidentally took Nisha’s gym bag. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence makes her realize something must change — and that thing is herself. (Check out the BookTrib review here.)
The Fortune Cookie Writer by Nina Navisky
Dog walker by day and fortune cookie writer by night, Marissa is broke. Blindsided by divorce, all she wants now is to support her musically gifted son, Owen. Marissa’s fortunes seem to turn when she’s offered the job of cooking dinners for Rose, an irritable widow in her apartment building. While the job proves more difficult than expected, Marissa begins to uncover secrets of Rose’s past. As Owen’s future darkens, Rose’s devastating past is revealed — leaving Marissa to decide how to create good fortune for the three of them.
