Recommendations based on The Basic Eightby Daniel Handler

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Who Could That Be at This Hour?

    by Lemony Snicket
    A young Lemony Snicket begins his apprenticeship with a mysterious organization, investigating a theft in a strange town.

    The novel begins with a cover sheet indicating a recipient named "Walleye", CCed to the V.F.D. headquarters. The story begins in the Hemlock Tearoom and Stationery Shop, where a twelve-year-old ... (Wikipedia)

  2. Why We Broke Up

    by Daniel Handler
    A young girl recounts the story of her failed relationship with a complex boy.

    Min Green and Ed Slaterton, a high school junior and senior basketball jock , respectively, ended their relationship, which lasted from October 5 to November 12. The story takes the form of a letter ... (Wikipedia)

  3. Two Can Keep a Secret

    by Karen M. McManus
    Ellery and her twin brother move to a small town with a dark past, where secrets and murders resurface.

    "When it comes to YA suspense, Karen M. McManus is in a league of her own. Fresh off her best-selling breakout, One of Us Is Lying, . . . the author has returned with a juicy second novel. It's even ... (Barnes & Noble)

  4. The Bad Beginning

    by Lemony Snicket
    Three orphans must use their wits to survive a cruel and unusual guardian.

    Dear Reader, I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and ... (Goodreads)

  5. The Royal We

    by Heather Cocks
    A modern fairytale of a young woman's romance with a prince, and the challenges of life as a royal.

    An American girl finds her prince in this "fun and dishy" (, People,) royal romance inspired by Prince William and Kate Middleton.,American Bex Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister ... (Barnes & Noble)

  6. Kitchen

    by Banana Yoshimoto
    A young woman's journey of self-discovery and healing, exploring the kitchen of her dreams.

    From Mikage's love of kitchens to her job as a culinary teacher's assistant to the multiple scenes in which food is merely present, Kitchen is a short window into the life of a young Japanese woman ... (Wikipedia)

  7. The Raven Boys

    by Maggie Stiefvater
    Four friends on a supernatural quest to find a magical Welsh king.

    The Raven Cycle follows the story of Blue Sargent, Richard Gansey III, Adam Parrish, Ronan Lynch, and Noah Czerny as they attempt to find the sleeping Welsh King Owain Glendower who is buried on the ... (Wikipedia)

  8. The Secret History

    by Donna Tartt
    A small group of misfit college students uncover a sinister secret and their lives become entangled with dangerous consequences.

    Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the ... (Goodreads)

  9. Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography

    by Lemony Snicket
    A mysterious narrator's tongue-in-cheek account of his own life, filled with dark humor.

    A Warning from the Publisher: Many readers have questions about Lemony Snicket, author of the distressing serial concerning the trials of the charming but unlucky Baudelaire orphans, published under ... (Goodreads)

  10. Await Your Reply

    by Dan Chaon
    Three characters, each with a mysterious past, search for identity and connection.

    The lives of three strangers interconnect in unforeseen ways and with unexpected consequences in acclaimed author Dan Chaon's gripping, brilliantly written new novel. Longing to get on with his life, ... (Goodreads)

  11. On the Jellicoe Road

    by Melina Marchetta
    A young girl's search for her identity and her place in the world.

    I'm dreaming of the boy in the tree. I tell him stories. About the Jellicoe School and the Townies and the Cadets from a school in Sydney. I tell him about the war between us for territory. And I ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Far Reaching Tentacles of N'rygoth

    by Kurtis J. Wiebe
    A young mage's quest to reclaim an ancient relic, battling forces of darkness.

    A brand-new, booze-soaked tale of the Rat Queens reveals a growing menace within the very walls of Palisade. And while Dee may have run from her past, the bloated, blood-feasting sky god N’rygoth ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. Here I Am

    by Jonathan Safran Foer
    A multi-generational Jewish family struggles to make sense of the chaos of the 21st century.

    Christian Lorentzen has described the plot as a blend of several different events, including "[a] divorce, a suicide, a bar mitzvah, an earthquake, an all-out Middle Eastern war, and the putting to ... (Wikipedia)

  14. Freedom

    by Jonathan Franzen
    A family saga revealing the struggles of a divided nation, and the power of love to heal.

    The novel opens with a brief look at the Berglund family during their time living in St. Paul, Minnesota , from the perspective of their nosy neighbors. The Berglunds are portrayed as an ideal ... (Wikipedia)

  15. S.

    by J.J. Abrams
    A mysterious novel within a novel, filled with clues and secrets, as two readers try to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic author and his work.

    One book. Two readers. A world of mystery, menace, and desire. A young woman picks up a book left behind by a stranger. Inside it are his margin notes, which reveal a reader entranced by the story ... (Goodreads)

  16. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

    by Rachel Cohn
    Two teens in New York City embark on an unforgettable night of music and adventure.

    It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who's just walked in to his band's show. With a new guy. And then, ... (Goodreads)

  17. The Diviners

    by Libba Bray
    In 1920s New York City, a group of young people with supernatural abilities must come together to stop a dark force from unleashing chaos on the city.

    SOMETHING DARK AND EVIL HAS AWAKENED… Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act

    by Kieron Gillen
    A group of gods incarnated as humans must choose between creating a utopia or facing destruction.

    The narrative focuses on a group of people with superhuman powers known as "The Pantheon". Each member of The Pantheon was at one point a normal person before being chosen to merge with the spirit of ... (Wikipedia)

  19. Under the Skin

    by Michel Faber
    A mysterious woman's journey of self-exploration and recognition of her own humanity.

    The novel begins with Isserley picking up hitchhikers. Gradually, it is revealed she is an alien, originally somewhat canine in form, who has been surgically altered to look like a human woman, thus ... (Wikipedia)

  20. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

    by Michael Chabon
    Two cousins create a comic book superhero and find success and adventure in 1940s New York.

    The novel begins in 1939 with the arrival of 19-year-old Josef "Joe" Kavalier as a refugee in New York City , where he comes to live with his 17-year-old cousin, Sammy Klayman. With the help of his ... (Wikipedia)

  21. Cloud Atlas

    by David Mitchell
    A dynamic narrative spanning centuries, exploring the interconnectedness of humanity.

    The book consists of six nested stories; each is read or observed by a main character of the next, thus they progress in time through the central sixth story. The first five stories are each ... (Wikipedia)

  22. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

    by Michael Chabon
    A young man's journey of exploration and self-discovery, discovering a world of crime and excitement in his hometown.

    Art Bechstein is the son of a mob money launderer , who wants him to succeed in a legitimate career (He has even set up a job for him at the end of the summer in Baltimore at a financial firm managed ... (Wikipedia)

  23. Blue Lily, Lily Blue

    by Maggie Stiefvater
    A magical journey to save a lost kingdom and find one's true identity.

    The third installment in the all-new series from the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater! Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can ... (Goodreads)

  24. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

    by Hank Green
    A young woman becomes an overnight celebrity after discovering a mysterious statue. But fame comes at a cost.

    Protagonist April May discovers a large robot sculpture in Midtown Manhattan . She and her friend Andy Skampt decide to film it and post the video online, which goes viral and makes April an ... (Wikipedia)

  25. Scott Pilgrim, Volume 4: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together

    by Bryan Lee O'Malley
    A slacker's journey to becoming a mature adult, with the help of his friends.

    That’s right, folks! Put down the video game controller! Skip that rehearsal for your band! Make whatever sacrifices you must to those comic gods you hold so dear! Just make sure you’re ready because ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. Sass & Sorcery

    by Kurtis J. Wiebe
    A fantasy adventure of a mischievous sorceress and a daring prince, facing a powerful enemy.

    The eponymous "Rat Queens" are a rambunctious party of adventurers in a medieval fantasy setting. They comprise the rockabilly elven mage Hannah, the hipster dwarven warrior Violet who shaved her ... (Wikipedia)

  27. The Raven King

    by Maggie Stiefvater
    Young adults embark on a mysterious journey, unraveling secrets of a supernatural world.

    The Raven Cycle follows the story of Blue Sargent, Richard Gansey III, Adam Parrish, Ronan Lynch, and Noah Czerny as they attempt to find the sleeping Welsh King Owain Glendower who is buried on the ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal

    by G. Willow Wilson
    A teenage girl discovers her superpowers and struggles to balance her heroic and personal lives.

    Marvel Comics presents the new Ms. Marvel, the groundbreaking heroine that has become an international sensation! Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she's suddenly empowered ... (Goodreads)

  29. Less Than Zero

    by Bret Easton Ellis
    A young man returns to his hometown of Los Angeles and becomes disillusioned with the empty and hedonistic lifestyle of his wealthy friends.

    The novel follows the life of Clay, a rich, young college student who has returned to his hometown of Los Angeles , California for winter break circa 1984. Through first-person narration , Clay ... (Wikipedia)

  30. Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West

    by Cormac McCarthy
    A violent and bloody western epic, exploring the depths of human depravity.

    An epic novel of the violence and depravity that attended America's westward expansion, Blood Meridian brilliantly subverts the conventions of the Western novel and the mythology of the "wild west." ... (Barnes & Noble)