“Where you lead, I will follow.”
If you sang that in the tune of the 2000s-originated “Gilmore Girls” soundtrack, so did we. In fact, now that we’re on the brink of the fall season, we’re just about to drink coffee out of our Luke’s mug, wear all the preppy-classic sweaters and follow Rory Gilmore’s reading challenge to a T.
What is Rory’s reading challenge, you may ask? Allow us to give a recap.
What is Rory Gilmore’s reading challenge?
In nearly every episode, Rory Gilmore is found underneath a tree, walking to class or lying on her bed with a book in hand. As an ambitious high school student with dreams of walking through the iron gates of the Ivy Leagues, they’re usually classics, thought-provoking literary fiction, memoirs, and must-reads.
Representing Rory’s love of books, the Rory Gilmore book challenge highlights a wide assortment of literary classics across all genres — both fiction and nonfiction — that Rory has been shown reading or talking about.
RELATED: Best beach reads for summer
How many books does Rory Gilmore read in the show?
Rory Gilmore’s reading challenge consists of 408 books in total.
On a mission to diversify our own personal reading experience, we’ve sampled Rory Gilmore’s reading challenge. Ahead, you’ll find our top picks that stand out from the lengthy list.
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“Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen
Goodreads rating: 4.08/5 stars
About the book: “Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen explores the contrasting approaches to love and marriage of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, as they navigate societal expectations and personal challenges in 19th-century England.
As one of the best classics I’ve read, “Sense and Sensibility” is the underdog novel compared to the author’s “Pride and Prejudice” and focuses a bit more on relationship dynamics that are applicable to everyday life.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“1984” by George Orwell
Goodreads rating: 4.19/5 stars
About the book: “1984” by George Orwell is a dystopian novel that depicts a totalitarian regime’s extreme surveillance and control over every aspect of life, erasing individuality and truth to maintain its oppressive power.
Once you read “1984” by George Orwell, you’ll never stop thinking about it. Exploring the themes of power and the removal of individuality, it’s a thought-provoking novel that is a full-motion film as well.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Kindle
“The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion
Goodreads rating: 3.93/5 stars
About the book: “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion is a poignant memoir that explores the author’s experiences of grief and mourning following the sudden death of her husband and the prolonged illness of her only daughter.
If you love reading good writing, “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion is a classic that’s respected by every journalism professor and lover of language. Written in the style of an essay, this memoir is both heartfelt and captivating.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
Goodreads rating: 4.26/5 stars
About the book: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a novel that addresses racial injustice and moral growth through the eyes of a young girl, Scout Finch, as her father, Atticus Finch, defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman in the racially divided American South.
It’s not just for high school summer reading. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a classic for a reason and one of Rory Gilmore’s favorites. Its blunt themes of racial divides make it a conversation piece that will foster continuous learning.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith
Goodreads rating: 4.30/5 stars
About the book: “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith is a coming-of-age novel that follows the struggles and expectations of Francie Nolan, a young girl growing up in poverty in early 20th-century Brooklyn, as she strives for a better life despite numerous hardships.
We love a resilient character, and that’s exactly who Francie Nolan is. Smart, moving, and truthfully, one of the greatest novels, it’s one we highly recommend.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“11/22/63” by Stephen King
Goodreads rating: 4.34/5 stars
About the book: “11/22/63” by Stephen King is a sci-fi thriller about a high school teacher who discovers a time portal to the past and attempts to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, only to face unforeseen consequences and challenges along the way.
“11/22/63” by Stephen King may be the best of Rory Gilmore’s book list. With one of the most engaging plots, King takes you through history in this immersive read that’s action-packed and filled with heart. It’s also a mini-series on Amazon Prime Video.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom
Goodreads rating: 3.99/5 stars
About the book: “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom is a novel that follows the journey of Eddie, a maintenance worker who, after dying, encounters five people from his life and learns how his actions and relationships impacted others in unexpected ways.
If you want to truly assess life’s greatest questions, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom is the book for you. It remains a true favorite and will have you thinking more fully about the relationships in your personal and professional life.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Joy
Goodreads rating: 3.96/5 stars
About the book: “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy is a poignant novel that explores the tragic consequences of forbidden love and societal constraints through the intertwined lives of fraternal twins in 1960s Kerala, India.
Sweet and powerful, “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Joy is a book similar in theme to “1984” by George Orwell as it navigates oppression, individuality, and relationships. It will have you engaged the whole way through.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
Goodreads rating: 4.35/5 stars
About the book: “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini is a moving novel about the complex friendship between two boys in Afghanistan, marked by betrayal and redemption, as one man returns to his homeland to confront his past and seek forgiveness.
Remarkable in so many ways, “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini is exquisite, powerful and bound to have you crying. The author does a phenomenal job of representing perfectly imperfect characters in a beautiful way.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides
Goodreads rating: 4.03/5 stars
About the book: “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides is a novel that traces the life of an intersex individual, exploring their unique identity and experiences while reflecting on the broader themes of family, immigration and self-discovery across multiple generations.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, “Middlesex” deserves all of the lauding. Its main character remains one of our favorites and it’s one of those “books you have to read before you die.”
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“The Nanny Diaries” by Emma McLaughlin
Goodreads rating: 3.46/5 stars
About the book: “The Nanny Diaries” by Emma McLaughlin is a satirical novel that offers a candid look at the life of a young nanny working for a wealthy New York City family, highlighting the challenges and absurdities of her job and the complexities of class and privilege.
Yes, there are some fun, of-the-times Rory Gilmore reading list books, and “The Nanny Diaries” is one of them, exploring social classes through the life of a young and witty woman. For a lighthearted read, this one is your winner.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Goodreads rating: 3.93/5 stars
About the book: “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that critiques the American Dream through the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy and enigmatic man whose obsessive pursuit of love and status leads to disastrous consequences in the opulent yet morally corrupt world of 1920s New York.
This favorites list would be incomplete without a mention of “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Its motion picture is a hit on Amazon Prime Video and it’s filled with all the feels of the 20s.
Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Kindle
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