Melanie Hamrick recommends 6 enthralling reads that keep you guessing
The ballet dancer suggests books from Delia Owens, Colleen Hoover and more

When you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission
Former American Ballet Theatre dancer Melanie Hamrick launched her choreography career with a ballet set to Rolling Stones songs written by her partner, Mick Jagger. Her debut novel, "First Position," follows a ballerina drawn into a tempestuous affair.
Manon Lescaut by Abbé Prévost (1731)
I'm in the middle of this one and I love it so much! "Manon Lescaut" is also an opera and a ballet, so I was very curious to read what those works are based on. It's the story of two young lovers, set in France and Louisiana in the 18th century. The novel was banned for being provocative when it first came out — which of course piqued my interest. I'm also reading it as research for a new novel I'm writing. Buy it here.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Turnout by Megan Abbott (2021)
I loved this story about a small-town ballet school and its internal politics. It's so interesting and authentic. And Megan Abbott writes so well about the world of young ballet dancers. Buy it here.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (2018)
I'm in awe of Delia Owens. This best-selling novel about an abandoned girl who raises herself in the marshlands of North Carolina is so beautifully written. Kya Clark endures shame and loneliness but is so strong and resilient. She may be young, but she's a better person than most of the adults around her. Buy it here.
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan (2012)
This memoir is one of my favorite books of all time. Cahalan was in her 20s when she was struck by a rare autoimmune disorder that causes potentially deadly inflammation of the brain. It's the story of a young woman being misdiagnosed over and over as she searches for answers and treatment. Buy it here.
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (2022)
The plot of this novel is incredible. A mother witnesses her son commit a murder and seizes on an unexpected chance to save him — something I'm sure any mother would want to do for her child. From there, the plot gets quite complicated, with twists around every corner, and it's brilliantly done. Buy it here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Verity by Colleen Hoover (2018)
From beginning to end, this is a page-turner. The plot is intense, and kept surprising me. A struggling writer hired to finish another woman's series of best-selling novels falls into an affair with the novelist's husband. I was shocked by the events that followed — and I still think about the ending. Buy it here.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
-
Gaza is running out of cash
Under The Radar Palestinians pay the price as black market springs up around banknotes and coins
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Law firms: Caving to White House pressure
Feature Trump targets major law firms tied to his past investigations
By The Week US Published
-
Venezuelan deportees: Locked up for tattoos?
Feature A former pro soccer player was deported after U.S. authorities claimed his tattoo proved he belonged to a Venezuelan gang
By The Week US Published
-
John McWhorter’s 6 favorite books that are rooted in history
Feature The Columbia University professor recommends works by Lyla Sage, Sally Thorne, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Abdulrazak Gurnah's 6 favorite books about war and colonialism
Feature The Nobel Prize winner recommends works by Michael Ondaatje, Toni Morrison, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Elliot Ackerman’s 6 favorite books on war and duty
Feature The Marine veteran recommends works by Robert A. Heinlein, John le Carré, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Xochitl Gonzalez’s 6 favorite books that shaped her storytelling
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Stephen King, Julian Barnes, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Jason Isaacs's 6 favorite books that changed his perception on life
Feature The British actor recommends works by George Orwell, C.S. Lewis, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Tessa Bailey's 6 favorite books for hopeless romantics
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Lyla Sage, Sally Thorne, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Pagan Kennedy's 6 favorite books that inspire resistance
Feature The author recommends works by Patrick Radden Keefe, Margaret Atwood, and more
By The Week US Published
-
John Sayles' 6 favorite works that left a lasting impression
Feature The Oscar-nominated screenwriter recommends works by William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, and more
By The Week US Published