Best Selling True Story Books (2025 Updated)

Oh my goodness! You absolutely will not believe the horrors that went on when you read this book! It grabbed my attention right away and I read it in a couple days. It was so good and so incredibly sad at the same time.

It will definitely leave you questioning how something like this went on for so long and who did no one say anything. Easily the best book I’ve read so far this year!.

So it’s been a while since a book has really grabbed me, and I am a true crime nerd. The accounts mentioned in here about Shelly Knotek is absolutely horrifying and you just simply will not believe what you will read.

This book is not for the faint of heart but absolutely worth it if you are into non-fiction and true crime.

What a great book!! I like true crime stories! It does go into detail about the abuse that took place which can be cringeworthy at times but makes you feel connected to the victims in wanting justice for them all, It makes you sad, and angry at the same but it does come to a satisfying end.

A must read!!!.

A fantastic read a great Mitch Albom book. Had expected a paperback and got a hard back copy which was a lovely surprize, but it was well worn and looked very sorry for itself which was disappointing as I had brought it with the purpose of giving it to someone who was ill who needed a great book to read that would uplift and inspire.

Wob is still a great supplier of books and will continue to use.

Mitch Albom has an extraordinary talent for writing in an easy to read way while providing the reader with a powerful story at the same time. Here we have him telling us about two amazing individuals and the lives they have each lived.

One a rabbi and the other a preacher. Each came from polar opposite beginnings and ended up as pillars of their community for their faith. This book delves deep into each of their lives to tell their stories.

Worth the read. In some ways, this was better than Tuesdays with Morrie.

I recently read this wonderful excellent book. So good, I had to purchase a couple for my friends – hence this purchase.

My four year old loves this witty twist on the three little pigs. I enjoy reading this one as well!

This was my favorite book as a child, I read it to my oldest child when she was younger and lost my copy. I just recently got it to read to my 2 little ones and they adore it. It is a fun way to give the other side of the story and my kids love me acting like the Big Bad Wolf.

I love that we finally get to hear the Wolf’s side of the story. This a great spin on a classic story. I love reading this book to my daughter. I have also purchased many copies for friends and family.

Every year, (not 2020) Point Pleasant VW USA has a ‘Mothman Festival’ weekend in September. I attended in 2019 as a ‘curiosity’. I chose not to purchase this book, believing it was a ‘movie tie-in’ of a somewhat obscure Richard Gere movie nowadays.

Nothing could be further from the truth. This book is almost like the Author literally transcribing from a pocket recorder events and locations from this region. Something happened here (I am sure of that), did I see something – No.

Probably lucky. The Author has a very engaging, flowing narration of some very strange events that he and others lived through. Should ‘stand alone’ as a book with some very interesting postulations in the past about a continued world wide strangeness, that many would choose to ignore.

very entertaining and informative. at times it seems to drag but still enjoyable content. i would recommend to any ufologist or fan of the unusual.

Okay, long before Hunter Thompson found fear and loathing in las vegas with his gonzo journalism style – John Keel found fear and loathing in point pleasant west virginia and wrote all about it in what would one day be called the Gonzo Journalism Style.

Keel is a great, down to earth, man of consideration who strolls his way in to UFO history wih his very accurate portrayal of events surrounding the Mothman incident(s). And the great part is – he refuses to form any kind of biased opinion of the events – and lets you take his story in the form he found it – as an adventure without the benifit of greater context.

This was the first book about UFOs I read as a child and in re-reading it now I’m still learning from these pages. An excellent investment for interested folks of almost all ages. And a great introduction to the role and duties of a paranormal investigator.

If you’re interested enough in first hand experience to be reading this review then I suggest just buying this one. I know my library isn’t complete without it – and I regularly loan it to others with similar interests.

Helen was surprised to find a great person and friend in Sully. Sully was surprised to find that Helen and he not much in common except needing a friend and confident. They both fell for the other and in the end could not do without the other.

Helen’s niece , Dr. Leigh, could not bring herself to commit to a man she was deeply in love with. Rob Shadon, the pub owner, fell deeply for Leigh. Having already raised 2 sons , he was really astounded when Leigh presented him with her little surprise!! Great book.

Highly recommended.

I devoured this book. I started it at Christmas time and I read it almost straight through. I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t put it down, and I just had to know that everyone ended up happy. I was invested in the characters relationships, I wanted to be part of their loving family, and I needed to know what was going to happen with them.

While this is Leigh and Rob’s story I loved that it was Sully’s story also. Sully was in need to his happy ever after and this was written perfectly for him. I love his wit, his sense of who he is, and the fact that he didn’t let the Helen sway him from what he wanted, which was her.

He knew that he was older and that his life was slowing down but he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her happy and with him. Rob and Leigh’s story is a hot, slow-moving romancing. The heat is scorching but they take the relationship part slowly.

Neither is ready for marriage but they both realize that they have to commit to each other to make it work for them. While they are in different places in life together they are perfect. Rob balances out Leigh’s need for control and Leigh gives Rob some fun that he much needed after raising his two boys alone.

The Best of Us is the perfect, loving romance story. The characters have real relationships with family and friends.

I just started reading Robyn Carr’s books and really enjoy them. I’m almost finished with the Sullivan Crossings series. I like the variety of characters and how she tells each of their stories. If you’re looking for a little something different in a “chick” book I recommend her writing.

A wonderful story a beautiful story of the love between a dog and a man it will captivate and touch your heart and give you hope and joy and happiness,this is well written and a book for children and adults alike it is an excellent book.

Nice illustrations easy to read.

Very poignant story with good history and help with some of the Japanese wording.

My son was assigned this book for summer reading for school. He loved it. The story line moved him and he was a bit emotional about the ending. It took him to another mind-set and that is hard to do with 10 year olds these days.

This book series has been an absolute favorite of mine for years and years. It is so well written! I just love Suzanne Collins as an author. I think I got the first book when I was around 11 or 12 and ever since then, I reread this series every couple of years! The characters are so incredibly written and the whole subject of the series is so creative.

I would recommend this book to anyone of any age. There are definitely some themes in this series, such as death and war, that might not be suitable for young children. Truly amazing book series, though!.

Given the (mild) violence and creepy villains, it might not be the best choice for sensitive readers, but if you (or your child) enjoy vivid battles with giant bugs and rats, this is sure to please. High stakes and a likeable protagonist make it a page-turner.

I bought this book to start the entire Overland series, as I really like the author. The book is pretty good so far, and I am enjoying it overall. I am excited to purchase and read the following books within the series.

I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.

The book was good, but a little hard reading how we humans can treat another human being. That part is very sad. I pray that nothing like that ever happens again. Although we do still have countries that still persecute people, for many different reason and it is still sad.

I purchased this book for my son’s 14th birthday. He enjoys true stories about history, especially WWII and everything that went on during those years. He was very excited when he opened it and has commented several times that he is really into it.

I thought the pictures in the back of the book were a great addition to the story.

Very realistic on what the author went through. Easy to read and understand, young adults could easily enjoy this book. Very important for the world to know what happened and that it indeed happened so we don’t let anyone go there again! Highly recommend to all that are interested in this part of history and for those who don’t think they are.

GREAT story about a German ace (Stigler) who took pity on an American bomber crew and allowed the crippled bomber to flee German airspace. I just have a few issues with it (thus 4 stars instead of 5) as I do most current ww2 revised history books.

First of all the author states that he focuses on the German side because there are already lots of American stories in print. Perhaps, BUT the American pilot, Brown, was on his first mission. He had 24 more to go and they are treated with a line or two.

So while there are American bomber stories in print, there is NOT any stories about Browns career. This book really is about Stigler and not Brown. The author really needed to devote more print to the American side.

The entire crew. Next problem is my main problem and that is the trend so current in history WW2 history today. The trend is that the Germans were ‘just like us’ and most had no idea what was going on regarding the Jewish people.

Sorry. NOT TRUE. They HAD to see the treatment of Jews during the 6 years before war broke out. Didn’t they wonder why entire neighborhoods were depopulated? Come on! The German ace in this book obviously was capable of empathy and emotion, and it is a GREAT story as to what he did allowing the American bomber to leave German airspace, yet he did continue to fight for the German cause, which WAS the Nazi cause.

Sorry. I don’t buy the ‘Germans were good guys’ ruse. Look on a certain video internet channel and type in ww2 German reactions, you will see WW2 German vets even today staunchly denying or downplaying the holocaust.

Unbelievable. One video in particular has a now 90 something years old tank crew saying the holocaust wasn’t as big as the allies make it out to be. And for Stigler to downplay his role in it is audacious.

Sure, he fought for his country because he HAD to fight for his country, but at least come clean about the cause he was fighting for. Make no mistake, if his side won, we would be seeing, even today, that they were not ‘just like us’.

Unfortunately the author was duped. Even so this book is well worth the read. 4 out of 5 stars it is.

Absolutely a fantastic story that really happened. Over the years I’ve tried to enjoy novels and sometimes I almost do, but at some point I lock up on the plot. Pretentious nonsense. This read takes you real deep into the lives of two men who went through hell and survived , good stuff.

It would be difficult to recommend this excellent book too highly. I first read it as a book in my town’s library. I liked it so much that I bought one, and recommend it to everyone I know that might – even remotely – be interested in reading it.

It is a true page-turner. I hated to put it down for the night, and could not wait to pick it up again to see what would happen next. The focus is on the German Pilot, Franz Steigler, and covers his life from boyhood to his eventual death at age 92, with most of the coverage being during the war years.

What emerges is a portrait of a very human man, someone we can easily relate to, someone who strongly believes in doing the best he can regardless of the situation. What also emerges is a man whose life is strongly influenced, even guided, by the ‘higher call’ of the title, that there is something – and ultimately Someone – beyond what we experience on this earth.

Think or say what you will, there is a third major player in the story whose picture is not on the cover. The roughly 1/3 of the book devoted to the American pilot and crew is in much the same vein, though covering a smaller period of time.

In the process we get glimpses of what life was like for the bomber crews who flew over Europe, a life so tough that they could go home if they made it past 25 missions. The book also has a lot of eye-opening revelations of life in Germany from 1933 to 1945, civilian and military, revelations that have me re-thinking my perceptions of the periond, the people involved, and what happened.

Among other things. If your taste in ‘war stories’ is flag-waving rah-rah, beat the ‘bad guys’, this is not that kind of book. If you want something that is thoughtful, insightful, and thoroughly human and relateable to, pick it up and pass it on.

It is well worth the trip.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle is an inspiring read for a certain set of Mothers to reflect and value themselves, whilst enjoying every other aspect of their lives. I found it an easy flowing, well written read of 333 pages.

Some of the author’s choices and views rank far from my own. I found her memoir impelling, yet unrelatable as she presented it. I will not share more, so as not to spoil your reading experience. Save for this, I enjoyed the first third of the book better than the remaining.

Three stars here because this book is a revealing memoir that is not in my usual genre and I cannot, in good faith recommend it. I won this hardcover of Untamed in a Random House Sweepstakes, back in 2020.

I have read it twice since. #RandomHouse #books Untamed – by Glennon Doyle (Hardcover) Untamed – by Glennon Doyle (Hardcover).

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I read it at the absolute perfect time in my life and I can truly say it helped change my life for the better. I’ve never identified so much with a book, ever.

The style unique in that it’s a bunch of different stories, with context, that are brilliantly interwoven with each other. Glennon addresses so many crucial themes for women, including motherhood, infidelity, facing our feelings, drug abuse, bulimia, love, God, meditation, and so so so much more.

I am in the process of re-reading and I keep picking up more nuggets that I missed the first time around. I Highly recommend!.

Untamed is a page-turner book. I found it easy to read, although the themes presented on the book are not simple, such as vulnerability, femininity and masculinity, self-awareness and parenting. Glennon said she better understands the world through metaphors, and so she explains the world through them.

The metaphors she create are great to better picture concepts that sometimes are hard to understand, allowing us to create great connections with such themes and clearer understand the world that surround us.

However, what made the book remarkable to me was that I found it was an invitation to look inward, to create a stronger bridge to my Knowing and to start looking for the answers not on the outside world, but on my internal one.

Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris is a work of fiction based on the actual life of a woman who lived during and after the Holocaust. I hesitated to request this title due to its serious subject matter but I have not regretted a single word.

Sixteen-year-old Cilka Klein and her family were transported in cattle cars to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps and she remained there for three years, fighting to stay alive by any means available.

When the camps were liberated, Cilka, instead of leaving for her country, was sentenced to fifteen years in a Siberian gulag, charged with sleeping with the enemy. While there, Cilka was befriended by a doctor who helped her to become a nurse and, as the years passed, she helped many.

The novel alternates between her time in the camps and her time in Siberia. This is a story of courage and perseverance under the worst of circumstances. Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While this book may not be all true, it is based on real events and is very well written. I really enjoyed going along with Cilka as went from the Auschwitz-Birkenau to being sentenced to Vorkuta Gulag after being accused of colluding with the Nazis.

Hers is a complicated story, because of her beauty Cilka is claimed by the powerful and that is how she ends up at the Gulag. Life is hard there but she is able to try and do some good when she ends up working at the prisoner hospital and also taking care of the babies that are born there.

The hospital stuff was pretty fascinating and really showed Cilka’s kindness and generosity. There is a lot of emotion in this story and you can see how Cilka works things out based on her previous experiences at the concentration camp.

This is a really good book to go along with Heather Morris’ previous novel, The Tatooist of Auschwitz.

The most amazing story of such a brave lady who endured brutal treatment and somehow had the fight to keep going under the most horrific circumstances. Her bravery and total unselfishness is admirable.

A true friend is an inspiration to human kind i. Truly heartbreaking.

This is an excellent text for Class 8 reluctant readers. The story works well to use both as an African geography text and as a gripping tale from two perspectives at different times. The tale helps the reader understand the plight of the child refugee, as well as the needs of the very poor in Somalia.

The book came with a jacket and is not worn at all.

Both my young granddaughters read this while schooling from home during the pandemic. We bought an extra one for the school library too!

Super fast shipping and the books are absolutely stunning ! Great value for money ! I highly recommend this box set !

Almost through the first book and am addicted, it’s amazing. Love the story line and the characters, it’s hard for me to put it down. Would recommend

The Fallen series came in perfect condition and shipping was quick as always. Never had a bad experience with Booktopia. Highly recommend:)

Norm MacDonald is a very very funny guy. I couldn’t put this down. He is one of my favorite comics of all time with his sense of the absurd delivered in his folksy Canadian way with impeccable timing.

His long written out “Moth Joke” contained in the book is just one example of his genius. Another comic would have given that joke in about 5 seconds but Norm delights and confuses as he spins his web just to get to the punchline.

This book is well worth the read just to give you a glimpse of his life even if it is just “Based on a True Story. ” I hope you enjoy.

Norm MacDonald has become my favorite story teller as of late for two reasons: his nearly impeccable timing and self-effacing humility. He’s also one smart cookie. His podcasts are a must watch for any fan and Adam Eget has to be one of the most bizarre choices for a sidekick ever.

But it works. I won’t detail my opinions on the book, suffice to say that it’s heavier on the gambling aspect than I expected, but funny nonetheless.

I love Norm. I hate his writing. He needs to step up his game A LOT if he wants to be considered an author in the second half of his life. He is a much better stand up comic and talk show guest than an author.

This book is engaging for children or adults. My children were captivated by the stories and enjoyed the mix of fact as well as personal story that was written. The photos were a great way of adding another layer to the story.

I purchased several copies for my grands and other relatives as I was sure it would be good for children to read during this time. All the children love the book. It’s inspirational and offers true stories of survival providing hope and insights into the tough times of other children.

In Each story a boy survives a real disaster. Factual but told in a way that entertains, this is a great way to get reluctant readers hooked

I started reading this book when on holiday. Unfortunately the book was not mine and merely left for guests to read as they pleased. You can imagine my dismay when I only had 67pages left to read and we had to set off back to the airport for our flight home.

I immediately found a wifi area at the airport so I could order a copy. I was utterly delighted when it was delivered. I felt like I was pressing play on a film I had paused. I know this is suppose to be a review based on the book, author etc.

but I really do not want to give anything away. This is not my usual reading preference and I simply started to read it because it seemed the best from my limited choice on holiday so I thought my praise may inspire you to also read it in blind faith.

I couldn’t believe it when I read the first couple of pages, I was hooked! I found myself sunbathing and fighting the urge to enter the pool until I’d made it to the next chapter. Anyway that’s my review.

Sorry it isn’t more informative regarding content and it is more of a personal experience. Thank you.

Greg Iles is the best writer Mississippi has produced. That includes Grisham, Faulkner and Welty. If you ever start reading him you are hooked. I’m a former Judge and avid reader. He is a fun, thoughtful writer.

I find myself dog earring pages to return to read paragraphs again. He is a member of the new south. He questions where we came from and where we are heading as a region. He cuts no race any slack as to behavior and agenda.

He questions every ideal and motive. If you are a southerner or want to understand the region, read Greg Iles.

Love the way John Kaiser and Dr Cage were represented from the Penn Cage series. A truly engaging story. Greg Iles is a master of the arts.

Michael Cohen should probably still be incarcerated. It is shameful how desperate for power & money hungry he became. His entire family begged him to distance himself from Trump and he ignored their wishes and continued with his own obsession.

Even as Trump made lewd remarks about Cohen’s own daughter, he did not possess the backbone needed to condemn those remarks. What kind of father was he? He certainly had the backbone needed to stiff & threaten those that Trump deemed unworthy of paying for services! I do not feel in the least bit sorry for Michael.

He made his bed. His only redemption is to continue to work with whichever legal team requires his help to make a legal case against Trump.

When he made a wish and it came true, Michael Cohen had no idea what he was in for. Working for Donald Trump isn’t easy. It’s not a nine to five work day. Michael Cohen learned he’d have to give up his life to serve Trump.

Cohen had a title, but the title didn’t begin to cover what his job entailed. When he saw what was happening it was too late for Cohen to back away or leave. He was caught in Trump’s web as surely as he breathed.

Though we know Michael Cohen lied when he spoke before Congress the first time, I believe in this book he’s being honest. Prestige and money reeled Cohen into Trump’s world. It’s well written and the details are something to make you gasp.

I believe you will find this book as interesting as I did. Cohen and his germaphobe boss Trump kept very busy. This book is consistent with others I’ve read. These details match up with other books. You need to read this , it clearly shows why Americans should be afraid of Trump getting a second term.

Read this today! I found no issues. I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it opened the secret world and lair that Trump lives in. copy of book provided by author and I voluntarily reviewed it.

If you have ever wanted to be “a fly on the wall” and be privy to the inner day to day workings of the Trump Organization, this is the book to read. Rather than reading the findings of authers that have been granted interviewing privilege’s, Michael Cohen gives his thoughts and perspective from actually being on site day in and day out – down to Trump’s famous hair do.

Great read!.

I bought this book, expecting it to be solely about the legend of the city and the exploration. Most of the bookwas exactly that. The first few chapters pertained to the legend and previous attempts to locate the city.

The next several chapters were about the present day expedition and the technology used to help the team locate the site. All these chapters were great. But then after the expedition there were several more chapters to read.

Chapters then moved to the physical health of the team members after their return. Also interesting, but then this topic a lengthy explanation of how disease was introduce the the civilizations of Central America by explorers from other countries.

This was a little off topic as far as I was concerned. Then their were the the verbal attacks of other self servicing archeologists. These types of verbal, in your face attacks are seen so much today on the news and talk shows, I really didn’t enjoy reading thi part.

Then of course we have to introduce the affects of Climate Change. Great! I really wanted to read about climate change. I am a skeptic on this subject and could not believe this topic had to be touched on in an adventure book.

So to close, I thouroughly enjoyed the first half of this book. Not so much on the second half.

This is an captivating true account of one of the most significant archeological discoveries of the modern age. But, it truly reads like an adventure novel. The author, Douglas Preston is an excellent writer and keeps the reader engaged throughout.

The customer experience with the shop that I purchased this book from, myrtl49 was absolutely flawless. I’ve put myrtl49 on my very short preferred list.

The book begins with a journey through history, chronicling the discovery of southern Central America and the many attempts to map the jungle and find hidden treasure. Dangerous snakes and deadly bugs await the reader in this entertaining tale of expansion.

Highly recommended.

JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND SWEET PRINCESS DIANA RIP FOREVER A FAN FOREVER MRS DIANE WOYUTS

After 25yrs after her death, this revised edition is even more addictive, something to remember the best every woman within the royal family that has spoken out – Not finished yet, but I can’t put it down.

A very poignant book to treasure for all of us that was with her from the start :-).

I bought this book at a fantastic price off Ebay. If you are interested in her life this book is definitely worth a read. Now that time has past since that fateful day I think the story has so much more meaning now the dust has settled.

This beautiful Lady had so much to live for , She deserved to be treated better.

I bought a oopy of this book about 5 years ago and absolutely loved it. The story follows the lives of Modoc and his handler, Bram, from birth to old age and is probably the most moving and absorbing animal story I have ever read.

Although advertised as a true story, there is some controversy as to how much of the content is actually true. Very little, I should think. Some readers have tried to verify its authenticity without success.

However, I do not think it matters. It is a wonderful book regardless and highly recommended as a ‘must’ read for all animal lovers. The second copy of the book that I have just purchased is for my grandson who has a special rapport with animals and who will, I am sure, find Modoc as absorbing as I did.

It is one of the few books I will always treasure.

This book is a real treasure. It’s heart warming to follow Bam and his elephant Modoc through their life together, to share their ups and downs, how Bam stowed away on the ship that took the circus and animals to America and what he went through to be with Modoc, how he lived with the elephants during the ship journey and everything else that happened to them will bring tears to your eyes and warm your heart.

Their journey through life and the love they shared will always remain with me.

My girlfriend loves elephant stories. This amazing true story, well written and interesting, will make her very happy this Christmas! The book is well made and a nice size.