If you’re taking part in the A to Z Reading Challenge, some letters are easy (“S” could keep you reading for years), while others—like U—require a little more hunting. Luckily, there’s no shortage of excellent reads starting with “U,” covering everything from pulse-pounding thrillers to heartfelt literary fiction.
Below is a carefully curated list of standout books that start with the letter U, complete with genre details so you can pick your perfect match.
1. An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena – Mystery/Thriller
A snowstorm traps guests in a remote inn, and when someone turns up dead, the weekend getaway turns deadly. A classic locked-room mystery with modern twists.
An Unwanted Guest: A Novel
A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away
2. Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey – Suspense/Thriller
Inspired by true events, this dark small-town thriller follows a young girl navigating disturbing secrets and danger lurking too close to home.
Unspeakable Things
Cassie McDowell’s life in 1980s Minnesota seems perfectly wholesome. She lives on a farm, loves school, and has a crush on the nicest boy in class. Yes, there are her parents’ strange parties and their parade of deviant guests, but she’s grown accustomed to them.
All that changes when someone comes hunting in Lilydale.
3. The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline – Domestic Suspense/Drama
Secrets and lies threaten to upend lives in this tense, emotional family drama steeped in suspense.
The Unraveling of Julia
One awful night, Julia Pritzker witnesses the murder of her beloved husband during a mugging on a Philadelphia street. Later, while grieving him, she’s suddenly fearful that her fate is written in the stars, not held in her own hands.
4. Unmissing by Minka Kent – Psychological Thriller
A woman believed dead suddenly returns, shattering her husband’s new life and unraveling a web of lies.
Unmissing: A Thriller
A couple’s life is upended when the husband’s first wife returns after ten years, claiming she escaped captivity. As she settles in, unsettling secrets emerge—and nothing is as it seems.
5. Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett – Literary Fiction/Magical Realism
A quirky and poignant tale of a woman caring for her dying father, blending humor, grief, and a touch of magic.
Unlikely Animals: A Novel
Returning home to care for her dying father, a woman becomes drawn into a missing person mystery no one else will investigate. Blending humor and heartbreak, it’s a story of family, loss, and unexpected hope.
6. Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune – Fantasy/Magical Realism
A heartfelt, whimsical afterlife tale about a man given one last chance to truly live.
Under the Whispering Door
After dying, a man is given one week to move on—but instead begins truly living for the first time. A heartfelt story about life, loss, and second chances.
7. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer – True Crime/Nonfiction
A gripping exploration of faith, fundamentalism, and a shocking murder in a religious community.
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God; some 40,000 people still practice polygamy in these communities.
8. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri – Short Stories/Literary Fiction
A stunning collection exploring family, love, and cultural identity across generations.
Unaccustomed Earth
A collection of deeply moving stories explores love, family, and identity across generations. Each tale captures the quiet, complex moments that shape our lives and relationships.
9. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand – YA Paranormal Romance
A part-angel teenager struggles to understand her destiny in this first installment of a beloved YA series.
10. Until the End of Time by Danielle Steel – Romance/Family Saga
A sweeping love story about soulmates separated by time but bound by fate.
Until the End of Time: A Novel
Two love stories across decades reveal how fate and destiny connect souls. As lives intertwine, the novel explores enduring love, sacrifice, and second chances.
11. Unbound by Tarana Burke – Memoir/Social Justice
The founder of the Me Too movement shares her powerful personal story of survival, healing, and activism.
Unbound
Tarana Burke shares her journey from personal trauma to founding the “me too” movement. This powerful memoir explores healing, resilience, and the strength found in empathy and community.
12. Under the Skin by Michel Faber – Science Fiction/Psychological Thriller
A haunting, surreal story about a mysterious woman driving the Scottish Highlands, laced with unsettling secrets.
Under the Skin: A Novel
A mysterious woman picks up hitchhikers in the Scottish Highlands, choosing her victims with chilling precision. As secrets unfold, the story explores morality, humanity, and hidden darkness.
13. Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman – Memoir
A riveting account of escaping a strict Hasidic Jewish community and forging a new life of independence.
Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots
A young woman raised in a strict religious community breaks free to build a new life for herself and her son. It’s a powerful memoir of courage, identity, and the pursuit of freedom.
14. Underworld by Don DeLillo – Literary Fiction/Historical
A sprawling, ambitious novel weaving together decades of American history, art, and culture.
Underworld: A Novel
Spanning decades of American history, this sweeping novel follows interconnected lives shaped by war, culture, and change, all tied together by a single moment and its lasting impact.
Final Thoughts
Whether your tastes lean toward high-stakes mysteries, moving memoirs, or literary explorations, these “U” books will make checking off this letter in the A to Z Reading Challenge a breeze. You might even find yourself adding a few extra to your TBR stack—because with “U,” the unexpected is half the fun.
