Fast paced, interesting characters, something that keeps me thinking after I finish

[Michelle]

Hi
I am after books that are uplifting or in the very least not too bleak or dystopian (still recovering after ‘The Unconsoled’ and ‘On the Road’).
I love developed interesting characters and books that move reasonably fast.
I like books that make me think a little about things I wouldn’t normally be exposed to and for that reason anything outside of New Zealand is a good start.
My favourite reads of all time are: The Tilted World (Tom Franklin), Nightfall (Isaac Asimov) Swimming Home (Deborah Levy), Wake (Deborah Knox).

[Michelle]

The Deborah Levy favourite book should read ‘Swimming Home’.
Thanks so much, everyone!!!!

[Betsy]

Do you mean Wake by Elizabeth Knox? I couldn't find a Wake by Deborah Knox.

Do you have a genre preference? Three of the books you mentioned all seem to be focused on a disaster of some kind and the Levy book focused on mental illness. I haven't read any of them, I'm just going by the Goodreads description.

Do you like mysteries? I really liked Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling). It's a fast paced book, with great characters. Maybe something you wouldn't be exposed to in that the main detective is an amputee. The only problem is that it's the fourth book in a series and you probably should read them in order. Don't mistake me, the first three are also good; I just think this one is the best.

[Michelle]

I was very distracted writing this post!!! Elizabeth Knox (Wake) and Deborah Levy (Swimming Home). Thanks for your feedback. I’ll give it a go!

[Mir]

I haven't read any of your favorites so this may not be the greatest rec, but maybe Borderline? It is pretty fast-moving and the characters felt very different from anything I'd read.