Every reader has that one author who feels like home. You read one book, it hits you in all the right places, and suddenly you find yourself buying another, and another, until you unknowingly build a whole collection dedicated to them. You wait for their yearly releases, clear a special spot on your shelf, and proudly call yourself a loyal fan. 
Here are the authors I adore, the ones I am committed to collecting for life.

FREDRIK BACKMAN

I love how Backman writes from different perspectives and reminds us how easily we judge others. His stories show that once we understand a person’s circumstances, our entire view shifts. He unpacks human complexity with warmth and humor, making his characters incredibly easy to empathize with. His writing is light, comforting, and easy to finish in one sitting.
In Britt-Marie Was Here, he uses soccer as a metaphor for life, community, and the human condition, which makes the story simple to grasp yet meaningful. He also has a Netflix adaptation, A Man Called Otto, which is originally based on his book A Man Called Ove. My favourite of his works is Anxious People, and I currently have my eye on his Beartown trilogy.


R.F.KUANG

I started with Babel and was immediately hooked. That led me to The Poppy War trilogy, and even though I am not usually a thriller reader, the series was incredibly engaging. I love how Kuang’s storytelling is fast paced, twist after twist, always delivering that surge of excitement while still paying attention to the small details. The characters’ thoughts, inner conflicts, and vulnerabilities feel so personal and relatable, even if their final decisions are hard to understand. Although the ending of the trilogy left me a little disappointed, and Yellowface did not fully hit the mark for me, I will still be checking out Katabasis, her latest work. 
If you want to feel intellectually stimulated without losing the fun of reading fiction, I definitely recommend R.F. Kuang, and Babel is the perfect book to start.

ELIF SHAFAK 

I first fell in love with Shafak through How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division. Her narration is captivating, pulling you in so you keep turning pages even when your eyes beg for rest. Her thoughts feel intimate, almost as if she’s speaking directly to you. Many of her novels critique the society she lives in, set within engaging fictional worlds. While some themes do not fully align with my personal principles, so I rarely give them a full five stars when I wish I could, her writing remains utterly irresistible, making you eager to collect her other works. Her latest, There Is a River in the Sky, has officially become my favourite.


HAMKA 

I bought five of his books from PTS publisher and instantly understood why he remains influential today. His wisdom was bold for his time, yet it resonates deeply with young Muslims navigating modern life. Tasawuf Moden is one of my personal favourites, offering guidance and comfort during difficult times. His well-known work Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wick, loved by Malaysians, appears at first to be a love story between two people of different social status. But, surprise, surprise, the love story is not the main message; rather, it is a critique of Minang society at the time, reflecting Hamka’s frequent focus on societal and religious progress. I visited his home in Padang in 2023 and meeting his youngest son was such an honour, and seeing his collection inspired me to read all of his works.

L.M. MONTGOMERY 

Anne of Green Gables is a world I always return to. Montgomery’s ability to capture beauty, nature, and simple joys is unrivaled, painting scenes so vividly that you feel like you are standing right there. Seeing the world through a child’s eyes adds a layer of innocence and wonder. Though it is a children’s book, it still speaks deeply to me as an adult. Following Anne from childhood to motherhood is both grounding and inspiring. I have collected all eight books in the series and given Montgomery her own dedicated shelf. Next up on my list is The Blue Castle.

JANE AUSTEN

Jane Austen is a name well-known in the world of classics and always ahead of her time. Her writing often revolves around the theme of courtship between a man and a woman, but she also explores womanhood in Regency times with a sharp sense of humor. Her central female protagonists typically go through a journey of self-discovery and growth, which can make them frustrating or even annoying at first, but, hey, in real life, it’s what we often do, overcoming personal flaws to achieve happiness. While her most famous work is Pride and Prejudice, I personally love Sense and Sensibility the most.
A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word accomplished; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved.Jane Austen, Pride Prejudice
Sounds familiar?

SYED MUHAMMAD NAQUIB AL-ATTAS 

If you’ve ever felt confused about how to live as a modern Muslim amidst Western influences, Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas is a remarkable guide. I recommend starting with his book Islam and Secularism. Honestly, it was challenging for me at first, and I suggest reading it in Malay to fully grasp the depth of his ideas. It’s not wrong to read in Malay (if you sometimes feel guilty about it), his work is rich, and reading in your own language can help you understand it more deeply. He is a Malaysian philosopher dedicated to the progress of Malay society and Islam even today. His books are usually under 100 pages, but they are not easy to finish in one sitting, as they constantly challenge your thoughts. At first, his ideas may provoke and even question your upbringing and beliefs, but as you read on, his insights gradually become clear.

SPOT YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS! WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS BY THEM?